Road trip through Eastern Europe

1. The Sat Nav device used for GPS doesn't care what country you are in. The device manufacturer may or may not have included maps and POIs for the new country. I use and have used several different Garmin devices on regular trips through parts of Europe, including Austria but not yet the other countries you mention. No issues whatsoever. Same with my iPhone (watch your data consumption of traveling outside your home country). My strong suggestion - take your GPS from home so that you are familiar with it and know its idiosyncrasies. Load your stopovers as favourites before you ever leave home so you aren't wasting valuable trip time doing that.

2. Don't know about the other countries but when approaching Austria most service areas and petrol stations near the border will advertise that they sell them on BIG signs. Stop in, ask for one, hand over the €8 or whatever it is and follow the instructions printed on the back (in English as well) and stick the Vignette in the right place on the windscreen. Don't try to avoid putting it on properly - the cameras can tell. Make sure it is in place before the border. Drive across the border, slowing slightly for the crossing and count how many police cars and motorcycles you see in the first few km checking vehicles for the correct Vignette and handing out tickets like popcorn to those that they catch.

3. Don't drink and drive. Even a little. Limits are low and enforcement high in Europe.

I expect it is similar in the other countries.

Thank you Nigel! I am starting to feel a bit nervous about renting a car for the entire trip....and finding our destinations without too much trouble. We have maps and directions to each destination, but I'm thinking it is going to be tricky once we get off the main highways. It may be a worthwhile investment to bring a GPS along too.

In the past, I have only used public transportation; however, we decided it would be easier and faster to use a car to see as much as possible in our 17 day trip. I appreciate your suggestions.

Have you also considered the very high cost involved of picking up a car in one country and dropping it off in another?

Where are you flying back from?

Jessica, a tip - none of the countries you list are in Eastern Europe. I know you did not intend to offend anyone (and you haven't offended me), but when you do arrive in these parts, you should refrain from referring to them as Eastern Europe. This is Central Europe and people can be touchy about this.

I do love Slovenia and would be interested if you were able to share you itinerary.

Sorry Emily! I didn't realize that those countries are considered "Central Europe".....they are all in the Eastern Europe Rick Steve's book and have been considered "Eastern Europe" in all of the research I've done (except Austria). Thank you for the correction.

We are making a round trip starting and ending in Prague....to avoid the high fees with one way trips. Here is our itinerary:

Prague 3 days-picking up our rental car on our way to Salzburg.
Salzburg 1 day
Lake Bled, Slovenia for 2 days

Julian Alps tour/Ljubljana for 2 days
Split, Croatia for 2 days
Dubrovnik 3 days

Plitvice Lakes National Park for 1 day
Zagreb for 1 day
Vienna for 2 days
Back to Prague

Driving in those countries is no different than driving anywhere else in Europe. I have driven in all those and had no problems. I did bring my GPS from home loaded with the maps and it helped, but I would have been able to do it with just a map and road signs. I rented at the airport in Prague and returned there as well. Last time I drove in Austria I think the vignette was already in the rental car, but double check...you don't want a ticket. I stayed at a hotel in Salzburg that had parking and did not need the car to see the town....just walked. As far as renting a GPS in one country then having problems it might be that the maps were not loaded. They way I bought mine they were grouped together...UK, Central Europe, etc. and I think they did classify my maps for Poland and Croatia as Eastern Europe:) So that may have been the problem...but as others have said..take your own. It is worth it to buy one if you don't have one. Just make sure you have your IDP (not sure if required, but I would just get it) and also most cars in Europe are manual. You will enjoy having the freedom of the car to see these places on your own schedule and there are tons of beautiful places to pull over and have a roadside picnic with an incredible backdrop!

Countries were referred to being in 'Eastern Europe' in the cold war era as a synonym for the communist side. Geographically and historically a number of these countries were though in central or 'middle' Europe and consider being still referred to today as being in the East as wrong.

What countries these are though is not completely nailed down.

Jessica, it looks like you are on the right track. The responses look pretty sound.

Great information! Thank you Terry for your words of encouragement....we are very excited for the trip!