James
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Registered: 1st Jun 02
Location: Surrey
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Some friends and I are planning a road trip through Europe next year, camping along the way.
I have drafted the following route which goes through the following countries:
- France
- Italy
- Switzerland
- Germany
- Netherlands
- Belgium
We are aiming to do this in around 7 days.
I have a few questions....
1) I have just picked some fairly major cities along the way that we would stop at and have nights out etc, but does anyone know of any places in particular that are worth visiting?
2) Anyone that has done this kinda thing before, do you think 7 days will be long enough?
3) Any other thoughts/advice on the route/trip on the whole.
Thanks, James.
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Steve X16XE
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Registered: 31st Dec 06
Location: Barnsley, South Yorkshire
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7 days! You will be shattered! Double it. Then you can take your time whilst your there. Or maybe over 10 days.
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James
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Registered: 1st Jun 02
Location: Surrey
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I was thinking 10 days actually. I don't think people will want to go for 14 days. We will share the driving as well so should be ok.
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mattk
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Registered: 27th Feb 06
Location: St. Helens
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6 countrys WITH nights out in 7 days 
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Steve X16XE
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Registered: 31st Dec 06
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How many people and cars and are going and what cars are they?
If you work it as, 1 day to drive, atleast 1 full day where your at then 1 day drive again.
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James
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Registered: 1st Jun 02
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quote:
Originally posted by Steve X16XE
How many people and cars and are going and what cars are they?
If you work it as, 1 day to drive, atleast 1 full day where your at then 1 day drive again.
Probably 2 cars - 6 people, my Astra Turbo and dunno what the other car will be.
The route planner says 34 hours driving in total, can probably get that down to 30. Over 10 days that's an average of 3 hours a day (I know it won't work out like that but roughly).
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James
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Registered: 1st Jun 02
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And I doubt we will want a full day in every place.
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CorsAsh
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Registered: 19th Apr 02
Location: Munich
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Stelvio Pass
Nurburgring
My apartment
All highly recommended.
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Aaron
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Registered: 9th Aug 04
Location: Cottingham, East Riding
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quote:
Originally posted by CorsAsh
Stelvio Pass
Nurburgring
Only if going in a worthwile car?
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CorsAsh
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Registered: 19th Apr 02
Location: Munich
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No. You don't have to be in some big power monster to enjoy a good road.
Looking at his route, he'll pretty much be passing the Ring, Cologne is also a pretty city.
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James
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Registered: 1st Jun 02
Location: Surrey
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Yeh I wouldn't bother with the ring, wouldn't mind some decent driving roads though.
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Aaron
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Registered: 9th Aug 04
Location: Cottingham, East Riding
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quote:
Originally posted by CorsAsh
No. You don't have to be in some big power monster to enjoy a good road.
Each to their own then
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Steve X16XE
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Registered: 31st Dec 06
Location: Barnsley, South Yorkshire
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You never know how good it will be.
Atleast your not going in a small car. You all won't feel cramped.
It looks a little longer than 3 hours from France to Italy although the roads are that smooth you will end up doing over 100 and not know about it. Set your CC to be safe.
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James
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Registered: 1st Jun 02
Location: Surrey
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Yeh - i've never driven in Europe before so I honestly have no clue if the journey is realistic.
I'm happy to alter it but I think most of us are keen to get the French riviera in the trip at some stage. Therefore I figured if we are going to drive all the way down there, we might as well see some different places on the way back up 
[Edited on 28-12-2008 by James]
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Steve X16XE
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Registered: 31st Dec 06
Location: Barnsley, South Yorkshire
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Have you been on the M6 toll? Well it's like that but all the time. So smooth! I've driven to disney land in Paris. I averaged 80mph... I had to stop for fuel and a bite to eat and stop at toll booths. I'll let you work out how fast i was going. 
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K17STY
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Registered: 13th Dec 02
Location: West Lothian
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An average of 80mph? maybe?
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Steve X16XE
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Registered: 31st Dec 06
Location: Barnsley, South Yorkshire
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To make that average of 80mph....
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Ian
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Registered: 28th Aug 99
Location: Liverpool
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As said - you'll need more time.
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Butler
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Registered: 2nd Jun 05
Location: London
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Reims if its not too far out the way?
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luke85
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Registered: 26th Nov 07
Location: Chesterfield
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Im thinking of doing the exact same thing this summer, only our trip was going to start in Barcelona and the along the south of France, maybe to Italy.
I think european countries need you to have a warning triangle and stuff in case you break down so theres a thought.
What are your plans for inding somewhere to stay? The idea of just going where ever we liked appealed to us but that would mean turning up in a city with no planned hotel.
Got to beat a package holiday for the adventure IMO
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Paul_J
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Registered: 6th Jun 02
Location: London
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All I can think is that if you're going out properly each night, there's no way you'll be wanting to get up early and drive the next day (plus a driver will be drunk unless he goes tea total night before).
Remember to plan this into your trip, as if it's say 5 hours a day with a few rest stops / lunch or whatever (soon becomes 6-7 hours) - then once you arrive you're knackered and don't want to go out. If you then do go out, you'll be fucked the next day etc.
As a guage though, I can go from G on the map at 6am through F and straight on to Koln in germany (not going to netherlands) and it'll be about 5pm by the time I arrive after having rest stops and ferry - I feel knackered, but still get pissed that night.
Note on the way back, I got from Nurburgring (Koln roughly) to Dunkerque in about 3 hours 
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A1EX
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Registered: 29th Mar 00
Location: Turku, Finland
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All sounds fine, but wouldnt plan for just 7 days, dont have a time limit on how long you will be, just head back when you feel like it, spend as long as you like in each place. Just dont go by a timetable
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Butler
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Registered: 2nd Jun 05
Location: London
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Paul was probably averaging about 130 too
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corsa120
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Registered: 4th May 02
Location: Northamptonshire
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have done euro trip, and have been stelvio pass, deffo recommend it but mate 7 days is far too short at least 12 to me and bare in mind toll roads they cost a fortune last trip i did down to lloret de mar in spain cost me over 350 quid alone in toll roads costs, plus fuel/breakdown cover etc etc it works out very expensive but well worth it...
also go via bourge in france which looks on route to you which leads to millau bridge absolutely fantastic
[Edited on 29-12-2008 by corsa120]
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Bonney
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Registered: 14th Nov 04
Location: St Helens
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You'll also need the appropriate insurance e.g. car and travel insurance. Also some form of breakdown assistance or someway of getting home in an emergency.
Also in some EU countrys dont they require you by law to have a first aid kit, fire extinguisher and hi visability vests in the car?
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