Tell me what to do on my honeymoon
Discussion
... well I only need help with the route, other bits I've been practising for a while so hope to be competent soon. 
I get married on June 10th. We have a camper and 3 weeks off after the honeymoon so we're heading for Europe.
The plan so far involves a 06:20 eurotunnel crossing on 12th June and we're turning left when we get to Calais as we've not been to Belgium before. Our return is booked for 1st July and the bit in the middle is reasonably unplanned. So far we like the idea of Bruges, travelling south through Luxembourg and Switzerland before ending up on top of an alp and maybe onward to the Italian Lakes before heading back via France. If the weather's not good we may de-tour to the south of France.
Does anyone have any recommendations on must visit places, routes and importantly, campsites?
This is the very rough route we've guessed at but we've already done the route back up through France numerous times so we may adapt that. The only current must do is a pre booked vet visit in Bruges on the way out for our Border Terrier.
I get married on June 10th. We have a camper and 3 weeks off after the honeymoon so we're heading for Europe.
The plan so far involves a 06:20 eurotunnel crossing on 12th June and we're turning left when we get to Calais as we've not been to Belgium before. Our return is booked for 1st July and the bit in the middle is reasonably unplanned. So far we like the idea of Bruges, travelling south through Luxembourg and Switzerland before ending up on top of an alp and maybe onward to the Italian Lakes before heading back via France. If the weather's not good we may de-tour to the south of France.
Does anyone have any recommendations on must visit places, routes and importantly, campsites?
This is the very rough route we've guessed at but we've already done the route back up through France numerous times so we may adapt that. The only current must do is a pre booked vet visit in Bruges on the way out for our Border Terrier.
Thanks folks, I’m comforted it looks a good route.
Benno, thanks for the tip re Alsace. Neither of us have been there so we’re definitely game for another point to stop. It’d be good on the way down or even back up as we’ve done the route back up past Tours and Dijon previously so an alternative return would be good.
We know we’ll be taking a gamble on booking sites last minute, especially in the Italian lakes but the flexibility for reacting to the weather or somewhere we find on the way trumps too much booking. Especially as we can wild camp quite easily so it shouldn’t be too much bother. Saying that, if there are some great sites anyone knows of we’d definitely put them on the list in case we’re near.
Benno, thanks for the tip re Alsace. Neither of us have been there so we’re definitely game for another point to stop. It’d be good on the way down or even back up as we’ve done the route back up past Tours and Dijon previously so an alternative return would be good.
We know we’ll be taking a gamble on booking sites last minute, especially in the Italian lakes but the flexibility for reacting to the weather or somewhere we find on the way trumps too much booking. Especially as we can wild camp quite easily so it shouldn’t be too much bother. Saying that, if there are some great sites anyone knows of we’d definitely put them on the list in case we’re near.
Jordan247 said:
I'm doing the same route as you, in reverse starting ont the 6th of June for my honeymoon!
That’s hilarious! Do we high five as we cross over!? How much do you have set out Jordan? 
Biker's Nemesis said:
Thread title disappoints.
So will I on my honeymoon. Alorotom said:
As a serial honeymooner this would be my idea of hell.
For me the perfect honeymoon is somewhere where we can just chill and relax, have some drinks, awesome food and then have a short stumble to the bedroom.
It certainly takes all sorts For me the perfect honeymoon is somewhere where we can just chill and relax, have some drinks, awesome food and then have a short stumble to the bedroom.
We're both very active and in careers where we're constantly on, working sometimes ridiculous hours. We find it really hard to just stop and neither of us enjoy that so we tend to do other active things which challenge our brains slightly less so that is chilling and relaxing to us. The idea of just stopping and doing nothing just doesn't work for either of us. We do have a second honeymoon in September to Palm Springs where we'll be in a lovely villa surrounded by great restaurants but we'll still end up hiking, climbing and biking before any of that. Probably more of the normal type of honeymoon though if only for the climate and poshness. I did a road trip to Rome, albeit 2003 with my other half (in a TVR and made it back !)
