Too many people heading on a self drive holiday to the continent are so busy planning their trip that they forget to look up the simple rules of the road in their destination country, let alone look into the equipment they should be taking under the legal requirements of the road. You might well be asking why you should do that now but it is a must unless you want to spend your holiday looking at the scenery from inside a jail cell. It is possible! The following checklist should help you to learn some of what you need to know rather quickly:

• First of all, in some countries you need a reflective jacket in your car at all times because if you break down or have an accident then you are legally required to have one on BEFORE you leave the safety of your car. Obviously it is so that other motorists can see you! You also have to have a reflective triangle placed behind or in front of the car facing the oncoming traffic and your hazard lights on.
• The speed limits are very different in various countries. For example, the limit on the UK motorway is 70mph, or 110kmph, but the limit is only 110kmph in France when it’s wet. The general motorway speed limit in France is 130kmph but it’s just 90kmph in Norway. To confuse you even more, there is no motorway speed limit in Germany unless one is displayed! Police love to pull over Brits on the Continent so make sure that you do not give them any reason to!
• Always take your driving licence and relevant documents with you. Insurance, MOT, ownership papers or hire documents… all of them should be with you at all times to cover you should you be stopped.
• You should have a variety of other equipment in your car at any given time, although this varies from country to country as well. To be on the safe side, you are best to take a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, replacement bulbs and fuses, reflective jackets and a reflective triangle. With all of that in the boot you cover most applicable laws in Europe! 
• Finally, the laws on drink driving are totally different in Europe. if you think the UK laws are harsh (and some people do) then you ain’t seen nothing yet! The drink drive laws in the UK dictate you can have up to 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood but in Europe it’s actually 50mg. One glass of wine or pint could take you over the limit so you’re best not to drive at all if you have had a drink.

Guest Article by Louise Crowley

Although the following tips will help you to save money on your European holiday this year, they can save you money every year so look at them to see what you can do!

Save Money On Mobile Phone Expenses

If you take your mobile phone abroad then you may find that you are stuck with a big bill to pay when you get back. However, most networks provide a call abroad package that gives you cheap minutes when you are on holiday and calling the UK. Be sure to sign up for it before you go. You may find that it is a monthly extra in some cases, such as O2, so be sure to cancel it when you do get back.

Save Money On Travel Insurance

Although it is often easier to take out the first insurance policy that comes along when you are travelling, use a comparison site to find the best policy at the cheapest price. You may find that family policies work out cheaper than taking out cover for each individual. However, check out the features on the policies available and remove those you do not need if you can because having them there will push up your premium.

Avoid Hidden Charges

You’ve probably heard of flight companies and airlines that charge really low prices for flights to bring in the customers before putting fees on and elevating existing charges for meals, baggage, choosing a seat and so on to make money. Well, they are not the only companies to do so. Hire car companies often do it too and so do hotels and accommodation providers, amongst others. Before you book anything, always check whether or not what you are paying is a flat cost or whether extras are placed on top. This way, you will not spend more than you intend to and thus more than you realise.

Choose Self Catering

If you choose self catering when in Europe then you can control how much money you spend on food. Choosing all inclusive or half board can actually cost you more because most people pay for the convenience rather than paying for the food and drink they consume under the deal. As such, you can save hundreds of pounds in some cases just for having the option to choose your own dinner!

Choose Your Destination Wisely

Finally, chose your destination wisely because come destinations are more expensive than they should be and more expensive than similar cities, accommodation and even camp sites just around the corner or up the road. If you had plenty of cash then this would not matter but having a holiday this year will be of more benefit than staying in an expensive resort so downgrade a little and get away from the stresses and strains of life in Britain!

Guest Article by Louise Crowley

I’ve read numerous articles in recent weeks that have predicted the decline of responsible tourism in 2009 because of the common misconception that responsible tourism is too expensive for regular families with limited budgets. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Responsible tourism can be just as cheap as regular tourism but have major benefits for the environment as a result of the limited impact it has on the local area in terms of negatives and the positives that come out of it for the locals. In fact, the latter is a massive reason as to why you should choose responsible tourism. It can actually limit the impact that the recession would have on a given area and keep the local economy going. After all, tourism creates jobs and the respect created for the local people is certainly a plus!

Responsible tourism does not necessarily mean staying in an expensive hotel as travel companies that do not provide it may suggest. You can choose that option (which will not be that expensive unless you choose one of the more expensive hotels) or you can choose to camp at a designate park. We all know how cheap camping can be and it has the added advantage of enabling you to control your budget effectively in addition to being an awful lot of fun! The parks you can choose to stay at are spread throughout Europe so you have plenty of choice, all of which are infinitely affordable and definitely as comfortable as any well run camping park! The range of facilities is amazing but need not cost the Earth, both financially and in terms of the environment.

