German GP - driving there & camping
Discussion
Hi Iv'e got tickets for the German GP this year. Having never done this before, although i've been to Le Mans Classic many times - any advice on where to camp cheapest/best route from Manchester.
It's me and the Mrs and have a choice of small classic sports car, small SUV or VW T5 Combi. I'm thinking the van will be best (unless there's a big difference in cost on ferry/tunnel) probably want to take bikes and cycle into the circuit?
questions:
best crossing?
best camp site?
best location at circuit, I think we have the cheapest grandstand tickets on the straight.
any other must do's
thanks
It's me and the Mrs and have a choice of small classic sports car, small SUV or VW T5 Combi. I'm thinking the van will be best (unless there's a big difference in cost on ferry/tunnel) probably want to take bikes and cycle into the circuit?
questions:
best crossing?
best camp site?
best location at circuit, I think we have the cheapest grandstand tickets on the straight.
any other must do's
thanks
questions:
best crossing?
[/quote]
Van/Car same cost.
For you I would look at Zeebrugge from Hull on the overnight ferry. Cuts out the M25.
Although Dover Dunkirk would suit too (and cuts out any delays in Calais), if you want to drive through the south east, DFDS have some decent offers this summer and if your driving from Manchester you get a little bit of rest, unlike the tunnel which is pretty speedy.
Hockenheim is a good 6 hours from the ports, I would suggest driving through Belgium and Luxembourg (fill up here), no tolls (France would be good 50 euros in tolls from Calais to 'the border').
Dover - Dunkirk on the ferry.
I would go in the camper be more comfortable for you. It's a nice circuit but you go through a narrow town and then its in front of you. I didn't see much facilities in the area when i went this year to visit as I was on route to Stuttgart. I'd stop on route and get supplies so you dont have to move much. Work seeing whats in the area to visit also.
There is a museum with concord that we went to that also has the Russian version also that was brilliant.
I would go in the camper be more comfortable for you. It's a nice circuit but you go through a narrow town and then its in front of you. I didn't see much facilities in the area when i went this year to visit as I was on route to Stuttgart. I'd stop on route and get supplies so you dont have to move much. Work seeing whats in the area to visit also.
There is a museum with concord that we went to that also has the Russian version also that was brilliant.
We've done the Hull boat 5 times and it's fantastic (not always to hockenheim mind). Don't expect the Ritz, but it's run well and never late in our experience. From the north I refuse to drive to Dover unless we use a minibus as it's much nicer to potter over that way instead.
From the ferry we always head into Bruges itself for breakfast, then it's about 4h to hockenheim from there, or about 5h total. Last year we broke out up with a stop at Schumacher karting (you go past it on the autobahn, so a tiny detour) and had lunch in the cafe there. Even if you weren't karting that's a great stopping point as the food and beer are good, and the memorabilia even better.
We haven't camped at hockenheim circuit itself, we go with a company called campingf1, not bad value but you get a proper flushing khazi etc which is nice.
Last year the rain caused chaos, but even so it only took us a couple of hours to get back. The traffic is really well organised around it with free parking.
From the ferry we always head into Bruges itself for breakfast, then it's about 4h to hockenheim from there, or about 5h total. Last year we broke out up with a stop at Schumacher karting (you go past it on the autobahn, so a tiny detour) and had lunch in the cafe there. Even if you weren't karting that's a great stopping point as the food and beer are good, and the memorabilia even better.
We haven't camped at hockenheim circuit itself, we go with a company called campingf1, not bad value but you get a proper flushing khazi etc which is nice.
Last year the rain caused chaos, but even so it only took us a couple of hours to get back. The traffic is really well organised around it with free parking.
have done the Hull crossing to both Zebrugge and Rotterdam and also the channel tunnel when going to Europe - in the end it kind works out the same.
Yes its more expensive than the tunnel, but you dont have the cost and hassle of driving down from Manchester to Folkstone. it's just a quick run over to Hull, board mid afternoon, spend an evening drinking in the bar, go to sleep and wake up just before you get to the port the next morning at 8am.
With a 5 to 7 hour drive once you get across the channel (hockenhiem is 5 1/2hr from Rotterdam, 6 hours from Zebrugge, 7hrs from Calais according to google) your gonna wanna stop somewhere after driving down from Manc. So why not take the boat - cut out the hotel and relax.
Between the 2 hull routes - the Zeebrugge ferry leaves first about 6pm, where as the Rotterdam ferry leaves at 8pm - it is a smaller ship than the Rotterdam ferries. When I've crossed with the missus, we normally book an "outside" 2 berth premium cabin - means that you get a window and a cabin in a quieter area of the ship. On the Zebrugge ferry these cabins are bunk beds, where as on the rotterdam ferry, you get 2 floor level beds so you get a little bit more space as the cabin is wider
Yes its more expensive than the tunnel, but you dont have the cost and hassle of driving down from Manchester to Folkstone. it's just a quick run over to Hull, board mid afternoon, spend an evening drinking in the bar, go to sleep and wake up just before you get to the port the next morning at 8am.
With a 5 to 7 hour drive once you get across the channel (hockenhiem is 5 1/2hr from Rotterdam, 6 hours from Zebrugge, 7hrs from Calais according to google) your gonna wanna stop somewhere after driving down from Manc. So why not take the boat - cut out the hotel and relax.
Between the 2 hull routes - the Zeebrugge ferry leaves first about 6pm, where as the Rotterdam ferry leaves at 8pm - it is a smaller ship than the Rotterdam ferries. When I've crossed with the missus, we normally book an "outside" 2 berth premium cabin - means that you get a window and a cabin in a quieter area of the ship. On the Zebrugge ferry these cabins are bunk beds, where as on the rotterdam ferry, you get 2 floor level beds so you get a little bit more space as the cabin is wider
Gassing Station | Formula 1 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff