Eurotrip in april - newbie, advice please!

[AA01]

Hi all

I am planning a roadtrip at the end of april for 5 days with some mates, from london. We are focusing on germany rather than going further into italy or switzerland. So far our plan is to go to the 'ring, various museums and factories (bmw, mercedes-benz, porsche, vw, audi) and do some good driving roads. I have done some research already and i would greatly appreciate any useful advice or links. We are also doing this on a relatively tight budget!

I am looking for help in the following areas:
-route from london and best ferry crossing (hull/dover)
-good route through germany
-driving roads in germany
-hotel info
-anything else near germany worth a visit
-any other stuff i've forgotten

All advice is much appreciated!

[Somnophore]

Personally I'd go on the eurotunnel, there are often offers if you book earlier and travel at off peak times ans it's much quicker and less hassle than the ferry.

[iva cosworth]

I used Google maps to locate the Porsche ,Mercedes and BMW museums all

excellent displays ,Mercedes probably the best in the spiral building

Porsche is only 2 minutes from autobahn and Mercedes also in Stuttgart

and BMW a short drive at many legal leptons down the road in Munich

[dcb]

AA01 said:

I am looking for help in the following areas:
-route from london and best ferry crossing (hull/dover)

E40 Calais - Brussels - Aachen.
Eurotunnel if you have plenty of money and are short
of time, SeaFrance Dover Calais otherwise.

AA01 said:

-good route through germany

You don't tell us where you are going but

Aachen, Koln, Frankfurt, Nurnburg, Munchen does it for me.
Aachen, Berlin if you want something different.

AA01 said:

-driving roads in germany

Any autobahn really.

Most of Germany north of Frankfurt is pretty flat,
so not too many driving roads.

More interesting conditions further south, in the
Black Forest, the Allgau and Oberbayern.

And there's the Nurberging, of course.

[greygoose]

Eurotunnel is quicker, DFDS (used to be Norfolkline) from Dover to Dunkirk are usually cheapest and it is slightly nearer than Calais for getting to Germany.

[Fort Jefferson]

greygoose said:

DFDS (used to be Norfolkline) from Dover to Dunkirk are usually cheapest and it is slightly nearer than Calais for getting to Germany.

I paid £34 return last year. 12noon sailing in June.

[AA01]

dcb said:

AA01 said:

-good route through germany

You don't tell us where you are going but

Aachen, Koln, Frankfurt, Nurnburg, Munchen does it for me.
Aachen, Berlin if you want something different.

Sorry for not being so specific, i don't really have a fixed idea, i just know we want to go all around germany to the museums, factories etc!

Crossing times aren't so important, its mainly price, convenience and fun en route that are the factors.

Thanks for all the advice so far!

[AA01]

I think norfolkline is looking like the best bet as its cheaper than the Eurotunnel. (and some of the longer crossing time may be made up by the fact it goes closer to germany? Is this true?)

What is the best route through all the places, is one big circle best? And how much time is needed at each place?

[dcb]

AA01 said:

I think norfolkline is looking like the best bet as its cheaper than the Eurotunnel. (and some of the longer crossing time may be made up by the fact it goes closer to germany? Is this true?)

All or most of the ferries are cheaper than the eurotunnel,
since they take more time.

DFDS go to Dunkirk, which is about 15 minutes (i.e. almost nothing)
drive closer to Germany than Calais.

Having a look at a map sometimes might help ;->

AA01 said:

What is the best route through all the places, is one big circle best? And how much time is needed at each place?

Something like viamichelin.com will help with route planning.

How much time you spend is up to you. Some dull places
can be done in half a day, other places you will need a
week just to touch the sides.

Expect to take a lot longer with the shopping if you
take a woman with you.

[AA01]

A lex said:

AA01 said:

I think norfolkline is looking like the best bet as its cheaper than the Eurotunnel. (and some of the longer crossing time may be made up by the fact it goes closer to germany? Is this true?)

What is the best route through all the places, is one big circle best? And how much time is needed at each place?

A lex said:

If you want to ferry it via Dover id recommend Norfolkline; it berths in Dunkerque saving you 30mins drive on the other side. The boats are big, clean and have free wi-fi. A Dover ferry also gives you the advantage of a forced 2hr break if needed.

Yes, as already mentioned!

Woops, missed that, sorry!

[AA01]

dcb said:

[quote]
Having a look at a map sometimes might help ;->
[quote]

Im on my phone right now and i dont have a map handy

AA01 said:

What is the best route through all the places, is one big circle best? And how much time is needed at each place?

Something like viamichelin.com will help with route planning.

How much time you spend is up to you. Some dull places
can be done in half a day, other places you will need a
week just to touch the sides.

Expect to take a lot longer with the shopping if you
take a woman with you.

No woman, so don't have that problem!

[AA01]

Ok so plan is to leave from london, take the ferry to dunkirk, then head to the ring for a day or two. After that we'll do a big circle around all the museums and factories and spend half a day or a whole day at each depending on how close they are to each other. Possibly black forest as well.

What sort of timeframe am i looking at for the entire trip? Is 5 days sufficient?

Where are the best overnight stop off points?

Edited by AA01 on Sunday 9th January 18:04

Edited by AA01 on Sunday 9th January 20:09