Pros and Cons of Highways versus Backroads

You’re renting a car for your travels. Now, should you wander the highways or backroads? The truth is you will probably use both. Let’s look at the pros and cons for highways or backroads.

For one thing, remember that distances are deceiving when you’re traveling on back roads. It’ll always take you longer than you think when you wander the smaller roads. You need to allow enough time.

Most highways in the U.S. are freeways. There are some toll roads. You’ll find more in the eastern side of the United States than in the west. In Europe, many of the highways are toll roads. Toll roads are becoming more common around the world. They can be expensive, but they’ll get you from one place to another faster. There are times when that’s the best thing, just get where you want to be. And in some countries, traveling the toll road might be safer.

But sometimes quickest isn’t always best. Toll roads will cost you money and whip you through the countryside. And just like highways and freeways anywhere, you probably won’t see as much when you travel on highways and autoroutes. They have a bland sameness about them – all over the world!

Sometimes secondary highways and other free roads are older. They may be more heavily traveled especially in developing countries. You’ll pass through towns and villages where you’ll have to slow down. Slowing down is both a plus and a minus.

The smaller, free highways and back roads will often be the fastest way from small town to small town. Big highways and autobahns tend to be routed around small towns. If you have the time and want to see more of the country, stay off the toll roads. Toll roads may not have exits where you want. Sometimes there are long distances between exits.

In Europe, there are great rest stops for food, gas and toilette facilities on all the toll roads. The food may not be as bad as American fast food, but it’s still fast food. American highways are littered with fast food stops and cheap restaurants.

On back roads or free roads, you can find food and gas in the towns you pass through. Take your time and stop for lunch in a little local restaurant. You’ll get more of a feel for the local food and the countryside.

Driving those toll roads or freeways might be safer at night. Some free roads or backroads are narrow and winding.

In rural areas, you may find yourself stuck behind farm equipement or behind a slow driver on those narrow backroads. Of course, as a tourist enjoying the scenery, you might be the slow driver!

Does this sound like we’re contradicting ourselves with the pros and cons? We’re just trying to show you what to expect with each choice. It’s slow travel versus getting there fast. Highways or backroads, you’ll want to use them both.

Prices on toll roads vary from country to country. Some tolls are nominal and in other counties they’re expensive. Decide if the old “time is money” saying is true for each leg of your trip. Some days you may just want to get from one area to the other quickly, other days you might want to ramble.

Highways tend to take you to cities with expensive hotels, on the back roads you can find local budget accommodations in small towns. So think about the focus of your trip: highways or backroads. There’s a time for both and no reason to shun either.

Hitting The Highway

Let’s “Hit the Highways” as the Americans say when they want to get away for a short trip or a longer road “trip vacation”.  There are probably similar expressions around the world.

When you climb into a car close to home, you pretty much know what the roads are going to be like, but what if you’re renting a car in a foreign country?  Well, then you’re going to need to do a little research to learn what a highway is.  You should not go to, say Madagascar, and expect the highways to be like those in Australia.  We know, we were recently there.

In the US, major highways are usually freeways, though there are some toll roads.  Some smaller state roads are also called highways.  They will all be called highways in guidebooks and on maps.  This might lead to confusion by some visitors. 

In California, U.S. Highway 101 is a major freeway, two to five lanes wide in both direction depending where you are.  California State Highway 1, however, is a scenic, hug-the-coast, winding road that is only one lane wide in each direction all the way from south to north!  Both highways will take you from Southern California to Oregon and beyond in totally different ways.  You’ll zip along at top speed on 101; you’ll poke along slowly stopping often for the scenery on 1.

In Europe, you also have major highways that are free and some that are toll roads.  And you can sped along on both.  But you will also find some national highways that are only two lanes and will take you longer to drive.

What is a highway in developing nations?  In some countries all the roads will take you more time to navigate.  That was certainly the case in Madagascar.

When you plan to hit the highways, you need to learn how to figure out just what kind of a highway you will be driving on.  While maps are not necessarily consistent, you can usually tell by the thickness and color of the lines designating the different roads and highways.  The thicker the line, the bigger the road.

