Not really money saving - but wanting to pick brains on driving in Europe

Amos_2

I know this is nothing to do with money saving as such, but I know from experience that there are lots of people here that know lots of useful stuff :grouphug: .........So here is the question.
My wife is Latvian and we travel back and forth from here (Lincolnshire UK) to there (Riga) regularly. This summer we thought it would be nice to do the trip by car and make a holiday of the drive. Does anyone know of a good way of planning routes across Europe?
Also, on a practical note, is it possible to get breakdown cover the duration of trips across Europe?
And one other thing that has been bugging me..........do you need headlamp deflectors or does the headlight adjustment setting on the dash make you legal?
We would be grateful for any advice

James240

i had cover for driving in France last year and it cost me £70 for breakdown cover for the two and a bit weeks i was out there. Car insurance was only £23 extra.

As for the lights i have always used the adjuster that is in the car never used the stickers that go over the headlights, im not sure this is the correct way but ive never been pulled over by the police in all my time driving through Europe on holidays which has been the last 5 years.

hope this helps

Al_Mac

Auto route europe would do you a route. Or get European Sat Nav.

I thought the adjusters for the lights were just for weight in the boot/back/trailer.

AA extended cover, not sure how much for.

Direct line also.

Have fun.
:beer:

robowen

Welcome to the boards Amos :T

Might I suggest a stressful trip in a car across europe might end in divorce :think:

Get the plane, and the other days saved can be used to relax, chill out...romance the wife ! :j

I do a lot of driving..and I hate it. Can't imagine the torture it would be to drive across the continent not fully understanding where your headed.

Good luck anyway :j
rob

Amos_2

Thanks all for the advice.

I know what you mean Rob - but the drive is her idea, so not doing it is a sure fire recipe for divorce! :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

dchurch24

Definatly get a GPS system if you can - it's saved many, many hours of arguments between my partner and I.

Before we had it, she used to navigate across Europe and I would drive - usually ending in an argument - since we got the GPS thing, it's become a doddle.

MooseRich

For European cover, I got NU to cover me. I do a lot of trips to and from France. £109.37 for UK and Europe and that is top flight cover too.

Amos_2

We have a Tom Tom - which is great when you know where you want to be, but it is the planning and the legal bits that are slowing us down.

Nice to know that there are people on here that can offer advice and thanks to all who have. :T

italiastar

dchurch24 wrote:

Definatly get a GPS system if you can - it's saved many, many hours of arguments between my partner and I.

Before we had it, she used to navigate across Europe and I would drive - usually ending in an argument - since we got the GPS thing, it's become a doddle.

GPS is good, but not essential - certainly not worth £200 - £300 for one trip and what do you do when it goes wrong?

Use https://www.viamichelin.com to plan your journey and get a half decent map - that's my advice.

BenL

I was lucky enought to get European extension on my breakdown with NU free and Prudential covered my car in Europe anyway for normal insurance.

I used theaa.com for european travels. Got me to the south of France so worries.

I used the deflectors on the lights, my SportKA only has level adjustment, never heard of a button being able to be used from inside the car the change left/right.

I think though my mums old Pug 309 had something under the bonnet but can't be sure.

Don't forget your Nationwide CC for the foreign fuel/hotels/tolls.

Ben

italiastar

BenL wrote:

Don't forget your Nationwide CC for the foreign fuel/hotels/tolls.

Ben

I agree - also their flexaccount appears to give commision free cashpooint withdrawls.