DESTINATIONS EUROPE | SELF-DRIVES


NEED TO KNOW


E Most European car rental companies have a minimum age of 21, with a surcharge for under-25s, and drivers normally need to have had their licence for at least a year.


E If clients are bringing their own car from the UK, they’ll need to carry a European driving kit including a warning triangle, headlamp beam deflectors and GB sticker, as well as a Green Card as proof of insurance.


ABOVE: The Wicklow Mountains, Ireland PICTURE: Shutterstock


BEST FOR . . . LONG, SCENIC DRIVES Where: Ireland Why: From the Ring of Kerry to the Causeway Coast, Ireland seems to have been made for long, lazy drives through billowing landscapes. Abercrombie & Kent combines the highlights in an eight-night Tastes of Ireland self-drive from Dublin to Galway, which takes clients through the Wicklow Mountains, Cork, Blarney Castle, Kerry, Connemara, County Kildare and beyond. Along the way, they’ll enjoy Irish cooking classes, whiskey tasting and a tour of The Burren Smokehouse to learn how smoked salmon is prepared, with lavish accommodation including The K Club, a French-style chateau famous for its two championship golf courses. Book it: From £3,929 per person, including accommodation, activities and some meals. For a no-fly option, Irish Ferries operates services to Dublin from Holyhead, and P&O Ferries sails from Liverpool. abercrombiekent.co.uk


BEST FOR . . . CULTURE Where: Croatia Why: Croatia’s historic walled towns, white-sand shores and dramatic karst-filled landscapes tick just about every box, and with its compact size, good roads and clear signage, it’s easy to get around, says Nicky Shafe,


28 25 FEBRUARY 2021 exper expert ASK THE


jeanette harper director of international travel and partnerships, Avis Budget Group


“Agents are asking me if Brexit has affected car rental in the EU and I am happy to say ‘not much’! UK drivers won’t need any extra paperwork or an international driving permit. Any required equipment, such as a hazard triangle, will be supplied at the car rental location. Anyone hiring a car in the UK will need to tell the company when they’re making the reservation if they want to take it to Europe. The only post-Brexit change is if a customer wants to hire a car in the UK and take it across the Channel, as additional documents are then required, but the car rental company will supply these. My top tip would be to not leave it to the last minute when booking car hire. Lockdown has affected company’s fleet sizes and if the 2021 season gets moving sooner than predicted, there may be a shortage. It’s also worth suggesting our Avis Preferred priority service, so customers can fast-track through queues, and check how much luggage they’re taking to make sure they get a big enough vehicle.”


marketing manager for Prestige Holidays. The operator has launched a new fly-drive here in response to growing demand, with key stops including the traditional hilltop village of Motovun, culture-rich Zagreb, Plitvice Lakes National Park and the Istrian capital of Pula, famed for its majestic Roman amphitheatre. Book it: From £989 per person, including four-star accommodation, daily breakfast and flights. prestigeholidays.co.uk


² travelweekly.co.uk


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