Whether you’re looking to go cheap and park up at a campsite or live a little and get a nice hotel, you’ll always have your car with you in order to travel the local areas, or even go for a day trip to a location that’s perhaps a few miles away. Of course a trip such as this requires a specific budget for petrol or diesel, so getting hold of a Chooseafuelcard.com Fuel Cards might help out with fuel management.

The only problem that ever really occurs is choosing where to go. Here are a few ideas.

Grenoble, France by Jörg Sancho Pernas

South of France

Traveling through the heart of the French countryside, first of all you’ll have a very pleasant journey, but also the chance to stop off at the numerous towns and cities along the way, including Dijon, Lyon and Grenoble.

Once arrived in the southern coast, there is a plethora of locations you can choose from, the next more glamorous than the last. The likes of Nice and Cannes allow great shopping destinations, whilst also taking in the wondrous views of the coastline and the Mediterranean. Monaco is just a completely different experience altogether and seeing the likes of the Casino Square can really open your eyes to a lifestyle only few in this world can enjoy frequently.

Monaco by Georges DICK

Northern Italy

There are a varied amount of destinations in the north of Italy which can offer unique experiences all in one holiday. The main point of call would be the fashion and style hub of Milan for a couple of days in the city, splashing a bit of cash and eating great food. From there, you can make the trip south-west to San Remo and enjoy the great coastline of another stylish location that is similar in some ways to Monaco, not least because of the fancy casino the town has.

If that wasn’t your bag, you could always go further north from Milan and visit the glam of Lake Como and Lake Maggiore on the Swiss border. Going east would see you eventually come across the likes of Verona and even the amazing city of Venice.

Lake Como, Italy by Joyborg

East coast of Spain

This is a trip probably reserved for those die-hard families that love to be together in a car for a very long time, but the east coast of Spain harbours some of the great summer locations Europe has to offer.

First stop would be Barcelona for a great city experience and a number of cliché tourist visits to the likes of the Cathedral, Las Rambles and Camp Nou football stadium. Next up is a drive south to the beautiful coastal city of Valencia for some sunbathing and relaxing.

Further down the coast includes destinations such as Benidorm for a good night out and Alicante for a more of an all-rounder.

Alicante, Spain by Julo (Best of European Union)

About the author: Sam writes for Chooseafuel.com who offer various fuel cards for pretty much everyone on the European continent, whether you need it for a petrol car of a diesel LPG. For more information click here.

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I did my first marathon in October 2011, the Lochness Marathon in Scotland. It was a fantastic experience and a great personal achievement.

Amsterdam Marathon, Netherlands / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by DennisM2

The next marathon I am looking to do is the Amsterdam Marathon. I have chosen Amsterdam primarily because I assume it will one of the flattest routes and therefore quickest, but also because I have been to Amsterdam a couple of times, for business and a city break and really liked the city. Travelling abroad for such an event can be expensive anyway, so I am looking for a nice hotel in Amsterdam at a good price (much like everyone). There are some great Amsterdam hotels though and even quaint little B&Bs and there are some great cheap city break
packages I plan to make the most of.

The marathon starts and finishes at the Olympic Stadium where spectators have free access to.

The route takes you through Vondelpark, the largest public park in Amsterdam and sounds quite like Hyde Park in London in that there is a lot going on. There are ponds for kayaking, playing fields and generally nice picnic areas. This will be a great area for spectators as well to enjoy the day. The marathon goes out of town slightly along the Amstel River passing traditional windmills and large stately homes. The views are meant to be stunning from here as you are slightly higher up at this stage.

There is a marathon in almost every top European city so if you are a marathon addict you can combine a city break with a marathon! Here are just a few on the ‘must do’ list:

The Paris Marathon

The Paris marathon has been voted as one of the top marathons in the world. The marathon passes by the main tourist attractions: the Champs Elysees, River Seine, the Arc De Triumph and the Eiffel Tower. Like the Amsterdam marathon, the course is very flat and so a PB (personal best) is achievable, although there are a couple of tight corners and tunnels where there can be a bit
of a human traffic jam which may hold you up.

The Rome Marathon

Just wandering around Rome, you notice stunning architecture and significant pieces of history. So the marathon will be a whirlwind of fascinating buildings and landscapes. The marathon starts and finishes at the ancient Coliseum and takes in sites such as St Peter’s Square, Vatican City, Olympic Station, Trevi Fountain and much, much more. As you are running through ancient Rome, you will come across some rough terrain such as cobbled streets so do take care – this is more about the sites that the personal bests.

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