If you know me, you know I absolutely HATE to fly. It does not stop me from traveling, but when given the option between flying and driving, I will ALWAYS choose to drive. As a result, my husband and I have taken some awesome road trips together. Whether it’s Mexico, Europe or even Thailand, getting on the road helps you see a whole new perspective. You can pull over into tiny towns you would have missed on a map, take in the views from the back roads, and really feel like you are soaking in the culture. So expect the unexpected and hit the road!

1

Reserve your car early

If you are like us and only drive automatic, those book up fast. Reserve your car early to get the best price and guarantee availability. The first time we took a road trip abroad, we did not know to specify automatic and they were sold out of all automatic cars (except a very nice and very expensive one). Blake, in his most cliché manly moment ever said, “it can’t be that hard, I’ll figure it out.” Well, turns out, it is THAT hard. One bruised ego later, we were on our way in a very expensive automatic.

2

Don’t overpay for insurance coverage

Before you leave, check with your insurance carrier to see what type of coverage you have. You might be surprised to find out that you are fully covered. Don’t pay for coverage twice!

3

Have proper identification

Technically, you need a passport and an international driver’s license to drive in Europe. We have never been asked to show proof of an international driver’s license, our regular license always suffices. But you could get a large fine if you were pulled over and didn’t have one. You can apply for one HERE for only $20. It’s probably worth the peace of mind.

4

Bring your car charger!

Road trips in Europe mean lots of Spotify and google map usage, which drain your battery. Somehow, I forgot ours this trip. We had a hairy moment when both our batteries were dead, but we were able to find our way home.

5

Avoid toll roads when possible

The whole point of driving through Europe is SEEING Europe. We try to stick to back roads and really take in the local spots along the way. In some countries, there are toll roads like the Italian Autostrada which have virtually NO exits. Once you get on, you are stuck for a long long way, and the tolls are expensive. The first time we pulled up to a toll and went to pay, we almost died when we saw 90 euro, yes 90. And that was the first of many. But others, like the toll road from the French Alps to the French Riviera, have the most scenic views through the mountains and are totally worth it. So, familiarize yourself with the toll roads in whichever country you are driving through.

6

Make sure your credit card has a chip

This goes for your entire time in Europe, but especially if you are roadtripping. Most tolls, train stations and gas stations will only accept chip cards.

7

Be spontaneous and pull over often

Don’t plan every moment of your road trip. If you see a road that is calling your name, turn down it. Some of our favorite stops along the way were entirely unplanned.

8

Pick and choose the parts you drive

Roadtripping through Europe doesn’t necessarily mean driving the whole way. This trip, we had planned to drive from Paris straight through to Provence. When we went to pick up our rental in Paris, which we had pre-reserved, they said “sorry, we are out of cars.” As it was August and everyone in Paris was on vacation, every rental car place was sold out of cars. So, we hopped on a train to Avignon and picked up a car there. It actually saved us 5 hours (which would most likely have been on toll roads). We did have to drop one city we had planned to stop in, Lyon. But we will see it next time! The drive from Avignon to our tiny village was gorgeous and all backroads, exactly what we wanted.

9

Familiarize yourself with roundabouts

They are all over Europe and they take a little getting used to.

10

McDonald’s has free wifi

We stayed in really small villages throughout Provence this trip and had terrible service and no wifi. Sometimes, we just needed to read an email or two. All the McDonalds in France have free wifi and most signals are strong enough to reach to the parking lot!