5 Tips for Driving Abroad

I love traveling to Ireland. For my next trip to the Emerald Isle we are planning on driving from town to town on our own. The benefits are numerous: more freedom, less waiting, and flexibility. However, after researching, there are many things one needs to take into consideration. Here are 5 important tips:

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1. Most rental car companies also rent a GPS for guidance throughout your trip. Personally, I have had one in my personal vehicles for 10 years now and wouldn't be without one. Google maps also work in developed nations.

2. Your driver's license is good enough while driving in most countries. Check before you leave and make sure it doesn't expire while you're on your trip.

3. Just like here in the states, rental car companies will always try to sell you additional insurance. Check with your car insurance company and see if you're covered and for how much.

4. Avoid driving in city centers. They can be majorly congested and confusing to navigate. Most countries don't use a grid system like we have. Also, a lot of European centers have converted to pedestrian only.

5. Here's a quick way to convert kilometers to miles. If a sign says 80 kilometers, cut the number in half and add the first digit to it. Example: 40+8=48 miles. With 100 use the first 2 digits, 50+10=60 miles.

Hope you find these tips useful. Of course, be as comfortable as possible with your vehicle. Take your time with the rental agent and learn. Look for another food video on Friday. See you at geocheftreks.com.