Europe & Beyond

say that one fast after a few beers…

There really is nothing like heading out and hitting the open road, with the feeling of the wild wind rushing through your hair as the smell of petrol gently wafts in the breeze. Yes, there’s something just so completely exhilarating and liberating about a road-trip. I think it all stems from the unfettered feeling such a personal and involved journey brings; when a road-trip is involved the world is literally your oyster.

You can go anywhere, drive anywhere, stop whenever you like and even spend a few days in the complete wilderness, knowing that tomorrow you may end up somewhere completely different and unexpected. The whole notion of the ‘road-trip’ has become iconic throughout society, even the word has become a living breathing tribute to the ideals of freedom and experience.

However, a poorly planned trip can lead to utter disaster: Jail, breakdowns, starvation, injury and deportation are all potential outcomes and possibilities if your plans happen to crumble into the dust. Exterior factors often conspire against the road-warrior, but thankfully most can be avoided with a little due care and attention.

Securing a reliable vehicle is essential. Of course this all depends upon how long you’re going to be on the road for.  A lot of people tend to go for vans when they road-trip – at least with a van you know you’ll always have somewhere to sleep if things go wrong.

If you do decide to purchase a used van or a car make sure that the vehicle has been recently serviced and carries all it’s appropriate vehicle registration. If you’re going from one country to another you will need to read-up on all the necessary legislation to ensure that the vehicle complies with acceptable national standards.

Purchasing decent and comprehensive insurance and breakdown coverage is essential, because you need breaking down in the middle of nowhere and having to spend £1000 on a new engine for your beat-up motor like you need a Vanessa Feltz shaped hole in the head.

If you decide to go for van hire or a car make sure you shop around for the best deal, online offers are often cheaper, but make sure that you double check every document and read all the necessary small-print before you sign on the dotted line. Also ensure that your insurance/lease agreement covers you if you journey into another country. A lot of rental agreements only cover you for one specific area, so if you start in France and you want to pop over to Spain, or Italy, make sure that your contract covers you from country to country.

Lastly plan a route and try and stick to it. Sometimes this is just not possible or desired, but it makes sense to have a general idea of where you’re going, when you want to get there and how long you want to spend doing it. It never hurts to come up with a backup plan either, just in case things go wrong. Ultimately thou, whatever your plan is, it all comes down to you, the open road and the great back and beyond…

Relax and enjoy the view...