I will be traveling thru Belgium with a group of 7 people in a few weeks and was interested in some advice. We are deliberating driving ourselves or contacting a bus/transport company. We ahave never driven ourselves in Europe and are not sure if its worth the risk. If anyone has had any positive experiences with transport company please let me know! We already have an itinerary and several reservations, we just need a driver and vehicle! Thanks! Chris
Driving in Belgium is actually very similar to driving in the states. Only difference is that some of the roads are going to be very small. For example, some roads only fit 1 car at a time. So be ready to move over and let other cars pass. Other then that, I would not be to worried about it.
Keep in mind that if you've never used a manual car, you should pay a few $ extra (not too expensive) for an automatic one. But renting two cars for you 7 (or probably a van) should be way cheeper than using a transport-company with a driver! And the parking-lots in Europe are also smaller than in the states - especially in the cities if you part alongside the road. But I think you'll get used to it very quickly !
Driving is easy here and fun after a few minutes (getting used to priority on the right). Great signage but based on towns rather than N S E W. Buy a decent map on arrival.
I will say that Brussels confused the hell out of me just being in a taxi as I always try to pay attention to routes. The Flanders region is not so bad.
I have driven to Brussels numerous times and I still don't know where I am going. This is coming from a person that has a built in GPS in my head. Driving in Europe isn't that bad, yield to the right, don't stop for pedestrians, cars seem to drive into the driving lane at the stop/yield sign but don't. I'd stay out of the big cities if possible. Also don't drink and drive the limit is .05 not .08 like in the states and they don't need probable cause to breathlizer.
Just traveling around Belgium or other countries? Will you be drinking? When are you going and for how long will you be in Belgium? It also depends on what cities you are planning to visit. You can have a great trip by just using city mass transit (available in almost every large city/town) and by using trains to get from major cities and towns. Expect NO slack any almost any drinking and driving.