You can probably count on thick, double lines in blue, red or green being major roads that will get you to your destination in a hurry. These are freeways or motorways or autobahns or autostrases.  Whether you have to pay a toll or not, they will be fast.

Thin squiggly black lines are probably small roads that will take you to some great places, but you’ll get there slowly.  They are not highways. That’s probably about the only thing that’s certain.

So what is a highway?  The dictionary says it is “a main road, especially one connecting major towns”, but that leaves a lot open to interpretation.  Do your research and allow plenty of time so you can enjoy yourself and not stress on how long it is taking you to drive from one point to another.

Toll Roads In Different Countries

You’ll run into toll roads all over the world, so what do you need to know about driving on them?  How to use them for one thing.  Tolls are collected differently in different countries.

Toll roads anywhere in the world are almost always marked as such and you can use your credit card for many of them, but you may need cash or coins.  Check with your local automobile association or guidebooks for information on the countries you will be visiting.

There are a couple of common types of fee collection systems for toll roads. 

One is to charge you at a toll station at the entrance to the toll section, giving you access to that section of road.  Sometimes you will stop and pay again as you enter a new section of road.

Another common scenario is that you will pass through a toll booth and collect a ticket when you enter.  Then, when you get to the exit ramp, you’ll find toll booths for payment.  Look for the booths that are marked with credit card signs or currency signs.  You may give your payment to a person or to a machine!

Many toll plazas all over the world are now automated.  All of these are intuitive, just take your time, follow the directions, and you’ll be all right.  Let’s use Italy as an example:

Take a ticket at the entrance to the Autostrade.  When you get to the exit ramp, look for the lanes with the signs showing pictures of credit cards.  Insert the toll ticket first, then your credit card.  If the machine “talks to you”, you probably need to turn your credit card around.  If everything is OK, the machine will say, “Arrivederci!” and you’re on your way.  If you want a receipt, there is a big red button to push.

Having said it’s intuitive, we had friends that got to the entrance and didn’t figure out that they needed to take a ticket.  (You may have to push a button for a ticket.)  When they got to the exit, they had a lot of explaining to do and they didn’t speak Italian!

You do want to take that entrance ticket.  Don’t lose your ticket either, you’re apt to be charged for the longest distance on that toll section! 

When you’re paying your toll, you do want to avoid the lanes that indicate an electronic payment unless you have the appropriate transponder.  Look for a lane that takes credit cards or cash.

Some countries in Europe, like Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia and others, require special stickers (sometimes called vignettes) to use the highways.  Research this before you travel.  If you’re driving in one of these countries, make sure your rental car has one, or purchase one at the border.  We have sometimes purchased them at gas stations near border crossings, and they aren’t too expensive.

Visitors to Australia will find themselves on a toll road with no way to pay, as all payments are electronic.  Look out for the sign that provides a phone number and a website to contact if you didn’t have an eTag. Don’t delay.  Once you have used a toll road, and they have photographed your license plate, you have only a day or two to call. 

No matter where you are, never say, “Oh, they’ll just charge the rental car company.”  Yes, they will, and the rental car company will charge you – along with any fines that are levied.

If you drive during your travels, you’ll come across toll roads.  Just take your time, and pay the toll.  Then laugh like we did every time the machine in Italy wished us “Arrivederci!” in that sexy voice.  It’s all part of the travel experience.

Tips For Sharing a Campervan

Sharing a Campervan can be an economical way to travel, and an interesting and fun way to share an experience. There are some things you should think about before you sign on for a trip in one.

You need to know right from the start that you’d better all be able to get along in tight quarters. Just how tight those quarters are depends on the size of the Campervan. Before you rent or buy an van, you should understand what you get with the different sizes.

The very largest are Class A motor homes, and you’ll most often find these large motor homes in the U.S. They are long – upto 12 meters. These have automatic “slide outs” that make your coach bigger when you’re parked. They have a separate bedroom. There will generally be toilet and shower facilities, a kitchen and an eating area. These will tell you they can sleep 6 – 8 people.

Class C motor homes are a scaled down version of their bigger cousins. They are in the 6-9 meters category. They generally have a drivers compartment with a bunk over it. They have most of the same features as Class A vans, but on a smaller scale. These also say they can sleep up to 8 people depending on the floor plan. As you can imagine, this will mean you are in even closer quarters.

