In the days of cheap flights, it is becoming increasingly cost-effective to fly-drive to most destinations world-wide, not necessarily with a fly-drive package, but by locating your own cheap flight and finding your own car hire. I recently had to price up a trip to Mid-France and it actually turned out to be cheaper to get a flight to a nearby airport AND a hire car than it would have been to get a direct flight to the NEAREST airport. With today's fuel prices, driving to the continent is not just time-consuming, but extremely expensive - once again a good reason to go with the fly-drive option.
Admittedly fuel prices vary across the continent, but even driving to the ferry or train itself can be costly, and all but Eastern European countries have suffered from dramatically rising fuel costs as far as I know.
The availability of all types of travel services via the internet is changing the face of travel and making it all the more accessible and less costly for everybody. I have been on several trips where there has been no travel agent involvement and have thoroughly enjoyed making my own itinerary and arrangements. I have used well-known chains for motel services and a bed and breakfast guide to take me off the beaten track, add that to a cheap flight and cheap car hire and you can create the perfect custom made package without leaving your seat...
