5 day boys' trip... Denmark, Normandy or…?

[Bill]

Wife and daughter are away for 5 days over the bank holiday leaving me with two boys age 13 & 15... I've been considering all sorts of ideas but don't know how feasible some are.

One's fine with pretty much anything, but the older one doesn't like heat, sand or water!! He might make an exception for surfing though. Budget is limited to match the girls, £300pp maximum all in.

Flights are cheap to Denmark, so I'm wondering about packing light and doing northern island hopping by public transport. Issue with this is that I suspect any savings are chewed up by needing to use Airbnb rather than camping. And how bad are the midges if we do camp?

Or doing Normandy WW2 sights, not sure whether by car, bike or public transport.

Anyone got any thoughts on other ideas?

[Old Merc]

I’ve been to Denmark a number of times. Can’t think of much interest for the boys, other than Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen. Then it’s over £50 each for a ride package, and everything else is expensive in Denmark.
Travelling along the D Day beaches in Normandy would be more interesting and educational for the boys, and you.
Take the ferry to Ouistreham, then start at Pegasus Bridge ( Para museum ). Then drive the quiet D514 coast road all along the D Day beaches. Plenty of camp sites and B&B’s. Make sure you visit the new British Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer. Then Arromanches, Mulberry harbour, 360 cinema, and museum. Then the American Cemetery at Omaha beach is a very sobering place, but well worth the visit.

Edited by Old Merc on Sunday 9th July 11:35

[s2sol]

I've just left Denmark after a three day visit. I was in the south in a motorhome. As mentioned above, the cost of living is markedly higher than most of the rest of Europe. It's very warm there at the moment, and the focus of the leisure time is sandy beaches. As much as I enjoyed it, and wished I'd had the time to stay longer, I think it's probably not the best choice for your older son.

[Bill]

Damn, I really fancied Denmark! I'll admit though I did wonder what we'd actually do.

[CCCS]

When ours were 14 and 11 we had a great day at Alton Towers. There are always offers, you just need to track them down.

The youngest is now 14 and recently went with his friends and a parent to https://www.waterworld.co.uk/ they had a great time. It wouldn’t be for me (we’ve been spoilt by Florida waterparks).

I’d book a hotel in the area (with a pool if in budget) and make it a four night trip so you’re all relaxed and get the most out of the trip. My kids think it’s great to stay in a hotel with a pool.

If you want more to do they’re will be plenty of choice with a car.

Edited by CCCS on Sunday 9th July 19:21

[s2sol]

Bill said:

Damn, I really fancied Denmark! I'll admit though I did wonder what we'd actually do.

I absolutely loved it. It's beautiful, and the people are helpful and cheerful. I fear your oldest might not appreciate that, though.
I was thinking about this today. I've been on a bit of a roadtrip for a couple of months. The south east of Poland is worth a look. I particularly enjoyed Krakow and Lublin. Katowice is an interesting, albeit spectacularly ugly city.
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are all good. A bit like the Netherlands in that they're all very flat, but cheap and with lots of recent historical interest. Estonia was an eye opener. One of my biggest regrets is that I didn't give myself time to get to Narva, which has a predominantly Russian population. I did go to Paldiski, which is similar but much smaller. The Russian supermarket in is an interesting place to shop. Tallin is a good day out, as is Parnu. I wouldn't have a clue how to get about by public transport, though.
Riga in Latvia is cheap to fly to. My girlfriend flew out for a weekend while I was in the area. We went to Kolka which was beautiful, Kuldiga and Ventspils. Once she was safely gone, I went to Daugavpils, which was fascinating.
I'm in the Netherlands at the moment, which isn't particularly motorhome friendly, but seems to have a fantastic public transport infrastructure. Because it doesn't accommodate my needs, I've decided I don't like it. Your mileage may vary.
In the last two months, I've been in Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Czechia, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Denmark and the Netherlands.
It's a shame your boy wouldn't enjoy Denmark, but I think the Baltic States might be good for you all.

[Gareth1974]

Have you considered Germany?

Has some great cities, and a really good rail network linking them. Fly into one, and depart from another 5 days later, perhaps fitting another in between.

