Just wondering
Discussion
Evening
I have the first week off work in January (02/01 - 08/01) and been mulling it over this last week. Is it possible to have a quick trip continental Europe?
I'm based Manchester way so I suppose 2 days will be driving to Dover and Back so that leaves what 5 days. The more I think about it, the more it may feel rushed but I do need to do something.
Maybe I should wait until next batch of annual leave and do 2 weeks
Thoughts much appreciated.
I have the first week off work in January (02/01 - 08/01) and been mulling it over this last week. Is it possible to have a quick trip continental Europe?
I'm based Manchester way so I suppose 2 days will be driving to Dover and Back so that leaves what 5 days. The more I think about it, the more it may feel rushed but I do need to do something.
Maybe I should wait until next batch of annual leave and do 2 weeks
Thoughts much appreciated.
i left Old Trafford one evening after a european game (22:00) and drove to folkestone, made a crossing then kipped in the Ibis Budget 2 mins from the train french side for £35
meant I woke up next day with the whole day ahead of me
where do u want to go thou? All the mountains will have snow !
meant I woke up next day with the whole day ahead of me
where do u want to go thou? All the mountains will have snow !
akadk said:
i left Old Trafford one evening after a european game (22:00) and drove to folkestone, made a crossing then kipped in the Ibis Budget 2 mins from the train french side for £35
meant I woke up next day with the whole day ahead of me
where do u want to go thou? All the mountains will have snow !
Well wasn't thinking of the mountains, more so a quick blast to Germany / Stuttgart and check out the Porsche / Mercedes museums. meant I woke up next day with the whole day ahead of me
where do u want to go thou? All the mountains will have snow !
Maybe even check out the Ring if its open to watch the nutters driving there
Dash off to the overnight Hull crossing after work on Friday evening to maximise days available.
You'd be in Holland on Saturday morning and on the road by 9am at the latest.
Be aware that Stuttgart is a bloody long way and will require at least one full-on day of driving in each direction, mostly on Autobahns, to make the holiday worthwhile.
You'd be in Holland on Saturday morning and on the road by 9am at the latest.
Be aware that Stuttgart is a bloody long way and will require at least one full-on day of driving in each direction, mostly on Autobahns, to make the holiday worthwhile.
Trabi601 said:
Dash off to the overnight Hull crossing after work on Friday evening to maximise days available.
You'd be in Holland on Saturday morning and on the road by 9am at the latest.
Be aware that Stuttgart is a bloody long way and will require at least one full-on day of driving in each direction, mostly on Autobahns, to make the holiday worthwhile.
Yeah that's what Ive been thinking the more been looking at it today / this evening. You'd be in Holland on Saturday morning and on the road by 9am at the latest.
Be aware that Stuttgart is a bloody long way and will require at least one full-on day of driving in each direction, mostly on Autobahns, to make the holiday worthwhile.
Think Ill save it for when I have more time / annual leave.
Maybe ill try something like Bruges or Ghent. Or Amsterdam
but somewhere outside the city with easy links to town.One point I've noticed today, the ferries from Hull are expensive even when you book way in advance.
frye said:
Yeah that's what Ive been thinking the more been looking at it today / this evening.
Think Ill save it for when I have more time / annual leave.
Maybe ill try something like Bruges or Ghent. Or Amsterdam but somewhere outside the city with easy links to town.
One point I've noticed today, the ferries from Hull are expensive even when you book way in advance.
Overnight ferries do tend to be expensive - however, look at the cost of a hotel and the miles / time on the road saved.Think Ill save it for when I have more time / annual leave.
Maybe ill try something like Bruges or Ghent. Or Amsterdam
but somewhere outside the city with easy links to town.One point I've noticed today, the ferries from Hull are expensive even when you book way in advance.
We happily pay the extra for overnight crossings as we like to have our 3 course meal, a few beers and a decent breakfast when we wake up having saved half a day or more of driving.
Only 5 hours from Manchester. I'd set off early and get a ferry over the same day, could even pile a few extra miles on over in France the same day as well depending on how you feel.
Take your mobile phone and book a hotel up once you are there and know where you are going to be stopping. Plenty of Ibis budget and F1 hotels around and also lots of others on booking.com around. I remember getting to an F1 hotel in Mulhouse and decided it looked awful, noticed the hotel just over the road looked decent, had a quick look on booking..com and paid for it. Walked into the hotel, the guy told me he didn't have a booking (I'd only booked it 2 minutes before walking in) and then the fax machine starting printing away, I asked him to check it and there it was, my booking for the night
Take your mobile phone and book a hotel up once you are there and know where you are going to be stopping. Plenty of Ibis budget and F1 hotels around and also lots of others on booking.com around. I remember getting to an F1 hotel in Mulhouse and decided it looked awful, noticed the hotel just over the road looked decent, had a quick look on booking..com and paid for it. Walked into the hotel, the guy told me he didn't have a booking (I'd only booked it 2 minutes before walking in) and then the fax machine starting printing away, I asked him to check it and there it was, my booking for the night
SmilerFTM said:
steve51800 said:
Even though I'm in the north east, I have used the harwich hook ferry for the last 3 times taking the car, last time was £140 return car and 2 people, 6 hour day crossing.