Responsible tourism has been steadily growing for a number of years but has exploded in terms of its popularity in the last couple of years. I predict that it will still continue to grow purely and simply because it is competitive in terms of price and offers tourists everywhere numerous benefits and advantages. We have made too much progress to let it slide now so it is important to support responsible tourism as much in 2009 as ever before, if not more so. Check out your options now and you will see just how affordable packages are for yourself. Growth is certainly on the agenda in 2009 as long as we continue to spread the word and keep our environment alive for generations to come.

Guest Article by Louise Crowley

The trick is to plan for the journey at the same time as planning for the holiday. Doing so can save you a lot of shouting and high blood pressure! You might want to try the following methods, all of which are proven to work and keep children from getting on your last nerve. Trust me, they’ll come in handy! Take it from a mum that knows:

• Take Regular Breaks – Stopping for your kids to stretch their legs will prevent a lot of the moaning. It won’t entertain them but it will give them a change of scenery and, if you have more than one, it will give them a break from being cooped up with each other. Hopefully this will diffuse any bubbling resentments and save bickering in the back seat.

• Plan Some Fun In Car Activities – There are some great games that can keep your children entertained. If they like reading then encourage them to read a book during the trip. There are some puzzles that are specifically designed for travelling as well. Even I-Spy might work! Fun activities will distract them and help the time to pass a little more quickly.

• Stop In At Attractions Along The Way – Do you research before you get to the Continent and find out if there are any activities to do along your route. There may be a playground, a zoo or a similar place that could provide you and your children with a little welcome relief.

• Take Plenty Of Water And Healthy Snacks – Nothing will make a trip worse than a sugar high so don’t take sugary snacks and drinks with you to pacify your children. Take healthy snacks and water instead. This will fill them up enough so they are not hungry but will keep their blood sugar level and so not encourage any naughty or mischievous behaviour.

• Don’t Resort To Video Games – Video games in a car are a big no-no, no matter how much they pacify your children. They can cause arguments of who is to play them as well as distracting the driver. Your concentration has to be on the road, especially as Europe drives on the opposite side of the road to the UK. Video games can break that and cause accidents with the noises and vibrations of some. Stick to other activities instead.

 Guest Article by Louise Crowley

Of course, it would be more comfortable for you to travel in your own car because you’re used to it and can handle it if anything goes wrong. However, if your car is anything like mine then you probably wouldn’t dare take it abroad. I don’t trust my car to get me to the nearest town so I definitely wouldn’t take it abroad! If this sounds familiar then a car rental is the best possible option.

Hiring a car when you get across the English Channel is not as simple as it sounds though. There are things that you should consider beforehand, including the following:

• You should always choose a reputable car rentals company that is located close to the ferry/Eurostar arrival point. Smaller companies may well be trustworthy, but larger companies often have more facilities to help you and are easier to find customer reviews about.
• Make yourself aware of any penalty costs. This applies if you have an accident or have the car stolen when you’re in Europe. Some do charge steep penalties whereas others only charge a slight excess. Check these before you even book the car to make sure that you know about what the potential costs of renting a car are.
• You should also check whether or not the care rental company would provide all of the equipment you legally need to be on the road. You will definitely need a red hazard triangle and a visibility vest, but you may also need other equipment, depending on where you’re going. You will need to take any equipment that they don’t provide with you. Check that you have everything you need when you get there as well and do not drive off without it.

There are also factors that you should consider when you arrive on the continent, including:

• Always check the rental car inside and out before you drive it away and have any damage documented. Everything from the smallest scratch to the largest dent should be documented before you leave the car rental depot. If you miss anything you could be charged for it upon your return. If it is documented then the company has no comeback, but if it’s not then legally you don’t have a leg to stand on.
• Always make sure that you have all of the paperwork you need. You’ll need insurance, ownership and any other legally required documents that you need to be able to drive your rental car. If you don’t have it and are stopped by the police then you’ll definitely be fined if not taken to the local police station. Make sure you have it all to hand before you drive off.
• Every car rental company should have a breakdown service on retainer so ensure that you have the number. This is definitely a just in case measure but you never know what might happen. It’s much better to be safe than sorry and completely broke!

If you fail to consider any of the above factors before you go on holiday and then follow through with them when you are there, you could end up finding that your holiday has cost you a lot more than you bargained for.

Guest Article by Louise Cowley