There is a certain feeling of freedom about using your own car when you are driving abroad. Even if you choose to rent a car it is still nice to have a base where you can store things and you can go wherever you like, when you like and not be kept by a time table. The motorways in Europe are very substantial and there are good minor roads as well. If you are renting then you should be able to pick up a car at the airport and then go straight on to your destination. It should not take very long to get used to driving on the other side of the road, just brush up on the basic road signs first though!