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Deciding whether or not to rent a car abroad is an important part of planning your vacation. While it depends on where you go, the choice of renting a car and all that comes with it -- how long should you rent, how much does it cost in comparison to other modes of transport, and even where you should rent -- can be a little overwhelming.
I didn’t use a car at all during my trip to Australia, and used one only part of the time in England. Sometimes I use a car for my main mode of transportation for my entire trip, sometimes I use public transport some of the time and pick up a car at my next destination. In my travels, I've found that there are definite pros and cons when it comes to renting which need to be considered before you book a car: Pros
Flexibility
With a car, you’ll be able to change around your plans last-minute with zero repercussions in the transportation department. When I travelled to Uluru, we hadn’t planned on seeing Kata Tjuta ahead of time, and without a car to take us there, we were stuck between missing this gorgeous monument entirely, or shelling out a ridiculous amount of money to have someone drive us there! We ended up missing out on seeing Kata Tjuta, a disappointment which could have easily been avoided had we thought to rent a car beforehand. Independence The ability to go where you want, when you want, without waiting on public transportation/ rideshares/ other people in your tour group? Pretty sweet. This point ties in with flexibility; you have the ability to change your plans around, and you don’t need to worry about whether or not you’ll be able to find a way to travel home at the end of the day. Reliability A car will allow you to reliably travel to places with limited or no public transportation, a life saver if you’re traveling to rural areas. After all, does anybody really want to take a four-hour bus ride to Stonehenge? Cons
Cost
Renting cars can get expensive! If you’re traveling solo or to a more expensive country, the cost adds up fast. Public transportation is quicker than a car, and often just as reliable, so if you’re worried about cost and you think you can get to where you need to go without a car? Take public transit. Your wallet (and the earth) will thank you. Usability Your car’s usability will fluctuate depending on where you’re traveling. In some places, you just don’t need one! While on a tour or visiting large cities like London with great public transportation, it’s silly to waste money on a car you don’t really need.
In the end, it all comes down to where you’re going and what you’re doing there. A weekend in a major city lends itself to using public transportation, but if you’re in a place where public transportation is limited and you want the ability to do some spur-of-the-moment sightseeing? A car is your best bet.
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Hi, there! Call me Kris. I’m a world traveler, author and artist working to showcase the world's beauty and inspire you to find your confidence to see the world!
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