Spontaneity
If you’re the type of traveler who likes to leave the main road to check out an intriguing castle, renting a car is probably your best transportation option. You’ll be free to deviate from your planned itinerary whenever you wish, and you won’t have to worry about missing a train.
Transit Strikes
On any trip, things happen that you can’t control. In some parts of Europe, transportation strikes are fairly common, and they could affect your vacation if you plan to travel by air, train or bus. Renting a car is one way to avoid the effects of work stoppages.
If you decide to rely on public transportation, be sure to check newspapers and websites as your departure day approaches. If a strike is looming, it’s best to be prepared with an alternative travel plan. Consider learning the words for “strike” in the language of the countries you intend to visit. If you hear that familiar word, you’ll know it’s time to visit the nearest tourist information center or pick up a newspaper.
Accessibility Issues
If you’re a wheelchair user or slow walker, you’ll need to carefully research and plan your overseas trip. Getting information about rental vehicles can be quite challenging. It’s not always easy to find companies that rent accessible vans, for example, and when you do find them, you may need to translate their websites into English to see whether they can meet your needs.
Once you’ve found a rental company, plan to have several conversations with them about your specific requirements. Hand controls can be a particular problem; some travelers bring portable hand controls, but they don’t work with all European cars. You might want to develop a backup plan in case your rental vehicle doesn’t meet your accessibility needs when you pick it up. Having a “Plan B” is far better than standing at the airport's rental car counter, trying to decide how you’ll get to your hotel.Researching public transportation presents similar challenges. European Union countries tend to provide better accessibility, but conditions vary widely from country to country and place to place. For example, the Orient Express train is not wheelchair accessible, but the Eurostar (Chunnel) train offers special fares and provides dedicated seating for wheelchair users and their companions.
Be very specific about your accessibility needs, as each car rental and ground transportation company probably has different ways of defining “accessible.” Convert all of your measurements to centimeters before you contact anyone on the Continent. Finally, don’t forget to reconfirm each and every travel arrangement 48 hours before you depart.
Consider booking your trip through a travel agent who specializes in accessible travel. The travel agent will be familiar with transportation options in your destination country and can help you plan a comfortable trip. There are also several excellent guidebooks available for wheelchair travelers and slow walkers.
Tip: If you do decide to drive, either alone or with a companion, European Union countries will accept disabled parking permits from the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand, so don’t forget to bring yours along.