A couple of thoughts / highights. Italian Lakes are really beautiful, we stayed at Lake Maggiore, in a hotel on the shore so not sure of sites, but the area is well worth a visit and you can get into northern Italy over some of the mountain passes, we di the Simplon pass.
You may not want to go as far South, but we headed from the lakes to Florence, then Rome, then headed back along the west Italian coast up into the French Riviera and just chilled out in Cannes for 5 nights. Hence if you do want a restful ish end to the hols, you could do worse than a nice site on the southern french coast somewhere.
We also did Chamonix en route to Italy and found it to be great in the Summer. I am sure there'll be loads of sites in that area.
A couple of thoughts / highights. Italian Lakes are really beautiful, we stayed at Lake Maggiore, in a hotel on the shore so not sure of sites, but the area is well worth a visit and you can get into northern Italy over some of the mountain passes, we di the Simplon pass.
You may not want to go as far South, but we headed from the lakes to Florence, then Rome, then headed back along the west Italian coast up into the French Riviera and just chilled out in Cannes for 5 nights. Hence if you do want a restful ish end to the hols, you could do worse than a nice site on the southern french coast somewhere.
We also did Chamonix en route to Italy and found it to be great in the Summer. I am sure there'll be loads of sites in that area.
Jura is also stunning in France in the way down. I'd come home via the Italian Lakes and the Dolomites.
It might be a bit early in the season but there's a spectacular Aire by the Tre Cime de Lavaredo: https://maps.app.goo.gl/xnyJCyy5iX5aVBECA
It might be a bit early in the season but there's a spectacular Aire by the Tre Cime de Lavaredo: https://maps.app.goo.gl/xnyJCyy5iX5aVBECA
I did something similar on the way down to Venice (as part of a family cruise holiday) in 2017.
Went via Heidelberg and into Austria, down to Venice. Did the cruise and back up via the lakes.
Will re-do this trip,(I plan to semi retire in 3 years time and will buy a motorhome for a 3 month trip) but will venture further west on the way back next time, having been to Lake Annecy and the Alps in 2020, so would incorporate more of France on my next trip, and wouldnt come back through Luxembourg and Belgium.
Went via Heidelberg and into Austria, down to Venice. Did the cruise and back up via the lakes.
Will re-do this trip,(I plan to semi retire in 3 years time and will buy a motorhome for a 3 month trip) but will venture further west on the way back next time, having been to Lake Annecy and the Alps in 2020, so would incorporate more of France on my next trip, and wouldnt come back through Luxembourg and Belgium.
Went to Cologne a few weeks ago, Outward did Calais- Dunkerque- Lille- Aachen Cologne. Living in Kent I am used to potholes but the Belgium autoroutes take it to a new level. Came back via Brussels, roads a bit better surfaced but massive volumes of trucks. Belgium rest areas were absolute s**tholes.
I think that Belgium has apart from chocolate and beer few redeeming features. Bruges is not bad but plenty of better places to go.
The route I shall take to Baden Baden in May is French autoroute to Rheims then Strasbourg. OK you have to pay but the roads are less busy, well surfaced and superb rest areas.
You may be aware that you have to buy a vignette at the Swiss border to use their motorways. Last time I didn't do this having set the sat nav to avoid toll roads. Every little village there was a 30kph limit with cameras and lots of traffic lights. More relaxing to pay the toll and use the motorway IMO, and quicker. Heidelburg and Colmar worth a visit.
I think that Belgium has apart from chocolate and beer few redeeming features. Bruges is not bad but plenty of better places to go.
The route I shall take to Baden Baden in May is French autoroute to Rheims then Strasbourg. OK you have to pay but the roads are less busy, well surfaced and superb rest areas.
You may be aware that you have to buy a vignette at the Swiss border to use their motorways. Last time I didn't do this having set the sat nav to avoid toll roads. Every little village there was a 30kph limit with cameras and lots of traffic lights. More relaxing to pay the toll and use the motorway IMO, and quicker. Heidelburg and Colmar worth a visit.
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