Why are so many people scared of driving while abroad?

[Anonymous]

I don't rent cars here. I hate being responsible for a vehicle that isn't mine.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:We've driven on multiple continents and numerous countries over the years with car rentals. Yes, we've even had breakdowns before which requires having to navigate a car mechanic with locals, no big deal, we survived. But overall, we've seen soooooooo much more of the countries that we've been too by being able to stop in smaller towns, smaller sites, and random local spots where trains and busses simply never would go to or would take horrendous amounts of time that makes mass transport less viable in harder to get to areas. If you speak to many travelers, they have some kind irrational fear of driving while abroad, why is this? Who gives a crap about language barriers? Modern GPS works basically everywhere. Left side, right side, it doesn't matter, you get used to it in about 5 minutes. We have basically never, ever had a problem and would recommend international driving to everyone in order to see much more of countries you're traveling to besides big cities.

Let me guess, you call yourself a traveler and not a tourist.

Why would you want to see podunk towns in other countries? More to the point, why do you think that’s a flex?

NP. Oh boy. “Flex”? Are you in middle school? Let me guess. You’re only in it for the Instagram pics. Tell me where you’ve been. I can guarantee it’s only the most ridiculous, overhyped, overtouristed places.

Bless your heart. I don’t travel to see the suburbs and ghettos of other cities. I go to see the sites. Like normal people.

You sound like the worst sort of snob. “Oh, I visited Paris and instead of the overhyped, overtouristed Eiffel Tower and Louvre, I spent the day exploring Sarcelles. I am soooooo sophistimacated and shit.”

Oh yes, the European countryside is nothing but “suburbs and ghettos”. Wow, you’re too stupid to know what you’ve missed.

Actually, I am a published travel writer. I write features for The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Conde Naste titles, in-flight magazines, AARP, etc. I have written Lonely Planet books (long time ago). I specialize in New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, South Africa and Namibia. I have been to all seven continents, every US state except Montana, and more than 85 countries.

Your kind just annoys the hell out of me. You’re exactly what Alex Garland was satirizing in his novel “The Beach.” Try to be less insufferable.

Does anyone read travel articles anymore? The ones I see these days are all AI, and I think Lonely Planet was sold. And it’s pretty rich for you to throw around the word “insufferable” with a post like that. Oh yeah, and I’ve been to 120 countries and every US state, including Montana, not that it matters. If you need any advice, just let me know .

I’m good. I don’t confuse slumming it in the Detroit ghettos with having a good time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We've driven on multiple continents and numerous countries over the years with car rentals. Yes, we've even had breakdowns before which requires having to navigate a car mechanic with locals, no big deal, we survived. But overall, we've seen soooooooo much more of the countries that we've been too by being able to stop in smaller towns, smaller sites, and random local spots where trains and busses simply never would go to or would take horrendous amounts of time that makes mass transport less viable in harder to get to areas. If you speak to many travelers, they have some kind irrational fear of driving while abroad, why is this? Who gives a crap about language barriers? Modern GPS works basically everywhere. Left side, right side, it doesn't matter, you get used to it in about 5 minutes. We have basically never, ever had a problem and would recommend international driving to everyone in order to see much more of countries you're traveling to besides big cities.

Let me guess, you call yourself a traveler and not a tourist.

Why would you want to see podunk towns in other countries? More to the point, why do you think that’s a flex?

NP. Oh boy. “Flex”? Are you in middle school? Let me guess. You’re only in it for the Instagram pics. Tell me where you’ve been. I can guarantee it’s only the most ridiculous, overhyped, overtouristed places.

Bless your heart. I don’t travel to see the suburbs and ghettos of other cities. I go to see the sites. Like normal people.

You sound like the worst sort of snob. “Oh, I visited Paris and instead of the overhyped, overtouristed Eiffel Tower and Louvre, I spent the day exploring Sarcelles. I am soooooo sophistimacated and shit.”

Oh yes, the European countryside is nothing but “suburbs and ghettos”. Wow, you’re too stupid to know what you’ve missed.

Actually, I am a published travel writer. I write features for The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Conde Naste titles, in-flight magazines, AARP, etc. I have written Lonely Planet books (long time ago). I specialize in New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, South Africa and Namibia. I have been to all seven continents, every US state except Montana, and more than 85 countries.

Your kind just annoys the hell out of me. You’re exactly what Alex Garland was satirizing in his novel “The Beach.” Try to be less insufferable.

Does anyone read travel articles anymore? The ones I see these days are all AI, and I think Lonely Planet was sold. And it’s pretty rich for you to throw around the word “insufferable” with a post like that. Oh yeah, and I’ve been to 120 countries and every US state, including Montana, not that it matters. If you need any advice, just let me know .

I’m good. I don’t confuse slumming it in the Detroit ghettos with having a good time.

What on earth? I was talking about charming, small out of the way places in Europe, yet you keep bringing up “ghettos.” It’s so bizarre! I’m sorry you’re so insecure dear.

[Anonymous]

I'm afraid to drive on the other side of the road and right-hand drive. I'd like to drive around Ireland but don't want to try this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am feeling like quite the sophisticate for working out the bus networks in foreign countries

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm afraid to drive on the other side of the road and right-hand drive. I'd like to drive around Ireland but don't want to try this.