Germany has so many petrolhead attractions:

https://sinsheim.technik-museum.de/en/ (South of Frankfurt)
https://www.porsche.com/uk/aboutporsche/porschemus... (Stuttgart)
https://www.mercedes-benz.com/en/art-and-culture/m... (Stuttgart) (amazing in scale)
https://www.bmw-welt.com/en/index.html (Munich) - I recall you can hire a 'M' car from here for a few hours pretty cheaply
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutsches_Museum (Munich) - Huge science and technology museum, great aviation display (V2 rockets etc) and a submarine in the basement
https://www.berlin.de/en/museums/3108600-3104050-g... (Berlin)

[Bill]

CCCS said:

Stuff

It's my holiday too!!

Looking at the Baltic states but think flights are prohibitive.

I'm looking at hut to hut walks in the Pyrenees or wild camping in Sweden but I suspect that's just a recipe for bickering in the day and then WiFi free moaning in the evening!

[Luke.]

End thread.... //

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[Bill]

Bill said:

Looking at the Baltic states but think flights are prohibitive.

Yep, looks like £140pp which is half the budget. Once you factor in Airbnb and trains I think it's out. Denmark is £40 which is why I'm considering it.

[Bill]

Although Airbnb is more expensive!! Looking at camping...

I don't know why I'm looking at anything other than Normandy TBH. Maybe it's just too familiar and easy??

[Bill]

Gareth1974 said:

Have you considered Germany?

Has some great cities, and a really good rail network linking them. Fly into one, and depart from another 5 days later, perhaps fitting another in between.

Germany has so many petrolhead attractions:

https://sinsheim.technik-museum.de/en/ (South of Frankfurt)
https://www.porsche.com/uk/aboutporsche/porschemus... (Stuttgart)
https://www.mercedes-benz.com/en/art-and-culture/m... (Stuttgart) (amazing in scale)
https://www.bmw-welt.com/en/index.html (Munich) - I recall you can hire a 'M' car from here for a few hours pretty cheaply
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutsches_Museum (Munich) - Huge science and technology museum, great aviation display (V2 rockets etc) and a submarine in the basement
https://www.berlin.de/en/museums/3108600-3104050-g... (Berlin)

Looking at it as I haven't really been there. Think I'd probably drive if we go that way. At least then camping is easy.

(But they're not that into cars, soz! )

[blue_haddock]

I'd recommend doing Normandy, we love it there and there are loads of great things that the kids would like.

We have stayed several times at a campsite in St Aubin Sur Mer which is right in the middle of the canadian secotr and is a great base. We have also stayed in a nice campsite in St Vaast la Hougue which is round past the American sector and its a really quaint french sea side resort.

[Matt..]

Fly to the Alps/Pyrenees and spend a few days in the mountains between some refuges, or camp somewhere with a big lake to add kayaking in.

[superpp]

CCCS said:

When ours were 14 and 11 we had a great day at Alton Towers. There are always offers, you just need to track them down.

Edited by CCCS on Sunday 9th July 19:21

As much as I like Alton Towers, a bank holiday visit would just be a day spent in lines and 1 or 2 rides max.

[Bill]

Ancestors are mostly Irish, which has potential to be awkward! Only non-irish great-grandparent died in Quetta in what's now Pakistan. Adoptive great-grandfather fought in the trenches though so I'm contemplating a tour...

[chopper602]

Bill said:

(But they're not that into cars, soz! )

We went to the sister museum of one mentioned above (https://speyer.technik-museum.de/en/) and although my wife isn't really into 'cars' we both really enjoyed the place. They have a 747 you can go in and a Boran space shuttle. It's more a broad spectrum of transport - planes, cars, boats, trains and there is a really creepy traditional museum next door, full of dolls, stuffed animals, weapons and period costumes. Nürburg isn't too far away either . . .

[Traffic]

Bill said:

Damn, I really fancied Denmark! I'll admit though I did wonder what we'd actually do.

Sweden is super cheap if you look at the current exchange rate!

[Bill]

Thanks all! I put it to the vote and they're both keen on Normandy so I've booked a ferry...

Anyone got a campsite recommendation? We don't need a pool but do want to BBQ...

[blue_haddock]

Bill said:

Thanks all! I put it to the vote and they're both keen on Normandy so I've booked a ferry...

Anyone got a campsite recommendation? We don't need a pool but do want to BBQ...

The two that i recommended are

https://www.sandaya.co.uk/our-campsites/cote-de-na...

https://www.camping-lagallouette.fr/en/

Another one we like is

https://www.campinglavallee.com/en/