How to prepare for a road trip?

Traveling by car is a special travel format that gives you freedom of maneuver and the opportunity to see something that lies away from the usual routes without unnecessary stress, but requires at least minimal preparation. We’ll tell you what you should consider when preparing for your first long-distance outing.

Urgently inspire me: what are the advantages of traveling by car?

You are your own boss when traveling by car. You don’t need to adjust to flight schedules or count kilograms of luggage. By car, you can afford to be mobile, flexible, and agile. Do you like the town? Stay in it longer. Something doesn’t suit you? Move on. If three or four of you are traveling in one car, you can definitely save on the price of travel, even if you compare it to low-cost flights.

How do you prepare for a trip?

Before a long journey, it’s a good idea to do at least minimal maintenance to make sure everything is in order. Change the oil (if necessary), make sure the brakes are in good condition, and if you’re going to the mountains, it’s a good idea to change the brake fluid. A tow-rope, a compressor (instead of a conventional pump) and a spare tire will definitely not be superfluous in your road trip kit.
Don’t forget to buy insurance, the “green card”: in Ukraine, it costs from €30 for 15 days. Without it, you simply won’t be allowed to travel abroad. But if you forgot to buy an insurance policy and have already set off, it’s okay: you can buy it at the border before you leave.

What is the best way to make a route?

We don’t want to turn on the Captain Obvious mode, but Google Maps, for example, counts not only the mileage but also the time, and also shows which sections of the road are undergoing repairs. And it often happens that if you make a detour of 100–200 kilometers, you will still arrive faster. Of course, if you want to save time, drive on highways, if you are in no hurry and want to save money and enjoy the scenery, choose regional roads. We hope you know that in most European countries, roads are tolled?

How much can highway travel cost?

It depends on the countries you will be crossing. You can drive on the beautiful autobahns of Germany for free. In some countries, you simply pay when entering and exiting the highways (in Croatia, France, Italy, etc.). But in many countries, you need to buy a vignette, a special sticker on the windshield that gives you the right to drive around the country. For example, in Austria, a vignette for 10 days will cost €8.90, in Hungary – €9.80, and you can pay €15 to cross the beautiful Slovenia in 45 minutes.

As a rule, vignettes are sold (and bought) in special booths at the entrance to the country or at gas stations closest to the border. We once had to buy a vignette at night in the Czech Republic in the lobby of a hotel that looked more like a tolerance house (it was just that the vignette kiosk at the border was already closed due to the late hour). That’s how law-abiding we are.

Is it possible not to buy vignettes? What does this mean for me?

In this case, there is a chance to run into a hefty fine, measured in several hundred euros. Do you really need it?

Where can I read how much toll roads cost to estimate the budget for them?

We look at such information on the website autotraveler.ru, where they make all the updates quite quickly. Perhaps the most expensive European country for road trips is France. For example, for traveling from Paris to Bordeaux on the A10 highway (571 km), you will have to pay €55.10. Is there any way to get around the toll? Yes, if you drive on regional roads instead of highways, you don’t have to pay for them.

Which navigators should I use?

A modern navigator is not necessarily a special device used by older truckers. We can assure you that to get from point A to point B safely, you will only need an app on your smartphone.

The easiest option is offline maps.me, which has a navigator function. You install the app, download maps of the regions you need, set a route, and have a good trip! However, there is an important nuance. As a rule, maps.me paves the shortest route without taking into account the condition of the roads, so it may well lead you to a torn-up dirt road instead of a convenient route. So trust, but check: see what route the system has laid out and, if something doesn’t suit you, add checkpoints to it that you need to “stop by”.

If you’re traveling in Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, and some other countries, you can use Yandex’s navigator. It is convenient for driving around big cities: it even suggests the nearest parking lots. It is not suitable for traveling in Europe.

Google Maps has also recently learned how to work offline – you just need to download a map of the area you need to your device. Google Maps also allows you to exclude toll roads, expressways, and ferry crossings from your route, which can help you save money.

If you received a Navitel or iGo device from your father as a gift, you can certainly use it. They also have mobile versions, but, firstly, they are paid, and secondly, they are not very user-friendly. By the time you figure out how everything works, you’ll be sure to make the right turn.

How to calculate how much money will be spent on gasoline?

Of course, you know that gasoline in Europe is more expensive than in Ukraine. Again, the price varies significantly in different European countries. The most expensive is in Scandinavia, Greece, and Portugal. In the Balkans, the Baltic States, and Poland, it is cheaper. In any case, compare fuel prices on autotraveler.ru and don’t forget to fill up a full tank in Poland before you hit the spacious autobahns of Germany (for example).

And one more important point: fuel prices can vary significantly from one gas station chain to another. In short, don’t rush to fill up your tank at the first station you see.