Drive Europe Eurolease

01/08/2024

Ragusa was Luigi and Tracey’s next stop…

“Ragusa is a city of 73,000 people, is further inland than our previous stops, and is quite elevated at 520 metres. Ragusa’s origins date back to the 2nd millennium BC. In 1693 it was destroyed by an earthquake before being rebuilt on a new site called Ragusa Superiore. But wealthy landowners also decided to rebuild the old town which became Ragusa Ibla. In 1926 both cities were merged to become the provincial capital.

We stayed at Villa Boscarino (Boscarino = little forest) in Ragusa Superiore. This was a delightful place to stay, with lovely rooms (ours had a garden dining area as well) and a pool area with pool bar and snack service. There’s also a large, covered, rooftop terrace.

The staff were wonderful, always smiling, and nothing was too much trouble.
When I took our glasses to the bar for a top up, the guy serving said I should just call and he’d come to the room. So, practicing my Italian I said “ho due boune gamberi”. I was supposed to say “I have two good legs”, but I used ‘gamberi’ instead of ‘gambi’ so I actually told him “I have two good prawns”. The look on his face was hilarious!”

Continued tomorrow…

31/07/2024

The next stop for Luigi and Tracey was the Valley of the Temples, on their way to Ragusa. Located near Agrigento the Provincial capital, with both dating back to around 500BC.

"Agrigento's population was described by Plato as “they build as if they’ll live here forever, but eat as if it’s their last day”.😃

The Temples are on a ridge, not in a Valley, and it is an awe-inspiring sight in a country full of such sites.🏛

As you enter you arrive at what looks like a chasm, but was actually an enormous man modified pond for wildlife.
Nearby is the Statue of Atlas, as if laid out to rest. (photo 1)

Most of the Temples are in various stages of collapse, but the Temple of Concordia is the most complete and the most stunning.
Magnificently set off by the modern Statue of Icarus donated by the sculptor Igor Mitoraj. (photo 2)

This area is a must see, parking is easy if you get there mid-morning or before. The earlier the better as there is little shade. There are food outlets and plenty of drinking water fountains around the sites.🌞

It is quite a long walk, but shuttles are available for the return trip.”

30/07/2024

Luigi and Tracey’s next stop was Sciacca, to break up the drive from Cefalu to Ragusa…

“Sciacca is not known as a tourist destination - its main industry is fishing. Again, the Centro Storico (historic centre) is up on the cliff above the shoreline.

We stayed at the Rocca Regina Hotel which is near the port, which was very pleasant. They had a private car park on port land, just 50metres from the hotel.
(The hotel had an extra advantage in that the elevator to the top floor cut out half the climb to the town.)

Sciacca was a surprise.

While we found it quite messy and unkempt with lots of litter around, and public parks full of weeds, it had a lot of appeal in the feel of the place. For a city of 39,000 it felt like a small town where everyone knows everyone else.

The restaurants are many and all very good (mostly seafood dishes). Osteria del Vicolo did the best Baccala (salt cod) that I have had anywhere.
Views from Piazza A. Scandaliato and Vista Panoramica di Sciacca are spectacular and show just how close North Africa is. (Nearly always hidden by a brown fog of windburn sand.)

It was an interesting visit.”

29/07/2024

Luigi and Tracey’s first stop in Sicily was the town of Cefalu…

Cefalu is on the northern coast heading towards Palermo. The town offers a unique blend of stunning beaches and historical sites, plus a very charming old town.💛

“The Centro Storico (historic centre) is on a cliff at the base of the Parco della Rocca di Cefalu, where there is also a Temple to Dianna. We stayed at the Savade apartment about 50 metres from the main dining street. (Centrally located public parking costs around 14 Euros per day, and was included in our apartment cost.)

Tip: watch out for ZTL zones (throughout Italy) - vehicle exclusion times that are under camera surveillance, with an instant ticket if you so much as poke your car’s nose in. They are usually indicated by electronic signs, so do your research and keep your eyes open.

We spent all our time in the town, starting a routine that we followed throughout our time on Sicily. First thing was a cappuccino and cornetto at the nearest bar (café). We then wandered and window shopped until 11-ish which was Prosecco time. Then more exploring until lunch at around 1.30-2pm. Then the heat started to get to us, so we copied the Italians and had a siesta.😴

Evenings consisted of more wandering until an appropriate time for apperitivi, hopefully at a roof top bar. Every round of drinks comes with nibbles. At a basic level, chips, tarelli, olives and such. But more often it’s a plate of salami, prosciutto, cheeses, mini slices of pizza etc that is gloriously free in Italy. A glass of local wine was only around 5 to 6 Euros🥂

Cefalu was a lovely introduction to Sicily. We could have easily spent a week here.”

