Doing some long range planning for a 40 day road trip through central/eastern Europe. We have done similar road trips to the UK, Ireland, France, Spain, Italy and Greece. While we enjoy the major cities, we also like to travel through the countryside, stopping whenever we want. We would be leasing a new car as they provide complete insurance coverage and roadside assistance for all of the countries we would be visiting. This would likely include Austria, Slovenia, Slovakia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland.

For those who have driven or drive in these countries, are there any specific problems, rules or other things to be aware of? Any horror stories that might dissuade us from doing so? How good are GPS systems in these countries?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide.

In Croatia's back roads, drive defensively, and in particular, watch for drivers who cross into the lane for oncoming traffic on turns. Otherwise, I didn't experience any problems when driving in Croatia.

Likewise Slovakia.

I've driven from Prague through the southern Czech Republic and the driving was very easy; minimal traffic. I didn't use a GPS.

Make sure you get highway vignettes for any countries requiring them.

Austria and the Czech Republic are a piece of cake. Don't know about the other countries.

Depending on what country you are from, you might need an International Driving Permit in addition to your driving license. In the USA you get it at AAA--usually takes me about 20 minutes.

I recommend an International Driving Permit. You don't really need one, but when some 30-ish woman with kids passed me on a curve going up a small mountain and then pulled over into my side so as not to hit the oncoming cars, it came in handy with the police. The police were very nice, albeit unilingual, and after the breathalyzer test, seemed quite happy to have my 2 licenses plus the world's best accident diagram (drawn while the woman was jabbering at me in Slovak).

She got fined $200 on the spot.

We had no problems in Hungary and Romania a few years ago, and none in Poland more recently. We used only maps, so can't comment on GPS. Hungarian motorways work on the vignette sysem, and I do not know where it would be purchased.

Thanks for the other replies. Anyone know if or how well google maps or other iphone mapping apps work in eastern/central Europe?

Make certain the leased car has a fired up battery. We leased a Renault a short distance from the Munich airport. Our car, which we now owned (that's the deal with a lease; you are buying the car for however long the lease runs) had been sitting on a lot for 6-8 weeks without being started up. As a consequence, we were able to start it and drive to a nearby gas station where it promptly died.

Renault could have cared less. We ended up renting another car from the repair shop where the battery was replaced. Given this happened on a Saturday and the shop was closed for repairs until the following Monday, we were less than happy. I recall that Renault paid for the new battery and we paid for the rental car. Our previous plans were all cancelled, given this delay.

Carol

How did you trip go? This is much like the trip my husband and I are planning for next year (summer of 2018). We plan to select cities to stay in, in advance, and then take day trips and such from each.

Did you have any trouble driving?

Was there any city or place you most recommend?

Thanks.