See Europe by car, but take care, use GPS

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Having an rental vehicle when visiting sites like the ruins of Pompeii gives you the freedom to explore as long as you wish. (RON PRADINUK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store

This is the weekend we celebrate Canada's long-standing link to the Commonwealth by commemorating Queen Victoria's birthday. She was born on May 24,1819.

While the current queen has visited our nation more than 20 times, Victoria never made it to Canada. He was not the first member of the British monarchy to come to Canada, but it was Victoria's son Albert, Prince of Wales, who laid the cornerstone of the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa in 1860.

This weekend often signals the beginning of summer, as cottages are opened and hundreds crowd into available campgrounds within driving distance of home.

Whether for the day or weekend, it is our first opportunity to celebrate the season that will trigger other journeys near and far. Have a great one!

QUESTION: We will be travelling to Italy this summer and would prefer to rent a car rather than take the train or other forms of transportation. It would give us more freedom, but I am somewhat fearful of driving in that country. Are my concerns justified?

ANSWER: It is fair to say that Italian drivers, as well as those in other countries of Europe, can be more aggressive on the road than what we find in most parts of North America.

But that doesn't mean they are reckless. Depending upon the posted speed limits, they will seldom, if ever, be driving below the limit and may tailgate drivers who are tardy or unsure.

Courtesy on the road is not all that common, but neither is road rage.

I have chosen to rent vehicles on most of my European trips and, other than in the major cities such as Rome and London, have found it a pleasurable experience. I did not have a GPS on those occasions I drove in those two cities. Having one in the car would have made it much easier. I strongly recommend you make sure you have one should you choose to rent.

There are some etiquette rules overseas that are somewhat different than here.

If you are not in the slow lane and are being tailgated, flashing lights from the car following means move aside for the more speedy vehicle and as soon as you safely can.

Parking in most major cities in Italy and throughout Europe is challenging at the best of times. With some of the best rapid-transit systems in the world, it may be better if you leave your vehicle in a permanent parking zone for the duration of your city stay.

You can avoid stress by driving only during the midday if you feel compelled to drive from site to site. Rush hours are long and can be stressful.

What I found most difficult about city driving was the concentration required to be constantly aware of scooters weaving their way in and out of traffic without hesitation and often when least expected.

In Amsterdam, there are huge parking lots specifically for scooters and bicycles. Bicycles are also on streets in much greater numbers than we see in most Canadian cities.

Gasoline stations can be hard to find at times, and you need to know what their closing hours are, as some will not be available during sweltering middays.

If you do not know how to drive with a manual transmission, you will be paying a hefty premium for your car hire, as it is often termed overseas.

Notwithstanding the cost, you are likely best advised to buy the best insurance coverage available, just in case. And before you leave, do your homework. Learn about the different rules and symbols that direct you on the road. Try to learn the meaning of the words on the signs before you are faced with a decision for action at a junction or roundabout.

The roads in Europe, including Italy, tend to be well-maintained and made for loads of traffic. Be careful and you will appreciate the fact that you do gain that extra freedom by having a car at your disposal when you want to tour.

QUESTION: We are taking our children on a extensive Asian-countries tour this summer. They are both picky eaters at the best of times and I am certain we will end up in restaurants where there will be little they are familiar with on the menu. Do you have any suggestions?

ANSWER: I guess the easiest response would be that starvation is a great motivator. But I have also read of a couple of ideas for family-travel dining with young people.

Start off by suggesting they do a food report for every unusual food they have tasted. Have postcards available for them to send a version of those reports to their friends.

Create contests for the two children that are based on a reward for every block of three or four new menu items consumed. Create point values for the amount of the item eaten, partially or completely.

Have them take pictures of each new food for a school or family presentation. Not all these will work, but by changing the dynamic, you may see them open their minds to a style of travel experience you could have only hoped for before leaving on vacation.

Forward your travel questions to askjourneys@journeystravel.com . Ron Pradinuk is president of Journeys Travel & Leisure SuperCentre and can be heard Sundays at noon on CJOB. Previous columns and tips can be found on www.journeystravelgear.com or read Ron's travel blog at www.thattravelguy.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 19, 2012 D2