A car is not a luxury, but a means of getting to places where no guide can take you. Travelers who are used to planning their own route are guided by this rule and do not want to depend on bus, train and plane schedules.
Today there are offices of car rental companies in every European airport and in almost every resort town. From the largest of them – Hertz, Europcar or Budget – you can rent a car for only 15 euros per day.
Where to start, what not to forget, what to pay special attention to: if you have never traveled in a rented car before, these tips will help you:
Before the trip
1. Is it necessary to take an international license with you?
Depends on where you’re going. If you are going on a tour of Europe, a Russian national driver’s license will be enough for you. If you are going to Asia or America, you should find your country in advance in the list of countries participating in the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic.
2. Make an exact route
This can be done using google-maps or special sites that have mileage counters and route planning tools. Check the condition of the roads through which the route runs (this is especially true for mountainous areas of some countries). Don’t forget to download the latest maps into your navigator, and also take on the road a map of the attractions of the area you will be passing through. Sometimes the most interesting places are off the main tourist routes.
Important: If you are traveling in a group, when planning your route, take into account the characteristics of all passengers. Some people get motion sick quickly, others need to eat every two hours due to gastritis, and so on.
3. Traveling by rented car gives you the opportunity to use the services of low-cost airlines and choose a destination airport that, under other circumstances, you would never want to fly to due to difficult accessibility. With a car you have no such restrictions.
4. Book hotels along your entire route in advance. Of course, if you are traveling around Europe, you will not be left without an overnight stay, but you will greatly overpay if you book a room on the day of arrival.
By the way, you can save significantly on hotels if you book rooms in a network of inexpensive hotels that are located near the airport or at the entrance to the city (for example, Formule 1). They cater to travelers who rent cars and usually offer free parking.
5. Study the parking and road markings in the countries through which the route runs. They may differ in detail from the Russian rules you are used to, and sometimes it can be difficult to navigate the place. By the way, at some European gas stations you cannot pay in cash – make sure you have enough money on your credit card.
During the trip
1. Book a car in advance at the airport, not in the city
If you rent a car in a city, especially in a resort, most likely it will cost you 5-10% more. Only large car rental companies can afford to keep an office at the airport, and private city companies located in the city cannot afford dumping.
2. Remember that with most car rental companies you can pick up a car at one office and return it at another, in any city or country in which they have offices. This way you can plan your route as flexibly as possible.
And finally: a trip in a rented car is a great time for picnics in the fresh air. Many European cafes and restaurants located along major highways even have specially equipped places for such lunches, with tables and benches.
When traveling, pay for purchases with a OneTwoTrip loyalty card, and up to 10% of the order amount on OneTwoTrip, as well as up to 2% of any purchases paid for with the card, will be returned to your account.
