Driving through countries
Feb 20, 2003 | 10:22 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Washington, DC US-CP, NW Gold, Hilton Gold, SPG G
Posts: 1
Driving through countries
Planning to drive (rental) from Paris to Amsterdam, stopping in Belgium. What is the policy on customs? Will it be a long line at each countries border?
As I post this the train is starting to look like a better and better option. I've never been to Europe and thought I would enjoy this driving adventure.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Fletch
As I post this the train is starting to look like a better and better option. I've never been to Europe and thought I would enjoy this driving adventure.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Fletch
Feb 21, 2003 | 3:14 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: OH
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, Marriot Lifetime Gold
Posts: 10,005
So long as you stay in the EU there is no problem driving over borders since there is no longer any internal customs. When I was driving around Luxembourg, Germany, and Belgium, I hardly noticed I was even crossing a border.
Driving is fun since you can visit small villages and out of the way things. But, petrol is expensive and if you are only interested in the main cities, I'd go with the train. If you really want to explore - a car can't be beat.
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I Love New York -- Viva Espaa
Driving is fun since you can visit small villages and out of the way things. But, petrol is expensive and if you are only interested in the main cities, I'd go with the train. If you really want to explore - a car can't be beat.
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I Love New York -- Viva Espaa
Feb 21, 2003 | 10:01 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Sonoma County, Coliforniaaaa
Posts: 613
Most of the EU plus some nordic countries are part of the Schengen Treaty which means that they have no internal customs or immigration between each other. For example if you fly from Madrid to Berlin you would depart and arrive from the domestic terminals. The Schengen Treaty is not part of the EU. The UK and Ireland are 2 EU countries that are not part of the Schengen Treaty.
More Info below
http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/www/e.../schengen_html
More Info below
http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/www/e.../schengen_html
Feb 21, 2003 | 11:01 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: SFO
Programs: AA 3 MM, IHG Diamond
Posts: 4,589
Between Amsterdam and Paris? What customs? 
If you are driving by yourself, I'd consider taking Thalys ( http://www.thalys.com ). The cost of renting a car specifically for this journey plus the cost of petrol (about 1 a litre, if I recall correctly) and the cost of French tolls would easily surpass a first class unrestricted one-way ticket on Thalys (137). Plus it only takes about 4h 10m by train from Amsterdam to Paris, about half an hour faster than driving.
If you do drive, I agree that it's a nice way to see the small towns. Don't miss Antwerp!
If you are driving by yourself, I'd consider taking Thalys ( http://www.thalys.com ). The cost of renting a car specifically for this journey plus the cost of petrol (about 1 a litre, if I recall correctly) and the cost of French tolls would easily surpass a first class unrestricted one-way ticket on Thalys (137). Plus it only takes about 4h 10m by train from Amsterdam to Paris, about half an hour faster than driving.
If you do drive, I agree that it's a nice way to see the small towns. Don't miss Antwerp!
Feb 21, 2003 | 12:56 pm
#6
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: From and of Boston.
Posts: 4,973
It's certainly true that the train is trmendously faster and probably less expensive, but driving can be a wonderful experience, especially if you keep to the smaller roads and enjoy the towns and sights along the way. (This means taking the small roads, not the superhighways.)
If you drive, be sure to have some good maps -- Michelin yellow maps are perfect. (You can get these easily in Europe if you don't get them beforehand.) The landscape on a straight line between Paris and Amsterdam isn't necessarily the most spectacular in Europe (sort of similar to the landscape between Chicago and St Louis), but a short detour east or west makes it a very nice trip. Detouring west, you could head to the French and Belgian coastline (Le Tourquet, Dunkirk, Knokke-heist); alternatively, head a bit east and you go through Reims (Champagne country) and the Ardennes.
One cautionary note: although driving rules and practices are very similar in W. Europe and N. America, flashing headlights usually means something very different. In No. America, when a car flashes their lights at your (for example, when you are both trying to get through the same intersection), the flashing headlights mean "go ahead, I'll wait for you." In Europe (or at least France/Belgium, those same flashing headlights mean "watch out, I'm coming through." Obviously, there does exist a certain potential for misunderstanding.
If you drive, be sure to have some good maps -- Michelin yellow maps are perfect. (You can get these easily in Europe if you don't get them beforehand.) The landscape on a straight line between Paris and Amsterdam isn't necessarily the most spectacular in Europe (sort of similar to the landscape between Chicago and St Louis), but a short detour east or west makes it a very nice trip. Detouring west, you could head to the French and Belgian coastline (Le Tourquet, Dunkirk, Knokke-heist); alternatively, head a bit east and you go through Reims (Champagne country) and the Ardennes.
One cautionary note: although driving rules and practices are very similar in W. Europe and N. America, flashing headlights usually means something very different. In No. America, when a car flashes their lights at your (for example, when you are both trying to get through the same intersection), the flashing headlights mean "go ahead, I'll wait for you." In Europe (or at least France/Belgium, those same flashing headlights mean "watch out, I'm coming through." Obviously, there does exist a certain potential for misunderstanding.
Feb 21, 2003 | 9:01 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,950
Only thing I've run into is the customs looking for bulk cigarettes when I crossed from Andorra back into Spain last summer.
Drove from Italy through Slovenia to Croatia and back two years ago. Only question there was if I owned the car. When they understood "rent-a-car", they sent me on my way.
There are plusses & minuses to both. Follow your heart!
JP
Drove from Italy through Slovenia to Croatia and back two years ago. Only question there was if I owned the car. When they understood "rent-a-car", they sent me on my way.
There are plusses & minuses to both. Follow your heart!
JP