Find Comfort with your European Travel   by Colin Winston Aldridge

in Travel / Car Rentals    (submitted 2011-03-16)

If you are an American planning a trip to Europe, you probably wonder how you are going to get from place to place. You are probably aware that the most common means of travel for Europeans is by train. But, if this option does not appeal to you or does not fit into your plan to find places "off the beaten path," then you will want to consider renting a car.

Car hire in Europe is widely available, although typically more expensive and more complicated than it is in the U.S. It is not impossible, however, so you simply need to do a little research before actually renting the car. In fact, you will find the most success if you use a website to broker your car rental needs. These sites offer the best rates for the days you are visiting and will be able to help you with multiple cars in different countries if that is needed.

As an American driving in Europe, there are a few things you need to remember. The first is that the majority of cars available in Europe are manual transmissions. If you are not comfortable with driving a manual, be sure to make that clear when you are scheduling your rental. You will also want to be prepared to drive on the left side of the road and drive a car with a left hand gear-shift in the U.K. Many people say that this is not as hard as it sounds, so just take a little time when you get the car to get adjusted before jumping out into traffic.

Another factor you will want to consider when driving in Europe is the use of roundabouts. These circles are intersections that allow constant movement of traffic. They can be confusing at first, so just pay attention to see when it is your turn and your exit. You may even want to make a full loop around as you confirm where you need to go.

American drivers also tend to be timid when driving in Europe. They find that European drivers go faster and sometimes make up their own traffic rules. With this in mind, be careful, but do not be too passive. Use passing lanes when necessary and try to stay with the flow of traffic. You should be safe if you are following these guidelines.

As a final note, driving in Europe can be really fun for an American tourist. You will have the freedom to explore the countryside and small towns that highways and trains do not pass through. You may discover a hidden treasure in a small town whether it be a delicious meal or a specialty shopping experience. So, you may just find your new favorite place to go for a drive.

About the Author

Discover about car hire in Europe. You can drop by at Colin Winston Aldridge's site where you can find out all about the cheap car hire and how it can help you for budget car hire.