Also many of the roads are single lane in Ireland and Scotland.

[Anonymous]

I hate driving generally but dh loves it and we always rent a car in Europe: that way you get to see little villages and towns you cannot reach via rail. And honestly I prefer it in cities as well because it eliminates the need for public transportation. Have done that plenty but always needing to be alert about pickpockets sucks and it's getting worse.

[Anonymous]

I haven't read everything but we will drive in most places with the exception of right hand side drive countries. I used to drive in the UK all the time but the very narrow country roads with tall hedges make me nervous (including when someone else is driving). Last time I rented a car in England we got a flat tire in the rain on a narrow road with trucks blasting by.

We always get the max insurance, especially in Italy and Southern France.

[Anonymous]

I haven't read the chain, but I'll answer for myself, personally:

I (a very type-A, studious person) took learning to drive really seriously as a teen. I read all the info from the DMV, I took drivers ed very seriously, I took a defensive driving course that I took very seriously. In addition, where I'm from (NY) driver's ed was a big deal - two hours after school twice a week for a whole semester, once a week in class, once a week in car - and the drivers test was challenging. Lots of people didn't pass on the first try. I had my learner's permit for a year and drove through lots of challenging situations (highway, city, unfamiliar areas, in rain and snow and ice) with my parents during that year.

By the time I got my license at 17, I was a skilled, confident driver. I know I'm not immune to issues and things can happen to anyone, but I've never been in an accident, and never gotten a ticket. Never even been pulled over.

The idea of driving in a foreign country, where I don't know the rules and may not understand all the road signs, does not sound safe to me. And forget about driving on the "wrong" side of the road - all my driving instincts, honed over more than two decades of driving, would be wrong. In the event of a dangerous situation, I might swerve into more danger without even thinking about it. Driving is one of the most dangerous things that people do, and yet they treat it like it's no big deal. It IS a big deal, and you could easily get hurt or killed, or hurt or kill someone else.

If I was going to drive in another country, I would want to do some serious studying ahead of time to make sure I understood all the safety signs and any key differences in road rules and customs. And so, I don't bother, I just take public transit.

I also add that I'm a city person, it's my preference to visit cities, and I like trains and busses anyway. I actually think public transit is a really good way to "see" a city. So it doesn't feel limiting to not drive in other countries. If I was someone who preferred to travel to small towns and the countryside, that might change my view on this. Right now, my reticence to drive in other countries isn't costing me anything I want anyway.

You're right that breaking down or getting lost are non-issues, I don't care about that, particularly in the cell phone age.

[Anonymous]

Maybe it's just me...but it's natural to drive on the opposite side of the road from the steering wheel.

The big issue is reminding to always look both ways when turning against traffic...that's where you are most conditioned to forget about opposite side driving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We've driven on multiple continents and numerous countries over the years with car rentals. Yes, we've even had breakdowns before which requires having to navigate a car mechanic with locals, no big deal, we survived. But overall, we've seen soooooooo much more of the countries that we've been too by being able to stop in smaller towns, smaller sites, and random local spots where trains and busses simply never would go to or would take horrendous amounts of time that makes mass transport less viable in harder to get to areas. If you speak to many travelers, they have some kind irrational fear of driving while abroad, why is this? Who gives a crap about language barriers? Modern GPS works basically everywhere. Left side, right side, it doesn't matter, you get used to it in about 5 minutes. We have basically never, ever had a problem and would recommend international driving to everyone in order to see much more of countries you're traveling to besides big cities.

Let me guess, you call yourself a traveler and not a tourist.

Why would you want to see podunk towns in other countries? More to the point, why do you think that’s a flex?

NP. Oh boy. “Flex”? Are you in middle school? Let me guess. You’re only in it for the Instagram pics. Tell me where you’ve been. I can guarantee it’s only the most ridiculous, overhyped, overtouristed places.

Bless your heart. I don’t travel to see the suburbs and ghettos of other cities. I go to see the sites. Like normal people.

You sound like the worst sort of snob. “Oh, I visited Paris and instead of the overhyped, overtouristed Eiffel Tower and Louvre, I spent the day exploring Sarcelles. I am soooooo sophistimacated and shit.”

Oh yes, the European countryside is nothing but “suburbs and ghettos”. Wow, you’re too stupid to know what you’ve missed.

Actually, I am a published travel writer. I write features for The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Conde Naste titles, in-flight magazines, AARP, etc. I have written Lonely Planet books (long time ago). I specialize in New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, South Africa and Namibia. I have been to all seven continents, every US state except Montana, and more than 85 countries.

Your kind just annoys the hell out of me. You’re exactly what Alex Garland was satirizing in his novel “The Beach.” Try to be less insufferable.

Does anyone read travel articles anymore? The ones I see these days are all AI, and I think Lonely Planet was sold. And it’s pretty rich for you to throw around the word “insufferable” with a post like that. Oh yeah, and I’ve been to 120 countries and every US state, including Montana, not that it matters. If you need any advice, just let me know .

I’m good. I don’t confuse slumming it in the Detroit ghettos with having a good time.

What on earth? I was talking about charming, small out of the way places in Europe, yet you keep bringing up “ghettos.” It’s so bizarre! I’m sorry you’re so insecure dear.

Europe has plenty of ghettos too. I've been through many!