How Can an American Have a Good European Road Trip?

Going on a road trip across Europe is a very interesting challenge for many Americans. Europe is full of beautiful places, with amazing natural sights, as well as historic landmarks that are a testament to all the important events that have happened throughout the centuries, but it's also a place where you can find a lot of beautiful examples of modern architecture. All in all, it's a great option for a fun, exciting road trip. But, it will only be fun and exciting if you do it right, which means that you have to do some preparations before you go there, including creating a route, figuring out how much you are willing to spend, and obtaining all the documents you need.

Before you decide which countries you want to visit and what types of activities you'd like to do there, you have to take care of the documentation. First and foremost, you have to obtain a passport, if you don't have one already. After you apply for a passport, you have to wait at least 3-4 weeks before you receive it, so you must take this into consideration. If you do have a passport, make sure that it's still valid.

Depending on the destination, you might need a visa, as well. That's the case with Russia, for example, and if you plan to go there, you have to apply for a visa at least a month before you start the trip. Also, you must purchase travel insurance and contact your current auto insurance company to see if your policy is valid while traveling abroad.

After you've taken care of the documentation, you should determine your budget. You should do that even before you choose a destination. If you establish your budget early on, it will be easier to decide where to go. If you are looking for a cheap accommodation and affordable dining options, you should avoid places like London, Paris or Zürich.

If there is one particular place you'd like to visit, such as some castle, a fortress, a lake, or an island, and plan the whole vacation around that destination. Once you choose a destination, go online and see if there are any interesting locations nearby, so you don't have to wander around searching for a cool place to go to.

If you decide to travel across Europe in a rental car, you must book a car a couple of weeks in advance, and take advantage of the discounts that rental companies offer when making online reservations. Some of the best European rental car companies that you should consider include Sixt, Hertz, and Europcar. Traffic laws and regulations are another important aspect of a European road trip. You have to pay attention to which side of the road you are supposed to drive on, speed limits, as well as certain requirements regarding safety equipment, including reflective jackets, first-aid kits and fire extinguishers.

To sum up, a road trip across Europe can be a very exciting experience, if you take some time to establish a budget, plan a route, and get informed about the traffic laws that are in effect in the countries you want to visit.

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