Tip: when Google maps say mostly flat walking in Cefalu, it’s not the case. If staying centrally, try to drop your luggage at your accommodation before parking.

28/07/2024

Luigi and Tracey spent just over 2 weeks from late May, on the island of Sicily, with their Peugeot 308SW station wagon. Lucky us, we get to hear first-hand what they thought if it!🥳

Note: they took the vehicle ferry ⛴ from Villa San Giovanni to Messina. During an internet search it mentioned that they could simply join the ferry queue and buy a ticket when they arrived at the booth. This was not the case. The ticket office is approx 500 metres from the ferry embarkation lanes. (Booking online through the Caronte & Tourist website or app is also a good option.)

Remember, most rental car companies do NOT allow cars to be taken on car ferries, so this is a key benefit of taking a tax-free Peugeot!

Continued tomorrow – first stop Cefalu, Sicily…🌞

27/07/2024

Gordon and Karen also visited Poznan, Berlin, Hamburg (more canals than Amsterdam!), Hannover, Düsseldorf and finally beautiful Wiesbaden before dropping their good friend “Doris” (their Peugeot 3008) back to the Frankfurt location.

They were then taken to the airport in a courtesy shuttle, to start their journey home.

“We met some amazing people, have a new appreciation of Polish food, and visited numerous towns and cities with bustling main squares as people dined, shopped at the markets and enjoyed listening to the many musicians playing their different instruments.
A holiday that was both comfortable and enjoyable as we travelled at our own pace in comfort and style in our Peugeot 3008.”

Photo 1 = Anne Frank Centre in Berlin
Photo 2 = town of Lubeck, north of Berlin
Photo 3 = thermal city of Wiesbaden near Frankfurt
Photo 4 = leaving "Doris" behind at the Frankfurt return location

26/07/2024

Gordon and Karen’s journey in “Doris”, their Peugeot 3008, continued on to Munich for 3 nights to visit a beer hall or two 🍺 and take a walking tour that focused on WW2 history.

It was then on to the beautiful spa resort town of Karlovy Vary, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Czech Republic, for another 3 nights.

Poland was next, including the amazing salt mines in Wieliczka and a sobering visit to Auschwitz concentration camp in Krakow.
And during their walking tour in Warsaw, where they stayed for 4 nights, they learnt how the city was rebuilt to look like it was prior to being almost completely destroyed in WW2.

Continued tomorrow …

25/07/2024

After a couple of nights in Frankfurt, Gordon and Karen picked up their Peugeot 3008, which they soon named “Doris”, near Frankfurt airport. Their six-week adventure had just begun.

They first headed towards Strasbourg and then on to Colmar, France (Alsace region) for 3 nights.

They then moved on to Stuttgart to visit the Porsche museum, before making their way to Wurzburg and the beginning of the Romantic Road ❤️

Gordon & Karen visited a number of beautiful villages as they travelled the back roads along the Romantic Road. Rothenburg ob der Tauber was a highlight, known for its medieval architecture. Then, at the end of it, a short distance from Fussen, they visited Neuschwanstein Castle which they described as a “must visit”.

Photo 1 = Colmar. Photo 2-6 = Romantic Road.

Continued tomorrow …

23/07/2024

John & Bronwyn are back home, and this is what they wanted to share:

“We had a great time with our Peugeot 308 covering over 3,800kms travelling through the Champagne region, Alsace, The Jura Mountains, Alps, Lyon, Provence (the cooking class in Uzes was exceptional) then up thru the town of Angouleme, to the Loire Valley and back to Paris.
The more we saw the more we realised there was so much more to see, so we will be back to fill in the gaps.
The staff at the Paris CDG Airport location were great, very helpful, and made the process very easy.
Thanks for all your help in making this possible.”

One of their favourite places was the town of Beynac (Beynac-et-Cazenac), located in the Dordogne department of south-west France and one of the 'Most Beautiful Villages of France' - where you will feel like you are living in the Middle Ages. (see photos)🚗😍

22/07/2024

Bordeaux really is a fabulous city to spend a few nights, or even just a day trip if you prefer to spend most of your time in and around the smaller villages instead.

The architecture, shopping, restaurants and overall vibe of the city is a real treat.

Even just looking at the shop fronts, how could you not want to buy something you don’t need but must have?!😇

Thanks to Wayne and Maggie for these photos taken last week during their day trip from Arcachon 🚗

21/07/2024

Alastair and Cecylia have just returned home. They sent us this lovely photo and summary of their holiday 😍

“After picking up our Peugeot 3008 at Lyon Airport we travelled through the Savoy region of France for a week. Next was Padua, Italy - east of Milan - then on to Rovinj in Croatia before settling for two weeks in a mountain house close to Ljubljana, Slovenia (see photo). Slovenia was a beautiful country with forests and small villages everywhere.
We then went on to La Mora, Italy - south of Turin, in the Barolo wine region - before driving on to Nice to return our car. Another successful 6,000km Peugeot lease.”

