There’s something so romantic about an international road trip. All those open roads, the ability to stop whenever wherever, and stumbling upon attractions that are truly “off the beaten path.”
However, an international road trip is a very different experience than one taken in a nation with which you’re familiar, and many travelers do not realize the challenges until it’s too late, compounded by advice found on the Internet suggesting it’s all easier than it is, and of course, the picture-perfect social media posts filled with idyllic moments but failing to share the three-hour detour due to no working GPS or added rental fees that increased the budget by 100%.
Sorting Your Rental
The moment you step foot outside your house and into your rental car is usually when the trip either goes smoothly or tanks, but that’s before even setting foot in the rental office. The first thing tourists need to know is do not settle for the first comparison site screen that appears without reading fine print into what you’re getting and what you’re going to have to actually pay.
You need to understand fuel expectations. Some companies have you return with a full tank. Others require you to pre-pay with no refunds for leftovers. The latter sounds like a convenient idea, but it’s essentially giving a “tip” to the company for gas you’re likely to never use. Then there’s mileage. Unlimited is appealing, but companies are known to limit it with numbers that seem high until you’re driving across parts of the countryside. You want to know this beforehand instead of being charged .25 per kilometer over the limit.
Then there’s insurance. Your credit card will cover some, your travel insurance will cover some, your rental company will push their own insurance policies. Most people either insure too much and waste funds or insure too little and lament over exclusions. Clear it up with your credit card company before you leave to save confusion at the rental car check-in. Write down all the details; you’ll forget on the spot.
Finding Transparent Opportunities to Book
Companies who book through comparison platforms that actually show you real options make this much easier. For example, riderly.com allows you to access what’s available without having to jump through hoops and allows comparison of terms on the same screen instead of opening fifteen tabs.
The best companies show not just daily rates but final rates including extras and exclusions. This is critical because some rentals charge exorbitant lower fees only to charge more everyday items as mandatory prerequisites which were never included in first glance options. Transparency will save tourists from being blindsided.
Route Decisions Beyond Simple GPS
GPS makes people lazy. This is where road trips tank because people think they can merely input their destination and life is good. Sometimes, routes that are marked as “quickest” are toll roads that cost more money than buying a sandwich, or they take them through very rural areas where a breakdown could be a serious complication.
Mapping software isn’t designed to help your average tourist plan scenic road trips; it only cares about speed. That highway might save 30 minutes, but had you taken the coastal path you’d bypass a filler hour of towns that had tons of sights worth seeing. You need to take time to research what’s more important: time or sights.
Gas stations are another thing travelers forget about until it’s too late. Some areas of the world have gas stations every mile; others have them 30 miles apart and may even not take credit cards, close by 7 pm or only exist in towns bigger than small. Research where they’re located along your trip—especially through rural areas—as running out of gas might make for a good story, but not in the moment.
Familiarity with Local Driving Rules
Every country has its own rules, some not intuitive. For example, speed limit signs may vary in unit postings from what travelers are used to; right turns on red may not be permissible; roundabouts may function differently than back home.
The little tricks should otherwise be innocuous but are tickets waiting to happen. In some countries you’re required to have specific equipment in vehicles whether it’s warning triangles, reflective vests, spare bulbs or fire extinguishers. Get pulled over without one? Boom—fine—and the rental company didn’t mention it when handing over keys.
Parking enforcement varies by city, too: some will ticket you within five minutes of being parked; others show no concern whatsoever. Some utilize apps, some require squares on the ground, some allow meters visible from blocks away. One day trip can quickly go awry upon return with a ticket or worse—a towed vehicle.
The Real Costs Associated
Road trips are far more expensive than most travelers anticipate when budgeting for them abroad. The rental fee is merely the beginning and travelers must account for gas (which is often more expensive than anticipated), tolls (which accumulate quicker than expected), parking fees (located at every city) and food/drinks (as people stop more often than they should).
Most underestimate fuel by at least 50%. Gas prices in Europe tend to be double if not triple what Americans pay. Even in places where cheaper prices exist, travelers find themselves using more gas than they thought—detours taken, side adventures explored—so give yourself a cushion because if you find yourself halfway through your budget your trip will be cut short or riddled with worrying every time you need to fill up.
Tolls are sneaky. Some countries require tolls on each highway section while others obtain vignettes for the duration of the trip while some are electronic and billed later at home. If you forget to pay a toll, cities years down the line will penalize you with fees that catch up with you without rhyme or reason. Research what’s expected before you start and keep receipts.
Flexible Expectations Built In
Trips that work best have flexibility built into them. Trying to stick firmly to something only causes stress later on when expectations aren’t met. Maybe that town turns out to be incredible and worth spending time stopping, or maybe there’s weather that prevents anticipated plans—build in time and budgeting options so these adjustments aren’t catastrophic.
Backup navigational tools matter more than you’d think: your phone will die, lose reception or get dropped. Have an actual map—yes, of paper—and chargers available for safe batteries during the trip. Download offline maps before you leave; screenshot directions for essential spots along the way and don’t assume service will always be available when needed.
Another thing that distinguishes successful road trips from bad ones are realistic daily driving time limits. Eight hours doesn’t seem like much on paper yet grueling in reality when you’re battling foreign terrain, often with small children/dogs/other family members who want nothing more than to already be there by this point.
Four to five hours seems reasonable—anywhere beyond that and you’re just chugging along instead of enjoying the ride.
Communication While Traveling
Local SIM cards/international data plans are not optional; cell reception while traveling abroad is essential for navigation, translation services, eateries, reviews and last-minute accommodations if unexpected overnight stays become necessary.
Budget money for communication; not having service for anything in a foreign country is one of the worst situations imaginable and most airports have SIM card vendors when arriving into your new country anyway—don’t leave unless you have one.
What Actually Makes It Worthwhile
Road trips can live up to their expected romance and adventure when done properly abroad—however they take ten times more homework when embarking abroad versus domestic opportunities—and when travelers scrap planning out of laziness, they end up paying for it later with money, time and disappointment.
Avoid such pitfalls by getting the boring planning elements squared away early on and implementing flexibility as opposed to a rigid schedule—and you’ll find spontaneous elements worthwhile rather than stressful as it’s these anecdotes that become great stories later on—but without the proper groundwork to support such additions or deviations inevitably becomes irritating.
Thank you! A pleasure to read.
This was beautiful Admin. Thank you for your reflections.