Introduction
When I travel, I love to rent a car. Of course, there are many great reasons to do so: it’s fun to get out of the city and see nature or historic sites up close. But what’s perhaps even more fun is getting lost on back roads and seeing things off the beaten path. These are some of my favorite ways driving while traveling abroad can be advantageous:
Seeing sights off the beaten path
It’s tempting to take the guided tour of a foreign country, but if you’re traveling alone and have a car, there’s no reason not to set out on your own. Sure, you might miss out on seeing some famous sites like the Eiffel Tower or Big Ben. But at least you’ll be able to say that you’ve seen them! Plus, driving around gives you an opportunity to explore the countryside and find places off the beaten path—a far cry from being stuck with a group of people on some pre-planned itinerary.
I once took a trip to Ireland in which we had our own cars for three days (thanks again Mom!). We toured Dublin together before heading north toward Galway Bay along beautiful coastlines dotted with fishing villages and craggy green cliffs known as “cliffs of Moher.”
Saving money
If you are traveling in a foreign country, driving your own car can save you money. You don’t have to pay for public transportation and can save the cost of a hotel by cooking your own meals and staying with friends or family. When it comes to sightseeing and touring, you don’t need to hire a guide if all you are interested in doing is taking in some local sites on your own – just map it out beforehand and give yourself an itinerary that includes only what interests you most.
You’re in control
It might seem like a no-brainer: you’re in control. You can stop when you want, take your time, go where you want and see what catches your eye. In many countries it is perfectly legal—or at least tolerated—to park at a lookout point or other scenic spot and enjoy the view for as long as you like. This means that if there is something particularly beautiful in front of you that needs more looking at than usual, by all means look away (though also keep an eye out for any traffic).
Traveling via car is also beneficial because it gives license to naps on demand.
Using local public transit can be challenging
Public transit can be a challenge for travelers, especially if you are not used to it. If you are not familiar with the local public transportation system, it can be difficult to navigate and understand where you need to go.
You may have to change buses or trains multiple times before reaching your final destination. This could mean that your trip becomes longer than expected and will take more time than driving alone would have taken. You also run the risk of being late when using public transportation because of these transfers between lines or busses/trains in order to reach your final destination on time.
If you do not know where exactly you are going and how long it will take then this can cause problems as well such as running into traffic congestion which could make getting somewhere on time even harder than if just driving yourself there by car instead of relying on someone else’s schedule instead (even though they may be more experienced with getting around town).
It’s also possible that during rush hour times there might not be enough seats available so some passengers might have wait until later before there is room again which could cause delays in their arrival times; this happens especially often during holidays when schools are closed so parents pick up their children early from school before work starts around noon but then those same parents need extra time afterwards too because something else came up unexpectedly earlier in day (like meeting friends afterwards).
Renting a car
Renting a car is one of the most popular ways for tourists to get around in a foreign country. Car rental companies are established all over the world and can provide you with everything from small economy cars to luxury convertibles.
For example, if you’re traveling with your family or group of friends, renting a minivan might be more convenient than taking taxis everywhere (and less expensive too). You can also stop on a whim when your heart desires it—no need to wait for cabs at night or during rush hour traffic. Plus, since you’ll have your own vehicle, there’s no need to stick around touristy areas where everything has already been seen before or do things that cost money like paying for admission into museums or aquariums; just drive off into the sunset (or sunrise!). And when it comes down to it: there’s nothing better than feeling free as air while exploring the countryside in an open-air convertible sports car!
Being on your own schedule
It’s easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of a foreign country, especially when you’re trying to navigate your way through its streets. However, if you’re driving yourself around, then it’s much easier for you to set your own pace and make sure that everything goes according to plan. You can stop whenever you want; take your time; and change plans as needed. That’s not something that’s always possible on public transportation or even with an organized tour group!
Driving on smaller roads can be difficult
You should be aware that the smaller or narrow roads can be difficult, especially if you are driving a large vehicle. You need to pay attention to road signs and be aware of the speed limit. You also need to be aware of weather conditions because if there is heavy rain, it would make it difficult for you to drive on these small roads.
Stopping on a whim to take photos or explore a little town you passed can make you feel like a local.
One of the many advantages to driving while traveling in a foreign country is that you can stop on a whim to take photos or explore a little town you passed. This can make you feel like a local and help you get an inside look at the culture, history and economy of wherever you are.
This might not be possible if you are flying or using public transportation, but it’s easy if you have your own car! You might see something beautiful while driving along the road that looks like it would make for great pictures – go ahead and stop there! Or maybe there’s an old building that looks interesting – pull over! Maybe there’s just something unique about the landscape – investigate! There is so much hidden beauty in every place on earth, it’s worth taking time out of your day (or night) to discover more about where ever it may be that takes your fancy.
Driving while traveling abroad has advantages and disadvantages, but it’s a nice option to have.
I was driving through the countryside when I saw a sign for a farm stand. “I haven’t had any fresh produce in awhile,” I thought to myself, so I decided to stop.
Once I’d gotten out of my car and looked around, it became apparent that this wasn’t just any farm stand—it was an enormous market! There were stalls selling every kind of food imaginable: meaty sausages hanging from hooks, baskets overflowing with colorful fruits and vegetables, cheese carried by smiling women wearing traditional clothing…the list goes on and on. It was everything you could ever want at an outdoor market in Europe!
As I began walking around looking at all these delicious foods, I noticed something interesting: most people buying things didn’t have bags with them. They simply walked up to each vendor’s stall and asked for whatever they wanted directly—no cash ever changed hands! It turns out that many vendors take payment by weight instead of by currency; so if you buy ten apples from one person, another will give them more apples in return than what they paid for their original ten apples with someone else (you can imagine how much money would be saved if everyone did this). The reason why these farmers don’t use cash is because they know they’ll get paid eventually once all the vendors have met up later that day/weekend/month depending on how often they are visited by customers like me who want fresh produce without having to carry around pounds worth of carrots everywhere we go or worry about thieves stealing our groceries while we’re trying not trip over ourselves while trying not step on anyone else’s toes while also trying not knock into anything else neither human nor animal-related.”