20/07/2024

Jan and Kerry are now settled in the town of Aillas (south of Bordeaux), in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France, for the next month. Their Peugeot 3008 (you may remember they named it ‘Percival’) is safely parked up by the pool and used for the odd day trip out into the countryside.
One day trip so far has taken them to Port Barsac, where they took this lovely photo of the Garonne river. The entire area has numerous chateaux that you can visit and sample/buy wines from the region.
The church and bell tower photo was taken just outside the gate of their accommodation.🙂

19/07/2024

Jan and Kerry’s newly washed Peugeot 3008 is parked up along the banks of the Midi Canal in La Bonne Planque near Castelnaudary as they explored the area for a week. On a day trip they came across Le Cugarel mill - the last vestige of the 32 mills that the town had in the 17th century. It is a small windmill, perched at the top of the city, offering beautiful panoramic views. Google it and check out the view on a lovely sunny day – it is stunning! 💛

18/07/2024

A splash of colour and fabulousness from our friend Peta Mathias who loves to drive a Peugeot 208 while in France 🤩

Every year when I am in my French life I lease a zippy Peugeot 208 from Delwyn at Drive Europe in Auckland and every year the car is new, perfect, talks to me, is cool, takes me to exotic places and carries my stuff in the big boot (very important). In this pic me and Peugeot are in Uzès where I live. The whole process is easy too - I pick up the car at Marseille airport and after a time of wonder, drop it off again. Anyone planning to drive in Europe for 30 days or more in 2025 should contact [email protected]. Pricing is due late October and the supply of cars will be limited so plan now and be ready to book in November.
www.peugeotdriveeurope.co.nz

17/07/2024

The highlight of Rick and Judi’s trip around Spain and Portugal was a 3 night stay in the Douro Valley. What a photo!!

They also found there was plenty of room in their fabulous Peugeot 3008 for them and their friends from NZ (but they did travel light).

They stayed at Quinta Barqueiros D'Ouro - Casa da Música (booked on Booking.com)

Top Tip: to avoid the city traffic, it is a great idea to stay in the Douro Valley and train into Porto for the day!

15/07/2024

Russell & Noeleen love the mountains. Today their Peugeot 308 took them to Sixt fer a Cheval, France.

“Up yet another dead-end road into a wonderful cirque, with peaks at 10,000 feet. We then walked 5kms up a valley into yet another fabulous area of mountains and massive rock faces. It is such a beautiful part of France tucked away here.”

14/07/2024

Sophie and Mark are now travelling down the Croatian coast. Thank goodness for the Peugeot 3008’s air-conditioning – it was 37C outside! Then it was on to Dubrovnik where they are staying for a few days.

13/07/2024

Graeme & Maxine did not waste any time in their Peugeot 208. After collecting their car from the Barcelona location, they headed to Begues (less than an hour from Barcelona) for a six-night stay. Their first day trip was to the Montserrat Monastery (just over an hour away). This photo was taken as they were making their way back down the mountain, after visiting the monastery.

Basing yourself somewhere for a week, and doing day trips, is a great way to combine holiday and adventure!

12/07/2024

Russell & Noeleen enjoyed a fabulous drive in their Peugeot 308 from Saint Vincent up to Breuil-Cervinia (both in the Aosta Valley, Italy).

“It is only a 31km drive, but with numerous twists and turns, ending at 6,700ft. (The wonderful Matterhorn is 14,700ft.) We’ve seen the Matterhorn before, from Zermatt, but never from the Italian side. It was stunning. We sat gobsmacked for hours.”

11/07/2024

Mike & Glenys also spent a morning in the town of Arles, located in the heart of Provence and next to the Rhone River. From ancient Roman ruins to the sites that inspired many of Vincent Van Gogh’s painting, there are so may incredible things to do in Arles in one day.

Mike & Glenys’s highlights were the 2km long market, the Roman amphitheatre and arena.

10/07/2024

Mike & Glenys spent a wonderful day in Provence, visiting a number of villages in the Luberon region, where the 2006 movie “A Good Year” was filmed (starring Russell Crowe “Max” and Marion Cotillard “F***y”).