Class B van conversions go down in size and amenities from there.

So can they really sleep that many people?

Yes, it’s physically possible, but – it’s very cozy. Sharing an Campervan with that many people is probably easiest for a family. You can tuck the kids into all those bunks and fold outs and have the bedroom for yourself.

If there are four or six adults sharing an Campervan, may we suggest that you should be really good friends or family!

We took a trip in one of those Class A vans recently. It was a over 10 meters, with two slide outs, a bedroom, and a full bath. The daytime sofa folded to a bed at night, and the dining table area could be converted into another slightly shorter bed. It was fun, and we were thankful for those walls when thunderstorms shook us. However, we took a tent along too, and when the weather was good, we slept outside for a little more privacy.

You will all be sharing the same bathroom. If you don’t have water and power hook-ups, you will need to conseve water and power. At some point you have to “dump” the “grey water” and the “black water”. The point when you need to empty those tanks comes sooner with more people using the facilities.
We found it was easiest sharing an van when we were in campgrounds that had shower blocks and toilets that we could use. That gave us all a little more privacy, and we could all get ready faster in the mornings.

You need to divide up cooking chores. The kitchens are small; not enough room for too many cooks. Take turns, so everyone gets a vacation from cooking.

And you need to think about how comfortable it will be when everything is closed up and you are driving to your next destination. Are you driving long distances? Is there room for everyone to sit comfortably?

We found traveling and sharing an Campervan was a great experience. It worked especially well for the type of trip we were on. Even so, after three weeks, we were glad to get home and out of the van. If you think you can get along with your fellow travelers and deal with the tight quarters, we say go for it. Sharing an Campervan can be an interesting experience.

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Bru na Boinne. An Irish “Must See”

What is it about Bru na Boinne that makes it so special. So much so that it’s one of the “must sees” of Ireland?

The site contains passage graves, standing stones, henges and other features. It’s a World Heritage site, and literature says it contains some of the world’s most historically important Neoltic passage graves, most notably Newgrange, Dowth and Knowth.

What is it about the site that “takes your breath away”? I guess it’s because it’s origins are lost in Ireland’s misty ancient history. Newgrange is mentioned in several Celtic sagas.

A thousand years older than Stonehenge in England, it is a powerful and evocative testament to the mind-boggling achievements of prehistoric humans. There’s another reason it’s so special: because it shows us what we can achieve. I mean, if ancient peoples could do that, just think what we can do.

To a certain extent, you need to have a fascination with ancient monuments and standing stones. If you do, then certainly you will enjoy Bru na Boinne. The monuments at this site seem to have always been associated with “magic”. They seem tied to astromony, in this case mostly the Winter Solstice.

Through the centuries, they were woven into myths and legends and became regarded as the cemetary of the High-Kings of Tara and Ireland.

The main monuments here are Newgrange, Knowth, and Dowth.

Newgrange is a passage tomb, but that sounds so ordinary. It is one of the most famous prehistoric sites in the world. It consists of a mound which is 76 meters across and 12 meters high. What makes it visually so impressive is that the front is faced with a wall of sparkling white quartz stones. Close up it is the art on the stones that will impress. The burial chamber inside has remained intact for 5,000 years.

Knowth is the largest of the passage graves here. Its large mound is impressive, but it lacks the spectacular white front of New Grange. There is, however, an impressive amount of megalithic art in this tomb.

Dowth is the oldest of these three, but it is the least attractive to tourists because it is less excavated. Its decorations are not as complex, though it may once have been faced with quartz like Newgrange. Newgrange and Dowth have passages that allow light in during the Winter Solstice.

Block out all of your fellow tourists and try to imagine yourself transported 4000-5000 years back in time. You approach by boat on the River Boyne, through an ancient Irish landscape. There, high on a hill in the distance you see the sunlight dancing off the white quartz and granite facade of a monument. Something that is already ancient that you know very little about. Wouldn’t that seem magical?

Even now, approaching the monuments in Bru na Boinne, you can feel the sacredness of the site if you will just let yourself. That’s the magic of it. And that is why it’s so special.

Stopping for The Night With A Campervan

When you’re traveling with an Campervan, you need to know where you can stop for the night. How do you find a place to park and set up?

