Here are some questions on European travel-and the answers provided by AAA experts.

I am going to Ireland and want to rent a car. I am a member but I don't really want to have a password to get one through AAA. Can I do it online?
We do encourage you to log into AAA.com. You only have to do this one time, using the membership number on your AAA card. You can choose to stay logged into the site and you will get access to rates, discounts and your membership information every time you visit.  Even if you log out, you will only be asked for your username and password when you return. This way, you’ll have access to the full range of options for your travel planning as well. If you would prefer not to sign in as a member on AAA.com to make your car rental reservation, here are your options:
    Online: www.Hertz.com/AAA gives you access to the same Hertz rates and information as AAA.com.  When you get the confirmation from Hertz, please scan it to make sure it notes “AAA” on it.  When you pick up your car, you will be asked to present a valid AAA membership card.
    On the phone: You may call your local AAA office or call 1 (800) 654 3080 to reach the Hertz car rental desk for AAA members.
    Local AAA office: You can also visit our full-service travel agency at your local AAA office for car rental reservations (and more).

Finally, as Sally Doran notes in her blog story, Ireland: On the Greener Side of the Road, driving is a wonderful way to experience Ireland.  Jane Magrady has a nice tip about using a navigation device in her article on Northern Ireland Heritage.

We are going to Portugal and Spain and have purchased our plane fares and car rental through AAA. Is there a AAA office in Portugal and Spain or is AAA affiliated to a European auto club that we can use for travel information?
AAA is affiliated with automobile/touring clubs around the world through four major international motoring organizations. Members of these groups agree to extend services to visiting members of foreign clubs and AAA does the same for their members in the U.S. Although we do not have a AAA office in Spain, we do have a relationship with the Real Autómovil Club De España (RACE) in Spain that provides emergency roadside services, maps and travel publications to AAA members. Click here for their contact information and other details. Or click here for contact information for Autómovel Club De Portugal (ACP). Please note: Due to differences in service concepts and operating philosophies between AAA clubs and motor clubs elsewhere, the level of services you can expect from AAA may not be offered by other motor clubs around the world. Your AAA membership provides you access to the best in foreign motoring services available.

If you would like to explore other countries where there are reciprocal arrangements for AAA members, please visit our Offices to Serve you Abroad page. You can get your Europe travel planning information through your local AAA office as well.

I am traveling to Europe and trying to budget for meals. Can you help me with the average cost of lunch & dinner in the following countries? London, Brussels, Amsterdam, Rhineland/Munich, Lucerne, Vienna, Venice, Rome, Tuscany, Nice, Lyon, & Paris.
Excellent information about Europe is included in our Europe TravelBook (The Guide to Premier Destinations) which is available at Barnes and Noble. This publication covers all the cities you are visiting except for Lucerne and Tuscany. Near the back of the book there is a yellow Hotel and Restaurants section which lists a few restaurants for each city. From this you can see how much a typical meal will cost. The prices are in Euros and are based on dinner per person (excluding drinks). In USD the price groupings are roughly $=$15-$20, $$=$21-$30, $$$=$31+.

Obviously, prices will depend on the type of dining, drinks, if restaurants are in more touristy areas and how strong the Euro is at the time. London, Rome, Venice and Paris can be expensive for tourists. Portion sizes are generally smaller in Europe than in the U.S. which adds to the overall impression that food is more expensive.

We are traveling to Spain and France and I was told that AAA sold reasonably priced electrical adaptors. Where can I buy one?
If you are a AAA member, you can buy adaptors at with a member discount from www.AAA.com/etravelstore. The site has adaptors ranging from $14 for the basic items to near $200 for full kits. Such adaptors are also widely available at retail outlets like Best Buy. To help you decide which ones you need, here is a handy converter guide from our friends at LCI.

As a AAA member I understand that I can get my passport free of charge - is this true?
As a AAA member, you have access to discounted Passport processing services from Travisa. For more information, please visit your local AAA office or the Travisa web site. You can also get information for a passport directly through the U.S. Department of State Travel web site.

You will need passport photos for your application. Instant passport photo service is available at many AAA offices during normal business hours. No appointments are necessary and members will receive color photos, which are valid for both passports and international driving permits. The office can also help you with obtaining a passport or visa for your travels. Fees for obtaining a new passport are:
   U.S. Government Fees: Adults - $135 passport fee, and a separate $25 payment to the Post Office or the Clerk of Court. Minors - $120 passport fee, and a separate $25 payment to the Post Office or the Clerk of Court.
   Travisa's Service Fees (in addition to the above): Rush - 3 to 10 working days processing $99. Rush - 48 hours processing $179. Emergency - same/next day processing $199.

Husband and I are planning 20 days in Switzerland, Germany and Austria, our flights and most accommodation are booked. I need help planning transportation between countries - we are considering Eurail select pass but have no knowledge of trains. We are not sure if car rental is financially feasible considering $20/day parking + gas. Also we need suggestions for 3 days before we head back to Switzerland - are there any specific sights not to be missed?
Train is a great option for you, particularly if you are not familiar with driving and parking in Europe. The countries you are visiting have excellent rail networks - rail is a good way to see Europe without the hassle of driving.  www.raileurope.com has details of the all the different types of passes available, including an Austria-Switzerland pass and a Switzerland-Germany pass or direct tickets may be the best option for some of your journeys e.g. Zurich to Munich. You can book your Rail Europe tickets through your local AAA travel professional who may also be able to advise you on the best type of pass/tickets. Plus, if you book through AAA and are a AAA member there are some member benefits. If you do decide to travel by rail, for your 3 empty days you are looking for something between Vienna and Zurich. The Rail Europe web site will give you some ideas on where to go/what to do.  Please click here for specific Austria-Switzerland information.  Basel, Switzerland is a beautiful artsy city, Innsbruck, Austria is gorgeous too and close to the mountains, there are many options.

You may also be interested in the various types of city passes/cards that are available for the cities you are visiting. Often these passes offer you local transportation, entry into attractions, museums etc. much more cheaply than buying then individually and can avoid long lines when you are trying to enjoy your vacation. Again your local AAA travel professional should be able to help you. Click here for some information online, you’ll need to enter the cities that you are visiting. All tours, trips and passes will be shown here so there is plenty to search through.

Sights not to be missed? Wow - this is a big trip with so much to see and do within the cities you are visiting. I loved Bavaria, the castles and particularly Neuschwanstein Castle -  by train this is an easy side-trip from Munich. On a personal note, if you are going to use the train I would advise packing reasonably lightly - we posted something on this topic recently (click here). If you decide to rent a car then you may want to look into obtaining an International Driving Permit, click here for a post, and please note that AAA members receive member benefits with Hertz.

Where do you link to order foreign currency?
Please go to www.AAA.com/travelmoney to see options for obtaining foreign currency as well as the AAA Visa Travel Money card.

To submit your question to the AAA travel experts, click here.