Although the European politicians try to persuade us to leave our cars at home, who really want to listen to them. Driving in Europe is a very convenient alternative to the mainstream sight-seeing tours.

Driving in Rome, Italy / Photo by Julo for Best of European Union

Parking in Europe

The main problem taking your car with you is that you’ll have to encounter the ridiculously high parking prices. That’s one of the things Europe is popular for. Parking in capital cities like Berlin, Paris and London can cost anywhere between 3 and 10 EUR per hour. There is, however, a way around this. The best thing to do is to choose a hotel that offers free parking but you also have to find a hotel that is located within a walking distance to the city centre. Otherwise you’ll spend too much time walking. When booked early, those centre hotels don’t tend to cost very much.

Many tourists decide to stay in hostels – which allows them to save money during their stay. Although the network of hostels is quite developed in Europe, many of them come without parking. So, in the end it might make more sense to book a proper hotel and enjoy free parking.

Also, every city and town tend to have plenty of free parking. The only problem is that you have to be local in order to know where to find it. Or do you? There are plenty of websites out there sharing advice on how to find free or cheap parking. All you have to do is find the information upfront and mark the free spaces in your map.

Prague, Czech Republic by Julo for Best of European Union

Keep off the beaten track

The beauty of travelling in your own car is that you can escape the usual routes that the tour operators will have prepared for you. Surely, seeing the Eiffel tower in Paris can be a special experience, however, you will have to share this experience with hundreds of other tourists crewing around the tower, taking photos and making terrible noise. Being your own boss during your journey means you can visit the Eiffel tower very early in the morning – when there are virtually no tourists around.

And that’s only one example. Although the tour operators often do a great job assembling a sight-seeing tour, it often lacks any originality. That’s why many travellers make a shortlist of things they want to see by trying to avoid what’s recommended in the tourism books.

You can use this guide on car travel in Europe to pick up some ideas, and here are a couple of suggestions of less popular (but still very exciting) things to see while driving in Europe.

Esslingen, Germany

If you’re travelling through Germany, visit Esslingen – it’s a little town in the South and it’s a unique place for people interested in architecture. The old town is amazing – you can see houses that have been built in 4th century. You can also park your car and continue the journey on a Segway – it’s a popular pastime of the locals, and now many tourists use it to see as much of Esslingen as they can.

Traditional German house in Esslingen by Karlheinz Woschée via Creative Commons licence.

Essen, Germany

While in Germany, you can pop around Essen. Why Essen – you might ask – it’s a big industrial city. “Industrial” is the keyword – the huge sites of the post-war German industrial revolution are tremendous. You can hardly see anything similar in any other European country. The majority of industrial complexes were torn down as production moved to China, whereas Zeche Zollverein in Essen was preserved the way it was. Now it’s a UNESCO heritage site and it looks truly magnificent!

Szentendre, Hungary

While in Hungary, check Szentendre – it’s a small town and is rarely listed in tour guides. It’s a must-visit place if you want to learn more about the rich Hungarian cultural heritage – it’s got many museums and art galleries. A lovely little town.

Pag, Croatia

Visiting Croatia should be scheduled to summer months. That way you don’t miss the amazing Pag island with its famous beach. When I say famous – I mean famous amongst the locals. It’s all one big party – consider it an Eastern alternative to Ibiza!

What is your favourite little-known spot in Europe?

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Heathrow Airport

Heathrow’s car parking is dealt by the BAA Advance company which has a easy-to-navigate through website! Online you can book and pay for parking in advance, preventing any queuing or last minute panic! Heathrow boasts great value parking. The online search engine allows customers to plan their stay and receive a quote on how much it will cost! A range of different parking is available from long stay to short stay, to business to Valet Parking. Online prices show a significant discount in comparison to “Online Prices”. For a long holiday the price of parking for a week is £74.10 as opposed to the standard £114.80! For £86.40 there’s no waiting time, with a 3-minute transfer to your terminal- it’s hassle free and cost effective!

