I’m looking for advice on organising a European road trip, hoping to go away for the full 6 week summer holiday, family of 5. Will hire a motor home. Has anyone done similar? Obvious start point seems to be Dover. Was the thinking of heading up towards Holland, across to Germany and eventually wind down towards Spain. I’m not sure how organised I’d need to be or could we just wing it and make it up as we go, summer holidays will obviously be busy and Covid could still play a part in some places.
[Travel] European road trip
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Thunder Bolt
Silly old bat
I don't know about the countries you mention but if you plan to enter Europe via France - i.e. Calais - then make sure all adults are triple jabbed and you've downloaded the French Covid pass ( easy to find on Google ). Good news is that masks are now optional and you can eat out without the pass - it's just required to enter France.
I'd recommend Portsmouth LeHavre or Cherbourg, head down the West coast, along the south coast, maybe into Italy , Turin, MIlan then north back through the ALps Annecy, Germany, Belgium etc and back to Dover
We did something similar in 2 weeks on Lambrettas in 1997. Will do it again some day.
Its all very nice and civilised, good camp sites, although on scooters we mostly used B&B's
We did something similar in 2 weeks on Lambrettas in 1997. Will do it again some day.
Its all very nice and civilised, good camp sites, although on scooters we mostly used B&B's
Official Old Man
Uckfield Seagull
Can I join you? Something I'd love to do. It's the taking 6 weeks off work that I cant do yet, maybe in a few years time, except I'd be way too old.
Mackenzie
Old Brightonian
Make sure you go to Italy, Lake Garda would be a brilliant stopover on your trip.
Drive up all through Sweden (we have very long very straight roads that some drivers like), then over to Finland and... eh... well, you'll need to drive a little bit through Russia but that should be... exciting, then you drive across all the Baltic countries into Poland until you get to Germany and the Autobahn thing and then you can go to France or Italy or the other way around. With this journey, you'll see more than the average road tripper.
Week 3 in NW Spain for us. Heading slowly home over 7 days today.
Home for 6 weeks then off for 6 weeks in Norway.
August would be very busy everywhere. Might be worth booking up some sites. France has best facilities for vans to pull up and park overnight for free.
Enjoy it!
Home for 6 weeks then off for 6 weeks in Norway.
August would be very busy everywhere. Might be worth booking up some sites. France has best facilities for vans to pull up and park overnight for free.
Enjoy it!
A mex eyecan
Well-known member
- Nov 3, 2011
- 3,872
yup, then head up a bit further and over the Simpion(?) pass. Stunning scenery
- Aug 24, 2020
- 7,095
A few ideas for places to stop:
On the way out:
Colmar, Alsace - beautifully preserved old town with campsite and restaurant on the river.
Kandersteg, Bernese Oberland - proper mountains, cable cars, eagles flying above the campsite, summer toboggan run on rails, pedalos on the glacial lake, then put the van on the flatbed train, and go through the mountain tunnel to the Rhone valley. Just remember to close the windows.
On the way back:
Concale, Brittany, for oysters. Use the aire-de-camping. Baker's van comes round in the morning with warm croissants.
Mont St Michel
Honfleur - old town near Le Havre, can park in the big aire-de-camping. Loads to do.
On the way out:
Colmar, Alsace - beautifully preserved old town with campsite and restaurant on the river.
Kandersteg, Bernese Oberland - proper mountains, cable cars, eagles flying above the campsite, summer toboggan run on rails, pedalos on the glacial lake, then put the van on the flatbed train, and go through the mountain tunnel to the Rhone valley. Just remember to close the windows.
On the way back:
Concale, Brittany, for oysters. Use the aire-de-camping. Baker's van comes round in the morning with warm croissants.
Mont St Michel
Honfleur - old town near Le Havre, can park in the big aire-de-camping. Loads to do.
Baker lite
Banned
Lots of great stuff on YouTube [emoji1303]
Cheshire Cat
The most curious thing..
Depends how far the Russian advance / retreat has got.
Weststander
Well-known member
My suggestion for part of your travels, is this region:
https://www.sudtirol.com/en/south-tyrol.htm
Stunning scenery, lush meadows even in summer, pristine, paradise.
https://www.sudtirol.com/en/south-tyrol.htm
Stunning scenery, lush meadows even in summer, pristine, paradise.
This is the one for a 6 weeker! Great mix of cultures, coast and mountains. Try to get to Lake Garda, then could come back over the pass into Austria, then Germany. Or, through the French Alps, Annecy etc as mentioned. Personally, I'd leave Spain for another trip, as it's huge! Plenty to see in France, Italy, Austria, Germany, Netherlands etc. And...enjoy
Absobloodylutely. We love Austria, also the Salzkammergut (Wolfgangsee etc)
Weststander
Well-known member
Us too, both Austria or Süd Tirol (pinched from Austria in 1919, into Italy), we love that part of the world and the people.
Yes, I'd forgotten the Sud Tirol is Italy now. Had a couple of holidays there years back, one hiking, one cross country skiing. Lovely mix of cultures and in the menus, and very hospitable locals.
Damn... this thread's reminding me its now over 2 years ago we went to the continent...and we miss it... although Scotland and the Lake District have been enjoyable too
Weststander
Well-known member
Yes, I'd forgotten the Sud Tirol is Italy now. Had a couple of holidays there years back, one hiking, one cross country skiing. Lovely mix of cultures and in the menus, and very hospitable locals.
Damn... this thread's reminding me its now over 2 years ago we went to the continent...and we miss it... although Scotland and the Lake District have been enjoyable too
Are you going this year?
We’re off skiing in the Tirol in a week’s time.