Don’t worry… In the U.S. there are lots of campgrounds, public parks, and private “RV parks” that you can choose from.  But what do you look for? And the same goes for Europe, but we’ll concentrate on the U.S. here. What will make your experience traveling with a van the most pleasant?

One thing that we’ll say right at the beginning is don’t wait until late in the day to find a place to park. Just like when we find hotel rooms while traveling, we think it’s best to have a place for the night by no later than 5:00 PM. There are lots of places to park that Campervan, but once you get there, you have to set it up, and you really want to do that in daylight if you can.

In the U.S., you can’t just pull off to the side of the road and park for the night, but there are plenty of options. There are “RV parks” all over the country. There are even some large store chains that allow you to spend the night in their parking lots – not scenic or private, but it’s nice to know about if you need it.

You’ll find these parks in cities and out in the countryside. There are Campervan spaces in State Parks and National Parks. Many small towns have town parks with spaces. You can choose to drive and find places for the night as you go, or you can book your spot in advance.

If you’re going to a popular destination or a popular event, reservations in advance are a good idea. At some popular events where camping and “RVing” is the norm, places are sometimes reserved and paid for a year in advance! We just rented an Campervan and a parking space at the popular AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. We were lucky to get a coach and a spot two months in advance.

Outside of those popular destinations you have more flexibility. You can look for signs advertising parks as you drive along. You can go on the internet and plan your route, making reservations at parks ahead of time. You can get a campground book and look them up and call ahead once you know how far you’ll get in a day.

Now you do need to know some of the jargon and what to look for when you’re stopping for the night. We freely admit we know really very little, but here are some of the basics. Some parks come with just a place to park you need to get by with the power supplied by your batteries and the water your “rig” stores. Places that are “RV parks” usually come with “full hook-ups” which means that you have power and water and sometime “sewage dumps”. You can figure that one out! The amount of electrical power varies. We stopped at places that had 30 amps that was OK, but 50 amps was better according to our friends.

Everyone at the parks seemed friendly and helpful. We traveled with veterans, but if you were a novice at campervan traveling, I’m sure you could get help with your hook-up.

It really is easier to find a place to park for the night than we ever thought it would be, and finding some of those little parks made traveling with a van more of an adventure than we ever thought it could be. It was a terrific experience, and something we hope to do again.

Driving in Foreign Countries

Tourists need to be alert when they’re driving in foreign places. You need to familiarise yourself with international road signs. Most are pictographs, and that’s a good thing, because if you were driving in Greece, they’d all be Greek to you otherwise. OK, that was a bad pun, but you get what I’m saying. Do a little research for driving in foreign places.

Review what those signs mean. Most guidebooks and maps list them, but you don’t want to be looking in the book to find that the white horizontal slash on a red sign means “Do Not Enter” just as you have driven down the street!

What are the driving customs? What are the signals to pass or not pass? Watch what the local drivers are doing and take hints from them when you’re driving in foreign places. Back to Greece, when the truck drivers were telling us it was safe to pass, they stuck their left arm out. In the U.S., that’s the old arm signal for turning left.

When driving on the freeways/ autobahns/ autostrasses with multiple lanes, don’t just cruise along in the fast or left lane. Europeans really do use the faster lanes for passing. Our European friends are always surprised to find slower drivers just staying in any lane of the freeways and never moving over for faster cars. Australians should take a lesson here.

You may be driving on a different side of the road than you’re used to. Drivers on the right may have a slight edge, but throughout the world it’s pretty evenly split for who drives on the left and who drives on the right. If you’re driving on the “wrong” side of the road for you, you’ll need to pay even more attention.

Drive carefully. Don’t let local drivers press you to drive faster than you’re comfortable. If someone flashes their lights at you, pull over, and let them pass. They’re used to passing little old ladies on those two lane roads, just pretend you’re a little old lady! Don’t let your ego get in the way, they’ve had more practice.

Remember that speed limits and distances will be measured differently. Around the world, most distances are metric, as are speed limits. The U.S. persists in using miles. The average speed limit on U.S. freeways is 65 mph (miles per hour), that translates to 105 km/h. Speed limits are posted, so that’s easy. For distances, use roughly 0.6 mile per kilometer or 1.6 kilometer per mile.

