If you are still deciding what kind of holiday you would like, check out our six reasons to have a road trip holiday and visit different locations quickly.
We have recently travelled from the UK to the Czech Republic by car. We have done this trip several times and found positive and negative things when you must be on the road for a few days. While making a big trip by car is not everyone’s cup of tea, it is enjoyable for us. Meantime there are a couple of things to consider and plan.
Check out our six reasons to have a road trip holiday
1- You can bring your furry friends with you
We have got three dogs, and we normally like to take them with us everywhere.
If you are travelling abroad with your pet, check out our guide on how to get a pet health certificate
2- No limit for baggage allowance
You can bring and buy everything you need without considering paying for an extra kilogram in your luggage, specially when you travel in winter and need additional coats and winter shoes.
3- You can avoid using public transportation
Public transportation is only sometimes an advantage, especially when you do not speak the language or are unaware of the stops. If your destination is very well connected with a train line or a subway, you can get away with it; otherwise, it will just make your holiday a bit stressful.
4- You can visit different places in a short amount of time
Travelling by car will allow you to visit exciting places you probably wouldn’t consider when flying out. Each stop could be a gem to be discovered.
5- You can carry food and drinks with you
If you are on a budget travelling by car will make it easier.
I usually carry a small electric kettle because sometimes some hotels do not provide it.
6- You are more flexible with dates
When planning our trip, we added an extra day in Bruges, but ultimately, we decided to cancel it and head home a day earlier. It was going to rain a lot, and there was no point in paying for another night of accommodation to stay at the hotel. So we cancelled our hotel (make sure there are no extra charges for cancelling it on short notice) and changed the date of our euro-tunnel (it will allow you to change dates at no additional cost)
Things to consider for a road trip holiday
1- It is tiring
Even though we stop many times for a break or a walk with the dogs, travelling many hours can make you very tired. We usually stop every 2 hours, but if you feel sleepy, take a break and sleep. Ideally, if you are travelling with someone else, you can take turns driving.
2- It can be expensive
Yup, travelling by car can be very costly, specially if you travel to Europe.
First, you need to consider the fuel, the Eurotunnel or ferry. The Eurotunnel is cheaper because you pay by car. For the Eurotunnel, the dogs will pay an extra 20£ each.
Second, you need to make sure the hotels are dog friendly. The average price per dog per night in Europe is about 15 euros. We usually drive about 6 hours daily and stop to eat, shower and sleep. Restarting the next day after a rest is much better.
3- Consider Additional costs
We travelled to Europe in January. We were expecting a lot of snow, so we decided to buy winter tires to be safe. That was an extra 400£ to add to the budget before travelling.
Funny because this year there was no snow at all in Europe.
4- Travelling to Europe with your pet
If you do not have a pet passport, you must get a pet certificate for each pet every time you cross the channel.
Since the UK is no longer a part of the EU, pet passports are no longer issued.Instead, you need a certificate that your veterinarian can request. (Clique here for more information on the Government website.)
If you have a passport issued in Great Britain, ensure that the country you travel to accepts it
5- Car insurance
So, is your car insurance covered in Europe? We pay an extra 90£ a year for European coverage, and I must say that it is worth it. Assistance on the road abroad will be much more expensive. We have been travelling to Europe by car for a few years and have only used our insurance once. Well, we had our car stuck in the sand in Portugal, and we had to call assistance. It is always better to have a backup plan.
6- Is your destination a part of the EU?
We never travelled to a country that is not part of the EU. Don’t forget to check the country’s pet rules because they will be different.