Heathrow Airport, London, UK by diamond geezer

Munich Airport

Munich was crowned Europe’s best Airport in 2011 and it’s parking shows an indication as to why! As well as providing safe and secure parking, Munich airport offers value added services such as maintenance repair, washing, picking up and delivery! Convenience and secure parking it 16 euro per day. If you’re lacking organization last minute parking is also an option at the curb side stopping zones at Terminal 1 (modules A, B, D & E), and Terminal 2! Valet parking is very reasonably prices at 20 Euro’s, whilst XXL parking- the “extra wide, extra close” for vehicles bigger in size is conveniently located in close proximity to the terminals and prices at only 9 euro’s per day.

Photo of Munich Airport, Germany by WastedButReady

Dublin Airport

It’s strongly advised to book in advance if you’re heading to Dublin Airport! By turning up without a booking, expect to be charged up to 40 euros per day! Prices are considerably less with a simple online booking! Get a “Summer Special” deal with great savings and convenience; it’s a mere walk to the check-in! Both Express Red Long Term & Holiday Blue Long Term offer regular efficient shuttle buses- ideal if you have heavy luggage!

Photo of Dublin Airport Terminal 1, Ireland by Edwardmcwilliams

Zurich Airport

Switzerland Zurich Airport promises “low-cost car parking” and it certainly delivers just that! If you’re after long-term parking, spaces are available at the car park p60 at specially reduced rates! Situated a short walk from the airports main building, roughly 10 minutes, P60 is an outdoor parking space which is easily accessible and bookings aren’t required!

Photo of Zurich Airport, Switzerland by sri_the_quack

Schiphol, Amsterdam

Schiphol is often cited as one of Europe’s, if not one of the worlds, most impressive airports! Be smart and go for Smart Parking, which can be booked from a period of 3 days! Parking is attractively low prices; operating on a 5 euro per day charge. Booking in advance as much as 6 weeks before your stay will save you money, with prices reduced from 5 euro to 4.32 per day!

Photo of Schiphol, Amsterdam, Netherlands by Cjh1452000

About the author: Adam B travels a lot for business in his job and is always flying in an out of airports, he has a passion for flying and works for Sixt.co.uk

The post Airport Parking Costs In the UK & Europe appeared first on Best of European Union.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Dave Smith

You have to pay to get in to the theme park itself, which currently costs £30 for children, £40 for adults (and a child over 12 is considered an adult so expect to pay full price for older kids) or £120 for a family of four for a day, so it isn’t cheap, but once inside your ticket covers all of the rides and so the only extras will be souvenirs and food and drink.

Thorpe Park is famous for some of its rides, including the new rollercoaster and live action maze based on the Saw movie series. Not all of these rides are suitable for young children and some are particularly scary, so it is a great choice for thrill seekers and teenagers but not so good for the feint hearted.

Thorpe Park has several rides, including the Logger’s Leap log flume, where you will get very wet, so unless it is a very hot day it is a good idea to buy one of the waterproof ponchos they sell at the park to try and keep your clothes dry.

Thorpe Park also has plenty of restaurants and bars where you can unwind during your visit. For further information visit their official website.

View Thorpe Park – one of England’s biggest and most popular theme parks United Kingdom in a larger map

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Durdle Door, Dorset, England, UK by W. Lloyd MacKenzie

The vast majority of Durdle Door is composed of limestone which is why over the centuries it has slowly eroded away to form the arch. Its mammoth size however has led to its popularity over the years. Countless people have made their way to Durdle Door and to enjoy the English countryside.

The limestone rock formation has appeared in a number of music videos over the last few decades which have increased its popularity. One of the more popular videos is the Tears for Fears’ Shout video which was filmed on location in and around Durdle Door. Also, Pink Floyd fans have seen an image of the rock formation in the lyric books supplied with every “The Division Bell” album sold.

The rock that the Durdle Door is composed of stretch for great distances in every direction. They can be found hundreds of meters inland as well as out in the sea. Those who visit the Durdle Door will also be able to see the Bull which is located just off shore. This has been determined to be a continuation of the rock that the door itself is made of.

Durdle Door, Dorset Coast, England, UK by W. Lloyd MacKenzie

While there are many things to see and do in England, many people make the choice to head out into the countryside to get as far away from the hustle and bustle of life in London. While there are many great attractions in the capital city, some of the best destinations in the country are not.

There are countless castles and other ruins of days gone by that can be found in and around the area where the Durdle Door is located. The area known as the Jurassic Coast is one of the more popular destinations in the country.

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