Euro road trip in August

[calletso]

Hi,

Planning the following driving trip over 14 nights, 2 Adults, kids 9, 7 & 5....

Dover - calais
3 nights Eurocamp Beekse Bergen Holland
2 nights Boppard / Rhine valley
1 night stop over Strasbourg
4 nights camping in Evolene Swiss alps
2 night Annecy
2 nights Paris
Calais - Dover

Any recommendations or tips on "things to do/see" would be very much appreciated! I have some ideas but they are based on internet searches and not real life experiences....

In Holland we will be going to Efteling, Paris obviously Eiffel tower and other sights. Not 100% on what to do in swiss alps - kids would like to see the matterhorn!

Tips appreciated!

[Griffith4ever]

Last time I was in Strasbourg in the summer they did a thing where they projected onto the cathedral and told a story of its history, you sit and watch for free. Was excellent (as were the beers and steaks, and the canals, and bridges, and beers etc Lovely place)

[omniflow]

Plan your trip very carefully - The roads in Europe can be unbelievably busy in August. For at least some of the places you mention, the middle weekend in August is the one to avoid - I assume it's 12th / 13th this year, although the Friday is really bad too. When I say bad, it's really really bad. A 20 minute journey taking 4 hours kind of bad.

[Johnniem]

Read up carefully on what you need for the road trip. For instance, you'll need a Crit Air sticker for Paris and maybe for other towns you wish to visit. Check the website on line. They are cheap and easy to get but you need a while for it to be sent through the post.

Enjoy the trip!

[towser44]

omniflow said:

Plan your trip very carefully - The roads in Europe can be unbelievably busy in August. For at least some of the places you mention, the middle weekend in August is the one to avoid - I assume it's 12th / 13th this year, although the Friday is really bad too. When I say bad, it's really really bad. A 20 minute journey taking 4 hours kind of bad.

We're travelling back from down near Mont Ventoux (Avignon) to Reims and then on to Calais on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th, are we likely to hit any particularly areas to which you refer on those dates?

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

towser44 said:

omniflow said:

Plan your trip very carefully - The roads in Europe can be unbelievably busy in August. For at least some of the places you mention, the middle weekend in August is the one to avoid - I assume it's 12th / 13th this year, although the Friday is really bad too. When I say bad, it's really really bad. A 20 minute journey taking 4 hours kind of bad.

We're travelling back from down near Mont Ventoux (Avignon) to Reims and then on to Calais on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th, are we likely to hit any particularly areas to which you refer on those dates?

Lyon is always a pinch point. A satnav with traffic on is essential

[GreatGranny]

That just sounds exhausting

You'll be packing and unpacking the car 8 times!

Wasn't brave or patient enough to do that kind of holiday when our 3 were similar ages but I'm sure they'll have a great time and make many great memories.

[N111BJG]

omniflow said:

Plan your trip very carefully - The roads in Europe can be unbelievably busy in August. For at least some of the places you mention, the middle weekend in August is the one to avoid - I assume it's 12th / 13th this year, although the Friday is really bad too. When I say bad, it's really really bad. A 20 minute journey taking 4 hours kind of bad.

Yes it can be nose to tail on the roads around lake Annecy

[omniflow]

towser44 said:

omniflow said:

Plan your trip very carefully - The roads in Europe can be unbelievably busy in August. For at least some of the places you mention, the middle weekend in August is the one to avoid - I assume it's 12th / 13th this year, although the Friday is really bad too. When I say bad, it's really really bad. A 20 minute journey taking 4 hours kind of bad.

We're travelling back from down near Mont Ventoux (Avignon) to Reims and then on to Calais on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th, are we likely to hit any particularly areas to which you refer on those dates?

A quick google shows that the date in question is 15th August. Unlike the UK, the rest of Europe celebrates festival days on the actual day that they fall, rather than the nearest convenient Monday. However, there is also then the European tradition of "making the bridge" - i.e. taking additional days off to link the festival day to the weekend. There are websites out there (Bison Fuite or something similar) which will give you more information.

Personally, I've only done one August road trip holiday and that was because we wanted to be in Lake Como for our 25th Wedding Anniversary. It's not an experience that I ever plan to repeat.