I am planning a trip to Europe this Summer for 2 months and am thinking of different travel options. With one other person and myself traveling through Germany, Swiss, Austria and Italy, I was thinking of renting a car. Does anyone know whether this is a cost effient way to travel for a couple months compared to taking the trains? I want to see a lot of the country and am thinking of camping/cycling some as well. I welcome any advice. Thanks

Hi,<BR> May I suggest that you first find the cost of travelling by train?<BR> Start at www.railsaver.com.

Search this site here for lease - - may be the best option of all.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>[email protected]<BR>

I think you would need a car for that length of time for maximum convenience.<BR>I would suggest leasing a car for this period of time from places like Auto France. There is a pickup and dropoff charge outside of France, so I think I would fly into Nice and start your travels from there. You can drop off your car anywhere in France with no dropoff charge. I think the two of you could easily fit into a Peugueot 206. With a lease, everything is covered with no VAT added on. <BR>Check it out at www.autofrance.net<BR>We lease from them every year.<BR>

Try also Renault at http://www.renaultusa.com/TravelPartners.asp<BR>I chose a Clio for this summer over the Peugeot 206 because the diesel 206 with AC averages 45 miles per gallon whereas the Clio with AC rates 55 miles per gallon. The diesel was offered at about $50 less for the total rental (50 days), but that was with a discount for early rental.

Gino,<BR><BR>quebec said nothing about going to France.<BR><BR>Based on 1000s of previous posts about renting/leasing cars in Europe, check out a leasing company (Fodors search or Google)in the country you would be flying into. It's really amazing the amount of information available doing a Fodors search. <BR><BR>Curious

Peugeot and Renault are the most common leases, available outside France, but for a surcharge. On the other hand, a lease starting in Geneva and without a surcharge, assuming that you are allergic to France and do not want to start in Nice, might be available.