Belgium

Going on holiday with cambio

Cambio will give your car a thorough check before leaving for an extended trip. Make sure to mention you are going abroad with our car when making your reservation.

  • Long journey?

If you have a journey of more than 500 km ahead of you, we recommend that you check the tyre pressure, oil level and water level of the cooling system before leaving with your cambio car (cf. our terms and conditions). That way, you drive to your destination without any worries. This video shows you how. A check takes 10 minutes at most. The cars are checked frequently by our fleet employees, but not before every holiday.

  • Remember vignettes 

In France and Germany you need an environmental vignette for certain cities. To use the highways in Austria and Switzerland you need a highway vignette.

  • Don’t get caught out in environmental zones…

In Europe one environmental zone after the other pops up. Every country, or even every region has different rules. A short overview of all the rules during your car holiday makes sure you can make sense of things. VAB.

  • …or by different traffic laws

The speed limits are different for each country and many traffic laws can be different from what we are used to. 

  • Pack your car sensibly

Because a holiday sometimes looks like a grand migration, packing your car correctly is essential. Your car should keep a good balance for perfect roadholding. Use these practical tips.

  1. Think carefully beforehand about what you really need and what you can do without. This will not only increase your comfort but also your safety. Faulty or heavily loaded cars have less stable road handling. In addition, you will consume more and the engine will be overloaded, which can cause it to overheat more quickly.
  2. Place the heaviest objects as far down and as close to the wheels as possible. Divide the weight between the left and right sides.
  3. Don't put your items loose in your trunk, but put them in carrier bags. This way, you will have less work to unload when you arrive.
  4. Do not place hand luggage or loose objects in the passenger compartment. In the event of an accident or an unexpected stop, they become projectiles. Make sure - especially in an estate car - that the luggage compartment and the passenger compartment are separated by a safety net.
  5. Flexible travel bags take up less space. They are easier to arrange than suitcases.
  • Start your trip well-rested and well-fed

Do not underestimate a long holiday drive. In the summer months one in three highway accidents are (partially) attributed to fatigue. Take breaks and avoid driving at night. Taking time for a picknick will also help your concentration.

  • Prevent travel sickness

Not everyone can handle long car journeys. Kids in the backseat, but also adults can get travel sickness. Using these tips, you can prevent it or lessen the symptoms.  

  1. Do not leave on an empty stomach. Eat a light meal and drink plenty of water. Avoid sweet, sour, fatty and carbonated drinks. Fruit, carrot, cucumber and crackers or biscuits are good light snacks.
  2. Let your child look outside. If they cannot sit in the front, the middle of the back seat is a good choice. Make sure your child is seated high enough so that they can follow the road.
  3. Drive slowly to avoid car sickness. Try to maintain a constant speed, do not accelerate too fast and avoid sudden braking or cornering.
  4. Make sure there is sufficient ventilation and fresh air in the car.
  5. Leave tablet, films and books in the suitcase. Rather play 'I see what you don't' or other 'talking games'. It forces your child to stay alert and not to let its head hang in the balance. Audio books, however, are an option.
  6. Be prepared for motion sickness and take regular breaks. Make sure your child doesn't get stuck in the car, but lets them stretch their legs.
  7. If you want to be on the safe side, ask your pharmacy or GP for travel sickness pills. Among the natural remedies, ginger can help against nausea.
  • Check the measures for your destination

Check the website of the Belgian ministry of Foreign Affairs before departing to check what travel advice is currently in effect for your destination. The country information is updated several times a week based on the official communications of the different countries and the Belgian ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In any case, you don’t need to worry about the car. Our cars are checked regularly by our fleet workers.

You can also count on us during car trouble on the road, since all our cars are members of VAB-road assistance.