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 As the holiday season approaches, the thought of queuing in soulless airports while airlines cram your bags into small spaces can leave you swearing never to go abroad again. A fixed baggage allowance and the time you need to allocate for checkin and security checks may not be the perfect start of a holiday.
There is, however, a solution that gives you freedom: a road trip through Europe.
It has never been easier to pick up a car, hop on to the train or a ferry and open up the wide possibilities of Europe. The continent is incredibly easy to get around and you can travel from country to country without even having to show your passport.
Why not take a leisurely drive around Normandy in France, one of northern Europe's gems? A few hours drive will take you to France's second-most popular tourist attraction, the spectacular Mont St. Michelle jutting out of the sea. Driving around Normandy, you are never far from more than 600 km of coastline, complete with stunning views. Some of the region's attractions are Monet's garden, medieval castles and cathedrals. Normandy has something for everyone.
Further afield and for those with a little more time, why not drive through the French Riviera and cross into Italy? Motor across France to the medieval city of Avignon and its ancient buildings and then take your time driving along the Cote d'Azure, where you can see how people live in St. Tropez and Monaco. Further along the coast you will find Grasse, which is famous for its perfumeries and endless fields of lavender. Take in Nice, a bustling seaside city and then cross the border into Italy and run down the coast road down to Pisa. Depending on how long you stay in each place, this trip can take anywhere between one week and three.
If you like the idea of seeing the continent from the road, then why not go even further and drive a loop around the southern tip of Norway? Take a ferry to Bergen before setting off to Oslo along rural routes and marvelling at the beautiful countryside. After spending a few days in the Norwegian capital, loop back to Bergen along the coast road by way of Kristiansand and Stavanger. This route will amaze you with its views of snow-capped mountains and deep, clear fjords bordered by conifer woods.
It has never been easier to unshackle yourself from the budget-airline timetable and take advantage of London car rentals to explore all that Europe has to offer.
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