Why not drive the extra 30 mins to Dover/Folkstone and take the 1 hour ferry?Riley Blue said:
It'll take longer than that, especially if the Dartford Crossing is SNAFU'd as it often is even though there's no longer queueing to pay tolls.
Coming from Manc to Dover, I'd go down the M40, then round the Heathrow side of the M25. Much quicker.Riley Blue said:
Depending on destination, if you live near Manchester, sailing from Hull or even Harwich makes a lot of sense.
Or So'ton/Portsmouth - again, depending on destination.spookly said:
All good advice. Apart from Ibis budget hotels. The one I stopped in near Dunkirk was like an open prison, complete with similar clientele. I'd have rather slept in the car. Was cheap though.
the one at Calais is where all the French border police stay, so when you pull in at 1am its literally the safest place to be in all of Franceperfectly acceptable
I'd stay away from the F1 Hotels thou !
You've got a week off? easily enough time
Back in 2012 I did London - Nurburgring - London in ONE day
left London at 5am, back in London 1am - 800 miles
Remember Winter Tyres are required in Germany if weather is bad
eurotunnel FTW
travel at night for efficient miles
easily cruise at 120/130 leptons on the Belgium Straights (E42 past Brussels)
Back in 2012 I did London - Nurburgring - London in ONE day
left London at 5am, back in London 1am - 800 miles
Remember Winter Tyres are required in Germany if weather is bad
eurotunnel FTW
travel at night for efficient miles
easily cruise at 120/130 leptons on the Belgium Straights (E42 past Brussels)
akadk said:
You've got a week off? easily enough time
Back in 2012 I did London - Nurburgring - London in ONE day
left London at 5am, back in London 1am - 800 miles
Remember Winter Tyres are required in Germany if weather is bad
eurotunnel FTW
travel at night for efficient miles
easily cruise at 120/130 leptons on the Belgium Straights (E42 past Brussels)
Wow that's some serious driving going on there!Back in 2012 I did London - Nurburgring - London in ONE day
left London at 5am, back in London 1am - 800 miles
Remember Winter Tyres are required in Germany if weather is bad
eurotunnel FTW
travel at night for efficient miles
easily cruise at 120/130 leptons on the Belgium Straights (E42 past Brussels)
Ah yes good point about night traveling.
I've driven down to Stuttgart. My plan was to miss out on the autoroutes and see some sites and scenery on the way down. I went down very early March.
I live in south east Worcestershire but had to drop my wife off at Birmingham airport first (which is further to Dover than from home), so I didn't get to set off from BHX until around 6am.
I stayed in Reims on my first night. Ferry from Dover , via normal roads I was in Reims by early afternoon and visited the old GP circuit and spent the evening supping beer in the city. Next day took the back roads to Metz via Verdun to see the old WW1 battlefields. After a night in Metz (great city) I drove to Baden Baden and from there to Stuttgart via the B500. Later that afternoon I headed for the Porsche museum which can be easily seen in three hours.
Following morning I left Stuttgart at 9.30 AM, peeled off and drove to the ring to watch around an hour of racing and a bite to eat. I was still home and sat in my local pub by 9.30 PM supping a pint.
Fours days all in. I found it an easy drive (in a twenty year old car) and well worth it. Each night I stayed in a city central hotel with safe parking.
I live in south east Worcestershire but had to drop my wife off at Birmingham airport first (which is further to Dover than from home), so I didn't get to set off from BHX until around 6am.
I stayed in Reims on my first night. Ferry from Dover , via normal roads I was in Reims by early afternoon and visited the old GP circuit and spent the evening supping beer in the city. Next day took the back roads to Metz via Verdun to see the old WW1 battlefields. After a night in Metz (great city) I drove to Baden Baden and from there to Stuttgart via the B500. Later that afternoon I headed for the Porsche museum which can be easily seen in three hours.
Following morning I left Stuttgart at 9.30 AM, peeled off and drove to the ring to watch around an hour of racing and a bite to eat. I was still home and sat in my local pub by 9.30 PM supping a pint.
Fours days all in. I found it an easy drive (in a twenty year old car) and well worth it. Each night I stayed in a city central hotel with safe parking.
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