Ashley Les

One of my favorite kinds of vacations to plan are road trips through exotic places. I’ve driven through Tunesia, Morocco, Tahiti, and much of Europe. It is a great way to really get into a destination.

On the other hand, there is a lot to know that isn’t so obvious. Do you need an international driver’s license? Will your GPS from the U.S. be loaded with the necessary maps? What less-than-obvious laws—such as needing special licenses to drive into the center of some towns—will you encounter? I also advise my clients to know their route and watch the signs, as you can’t always rely on GPS.

It’s definitely an adventure, but the rewards are amazing and I have done it enough to create wonderful itineraries and make sure my clients have necessary permits, insurance and GPS and know the rules of the road. 

For example, I mapped out a trip for honeymooners who wanted to explore Spain and Portugal. They visited six cities in two weeks, but the way I laid out their trip, they never had to drive more than two hours at a time. I planned for everything, including cool towns to stop for lunch along the way and they loved it.

Some people are hesitant and only do a few days, but once they’ve tried it on a two or three day itinerary, many ask me to plan longer multi-day drives for their next vacation!