Planning your road trips ahead of travels

Summer holidays can become a drag if fixed to an itinerary by coach, or locked to the confines of a resort with limited knowledge of public transport. Car rental provides the freedom to explore and discover remote hot spots and hidden glory of holiday destinations so you can become the local travel guru.

Whether it’s in the Mediterranean or coasting through central Europe, CarDelMar advises on how to prepare to avoid ill-fated journeys.

Before arriving at your destination, it is important to consider the following when hiring a car:

1) Make sure you know where to collect your car; the address of the local rental agency, where you are to collect your vehicle is given on the voucher that you receive after making the reservation with CarDelMar. Double-triple check the pick-up point on a map!

2) Plan your journey before arriving; purchase a paper map of your destination and study the roads carefully – invest in a handheld GPS unit, always worthwhile when trekking the countryside to find the parked car again. Just make sure you pack additional batteries!

3) Inform a friend or family member of your journey; if anything happens or you go off road, it’s good to know that someone back home knows your intended route and can help you get back on track.

4) Rules of the road; familiarise yourself with the country’s Highway Code – including speed limits, parking and driving etiquette. CarDelMar warns that Greek and Polish roads can be dangerous, watch out for moose and deer in Sweden, and be wary of ice and snow in Austria.

5) Pack your entertainment; if your car has a CD player don’t forget to pack your favourite CDs, otherwise it could be a very quiet, long drive. CarDelMar lists its top road trip anthems for Europe.

Top ten road trip tunes from CarDelMar

Mustang Sally, Wilson Pickett
Rockin’ Down the Highway, the Doobie Brothers
Roadrunner, Modern Lovers
Drive, Incubus
Road To Nowhere, Talking Heads
Road Trippin', Red Hot Chili Peppers
I Drove All Night, Roy Orbison
Car Wash, Christina Aguilera featuring Missy Elliott
Travellers Tune, Ocean Colour Scene
Driving Away From Home (Jim's Tune), It's Immaterial

CarDelMar has information for car rental travellers to really make the most of their journey. Following this five-point guide will ensure that any journey by car is smooth for anyone new to driving in the designated country.

CarDelMar has further holiday tips on the website, Cardelmar.com.