First stop was the hilltop town of Gordes (voted one of the most beautiful villages in France). Then they went on to the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque with its stunning views across the lavender fields (unfortunately they were a little early in the season). But the good news is, on their way to Bonnieux, the lavender fields were in full bloom! Near Bonnieux is the vineyard where the chateau scenes in the movie were filmed. The vineyard is called Chateau La Canorgue and you can visit the cellar door and try some of the wines, including the one that featured in the movie. You cannot visit the chateau from the movie, but you can see the terrace where Max and F***y had lunch in the final scenes. (Glenys recommends the rose!) The town of Bonnieux offered stunning views of the countryside. Finally, it was on to the village of Cucuron, featuring the l’etange (long rectangular ornamental pond) where Max and F***y had dinner, while watching a movie on a big screen, before it pours with rain.

Even if you are not interested in the movie, visiting these towns is a real treat, including the beautiful countryside as you drive between them.

09/07/2024

Wayne & Maggie are spending a number of weeks in the seaside town of Arcachon.

“Arcachon is beautiful and maintained to perfection. They say real estate here is now more expensive than St.Tropez! Maggie loves the town & I love the beach which is right in front of our accommodation. In the town, which is only a short walk from our apartment, there is a daily market for produce. The quality, variety and taste of the produce is second to none. My favourite cheese is truffle Brie!”

Arcachon is also a great place to take day trips to Bordeaux, San Sebastian, Biarritz, St Jean de Luz, Bayonne and more!

07/07/2024

A photo of Sophie with the “coolest car” (Peugeot 3008 SUV) outside the amphitheatre in P**a, Croatia 😀

05/07/2024

After 40 days of adventures, Gill and Murray have recently returned their Citroen C3 Aircross to the Nice Airport location.

“We travelled 4,127km through Italy, Sicily and Corsica. It's been a wonderful adventure and a great advantage to have the car. The C3 Aircross was great. I did all the driving as Murray is a better navigator. Having the pop-up navigator screen, though, was such a blessing.”

Photo 1: Mt Etna foothills, Sicily⛰
Photo 2: Gill almost backing into a pole (no damage, but even if there was damage there is nothing to worry about with the comprehensive / no excess insurance policy)😉
Photo 3: Saying goodbye to their C3 Aircross at the Nice location🥲

03/07/2024

Russell and Noeleen are loving their Peugeot 308 (same model for the last two years). Here they are at an AirBnB in the little village of Lutzenberg, Appenzell, looking out to Lake Constance. 💛
“A very sweet, very old house, with a great AirBnB space, including very old wooden floors.”

“We travelled over 350 kms today, coming via mainly minor roads from Berchtesgaden, taking us nearly eight hours, but worth every kilometre and every frustrating hold up just to be in the absolutely delightful countryside. The car, of course, as usual, is brilliant. We have the odd difference of opinion with the GPS, but in the long run we couldn’t do without it…”

01/07/2024

Russell and Louise are back to their home in France - just north of Limoges in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France - to escape the New Zealand winter.
Their Peugeot 208 is nicely parked right outside the front door, ready to take them here, there and everywhere 🚗

30/06/2024

After some time in Switzerland, Jan & Kerry headed to Sestri Levante, one of the many lovely places to stop if you are wanting to visit the Cinque Terre. (First photo)

After a few nights, they moved on to a favourite place of theirs: Menton, in the south of France. (You may remember a recent post featuring Menton.)

Tip – when you park your car, take a photo so you can find it easily at the end of the day. Including a landmark in the photo is always a bonus 📷🏰🚗

29/06/2024

Jan & Kerry enjoyed a lovely visit to Zermatt, Switzerland recently.
First off, they parked their Peugeot 3008 in the massive ‘Matterhorn Terminal Tasch’ offering 2,100 covered parking places! Then, from the same place, you take the shuttle train to Zermatt, which departs every 20mins and takes just 12mins.
Zermatt is a car-less town and well worth a visit, especially on a bluebird day when you can see the Matterhorn. No such luck for Jan & Kerry’s visit as it was a cloudy day – see last photo☁️

28/06/2024

Another day trip for Mike and Glenys, this time to Fontaine de Vaucluse, where an impressive 'hidden' spring comes to light, and forms a large emerald green pool.
The village of Fontaine de Vaucluse is found after the rapids where the river calms itself and it winds around watermills and dams before continuing downstream. An old paper mill (open to the public) is the only remaining indication that the village was known for paper making in the 17th and 18th century.

Tip from Delwyn (Drive Europe): combine with a visit to L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, about 11kms away. Or, better yet, stay in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue - it has a wonderful market on Thursdays and Sundays 🍏🍓🍒🥖🍞🧀

27/06/2024

Mike and Glenys also spent some time exploring Avignon.
Their highlights were a visit to the Popes Palace and Cathedral (Palais des Papes), and the Saint Bénézet bridge (it now only goes half way across the river) 😟