Lacking enthusiasm for a European road trip
Discussion
We have a week off and I was tempted to go via the tunnel, through the Alps, on to Italy where we'd visit a few different places.
It's been a few years since I did the last one, and now we have brexit, what seems like more rules in general, higher toll costs etc.
Pretty sure the Elise might be an issue with any clean air zones, so I'd probably take the Tesla.
Need to sort out data for my mobile, hotels/airbnbs with reliable wifi.
It's all starting to seem like a lot of hassle.
It's been a few years since I did the last one, and now we have brexit, what seems like more rules in general, higher toll costs etc.
Pretty sure the Elise might be an issue with any clean air zones, so I'd probably take the Tesla.
Need to sort out data for my mobile, hotels/airbnbs with reliable wifi.
It's all starting to seem like a lot of hassle.
Puzzles said:
We have a week off and I was tempted to go via the tunnel, through the Alps, on to Italy where we'd visit a few different places.
It's been a few years since I did the last one, and now we have brexit, what seems like more rules in general, higher toll costs etc.
Pretty sure the Elise might be an issue with any clean air zones, so I'd probably take the Tesla.
Need to sort out data for my mobile, hotels/airbnbs with reliable wifi.
It's all starting to seem like a lot of hassle.
It’s fine, we do a long trip several times a year, and I’m in Germany on one at the moment - just do it!It's been a few years since I did the last one, and now we have brexit, what seems like more rules in general, higher toll costs etc.
Pretty sure the Elise might be an issue with any clean air zones, so I'd probably take the Tesla.
Need to sort out data for my mobile, hotels/airbnbs with reliable wifi.
It's all starting to seem like a lot of hassle.
Puzzles said:
We have a week off and I was tempted to go via the tunnel, through the Alps, on to Italy where we'd visit a few different places.
It's been a few years since I did the last one, and now we have brexit, what seems like more rules in general, higher toll costs etc.
Pretty sure the Elise might be an issue with any clean air zones, so I'd probably take the Tesla.
Need to sort out data for my mobile, hotels/airbnbs with reliable wifi.
It's all starting to seem like a lot of hassle.
I'm sure it'll be like the swimming pool, and once you get in/over there it'll be great. Unless you can't swim. I'm almost certain you won't want to come back once you've got down there too It's been a few years since I did the last one, and now we have brexit, what seems like more rules in general, higher toll costs etc.
Pretty sure the Elise might be an issue with any clean air zones, so I'd probably take the Tesla.
Need to sort out data for my mobile, hotels/airbnbs with reliable wifi.
It's all starting to seem like a lot of hassle.
. As said, just do it. There really isn't much mandatory preparation required. Every network lets you roam and buy data packs. Every network has an app to help. Or buy a SIM when out there. All hotels will have wifi unless you've spent so much on your cars you'll be staying in hostels in... I dunno, I'm pretty sure they'd have wifi too :P. I had wifi no problem at the hotels in Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia etc.
Thanks chaps for the positive words. I know I'm being lazy.
In the past I'd have winged it, or planned it for months and months on end down to the last detail. Between the missus and checking in for work I do need to have a pretty good plan, but work next week is full so I'll have little time.
Argh!
In the past I'd have winged it, or planned it for months and months on end down to the last detail. Between the missus and checking in for work I do need to have a pretty good plan, but work next week is full so I'll have little time.
Argh!
I think the crit air thing is more talk than action. No idea if I entered any zones but I've just done 1900 miles in France in a 2013 diesel SMax with no issues. And a couple of years ago I followed the satnav without paying attention and definitely ended up inside the Paris clean air zone in a 2010 Discovery (including a low tunnel that was a bit too low!)
Just do it, we spent 4 weeks touring Europe last summer, not one problem.
Did expect a few fines to reach our door, but nothing, numerous cameras in Germany and Lichtenstein, a no go area in Rheims , but nothing.
Drove mountain passes in the Alps like we stole it, nothing!
Just starting out today on “7 weeks in a 911”, trying to start a thread in General gassing with regular photographic updates.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Did expect a few fines to reach our door, but nothing, numerous cameras in Germany and Lichtenstein, a no go area in Rheims , but nothing.
Drove mountain passes in the Alps like we stole it, nothing!
Just starting out today on “7 weeks in a 911”, trying to start a thread in General gassing with regular photographic updates.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Edited by Busa mav on Sunday 15th September 21:43
Looking at the other side of the argument, I commute by car every day, so the last place I want to be is my car during a week off.
If you're not feeling it, then just book a flight to Athens and chill for the week. Visit the monuments, the beach, enjoy the food, walk and use the public transport. I've never understood why people do city breaks over one or two days. With a week on hand you can relax and still have time to enjoy the less mainstream attractions.
If you're not feeling it, then just book a flight to Athens and chill for the week. Visit the monuments, the beach, enjoy the food, walk and use the public transport. I've never understood why people do city breaks over one or two days. With a week on hand you can relax and still have time to enjoy the less mainstream attractions.
Puzzles said:
Thanks chaps for the positive words. I know I'm being lazy.
In the past I'd have winged it, or planned it for months and months on end down to the last detail. Between the missus and checking in for work I do need to have a pretty good plan, but work next week is full so I'll have little time.
