Six European countries self-driving full records

Reprinted from European tours network www.eueueu.com

In domestic plans carefully, we began a 15-day European self-driving tour, a total of four people, Dad MOM brother and me, this is the ego and brother are family own later, the first family of the original class throughout the long journey.

Did we ran to six European countries (Germany, France, Netherlands, ratio, Lu, Austria). We run well in domestic air tickets, visas, driver's license, notarized, run the card through the online booked per station youth hostel, query the many attractions and detailed address, luggage on the back. (A detailed itinerary and time attached, attractions, travel time and mileage, hotel information, fees, etc.).

Car rental

Our first stop is Germany.

Arrive at Frankfurt airport, after immigration to SXIT car rental counters extraction we already paid for in advance of the BMW 3 series, from Frankfurt to our residence in Nuremberg. SXIT is a chain of 24-hour car rental line, price calculation than HERTZ, AXIS to careful cost effective, our car rental in Nürnberg, as long as it has a counter can pick-up areas. And rental car, there is a small Tip: If your car is later, almost 7 o'clock in the evening, often car rental line cheap cars are rented out (like GOLF), if you have an apartment, car will give you the high quality of the models in a find a price for you, or do you want that kind of cars. In Germany turntables are generally good car BMW, Mercedes-Benz a class. Advice to rent Mercedes, Mercedes Benz 200 Al or grab when ran, BMW has a little waving.

Also, be sure to rent a diesel vehicles, diesel cars 100 km fuel consumption 7, gasoline 100 km fuel consumption 10; diesel average 1.0 Europe gasoline 1.2 euros.

In Europe the self-driving tour car rental must rent a band GPS satellite navigation system (with German accent of English-language voice prompt).

This little thing is very intelligent, can take you to where you will be, if you want to enter the country, city, street address, GPS has three way for you to choose, you can choose according to their own needs, the fast road, the highway, the road, the three recently, small things began to work. The road is very developed in Western Europe, intensive as a spider's Web in all directions. As long as the map drawing accurate updates in a timely manner, even if there is a place in the road in the direction of the guidelines by GPS can't and it does not matter that in the past, the GPS will according to your location to recalculate a path let you go, will not be lost. GPS has two kinds: one is only a big arrow on the LCD screen change direction; a lot of draw some reference to the terrain. The latter is more convenient to use. Turn on the GPS to display when the number is the distance meters to Crossroads Centre position calculation. Therefore, if the number is also displayed m 20 m turn, just in front of the junction, never think that there are 20 meters and go away, so will miss a junction, GPS can be very hard to use voice prompts when possible so that you get back on the road and then turn just until no possible it automatically recalculates the other small things to you, very dedicated. We rent a Mercedes Benz car is better, when you want to turn the GPS's voice will be a prompt said: "turn right now. "Don't you then estimate.

GPS also has a language issue.

Because we're rental car in Germany, GPS systems, only the German and English. We are entering English address. But to Belgium and France met difficulties that French is their official language. We booked the hotel address is French, General statements by law have not entered the spelling is too large, just hit the letters with written off is in trouble, the system did not. You must have an English address.

High speed

Driving in Germany are very quickly, usually 180-200 Mai's speed, Germany's Highway speed limit (traffic is also very good, I don't see a stone), this is all in full compliance with traffic rules under implemented.

For example: the cart could not be left in the car; Lane only for passing, you cannot take a long time, we see sometimes lane on a car are not; the cart and the distance between the cart must be after the car can be seen on the picture of two consecutive "the", which is more than we say keep a distance from the number of meters to simple science; from parking strips into the high-speed access, you cannot directly and master road, to the outermost road straight line 200 m to come in, after the car if you see a car into a high-speed fast after 200 m and the car, it is necessary to allow it to enter the main road; after car vehicle see faster than their own to overtake to proactively make road; drivers to drive General nor to the left and right and up and down the stoppering. ..... Germany's traffic laws are very thin, road signs are clear. In the right of the flag Germany road is very clear: yellow diamond marking indicates that you have the right to green when the road you don't have to look around, direct and rapid adoption; red triangle indicates that you have no rights, even if the green light to the right of avoidance with road vehicles. There are many of the above law shores up rules that drive safe fun, this is the real speed. In view of the highway speed is too fast, or in the country has a certain ability to experience and technology of loonies safer. I was driving in the country is small, top-to-speed on Germany is still very tense, a blink of an eye a second time, the car ran out.

Germany road toll rates are high, green light bright, they just kick out a foot on the gas, bang big throttle whatever few stalls guarantee a start let car traffic.

In junctions around by, is the sound of gunfire throttle, do not know the thought is motorcycle gangs. After a few days to other countries, and saw that it was not the case. Heard Germany people are learning are so when being taught,

We had a moment in our right road car drivers have been working with our parallel, kept referring to our front, making gestures.

Us to the front of the car stopped to check, because that car drivers do a hand gesture is a stretch. We found the car's front cover does not cover, running at high speed suddenly fan and fan. Driving in Germany, we also have some kind of laterLike, always have well-wishers to remind you. Even if sometimes encounter the unruly than others, they do not seem to be in Beijing as the driver of a car with a total of up to you, is dissatisfied with the touch of a horn. However this only in Germany, after a few days we drove to the other Western European countries, is not always the case. The most unruly is France, when driving in France, brother said it found feeling, just as with driving a car in Beijing. France would forcibly Meng abduction jump jumping the queue, but our technology than their better than driving a car in France, although not in Germany there are rules, but also feel good.

Parking (PAKING)

In Europe the self-driving tour of several countries, only in Germany are not money parking, other countries are free of charge.

This is when traveling in other countries is simply the most trouble for us, spending money and sometimes can not find parking spaces, had to stop in the large GARDEN, PARKING prices are more expensive. But there are tricks: some car park is free of charge, such as a simple car park next to the highway; some of the edge of the parking, but you want to see clear then stopped; weekend holidays edge are without charge. In Austria we risk a foolish: visit United States Stephen Palace that day is Sunday, if parked at the roadside parking on the street is not receive money, only the attractions in the park before they collect the money. We are not familiar with the rules, and spent 17 euros. We are new to it (we do not understand the rules of silly people politely called "new years").

Parking free in Germany, several other countries to be the cheapest Austria parking, 1 hour long as 0.8 euro (attractions yard), compared to other fixed point 3.5-4 euros for much cheaper.

European parking are very small, you need to have higher parking technology. Both sides of the roads in General will be able to stop, just to the side of the stand's ticket to buy a ticket on the front of the car fengdang. Price also has slots, usually in the evening of 9: 00 a.m. to 7: 00 the next morning are free of charge. Long heard that European parking techniques are very high, this can be seen, had to admire. Parked cars are only a fist around the distance between (almost stuck to the hardly on the distance), essentially reversing the wheels went in two or three, came out after the collision knocked before Ding Ding came out. So their car's bumper has many small pit craters, overseas car selling cheap, it is estimated that they don't care, in a few years and for a car. And they are mostly like a hatchback, SPARK such a SMART car. Once we see a space from a distance, jammed on petrol stations rushed over to discover can't stop, a SMART stops on the inside, next to it to one or two carts blocking our view. There is also a phenomenon in Europe even if no parking spaces, the parking spaces for persons with disabilities dedicated to General empty will not be a sound person because not find parking your car in.

Toilet

Europe often charge 0.3-0.5 euros a time.

In Germany also carried out a joke, standing in the bathroom door did not know which door into. Later, brother told me an easy way to remember ID: H is male toilet, because man is two-legged stand piddle; D is the toilet because woman is squatting pissing. There are also different in the various countries, Austria men's urinal is free of charge, fecal money; Ms. regardless of toilet are charging because all sat with toilet.

The toilet has tips: attractions in no charges; Freeway simple car park toilet is free of charge (as long as marked PARKING WC) are not charged; the large parking lot on Highway in toilets to pay, but will be worth dining voucher, provided that the finished toilet will continue after the restaurant in the yard; like McDonald's fast food is free of charge, there is a toilet at the gate of the Park, to accept tips may not give; we initially had to worry about old toilet, find law after drinking water feel relieved boldly toilets.

Refueling

Fuel prices in Europe are poor not too many diesel 1.23-1.37 €/L, Luxembourg is the cheapest diesel 0.82 €/L.

We leave when you travel to France and Luxembourg were full to box. Gas station also allows with a plastic bucket with you. One is that we don't know, then a consider security fears with a barrel of oil like a bomb had not done so. Different service stations will also be a little difference between the cheapest of the Esso, shell the most expensive.

Accommodation

Accommodation in youth hostels is cheaper, remember to do before going abroad a membership card, when each person can then concessions 3 euros.

Because our domestic online booking a hotel, as long as you enter the full address for GPS, is easily found. Only in Belgium to enter into the address. Our address is French with skimming, GPS system does not recognize. We were just passing another Green at the hostel, went in ask the front desk. The receptionist gave us a map of Belgium youth hostels, top with English and French control of the address. Youth hostel before that only persons under 18 years of age to check-in, do not have this requirement, as long as the provision of accommodation for backpackers convenience. In General, the youth hostel are located in the attractions nearby, or in a convenient place. The few countries in the youth hostel are clean and tidy, UCH Sparrow is small. We have chosen a four bed room with bathroom (this ratio to cheaper two double rooms), breakfast included, can also bring some reasonable get food, this solves the high speed line road, when supplies. Self-driving tour must have their own parking lots selected youth hostels. The hotel is the best of Germany Cologne, Brussels, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, and the most disadvantaged are France in Paris.

Food

In the European tourist attractions restaurants are less than non-tourist attractions restaurants are more expensive, but does not like that so far in China, if you are in a fast-food prices are uniform does not increase.

Western food generally have meal before catering (MENU), it is important to remember to waiter, like in France for some restaurants, if you don't they hold know not to. The meal before the diet in the not too hungry to eatA person? At the high-speed, large car park is provided with dining room, the price is also fair.

Lunch is generally more expensive than Western food and taste are improved.

Once we have Chinese food in Luxembourg, is a Hong Kong opened palaces, fried chicken, served with a fried chicken is carrot slices, thought it is not our order?

European drinking water hygiene standards are very high, simply take several mineral water bottles, a lot of places open faucet filled with water to drink.

Tickets

General conductor offer you several types of votes is sufficient and you chose not to buy a ticket.

The so-called package set, the more you ride attractions essentially nothing visible. European tourism city done or very considerate, generally recommended to tourists with the most reasonable. We have not heard in Vienna of the conductor is not recommended to buy a range of packages, each more spent 11 euros, because it took money doesn't look and feel, but also many spent an hour time, parking costs much 3.5 euros, miles, big loss.

In France holiday attraction tickets is free, but some attractions are open.

Each month the first weekday of the Louvre is free, but we are unlucky, the catch is Sunday, the day is 1 may labour day. The play back found many travel attractions designs are not tickets.

In Paris, we parked in the hotel's car park subway trip.

Paris's attractions are more concentrated, very convenient to Metro also extending in all directions and cost-effective to attractions itinerary calculation back and forth several times to drive better buy a ticket, there is a large discount. Otherwise, take a parking fee, also not hard to find parking spaces.

Language

When it comes to Paris, he had to talk about language problems.

To European tourism General English are impassable, even as the official language is French-speaking Belgium, as long as you use the English way, somebody says in English. And like in the restaurant of this place as long as you spend money on, there will be even better than with the Division of people trying to communicate with you. But in France, whether you spend no money, English is not feasible. In Paris we ask embarrassing to not open the way to play by yourself, look at the pictures and maps a la carte or watch someone else's desk what is something that no one in the restaurant we go. To finally buy the tickets at the Louvre queued when English speakers around more cordial. If you do not find road, generally to a nearby senior hotel front desk can get help, you can also get free maps. Front desk attendant will first circle on the map out your position, and then draw the line and made available to you around the reference.

The self-driving tours in Europe, so that we can freely enjoy the security, convenience, taste, there is a smug self-satisfaction of accomplishment.

Sources of jingpin