background
In many places, your own car is the most popular means of transport for vacation travel. 45 percent of all Germans reached z. B. in 2005 with it their vacation spot. This high proportion is probably also due to historical reasons: During the so-called economic miracle in the 1950s, the number of registered automobiles rose rapidly. The German motorway network was systematically expanded and traveling abroad with your own car became a status symbol in the young Federal Republic. Even today, well-developed roads, a car-friendly policy and, last but not least, the influence of lobby organizations such as ADAC and the Association of the Automotive Industry ensure that the car is often the fastest and most convenient and, for small groups, sometimes the cheapest way to go on holiday.
advantages
Despite rising petrol prices, the car is still a comparatively inexpensive means of transport. That goes for the cost per person when you go with more than 2 people is traveling: If several people use the car together, it is usually cheaper than train or plane. In the case of two people, however, check the individual case carefully. If you can get hold of a cheap DB saver fare, traveling by train can also be cheaper for 2 people than by car. If you have time, the savings offers in regional transport are often worthwhile, such as the country tickets or the across the country ticket, which are considerably cheaper for groups of up to five people (the usual capacity of a car) compared to the single journey. In addition to the saver price, there is also a passenger discount on the ICE if you book two trips on one ticket.
An important advantage of the car is its flexibility in terms of time and space: the traveler is not tied to specific departure dates and can freely choose the route and take breaks. Even at the holiday destination, he has a familiar means of transport at his disposal, without having to rely on a rental car or local public transport. In many travel countries the bus and train systems are very poorly developed. On the other hand, traveling by car to countries like Switzerland can be unnecessarily frustrating, as almost all points are easier to reach by public transport and the car has been "banned" from some areas and parking spaces are deliberately kept short (and expensive). In addition, in large parts of Western and Central Europe the train is faster than the car, unless the starting point and destination are in rural areas with no rail connection.
A car trip allows a higher load of luggage than, for example, a flight. Families with children in particular often have difficulties complying with the airplane limit, which is usually 20 kilograms per person. The problem is even exacerbated with "low-cost airlines", as luggage often costs extra.
disadvantage
In most cases the car has a speed disadvantage compared to the airplane. It is true that considerable waiting and transfer times have to be added to the pure flight time when traveling by air. Nevertheless, unless the airport is positioned very poorly in relation to the start and destination, the plane is the faster means of transport.
Increasingly in Europe (but also in East Asia) the train is the faster means of transport, especially during the main travel season when there is traffic jam on the roads. The train also has the undeniable advantage that you can sleep or get up and walk around during the journey and that breaks are unnecessary as the toilet and on-board restaurant are always available. Also and especially for families with young children there are now attractive offers, for example a family compartment or free taking of their own (grand) children up to the age of fourteen. Where there are still night trains, you should consider their sleeping and couchette cars, as this turns the journey from a stressful drive over crowded streets into a relaxed sleep.
A long drive by car is particularly difficult for young children. The narrow interior, high temperatures in summer and a low-excitation environment cause stress for all fellow travelers. This can be remedied, for example, by taking frequent breaks, which in turn affect the travel speed. On excessively long journeys with little or no breaks, there is also the problem of decreasing alertness and increasing tiredness, which increases the risk of accidents. If at all possible you should take turns driving. In the coach industry, for example, there is a requirement that the driver must take a half-hour break after four hours at the latest. This can and should be used as a guide when driving a car.
From a social perspective, car travel causes numerous problems: Car exhaust fumes affect the small and large-scale climate, while noise and emissions affect residents along the route. Transit countries such as Austria and Switzerland are particularly hard hit, and they respond to this to varying degrees with tolls and taxes as well as the expansion of the railways.
International road trip
In many countries around the world, cars are still used. On the other hand, especially in the "third world", public transport (mostly by bus) is often heavily subsidized, so that those who are willing and able to take the bus can save a lot. The US is undeniably the "car country" par excellence, where there are more cars than people in some states. Petrol prices in Germany tend to be higher than in most other countries (especially outside Europe), but many neighboring countries that used to be "fuel tourism" have increased in recent years with the mineral oil tax. Especially if you drive a lot all year round and cannot travel by car anyway (for example when arriving by plane), you should consider whether the rental car is really a sensible expense, as many public transport systems have been in recent years have been significantly expanded and foreign road systems can be extremely confusing or completely inaccessible. For example, in China you need a Chinese driver's license and an international driver's license is not accepted (except in Hong Kong and Macau).
International insurance card for motor transport: For some European countries, including Turkey, Russia, Belarus or Bosnia-Herzegovina, the "green card" is still required as proof of liability insurance. For the EFTA states, Switzerland and Serbia it has become obsolete due to the license plate agreement. You can obtain the document from your insurance company upon request. The certificate has been issued on white paper since mid-2020, as various insurers have switched to delivering them as a printable computer file.
See also
Generally
Country information
Germany
Poland
Spain
- Road connections in Mallorca
- Via de la Plata a cultural tour from Seville to Oviedo
- Ruta del Califato the route of the Caliphate from Cordoba to Granada