I booked and planned a week in France (hotels, tunnel, Crit'Air sticker) in under a couple of hours - very easy. Do it! In the past I'd have winged it, or planned it for months and months on end down to the last detail. Between the missus and checking in for work I do need to have a pretty good plan, but work next week is full so I'll have little time.
Booking.Com is my go-to app for hotels, very easy to find an area and then find properties. Yes, the tunnel is expensive now - I figure around twice the price of the ferry, £300 return is a lot. Crit'Air is easy, the French are very efficient on this one. Honestly, you could plan your week away in a couple of hours on a laptop.
I suspect next year's tunnel crossing will be more painful with increased regulations at the border.
Puzzles said:
....
Pretty sure the Elise might be an issue with any clean air zones, so I'd probably take the Tesla...
I suspect finding chargers will be more hassle than dodging Crit'air zones (if needs be).Pretty sure the Elise might be an issue with any clean air zones, so I'd probably take the Tesla...
We Brits seem to over think the crit-air scheme as it works totally differently to UK schemes (which seem more about revenue raising that stopping pollution).
An Elise based road trip should be going nowhere near toll roads or cities any way
Puzzles said:
We have a week off and I was tempted to go via the tunnel, through the Alps, on to Italy where we'd visit a few different places.
It's been a few years since I did the last one, and now we have brexit, what seems like more rules in general, higher toll costs etc.
Pretty sure the Elise might be an issue with any clean air zones, so I'd probably take the Tesla.
Need to sort out data for my mobile, hotels/airbnbs with reliable wifi.
It's all starting to seem like a lot of hassle.
Why do you need reliable wi-fi in hotels / airbnbs? You're going on holiday, or are you planning to work? Same for the mobile really, unless you've got some really stingy deal then data in Europe shouldn't be an issue. It's been a few years since I did the last one, and now we have brexit, what seems like more rules in general, higher toll costs etc.
Pretty sure the Elise might be an issue with any clean air zones, so I'd probably take the Tesla.
Need to sort out data for my mobile, hotels/airbnbs with reliable wifi.
It's all starting to seem like a lot of hassle.
Having said all that, we stayed in 10 different hotels and 3 different Airbnbs in Spain during our last road trip (6 weeks in total) and didn't have a single problem with Wi-Fi connectivity - although it was only really used for google maps to find places of interest in the vicinity.
Clean air zones really is a one time thing. Get a sticker, end of problem. I think it's only a real issue if you've got a 20 year old diesel car.
Thanks all.
I thought the Elise could be an issue as it’s a 1997 car. I guess the problem is I just don’t know. Things seem to have changed, or I got older and I need my dilligaf back..
I’ve only got 7 days I’m going to need the toll roads otherwise by the time I get there, it will almost be time to come home.
Trying to balance hours driving with distance.
I thought the Elise could be an issue as it’s a 1997 car. I guess the problem is I just don’t know. Things seem to have changed, or I got older and I need my dilligaf back..
I’ve only got 7 days I’m going to need the toll roads otherwise by the time I get there, it will almost be time to come home.
Trying to balance hours driving with distance.
Puzzles said:
Thanks all.
I thought the Elise could be an issue as it’s a 1997 car. I guess the problem is I just don’t know. Things seem to have changed, or I got older and I need my dilligaf back..
I’ve only got 7 days I’m going to need the toll roads otherwise by the time I get there, it will almost be time to come home.
Trying to balance hours driving with distance.
If you're short on time then try the overnight ferry from Harwich to Hook of Holland. Depending on where you live you can leave home straight after work on your last working day, catch the ferry, have dinner, have a decent night's sleep, deal with the hour time difference and wake up ready to hit the road in Holland. Also less stress as there's only the one boat leaving, so a finite number of people trying to get through security / passport control.I thought the Elise could be an issue as it’s a 1997 car. I guess the problem is I just don’t know. Things seem to have changed, or I got older and I need my dilligaf back..
I’ve only got 7 days I’m going to need the toll roads otherwise by the time I get there, it will almost be time to come home.
Trying to balance hours driving with distance.
If you're going to Italy, then drive down through Germany (no tolls, apart from the €1 to use the loo) then over the Alps in Austria (GrossGlocker).
omniflow said:
If you're short on time then try the overnight ferry from Harwich to Hook of Holland. Depending on where you live you can leave home straight after work on your last working day, catch the ferry, have dinner, have a decent night's sleep, deal with the hour time difference and wake up ready to hit the road in Holland. Also less stress as there's only the one boat leaving, so a finite number of people trying to get through security / passport control.
If you're going to Italy, then drive down through Germany (no tolls, apart from the €1 to use the loo) then over the Alps in Austria (GrossGlocker).
Cheers. That's not a bad idea.If you're going to Italy, then drive down through Germany (no tolls, apart from the €1 to use the loo) then over the Alps in Austria (GrossGlocker).
That was my regular way to Holland until Covid.
Prices went mental after that. I was quoted over £500 return before the summer holidays.
Just me and the car, overnight there and day sailing back.
Just looked at Portsmouth to Santander in Oct. £1000 return, me and car and just a seat.
It's cheaper to fly and use a hire car, bonkers.
Prices went mental after that. I was quoted over £500 return before the summer holidays.
Just me and the car, overnight there and day sailing back.
Just looked at Portsmouth to Santander in Oct. £1000 return, me and car and just a seat.
It's cheaper to fly and use a hire car, bonkers.
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff