Interesting facts on the topic of vacations

A comparison of the past eight years shows that vacation plans across all European countries have been on the decline. Having said this, on an average, 52 percent of Europeans take summer vacations. Hence, more than half of Europe is planning a trip this year. The average budget stands at roughly € 2,300, slightly above that of US citizens. Despite the fact that more and more people can afford to take a vacation and are happily doing that, the average European wants to save money during summer travels. Most people take a two-week vacation, with the French leading the statistics with more than two and a half weeks. 65 percent of Europeans prefer seaside destinations while roughly 20 percent travel into the mountains. All in all, however, the majority of Europeans spend the holidays in their own country.

Preparation is key

Whether you are heading for the beach or into the mountains, preparation is key. That way, you will be ready if things go wrong or at least know who to contact. Travel check list providers are easily available. But, as is often the case, your own check list is always the best. Therefore, always consult your own list. The first place to seek assistance would be automobile clubs, the majority of which have their own categories on their websites, with some of them also offering special travel apps. For some helpful links click here:

Travel in the EU

Europe Assistance – Travel insurance

European Automobile Club Association

Car travels

When traveling by passenger car, being prepared becomes more important even if, at a first glance, mobility across Europe seems limitless. Taking a road trip across Europe requires looking into various national rules and regulations, such as, for example, the plethora of different road tolls for passenger cars, making it difficult to manoeuvre your way through the European “toll jungle”. One of the few things that are valid everywhere is the Green Insurance Card as a well-acknowledged proof of insurance. This is available at your insurance company. While all Austrian cars must be equipped with reflective vests, breakdown triangles and a first aid kit, other European countries may require different things. If you fail to meet the mandatory standards you may face hefty fines. Therefore, find out well in advance what you need to carry aboard your car in the country you’re going to travel in.

For further information click here.

Keep your cool

If you want to keep a cool head in the summer heat, especially during long car rides, take a good look at the proper handling of the air conditioning. Here are some tips:

• If the car has been parked under the glistening sun the hot air must leave the car as soon as possible. So, start the engine, set the air conditioning to the lowest temperature and crank up the fan. Leave the windows open, so the hot air can escape quickly.
• After about three minutes, roll down the windows and, if available, close the sunroof. After pressing the “air circulation” button only the air inside the car will be circulated, which enhances the cooling effect.
• After another five minutes, the “air circulation” function should be switched off again to prevent the windows from fogging up and to avoid lower air quality in the car.
• The cooling air should never be aimed directly at the body, else you might catch a cold. Optimum continuous cooling is achieved by using the defroster nozzle in the front window.
• Excessive cooling is very bad for your health. The lower you adjust the temperature, the more burden you put on body circulation. The air conditioning should be set to a maximum of five degrees below outside temperature.

Source: ÖAMTC