The peak summer holiday season of 2026 is in full swing, and many spontaneous travelers are wondering how they can still book a trip at short notice. According to the tour operator Alltours, the classic holiday destinations for self-drivers in Germany, Austria, Italy, and southern France currently still have good availability.
Many of these destinations can be reached in less than eight hours by car, depending on the starting point. Demand for travel by private car is increasing, as short-notice flight availability during the holiday season is often limited and expensive.
The tour operator cites price examples such as a week in a holiday home on the Baltic Sea starting at €749 or on Italy's Lake Garda starting at €949 per family. Alpine regions like the Zillertal in Tyrol or the Salzburg region also offer similar packages. For families, traveling by car offers greater flexibility in terms of luggage transport and travel time. However, industry observers point out that the seemingly inexpensive offers can ultimately become significantly more expensive due to substantial additional costs such as fuel prices, toll fees in Austria and Italy, and parking fees.
A critical look at the transport infrastructure also reveals significant obstacles for drivers. During the summer holidays, long traffic jams and blockages regularly occur on major roads, such as the Brenner motorway or the routes towards the North and Baltic Seas. The planned holiday can thus turn into an ordeal right from the start. Furthermore, despite short-term discounts, accommodation prices in popular holiday regions have risen noticeably compared to previous years, as businesses have to factor in increased personnel and operating costs.
The focus of tour operators on self-drive holidays is therefore also a reaction to the changing market. Since charter flight capacity for this summer is largely exhausted, providers are increasingly trying to market their hotel allotments within driving distance directly. For consumers, careful price comparison remains essential, as the total cost of a self-drive holiday, including meals and incidentals, can in some cases exceed package deals in the flight segment.