I’ve never done a multi-country road trip before… am I nuts to try this? Over the past 30 years of traveling this world (31 countries so far) I have traveled by train, plane, car, bus, boat, bicycle, ferry, a tuk tuk, and of course, the shoelace experess (walking). But I’ve never done (outside of the US) a big road trip.
Here in the US, a road trip is a multi-state affair, like driving the west coast for a week and stopping along the way. In Europe, it’s pretty much the same thing, except instead of another state it’s a new country… with different language, laws, and currency. I am preparing to head to Europe and although I’ve driven cars internationally before (Italy, Netherlands, Germany, Chile), this feels is different. I’m a tad more nervous. So many variables to consider just with language, driving laws, and pumping gas alone!
So, as I prepare to head out and cram through 5 entirely different counties in 8 days, this Eastern European Road Trip is bound to be a combination of stress, excitement, and interesting adventure ahead. I pulled this list together to help in our own planning, and maybe others might find it a useful reference as well!
OUR EASTERN EUROPE ROAD TRIP 2018
ITINERARY: 5 Countries / 8 Days Road Trip Eastern Europe
- Hungary (2 days)
- Slovakia (2 days)
- Czech Republic (2 1/2 days)
- Poland 1 day
- Day Austria (1/2 day)
CHECKLIST FOR MULTI-COUNTRY ROAD TRIP EUROPE
ROAD TRIP: CAR RENTAL IN EUROPE, MULTI_COUNTRY
– Car reservati0n (check to make sure you can take across boarders into the countries you will go to)
– GPS rental (VERY helpful)
– Travel Wifi device (helpful)
For car rental, after researching multiple options, we settled on both car rental and GPS rental through AutoEurope. We’ve rented from them in the past and have very positive experiences. Plus, they have great rates and give you multiple rental companies to choose from. For travel wifi, we were intrigued by the extras offered by TEP Wireless, but in the end settled on Hipcricket, mostly due to the free shipping cost in Europe.
ROAD TRIP EUROPE: WHAT TO ASK WHEN YOU PICKUP THE CAR
– Know gas type & check how/where to pump gas
-Research gas station ettiquette – do you pay before or after pumping? Do you pay in cash or credit? Self service?
-Do the countries you visit require paid passes or tolls? Where/how to pay for those?
Wow, you really need to do some Google searches on there you are going. You can find AutoEurope has excellent driving tips per country. Basic things like how to pump gas and buying road permits will save you headaches up front of you are prepared in advance. You should read about it online before you go, then ask again at the rental counter just to be reminded.
ROAD TRIP PREP: RESEARCH TO DO IN ADVANCE
-Do you need International Drivers Permit? (required in some countries)
– Check your insurance coverage – does your credit card company cover this?
-Check your healthcare insurance – are you covered when travelling internationally?
-Research rules of the road for country you are visiting
-Road tolls & permits/passes. Many countries require a pass or tolls – check!
-Driving laws, including drinking and driving (Slovakia has ZERO tolerance law)
-Map your routes in ViaMichelin website or app.
We were lucky, our credit card company confirmed that basic insurance is covered internationally for rental cars and our health care company provided us with contact information in case of any medical emergency that we might experience on the road. This is great peace of mind and now we won’t bother with travel insurance or pay for extra car insurance at the rental counter.
It turns out that one of our countries (Austria) does require an International Driver Permit which you need to get in advance in the US. We stopped at the local AAA Travel Office and got ours quickly for $20. And speaking of driving on the roads, it turns out almost every country we will drive into requires a seperate permit to pay for toll roads! Yikes. Can’t buy that in advance, we will need to stop at local gas stations to buy. One example is in Slovakia, where ViaMichelin website route planner pegged our estimated driving tolls if paid in cash would be @ $50, however if we stop at a gas station to buy the permit, it will only cost us $20.
Another HUGE thing to know is local drinking and driving laws. In the US, many states have legal blood alcohol limits that allow for a beer or wine at dinner and still safe to drive. Not the case in Slovakia, with strict zero tolerance so even tasting part of a beer is a bad idea if you will be getting behind the wheel. Good to know.
ROAD TRIP: PERSONAL GEAR & IN THE CAR
– Mobile Phone
– Apps you think you might need: Google Translate, ViaMichelin etc.
– Charging cables for car
– Sunglasses
– Cash in the local currency
– Keep some things in easy reach; snacks, mobile phone & charger
-Your travel notes, maybe a guidebook or even a paper map (you never know!)
If you’re thinking about a Road Trip in Slovakia or Eastern Europe, here are some recommended resources:
Driving Route Planner: ViaMichelin
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO BRING ON A EUROPE ROAD TRIP?
A good attitude! Be flexible and have a mindset open to adventure!
