CU: If you are a bachelor I'm sure you have a flock of women trying to snare you but you've been giving them the slip for years! Thanks for the new web-site.

Melissa: sounds like an exciting trip!

I'd suggest packing as light as possible. The boot/trunk is VERY small, so 4 18" bags would be what I'd plan on having. Try doubling up on some things, like toothpaste.

Leave NOTHING visible in the car, especially maps, tour books, cameras, and anything else to suggest that you are a tourist. Put all those things in the trunk before you leave your car. ... and preferably don't start putting all those things into the trunk when you get to your destination, in case someone is watching. The suggestion to tuck the map you are currently using under your seat is a good one. Also a local newspaper in view is another good suggestion - hints at you being a local.

Make sure you get a car with a hidden trunk, either with a hard lid or a soft cover, but things in the trunk should not be visible.

Try and get a car that has very little to indicate that it is a rental car. I always like to try new things at least once and so, once, I rented from Easycar. All I remember is that it was a ghastly green car with HUGE "Easycar" letters emblazened in ORANGE on both sides of the car. LOL! Talk about trying to be discreet!

Except for meds, glasses, cameras, etc., take only what you really will NOT miss, if it were stolen. That way, if the items were lifted, you can just shrug your shoulders.

Oh, BTW, if the car is ever broken into/damaged, make sure you take pictures immediately, so that you will have a record for the rental car company. If you can swing it, do a lease. Leased cars are COMPLETELY covered - well, I'll let others give you more info on leased cars if you wanted it.

Have a great trip! :)

We were in Ireland this past July for 2 weeks and traveled via car from B&B to B&B with all of our luggage and a set of golf clubs visable at all times and never add any problems. I worried that the car would be broken into and all of our belongings stolen but nothing ever happened. Hidden under coats were; cameras, cd players, game boys, etc... And the passports were always with us when we left the car. At night we locked the golf clubs in the car, though they were still visable and clearly recognizable, and a suitcase full of dirty clothes and felt safe about doing it.

We would often stop at a sight-seeing spot and would leave the car full of our stuff and never had a problem.

In Dublin we parked the car in an underground car park but took the golf clubs in the B&B with us, so the car was completely empty. A hub cap was stolen though. LOL!!