Road trip Touring are roadtrippers getting the best advice?
Nov 9th, 2013, 06:51 AM
#1
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Road trip Touring are roadtrippers getting the best advice?
Coming back to this with thoughts of recent posts here and elsewhere.
Most of us who are regular contributors to these forums either Live here or have at least one or more trips here under our belts.. Some who come onto the forum have never been.. have been saving and planning for years.. might have one and only opportunity to visit.
Given that situation then I don't think it is unreasonable for a new visitor to consider a road trip, indeed the only way many can fit in just some of what they want is a road trip.. We can of course advise against such a venture and use the influence of our own preferences,, but far too often it seems that even those who express the preference to take a roadtrip approach are being discouraged rather than guided.. I have a regular saying of you need a helicopter for that or see UPS and get some parcels to drop whilst you are at it. However I do try and give some practical guidance on road trips advise against detours well out of the way and point out some shortfalls.. Not sure if any of that translates into a language which will be understood (i am often misconstrued) but perhaps a more open minded approach could be given on the roadtrip question for those wishing to take that path?
Most of us who are regular contributors to these forums either Live here or have at least one or more trips here under our belts.. Some who come onto the forum have never been.. have been saving and planning for years.. might have one and only opportunity to visit.
Given that situation then I don't think it is unreasonable for a new visitor to consider a road trip, indeed the only way many can fit in just some of what they want is a road trip.. We can of course advise against such a venture and use the influence of our own preferences,, but far too often it seems that even those who express the preference to take a roadtrip approach are being discouraged rather than guided.. I have a regular saying of you need a helicopter for that or see UPS and get some parcels to drop whilst you are at it. However I do try and give some practical guidance on road trips advise against detours well out of the way and point out some shortfalls.. Not sure if any of that translates into a language which will be understood (i am often misconstrued) but perhaps a more open minded approach could be given on the roadtrip question for those wishing to take that path?
Nov 9th, 2013, 07:03 AM
#2
The problem with what many consider a 'road trip' (especially Yanks, Canadians and Aussies ). Is back home they can cover 400/500 miles a day no sweat. So they think 200+ miles a day in the UK or Ireland is a piece of cake. A road trip modified to the conditions on the narrow roads is terrific - but they need to factor in maybe 100 mikes a day max.
I basically only do road trips in the British isles (except when in London) but they are what is doable considering the conditions.
We have to be careful to not validate the ideas that one can cover all of Ireland in 5 or 6 days. Those sorts if distances in Texas or California - sure. In SW Ireland - nope.
I basically only do road trips in the British isles (except when in London) but they are what is doable considering the conditions.
We have to be careful to not validate the ideas that one can cover all of Ireland in 5 or 6 days. Those sorts if distances in Texas or California - sure. In SW Ireland - nope.
Nov 9th, 2013, 07:19 AM
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We love road trips, they are the holiday of choice for us, whether in Europe or the US.
We rarely book our room for the night ahead of time, to allow some freedom in travelling time.
However we will happily drive 500 miles in a day in Europe if we have to to get to a specific place in time.
I can't see that 500 miles on European motorways is any worse than 500 miles on American ones, and lets face it to cover that sort of distance in any country in a day you need to take to the motorways.
That said our idea of a road trip is to avoid the motorways and explore an area or area on the smaller roads, whether in Europe or the US.
I do sometimes think US contributors give unrealistically long travel times, certainly far longer than has ever been my experience, with the possible exception of the M25 when there has been an accident.
Provided people are prepared to wing it to some extent, and not have everything planned to the nano second a road trip is a great way of seeing a country or more than one country. Maybe not the cheapest way, but you can get off the beaten track and find some real gems in a car which you can't on a train.
We rarely book our room for the night ahead of time, to allow some freedom in travelling time.
However we will happily drive 500 miles in a day in Europe if we have to to get to a specific place in time.
I can't see that 500 miles on European motorways is any worse than 500 miles on American ones, and lets face it to cover that sort of distance in any country in a day you need to take to the motorways.
That said our idea of a road trip is to avoid the motorways and explore an area or area on the smaller roads, whether in Europe or the US.
I do sometimes think US contributors give unrealistically long travel times, certainly far longer than has ever been my experience, with the possible exception of the M25 when there has been an accident.
Provided people are prepared to wing it to some extent, and not have everything planned to the nano second a road trip is a great way of seeing a country or more than one country. Maybe not the cheapest way, but you can get off the beaten track and find some real gems in a car which you can't on a train.
