If you are looking for Space A travel information, go here.  You'll find everything you wanted to know about traveling via Space A.  But if you  prefer, here's AMC's (Air Mobility Command) official website on Space A traveling with some VERY helpful tips and guidelines for traveling.  (You may have problems accessing AMC's official website if you are not on a .mil or .gov domain.

Onward...

Before you can travel, you need to know how to drive.  Here are a few tidbits that I was given by the "DMV" to study for my driving test (yes, you'll have to take one when you arrive).  There was no actual "driving" portion to the test, only academics.  50% was sign memorization while the other 50% was comprehension of scenarios.  The signs throughout Europe are mainly the same with some variations, but here they are as I was given them...Traveling is the one thing in Europe you want to capitalize on.  The trains, airways, and highways are the most prominent ways of maneuvering around the different countries.  I've described each in a little detail below and provided links for the different traveling systems.

First things first, if you're going to travel, make sure EVERYONE has a passport!  I've heard of several people traveling within Europe with no passport, but I assure you that you cannot see London or any other country within the UK without a passport or official government orders.  Go here to find out what you need for your international passport.  Having one of these to show to the border agent is better than showing your military ID and orders... that only screams "HI!  I'M AN AMERICAN US SOLDIER TRYING TO GET INTO YOUR COUNTRY!"  You don't want that.... remember your force protection rules?  This is one that makes sense... get a passport.

GI Euro knows that this is where you want to capitalize on your visit to Europe.  The railways, airways, and highways will be your most prominent means of travel.  Here's a little on each...

Railways
The railways here in Europe FAR surpass the accessibility in the US.  You can count on being able to get to nearly anywhere in Europe via a train.  It's cheap, easy, fast, and extremely efficient.  Check out these sites to learn more on a few different ways to get our Europe.

www.eurostar.com - The sooner you book here, the cheaper it is.  You can use the Eurostar in conjunction with another train service to get you anywhere FAST.  Eurostar offers connecting tickets to over 100 destinations across the UK, France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.  This train holds the UK record for train speed at 208 Mph.  You can count on about 2 and half hours for a trip from the UK to Brussels, BE.  That's fast!

www.b-rail.be/nat/E/ - This site is an online service to Belgian train networks.  Belgium is considered the center of Europe, so if you're going somewhere, you're likely to travel right through it.  Features online booking as well.  I've personally traveled via these trains and have to say they are fast, easy, and comfortable.

I'm looking for more railway system sites!  Tell me here!

Airways
This one is simple... the best way to get around in Europe in the air is through www.ryanair.com.  They are FAR cheaper than anything in the States--I still don't understand how they do it!  Here's the trick to it though... there is no "reserved seating" like traveling in the States, it's first come first served UNLESS you arrive early and are one of the first 65 to show up to board the plane (doesn't always happen this way, but frequently works), then you can lock in your seat as you will be boarded ahead of everyone else.  Children and women have priority, so if you have kids, grab the kid around the waste, and do your best lineman move through the crowds.  www.ryanair.com offers some great specials and even has FREE trips sometimes during off-peek times.  Some of your major connecting points include London (Stansted)... they have a really neat little chart here that shows everywhere they go (Flash player may be required).  Check'em out.  Highly recommended.

If for whatever reason you don't want to fly with RyanAir, there is always the secondary option of Virgin Air.  They aren't as flexible as Ryan Air, but they go more places.  EVERYTHING connects through Brussels, Belgium to all over Europe.  Check'em out at www.virgin-express.com or see what other vacation packages they offer at www.virgin.com.  Very reasonably priced.

Highway/Motorway/Autobahn
Traveling this way isn't recommended.  To begin with, you'll have a few things to be concerned with before you even get on the road.  How are you going to pay for gas as you travel?  Economy gas prices are nearly double what you would be paying for regularly through gas coupons or a gas ration card.  Plus, you have to pay to park EVERYWHERE, and if you don't have to pay, you can only stay there a max of two hours (in most cases--and that's only if you can find a place to park).  What is your insurance coverage that you have for the country you are going to tour?  If you rent a car, some rental companies do not cover places like Italy (due to high theft/break-ins).  These are things to be concerned with.  If you are doing a day trip and can make it from one military installation to another, no problem.  Traveling from Chievres AB BE to Ramstein AB GE is a breeze--about 3 and half hours in length, plus I can fill up on gas at the reduced rate at Ramstein or one of the surrounding bases--US dollar cash... not everyone takes MasterCard or Visa.

Don't let anyone tell you that you can't bring over your SUV or full-size truck.  The roads are big enough to accommodate you just fine.  Consider this:  the US is not the only place in the world with big 18-wheelers hogging the roads--they exist in Europe too.  If they can fit on the roads, so can your Cadillac Escalade.  However, parking may be an issue SOMETIMES, but not all the time.  And of course, you run the risk of having your car broken in to because it will always stick out like a sore thumb (unless you are around Landstuhl/Ramstein/Vogelweh area)--American-made cars dominate that place.

Traveling Locally and Abroad
Traveling around via your own car is definitely the most comfortable way of doing it.  I kinda traveled around locally then started spreading my wings to other countries.  Was nice and when I drove, I used a TomTom GPS/navigation device.  This is the A-1-number-1-sho'nuff way to travel without getting lost.  If you want to travel via your own vehicle, get one, you won't regret it.  I bought one for my wife and myself--neither of us have any reason for not being able to find home.  Visit www.tomtom.com to learn more about its services.  I recommend using a PDA (Palm Pilot, PocketPC, etc) for your device... I'm all about multi-functionality, and this does exactly that.  Find HP PocketPC's SummerPack or WinterPack if you can.  I own one of each and there's one for each season.  Comes with everything you need.  If you can't find either of those, check out this site.  He has a complete guide on buying and locations.  A complete set will set you back about 500 euros.  Use of TomTom Navigation systems comes highly recommended.  If you don't want to spend the extra cash for a GPS, try www.mappy.com.  This is basically the MapQuest of Europe.

In Germany, gasoline may be purchased with the coupons at most ESSO stations. The coupons can be used at most BP and some ARAL stations on autobahns only. In addition, gas coupons may be purchased (from AAFES) specifically for use at ESSO stations in the Netherlands. The higher-graded gasoline coupons are good in both Germany and the Netherlands. Gas is dispensed in liter increments rather than gallons. Coupons are issued in a variety of denominations in the same book for the user's convenience. There is no change or refund from the gas station if the coupons exceed the amount of liters that have been pumped.

ITALY: Italy rations gasoline at a much lower amount to employees stationed there, 300 liters per month for most vehicles. Gas coupons are used at AGIP and some ESSO stations; they can only be purchased in Italy.

When driving in other countries, gasoline will have to be purchased as needed.

Tolls and Driving Passes
I haven't run into this problem yet, but I understand that there are several tolls bridge and pass-throughs within Europe.  One way to divert this problem is the use TomTom Navigation systems.  The GPS will automatically route your path away from and around tolls.

Driving passes are required in some countries.  Once you cross the border (Switzerland and Poland I know for sure), you have to stop and buy a ridiculously over-priced piece of paper called a driving pass.  If you are stopped otherwise, there is a serious fine for not having it.  Check with your local travel office as the rules for this often change.  The way I see it, this is just another reason to take the train or airline.