Kings and queens of the road

Meng Ni, 31, enjoyed a road trip with her husband in Germany last year. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Germany is big, the cities they wanted to visit are scattered, and some scenic spots they were interested in are remote, she says, and they had to work out whether they should use the country's excellent train network or drive.

"In fact, the country has a splendid motoring network, too, with many different things to see and enjoy, and we liked everything we saw."

Within German cities they opted for the relative ease of public transport.

"It's complicated to drive there because of the traffic and narrow roads and alleys, and it can be difficult finding parking," Meng says.

There was at least one hiccup in Germany with the car. Arriving in Munich on a rainy night to return it to the dealer, they had problems with their navigational aid finding the designated drop-off point, and it was only after three hours of frantic searching that they managed to locate it.

In Italy, to which they traveled from Germany, they visited Rome, Florence and Venice, and used public transport, because of the relative closeness of the cities to one another, Meng says.

Some people who do road trips, particularly using campervans and caravans, say that they bring people together, but Meng says the Germany-Italy trip that she and her husband took suggested the opposite - that using a car in Germany reduced the chances for mixing with other travelers while using trains and buses in Italy increased their chances of rubbing shoulders with backpackers and other travelers.