Ratgeber
Planning a hire car and self-drive trip as a woman
A self-drive trip suits destinations with a good road network and clear signposting, such as Iceland, Portugal or the Cape region. Short stages, daylight on arrival and good insurance matter. Swiss Vibes is a Swiss travel agency offering video consultations and plans self-drive routes.
Von Swiss Vibes Women Only, Stand
Schritt für Schritt
- Choose a destination with a good road network
- Limit stages to a few hours
- Plan to arrive in daylight
- Book a hire car with fully comprehensive insurance and breakdown assistance
- Prepare offline navigation
- Choose accommodation with parking
Checkliste
- Driving licence and licence requirements checked
- Fully comprehensive insurance confirmed
- Breakdown number noted
- Offline navigation downloaded
- Stages planned with breaks
- Parking at the accommodation
- Petrol stations along the route
- Weather and road conditions checked
With your own hire car, you decide pace and route yourself. For many women that is a big piece of freedom. Good planning makes it safe and relaxed.
Destinations for women who drive themselves
Iceland, Portugal and the Cape region in South Africa offer well-built roads and clear routes. Costa Rica can also be driven partly yourself, but demands experience on country roads and in the rain. Also check how good the mobile coverage is, because in sparsely populated regions it is missing in places.
Check traffic rules and particularities in the destination country. Driving on the left, narrow roads, roundabouts or gravel tracks call for practice. For your first self-drive trip, choose a country where you can get your bearings quickly. Ask in the consultation how much self-driving is realistic for your destination.
Ask yourself how confident you feel at the wheel. If you would rather skip some stretches, combine self-driving with a driver for particularly demanding stages.
Stages and daylight
Do not plan more than a few hours of pure driving time per day. That leaves time for stops, walks and rest, and the drive becomes part of the trip instead of a duty. Plan at least one break per hour of driving if you are not very experienced.
Arrive in daylight. This makes finding the accommodation and parking easier, and you can get your bearings in peace. Allow generous driving times, because roadworks and photo stops add up. Dusk and wildlife crossings are also an issue, especially in rural regions.
In winter or in Iceland, shorter days and rapid changes in the weather need attention. Check the weather and road conditions daily and adjust the route rather than taking risks.
Hire car and insurance
Choose a reliable vehicle with air conditioning and the option of connecting a navigation device or phone. Fully comprehensive insurance with a low excess brings peace of mind, especially on unfamiliar roads. Also check whether damage to tyres and windscreens is covered, because on country roads that happens more often.
Photograph the vehicle from all sides when you collect and return it, and note existing damage on the handover form. That protects you from later disputes.
Note the rental company's breakdown number and clarify whether additional drivers can be registered if you are travelling with a friend. Also check the requirements for driving licence and minimum age.
Safety on the road
Do not leave valuables visible in the car, and fill up in good time before the tank is nearly empty. Water and a small supply of snacks belong in the car, especially on long stretches.
Park in busy, lit places and tell your accommodation your expected arrival time. Share the day's route with a person you trust and get in touch after arriving. Lock the doors while driving, especially in cities, and keep your phone and map to hand without using them while driving.
Check travel advice from the FDFA (EDA) and the FOPH (BAG) before departure. Do not drive when you are tired, and rather take a break or add an extra overnight stop. If you feel unsure, ask for help in a café or at a petrol station.
Accommodation along the route
Choose accommodation with parking and the shortest possible walk from the car to the entrance. This saves nerves after a long day of driving and ensures that you get your luggage into the building safely. Also ask about a garage or secured parking in cities.
Reserve the nights in advance, above all in high season or in sparsely populated regions. A fixed address for the evening takes pressure off the journey and makes the route easy to plan.
Tell your hosts your expected arrival time so that someone is ready if you arrive later. Ask for recommendations for dinner within walking distance so that you do not have to drive again. That way you are very well prepared on the road and can concentrate on the route.
Planning with support
In the [planning call](/m/women-only/planen) by video call, we put together a route with you and book accommodation, hire car and transfers in coordination with each other.
We prepare documents, map material and advice so that you stay calm on the road and can concentrate on the landscape. On request, you receive a daily overview with driving times.
If you feel unsure, a driver or a guided stretch is a good alternative. A mix is also possible: some days yourself, some days accompanied.