Nov 9th, 2013, 07:47 AM
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People frequent travel boards for opinions; they don't have to follow all, or any of, the advice they receive. Some people are happy with a superficial look at Europe's great cities and that's what they should go for, other people want more depth.
Advising against visiting many places in a short trip has helped lots of new posters/new travelers. Many have responded that they never thought about the time it takes to get from one place to another, they're only thinking of the sights, and are grateful for the advice.
<< perhaps a more open minded approach could be given on the roadtrip question for those wishing to take that path? >>
How do people know what they want to do unless they are offered options? Open minded works multiple ways.
Advising against visiting many places in a short trip has helped lots of new posters/new travelers. Many have responded that they never thought about the time it takes to get from one place to another, they're only thinking of the sights, and are grateful for the advice.
<< perhaps a more open minded approach could be given on the roadtrip question for those wishing to take that path? >>
How do people know what they want to do unless they are offered options? Open minded works multiple ways.
Nov 9th, 2013, 08:02 AM
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I also think a lot of new posters think driving is the only option because it is in many cases the only option in North America or Australia. In many cases trains work much better for what they propose.
Also many want the flexibility of driving but don't leave any time in their schedule to take advantage of the flexibility a car allows.
Also many want the flexibility of driving but don't leave any time in their schedule to take advantage of the flexibility a car allows.
Nov 9th, 2013, 08:38 AM
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Hetismij2: of course 500 miles on motorways / autobahns is doable. I've driven London to edinburgh or farther in a day. But the OP tagged this for Ireland and there just isn't the network of motorways (into the rural scenic bits) that would make that possible. The high speed/long distance sightseeing drives that many would consider a road trip simply isn't possible in Ireland.
Nov 9th, 2013, 11:17 AM
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One of the points I was making is that the average speed needs pointing out at less than 40mph overall and yes mainly the Australian contingent expect to drive round the island in under a week.
But my main line was that those who want to see as many places as possible should be guided as to what is possible if they do move every night, rather than being told they should just pick 2 or 3 places not move every night, when in many cases they have made it clear they want to move every night.
If someone has not expressed the preference then fine to offer the options as is the majority of cases in open forum.
An increasing number of people though are approaching off public forum because they don't want to be told to go Dublin -Galway-Dingle-Kinsale-Dublin and take at least 2 weeks to do that.
But my main line was that those who want to see as many places as possible should be guided as to what is possible if they do move every night, rather than being told they should just pick 2 or 3 places not move every night, when in many cases they have made it clear they want to move every night.
If someone has not expressed the preference then fine to offer the options as is the majority of cases in open forum.
An increasing number of people though are approaching off public forum because they don't want to be told to go Dublin -Galway-Dingle-Kinsale-Dublin and take at least 2 weeks to do that.
Nov 9th, 2013, 12:06 PM
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I did a road trip in Ireland. Only a long weekend it's true, but even if we'd had two or three weeks we'd have done the same.
We moved on nearly every night and had a wonderful time. In the end it was easier for us to do that than use a base and make potentially long day trips to see all the things we wanted to see.
Armed with a good map and a guide book we picked up a car in Cork and hit the road. Didn't plan anything or book anything yet we found a place to stay every night, and had a great time.
I have no problem living out of a suitcase, and moving on constantly if it means I can see more.
We moved on nearly every night and had a wonderful time. In the end it was easier for us to do that than use a base and make potentially long day trips to see all the things we wanted to see.
Armed with a good map and a guide book we picked up a car in Cork and hit the road. Didn't plan anything or book anything yet we found a place to stay every night, and had a great time.
I have no problem living out of a suitcase, and moving on constantly if it means I can see more.
Nov 9th, 2013, 12:27 PM
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I am not sure about "our" view of road trips on here.
RTs in the US are dull experiences, after 6 hours of driving on a tree lined IS, you may cross a bridge to break the monotony. Compare that to 3 ours on the M6 between Manchester and Glasgow.
RTs in the US are dull experiences, after 6 hours of driving on a tree lined IS, you may cross a bridge to break the monotony. Compare that to 3 ours on the M6 between Manchester and Glasgow.
Nov 9th, 2013, 01:19 PM
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I don't know that there is a general discouragement of "road trips" per se. However, if it is just driving from say Brittany to Provence and you have only 10 days, taking a train rather than driving can be great advice which is the advice I see more often.
