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While
the massive railway network in Europe offers great way to see
Europe, you should not ignore the convenient of travelling in
a car. Car travel in Europe can be a enjoyable or a nightmarish,
depending on where and when you drive. During August, when countless
millions of Europeans pack up their family cars and drive to the
beaches or mountains, traffic jams can rob even the most scenic
European touring routes of their charm. And at any time of year,
driving in a major city like London, Paris, or Rome can be nerve-wracking
(or at least unpleasant) to the foreign tourist. Generally is
would be easier driving in off season.
Behind the wheel you're totally free, going where you want, when
you want to. And driving is a godsend for those who don't believe
in packing light. you can even rent a trailer.
While solo car travel is expensive, three or four people sharing
a rented car will usually travel cheaper than the same group using
railpasses.
The super mobility of a car saves you time in locating budget
accommodations in small towns and away from the train lines. This
savings helps to rationalize the "splurge" of a car
rental. You can also play it riskier in peak season, arriving
in a town late with no reservation. If the hotels are full, you
simply drive to the next town.
Buying used Car
Leasing (technically, buying the car and selling it back) gets
around many tax and insurance costs and is a good deal for people
needing a car for three weeks or more. Europe by Car now leases
cars in France for as few as 17 days for €400; Renault Eurodrive
offers similar deals. Lease prices include all taxes, zero-deductible
CDW, and theft insurance. The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Spain,
and Italy are also popular places to lease cars. Most travellers
base themselves in UK for at least a few months before hitting
the continent, and often buy a car there. In UK it is easy to
buy, register and insure a car, mainly because of less bureaucracy
and the ease of getting all the paperwork sorted out in a place
where everyone speaks English. Because of the number of travellers
looking to buy a car, the UK is also the easiest place to sell
your car when you have finished with it. There are a number of
publications such as Auto Trader, Exchange
and Mart and Loot
which advertise second hand vehicles. In London there is even
an informal traveller's van and car market on Market Street, near
Caledonian Road tube station.
Although the UK is by far the most popular place to buy a secondhand
car, vehicles made for British conditions are not always the most
convenient for exploring the continent. Because England, Scotland,
Wales, Ireland, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, Cyprus and
Malta are the only European countries where people drive on the
left, you will be stuck with a right-hand-drive vehicle which
is less than ideal once you have to drive on the right side of
the road. If you plan on spending more than 70% of your time in
continental Europe, you might find find it easier to buy your
car in Europe. If you have friends on the continent, things will
be much easier (and cheaper to insure) if you get the car in registered
in their name. Some countries, such as the Netherlands, no longer
allow non-residents to buy and register cars there. If you are
looking to buy a car on the continent, try the classified papers
such as J'Annonce (France) and ViaVia (the Netherlands).
For a shorter term, renting may be the better option. Some travellers
may prefer to see Europe by bus or train and then choose to explore
a particular region in depth with a rented car.
Camping with a leased van or motor home is cheaper than staying
in hotels, and can be a wonderful way to vacation with kids. Fairly
cheap to run, these vehicles-averaging 24 to 30 mpg-use diesel,
about half the cost of gasoline.
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