Planning a Europe road trip.
Discussion
Rough plans are....
Channel tunnel, overnight at Ghent, couple of nights at the Nurburgring, (not bothered about driving the track just want to say I have been),onto BMW museum, onto Ferrari museum, weekend in Italy, drive back North to spend a few days at the seaside in the Netherlands/Belgium.
I need to plan a bit but don't want to commit us to too strict of a regime regarding overnight stays on our travels, surely there will be places to stay just 'off the cuff'.
On our way through Germany if we happened to come across an unrestricted part of road I might just have to keep up with the flow of traffic for a while.
We have done France a couple of times so ok with driving on 'their' side.
Any hints or tips please feel free to chip in
Channel tunnel, overnight at Ghent, couple of nights at the Nurburgring, (not bothered about driving the track just want to say I have been),onto BMW museum, onto Ferrari museum, weekend in Italy, drive back North to spend a few days at the seaside in the Netherlands/Belgium.
I need to plan a bit but don't want to commit us to too strict of a regime regarding overnight stays on our travels, surely there will be places to stay just 'off the cuff'.
On our way through Germany if we happened to come across an unrestricted part of road I might just have to keep up with the flow of traffic for a while.
We have done France a couple of times so ok with driving on 'their' side.
Any hints or tips please feel free to chip in
Lots/most roads in Europe is pretty much like driving in the UK. The German autobahn in particular when I've driven on it feels like the M6 but just at times without having to worry about losing your licence, interesting but far from 'fun' or even worth while traveling that far to experience.
There are some fantastic roads in the Alps, the northern lakes of Itay looks amazing (never been), but you do need to do some planning to get the most of a trip. Your trip sounds idea for starting in Germany than heading south, through the Alps and than ending up in the northern Italian lakes and come back through France.
Nice or good value accommodation in nice/remote locations tends to be booked out months beforehand, even with AirB&B you need to be booking now for summer. For our trip to Switzerland a few years ago this was the kind of view at pretty much every hotel/accommodation.
You can just turn up and see what happens, but again it'll be a bit like driving to any random part of the UK at a weekend and wondering whats there to do or where to stay.........If you plan on visiting a big city less of an issue, but if you are aiming to a 'driving' holiday planning ahead is the way to go.
I quite enjoy planning our European road trips. We are going to France in a few weeks but thats just getting from A to B, than local beaches, the exciting one is Norway in the summer. The accommodation looks amazing for something that costs the same as 'De lux' Primer Inn room in London, we booked this about 6 weeks ago for end fo July.
There are some fantastic roads in the Alps, the northern lakes of Itay looks amazing (never been), but you do need to do some planning to get the most of a trip. Your trip sounds idea for starting in Germany than heading south, through the Alps and than ending up in the northern Italian lakes and come back through France.
Nice or good value accommodation in nice/remote locations tends to be booked out months beforehand, even with AirB&B you need to be booking now for summer. For our trip to Switzerland a few years ago this was the kind of view at pretty much every hotel/accommodation.
You can just turn up and see what happens, but again it'll be a bit like driving to any random part of the UK at a weekend and wondering whats there to do or where to stay.........If you plan on visiting a big city less of an issue, but if you are aiming to a 'driving' holiday planning ahead is the way to go.
I quite enjoy planning our European road trips. We are going to France in a few weeks but thats just getting from A to B, than local beaches, the exciting one is Norway in the summer. The accommodation looks amazing for something that costs the same as 'De lux' Primer Inn room in London, we booked this about 6 weeks ago for end fo July.
To the OP, I would ask why he's looking to spend a few days by the sea in NL / Belgium? Unless there's a specific reason for wanting to do that, I would suggest adding that time on when you're in Italy, and either spending it at the lakes (Garda or Como), or by the coast somewhere.
To the person above - where is that please? It looks idyllic - exactly the sort of place to plan an entire holiday around.
To the person above - where is that please? It looks idyllic - exactly the sort of place to plan an entire holiday around.
randomeddy said:
Thanks, I will do some booking today and tomorrow.
Didn't want to do too much planning but the thought of having nowhere to stay would be a nightmare.
I just thought there would be Travelodge type places en route.
We went to Vienna in 2019 and discovered some lovely places on the Moselle river, which is only around 28 miles from the Ring. The first stage from Ghent to Cochem would be around 200 miles, but we found traffic congestion really bad in that part of Belgium. From Cochem to the Ring is only a 40 minute drive. I think from Cochem to Munich is around 350 miles, mostly motorway. From Munich to Modena is around 330 miles.Didn't want to do too much planning but the thought of having nowhere to stay would be a nightmare.
I just thought there would be Travelodge type places en route.
Germany doesn't really do Travelodge, but they do have reasonably priced hotes, which usually have high standard buffet breakfasts. I have looked at a few which are around £160 for a room for 2 nights.
randomeddy said:
Just thinking about Travelodge type places.
Booked now for Ghent, 'ring and Munich. Might just wing it after that.
RE seaside place Holland/Belgium etc. No specific reason really just thought it might be ok to head back up that way so it is easy to get back to Calais.
I would seriously plan to spend more time in around the Alps in Italy/Switzerland etc. If you like nice roads - which I persume you do, the alpine passes are so much more interesting/nicer than any beach in Holland or a German motorway.Booked now for Ghent, 'ring and Munich. Might just wing it after that.
RE seaside place Holland/Belgium etc. No specific reason really just thought it might be ok to head back up that way so it is easy to get back to Calais.
Ive done similar a few times and repeating part in a few weeks. Ghent is a good stop and the route from there to the ring is easy and stress free, I much prefer the driving standards to the UK. I generally turn off at Aachen and go the scenic route to the Nurburgring but after AAchen towards Cologne its derestricted so your choice there.
However for somewhere to stop between Ghent and the ring I would highly recommend Monschau and around a 10minute detour.
At the ring you have ringwerk the museum but check their website for opening, its worth a visit and a few interactive elements. And check if the tracks open and rent something if you don’t want to drive your car or book with Hyundai to go out in their car, once you’re there you will regret not going on track if its open.
It’s a long slog to Munich which if it was me I’d break up with a visit to Stuttgart and the Porsche or Mercedes Museum or Technik Museum Speyer, all of them you will pass.
We stayed in Como a few years ago and you could happily stay for longer, a return from there you could take the Stelvio pass to Neuschwanstein (sp?) castle in Germany and then head towards the Black Forest from there.
However for somewhere to stop between Ghent and the ring I would highly recommend Monschau and around a 10minute detour.
At the ring you have ringwerk the museum but check their website for opening, its worth a visit and a few interactive elements. And check if the tracks open and rent something if you don’t want to drive your car or book with Hyundai to go out in their car, once you’re there you will regret not going on track if its open.
It’s a long slog to Munich which if it was me I’d break up with a visit to Stuttgart and the Porsche or Mercedes Museum or Technik Museum Speyer, all of them you will pass.
We stayed in Como a few years ago and you could happily stay for longer, a return from there you could take the Stelvio pass to Neuschwanstein (sp?) castle in Germany and then head towards the Black Forest from there.
gangzoom said:
Arouns Åndalsnes, Norway, booked it for 5 nights. This road is 10 minutes away......
[Img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52041680641_1fe8da0b11_c_d.jpg[/thumb]
I need some more clues please - what website did you book it through? I've looked on AirBnB and can't see anything that has views that spectacular.[Img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52041680641_1fe8da0b11_c_d.jpg[/thumb]
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