Toll roads and road fees are a whole category unto themselves.

We have never been asked for an International Driver’s License, even though we have often read you should have one. Bottom line: read up on the rules of the road for driving in foreign places, and just go have fun.

Explore Europe With A Campervan

Campervan travel in Europe? You may think of vacationing with an RV (Recreational Vehicle) in the US, but Europeans have been caravanning for years too, as have Australians and New Zealanders.

There are many companies that rent Campervans (or Caravans)in Europe. In general they will be smaller than the motorhomes you see rolling down American highways.

If you like this kind of travel, Campervan travel in Europe is something you should check into. Seeing Europe by caravan will give you a whole different experience than driving or taking the train and staying in hotels. You probably will have more chances to make friends with holidaying Europeans.

Sure, you say, you can camp in the mountains. But what about the cities? Yes, there are loads of campgrounds out in the countryside but you may be surprised to find that you can find places in the cities too.

You can set up your Campervan in the Bois de Bologne overlooking the Seine in Paris. You can find a camping spot on the beach just outside of Venice. Roll out the awning for a panoramic sunset view of Florence. And to make it better, there is often a bus stop or metro stop close by! (They are on the edges of cities, so expect about a 30 minute ride to the center of town.)

With a Campervan, you can wander from campground to campground. You can shop in local markets for area specialties and cook yourself, or you can find small local restaurants if you don’t want to cook.

Most local tourist offices list area campgrounds for Campervan travel in Europe. Most countries in Europe also tolerate “free camping”. Just parking on the side of the road in a discreet spot. There are plenty of websites that will rent caravans and give you advice on what you need to know to experience European style.

If you own your Campervan, there are sites that will allow you to do a swap just like there are home swapping sites.

Whether you’re a visitor from abroad or a European looking for a new experience, it might just be fun to consider Campervan travel in Europe.

Irish Pubs, A Friendly Place To Meet Locals

Irish Pubs are as much a part of the local scene as the iconic tiny green fields bordered by stone walls. Whether you’re a beer lover or not, you should visit at least a few Pubs during your visit.

When we traveled in Ireland with family, we stopped at a Pub for lunch. Our nieces were young at the time, and they wanted to know if it was OK for them to go into a bar. Don’t think of them as bars.

The term pub is short for “public house”. The locals go there to hang out and socialize. Children are served food and soft drinks. Sometimes there is a special section, and they may be asked to leave earlier at night than the other patrons. The legal drinking age is 19 in Ireland.

Irish Pubs are great places to get a decent inexpensive meal. “Pub Grub” earned a bad reputation years ago, but it’s not what it used to be. There are a few pubs that have microwaved meals and wilted salads, but most are really pretty good today. To find the best pub in the area where you’re staying, just ask the host at your B-and-B. You’ll probably get a great tip for a meal and a fun evening.

In most pubs, you order at the bar, both your drink and your food. Just ask if you’re unsure how to order beer. Most bartenders or publicans will take the time to educate you. If you just ask for a beer, you’re apt to get a pint of Guinness. If you want less, ask for a half-pint.

We don’t drink beer much at home, but we love to try local beers when we travel, so we suggest you try some of the local brews in Irish Pubs. There are long handles with plaques on them at the bar that let you know what is on tap. If you ask, they will probably let you have a small taste of one or two to see if you like them. Of course, you must order one in the end.

Besides Guinness Stout, there are other ales, bitters, and beers. If you like lighter beer ask for a lager, something like Harp.

Pubs are open for lunch and straight through to dinner and into the evening, usually from 11:00 AM to 11:30 PM.

If you’re staying in a town for a couple of nights and visit the same pub, you’ll probably be hailed as a friend by your second visit. You’ll only be a stranger in a pub if you want to be. If you try talking to the locals, you’ll soon be in a conversation.

If you’re really lucky, you’ll run into some traditional music. You may find music advertised or it might just happen spontaneously. Musical instrument can be fiddles, flutes, guitars or accordions, or all of the above. But if you’re really lucky you might hear the Irish version of bagpipes – the uilleann.

Whether you get music or great food or just a pint and a snack, you’ll find a friendly place to stop in an Irish Pub.

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