Drive around an area--then go to another and rent again.
Drive around an area--then go to another and rent again.
Nov 9th, 2013, 01:26 PM
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<< those who want to see as many places as possible should be guided as to what is possible >>
Now you've found the catch. I can't remember a thread where someone wanted to see as many places as possible. What I do remember is thousands of threads where people state they want to see as much as possible. It's a completely different thing. If you want to see as much as possible then you don't spend hours/days in transit. If someone stated they wanted to see as many places as possible (regardless of the small amount of time in each place) I would encourage them so do so.
If people know what they want to do and it's zoom through one or several countries then why are they asking for advice on their itineraries?
Now you've found the catch. I can't remember a thread where someone wanted to see as many places as possible. What I do remember is thousands of threads where people state they want to see as much as possible. It's a completely different thing. If you want to see as much as possible then you don't spend hours/days in transit. If someone stated they wanted to see as many places as possible (regardless of the small amount of time in each place) I would encourage them so do so.
If people know what they want to do and it's zoom through one or several countries then why are they asking for advice on their itineraries?
Nov 10th, 2013, 01:44 AM
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Just posting a question on Fodors can feel like a road trip at times, I could have sworn I tagged Ireland??
Even those on road trips request advice on itineraries such as whether one of the high ranking tourist spots is really worth 100 mile detour. in many cases no but there is somewhere just as amazing if you take a 10 mile detour.. On another forum someone was advised to see Cashel between Kilkenny and Waterford but that was by someone who has been to Ireland once and expects everyone to go where they went (happens a lot on one particular forum).
Even those on road trips request advice on itineraries such as whether one of the high ranking tourist spots is really worth 100 mile detour. in many cases no but there is somewhere just as amazing if you take a 10 mile detour.. On another forum someone was advised to see Cashel between Kilkenny and Waterford but that was by someone who has been to Ireland once and expects everyone to go where they went (happens a lot on one particular forum).
Nov 10th, 2013, 02:42 PM
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I have nothing against road trips, but as you tagged the thread Ireland, I am sometimes wondering if the slow-paced Ireland that many seek can be found behind a steering wheel.
I'm usually happy to stay a week at my friends' place, go to the village pub a couple of nights with them (1km), make a "day trip" to the next town (20kms), hike the nearby Arra mountains and local ruins (5kms) or sit at the harbour to watch the sun set over the lake (1.1km). As the harbour is just 100 meters from the pub you can easily take your pint.
During one week, we may do one longer /full day trip, but otherwise I am pretty content to explore the neighborhood and sit at the fireplace.
So I guess I found my Ireland - but others will sure like a different pace or style.
I'm usually happy to stay a week at my friends' place, go to the village pub a couple of nights with them (1km), make a "day trip" to the next town (20kms), hike the nearby Arra mountains and local ruins (5kms) or sit at the harbour to watch the sun set over the lake (1.1km). As the harbour is just 100 meters from the pub you can easily take your pint.
During one week, we may do one longer /full day trip, but otherwise I am pretty content to explore the neighborhood and sit at the fireplace.
So I guess I found my Ireland - but others will sure like a different pace or style.
Nov 10th, 2013, 02:57 PM
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1) I think the OP is insightful and brave writing what he has written. I agree completely, yet ...
2) Strangely enough Ireland is the one country I would advise people to slow down, almost regardless of their posted plan. Beautiful country but easy to spend too much time driving.
2) Strangely enough Ireland is the one country I would advise people to slow down, almost regardless of their posted plan. Beautiful country but easy to spend too much time driving.
Nov 10th, 2013, 05:16 PM
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We have done may road trips in europe and I think they are a great idea - if you are planning the type of trip they are suited to.
We usually have a large anchor city at each end of the trip = picking the car up when leaving the first city and dropping at the last. But in between we stop at smaller cities, towns and countryside - places that are easiest to see by road.
The problem is people who have unrealistic expectations for operating in different cultures, different languages and understanding that in large cities cars are a complete nonsense. (A lot of americans don't get why cars are useless in NYC, Boston and DC too).
We usually have a large anchor city at each end of the trip = picking the car up when leaving the first city and dropping at the last. But in between we stop at smaller cities, towns and countryside - places that are easiest to see by road.
The problem is people who have unrealistic expectations for operating in different cultures, different languages and understanding that in large cities cars are a complete nonsense. (A lot of americans don't get why cars are useless in NYC, Boston and DC too).
