Article content
22 April 2024 by Norire Arakelyan
Are you assessing your options for your next holiday? If so, you could be mulling over whether to embark on a self-drive adventure, or leave the keys at home and opt to explore with an independent car-free holiday. To help you decide, our experts assess the pros and cons of each.
Self-drives – the freedom of the open road
Whether traversing glacier-lined mountain passes or winding along rugged coastlines, there is truly something special about taking to the open road and discovering a new destination, no matter where you are in the world. For a start, a good road trip can give you a sense of freedom that is hard to beat. It allows you to explore at your own pace, stop in the places you wish to stop and see the sights you want to see, letting the mood dictate your route. You can also choose to stay in your favourite places for longer, or as much time as you wish without having to worry about more cost or other unhappy travellers.
Furthermore, hiring a car can often allow you the chance to embark on a deeper exploration of your chosen country. Whether you're mixing it with the locals on a highway pitstop or taking the alternative scenic route to reach your destination, having the freedom of a car can make your holiday even more memorable.
If the open road is calling you, a carefully crafted self-drive holiday could be just the trip you're looking for.
Bixby Creek Bridge, California, USA
Alternative holidays – leave the keys at home
Whether your self-drive alternative means a luxury rail journey, private guided touring, a cruise or the services of your very own driver and guide, sometimes it can be best to leave it to the professionals, giving you peace of mind and taking the stress out of travel. For instance, if you opt to explore with a private driver and guide, their first-hand knowledge, insights into history and expertise could provide valuable context to the places you visit that might otherwise go unnoticed on self-drive tours.
Depending on the country you choose to visit, driving can be far from a breeze. Think the likes of driving on the opposite side of the road, ambiguous one way systems or finding a spot to park in the city.
It is also worth noting that deciding whether or not to get behind the wheel can depend a lot on the destination you choose to visit. For instance, if you're visiting the US, not opting for a self-drive can somewhat limit your options. While you can explore certain cities and famous sites via other modes of transport – such as with our east coast rail journey – it limits the possibilities when it comes to enjoying many of the unique national parks and nature hotspots in the US.
If you wish to avoid getting behind the wheel, consider the likes of our escorted tours; where you'll find knowledgable guides and other travellers with similar interests, rail holidays; where you can link multiple destinations while sitting back and soaking up the views along the way, or perhaps independent holidays; where you'll benefit from the likes of meet-and-greet services, transfers and sometimes even your own private driver or guide.
Glacier Express, Switzerland
