Visiting a new country is always exciting, and you want to cram in as much sightseeing, cultural appreciation and exploration as you possibly can. Which begs the question, what’s the best way to explore a new place? Take day trips out from a base hotel? Book a coach trip? Go on a walking holiday?

Well, the answer is that the best way to explore as much of a new country is possible is to rent a car, and here are 3 reasons why.

1. Versatility

There are some places that you just can’t access with other modes of transport, such as some remote hiking trails or villages that aren’t on any tour or bus route. Having a car means that the only thing stopping you from accessing a place is your own navigational skills and driving prowess. Being able to travel around by car opens up a lot of interesting options that wouldn’t be available to you on foot or on a pre-arranged tour.

2. Freedom

Another huge benefit of having a car in a new country is that as long as you’ve budgeted for petrol you can travel as far as you like, maybe even spending a whole day driving around and just taking in the scenery, stopping at beauty spots for a picnic or to take some photos and moving on whenever you’re ready. You aren’t consigned to a particular route or stuffy timetable – you can choose where to go, when to go there, and how long to stay. If you want to find a new level of freedom, why not pack a cooler bag with you and take some hot or cold food when you’re exploring. That way you can pull over and have a picnic whenever you find a really beautiful place to stop.

3. Blending in

Although you may well give yourself away in other ways (like stumbling over the language or staring perplexedly at a map in the middle of a town square), renting a car to travel around a new country with gives you the opportunity to blend in and not be an obvious tourist. You not only see the country more from a local’s perspective as you will be visiting places off the tourist trail, but the locals may also see you in a different light – if not as a fellow citizen at least as a more seasoned traveller, which can lead to a more authentic and enjoyable experience of the country’s people and culture.

4. Luggage

Although any experienced traveller will know it’s best to travel light, sometimes it’s nice to have the space and not to worry about it so much. Cars have the backseat and trunk to store quite a lot of stuff, so you can take more outfits, more books or more snacks – r just buy more souvenirs while you’re there!

So there you have it – if you’re planning a trip to a new country and want to make sure you get the most out of exploring, then the best way to do it is to rent a car.