Going on holiday by car means a lot of freedom. You travel by car to some countries such as France, sometimes by car even faster than by plane. By car you do not have to go to an airport first, but you do not have to be there at least an hour in advance and wait for your luggage. Once you have reached your destination, you can easily explore the area with your own car.
You can go whenever you want
In principle, you can leave by car every day of the year. You don’t have to pre-book your car as you do with most air travel, boat travel, bus travel and train travel. Besides the fact that you can decide for yourself when you leave, you can also choose how long you want to stay and when you want to go home. If you want to be more certain, you can book the overnight stays in advance. This is usually handy, especially in high season, but if you bring a tent in the car, you can still go last minute at almost every campsite.
When are you leaving?
Most people who leave by car leave on weekends, from Friday to Sunday. There are calendars available online with an estimate of how busy the road is. For example, August 1 and August 15 would be two black days in France. Black Saturday means that extreme crowds are expected. Many people leave very early in the morning around 5 or 6 am. This is how most people arrive at their holiday destination in the afternoon. A nice departure time would actually be in the evening just after rush hour. It is a bit more tiring because you may be driving a bit at night.
The holiday starts while driving
You can determine your own route by car. This way you do not only have to travel on highways, but you can also take a short drive to see some of the surroundings. If you want to go far by car, such as to Italy, it is better to do an overnight stay en route. Take your time driving and don’t let it get tiring. Take regular breaks, if necessary look in advance for beautiful locations to stop and have lunch. If you want to go on holiday by car, it is always wise to go with at least two people who can drive. so you can take turns behind the wheel and the other person can sleep or rest for a while.
Once you are at a destination, it is very convenient that you are with your car. Public transport is not equally well organized in all countries and places. By car you can see and do things that might otherwise require you to book an expensive excursion or rent a car on the spot. You are free to go wherever you want.
Vignette and toll roads
In some countries you need a vignette or you come on toll roads. You can get a vignette or toll badge at the AWNB shops. If you already have one, you can drive faster. How much it costs varies by country and vehicle. For example, you may pay 5 to 15 euros for a stay of 10 days.
If you do not have a toll badge or vignette yet, you can also buy one at the border crossing or at the toll road. There are counters with signs showing how you can pay at which counter. So pay attention when you arrive. You can usually pay with cash, credit card or your bank card if it has the foreign function on.
What do you take with you?
Of course you take the luggage that you take with you to any other holiday destination, such as a suitcase with, among other things, clothing and care items. If you are traveling for a long time, it can be useful to have some food and drink with you when you leave. Especially water at warm temperatures is very important.
A car fills up quickly, especially when there are also children. Bring something to entertain the children, but when you are on holiday by car, leave things at home that are not really necessary. Leave the folding chairs, inflatables and groceries that you can purchase at your holiday destination or leave at home at home. Do not buy too much stuff at your holiday destination, because everything has to be returned with you. Your registration papers state the maximum weight of your car.
Some items are mandatory in most countries, such as:
- a first-aid kit
- a fire extinguisher
- a warning triangle
- a safety vest
In Croatia and Slovenia you are required to have spare bulbs and in France an alcohol tester.
Preparing the car
To reduce the chance of a breakdown with the car, you can check the car on a number of points before you leave. Of course you can also have a holiday check carried out at a garage, but you can also check some things yourself. Before leaving, always check:
- oil level
- coolant
- windshield washer fluid
- lights
- operation windshield wipers
- profile of the tires
- tire pressure
If the car is heavily loaded, the tire pressure should be a bit higher.