Tips on self-drive tours in the UK
Self-drive tours are a great way to discover and enjoy new destinations. They offer a host of benefits such as complete control of your itinerary, greater comfort, privacy and access to out of the way attractions. The UK is an extremely popular destination for self-drive holidays. Here are a few tips to get the most out of your experience there if it’s something you’re considering:
Old and new school navigation – These days, sat-navs or a GPS devices are a sound investment to ensure you can get from A to B with a minimum of fuss. If not fitted to your rental car and you own one already, it’s worthwhile bringing it with you; most modern GPS systems are small and can be easily packed. It will not only save you money on renting one there but also valuable time as new and unfamiliar systems can be confusing – you don't want to spend half an hour each morning working out how to program it.
If you’re using the maps facility on your mobile phone, though, make sure you do your homework before you go on likely data roaming charges. They can be expensive!
And a good old-fashioned paper map is also worthwhile. It will help when planning your daily route and act as a back-up if your GPS or phone dies.
Enjoy the scenic routes – Getting to your destination in a timely fashion is important and a GPS will send you the most direct route, but it’s also worth venturing off the beaten track at times. Avoid the commuter and commercial traffic on the highways and get onto the back roads where you can take in the scenery and are more likely to stumble upon quaint villages, towns and sights that you weren't expecting to find. Remember, when you're on your holidays the journey should be just as enjoyable as the destination itself.
Check the road signs – In the UK all of the visitor attractions, heritage sites and historic buildings are clearly signposted from major routes by road-signs with a brown background. Knowing this can help you reach the sites you plan to visit but can also highlight places you didn't even know existed but will be glad that you didn't miss.
Supermarketfuel savings – Petrol prices in Britain are generally higher than many other countries so it's a good idea to fill up in the most economical way possible. Large supermarkets generally have petrol stations and often provide the best priced fuel in the area.
Park and ride into town – Most of Britain's major cities offer park and ride schemes whereby you can park in an out of town car-park and take a short bus ride in to the city centre. This saves the high cost of city-centre parking and the stress of driving in the hustle and bustle of inner city traffic. Most larger cities and towns can then be explored on foot or by hopping on the local open-top bus tour which will take you to the major places of interest within the town while you sit back and relax.