Drive-Thru Europe

Q My wife and I plan to fly into Munich and drive to Prague and then Vienna before heading back to Munich. I have heard that driving into the Czech Republic may be difficult and expensive. But train fares are expensive, and we'd enjoy the freedom of stopping along the way. Any recommendations?

Ralph Shalda

Washington

ADriving a rental car from Western to Eastern Europe is problematic and expensive, but not impossible. Every company has slightly different rules, but most generally allow you to drive into Eastern Europe if you rent a non-luxury car and pay extra for insurance coverage.

Generally, countries that are frequently restricted include Poland, Hungary, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Estonia, Macedonia, Romania, Turkey, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Albania. Some companies also prohibit driving higher-end vehicles into Italy and Ireland -- but policies vary. For example, National Car Rental does not allow cars rented in Germany to be driven to the Czech Republic. Avis, however, will allow select vehicles to travel to the Czech Republic, but an extra charge may be assessed. Confer with an agency that represents various rental firms, such as Auto Europe (888-223-5555, www.autoeurope.com) and Europe by Car (800-223-1516, www.europebycar.com).

Train travel is also possible between your destinations; contact Rail Europe (800-438-7245, www.raileurope.com) for details. At about $220 a person for point-to-point tickets, the train would probably cost less than a car.

Could you identify tour companies that specialize in small groups -- preferably five to 10 but no more than 20 -- and actually stick to that number?

Loretta Terando

Great Falls

Many companies cater to small groups, but the price is almost always higher and the focus often narrower. For example, Peten Travels, which specializes in archaeology, culture, history and art trips to Turkey, limits its tours to 12 participants. Coopersmiths, a garden tour company, takes between six and 21 participants on each trip. The Italian Connection does walking and culinary tours of Italy and takes no more than 14 travelers. Specialty Travel Index (415-455-1643, www.specialtytravel.com) is a good resource for identifying small group tour operators.