We began this adventure by selecting and purchasing a Porsche Macan S for our road trip of a life time and by developing an inspired travel itinerary for the entire month of September. Once an itinerary has been decided we traditionally step back and review it for the less obvious elements.
Are there any components that we can take care of here at home before we step on the plane? Our logic is simple… get stuff here and save time there! They processed our order and had the stamps in our hands in less than seven days. Check your car rental agreement to find out if they are included… we used Hertz a few times and they were not included. You can also wait until you get there and purchase the stamps at the border crossings… your call and your time.
In a pure Italian flair… Italy still uses paper tickets, toll booths and people to create bottlenecks where ever possible… viva Italia! Update your GPS device s with the latest version of their mapping software and bring an old-fashion tour book sometimes there is no WI-FI access and an actual paper map and highlight your driving routes.
They may not be available when you get there… arrange to pick them up at the box office or have them sent electronically. Carry-On luggage rules have changed so check your luggage to be in compliance with your particular airline and avoid the hassle when you get to the airport… some are strict and some are not.
The flights were on time so that part of the adventure went as planned and Delta maintained its excellent reputation. Customs at the Stuttgart airport was extremely efficient and we cleared in a few minutes… note to fellow travelers; if possible consider smaller airports as points of entry and avoid arriving at the mega locations with their related hassle factors. We were off to a good start already and the taxi to hotel was fast and surprisingly less cost than we were told it was going to be.
