Mini European Roadtrip - Tips?
Discussion
Having not done a road trip in a while, I have been thinking about 5-6 days leaving 31st December until 5th January.
Currently I have the following on the itinerary (Not staying everywhere for a night of course, but see what we feel along the way)
Dunkirk - Lille - Brussels - Cologne - Antwerp - Bruges - Dunkirk
Was wondering what people thought about:-
a) The destinations above in December/January (any better routes/gems I am missing?)
b) Are winter tyres compulsory in Germany regardless of how the weather is at the time? I have just looked and the averages temperatures seem to be about 8 degrees.
http://goo.gl/maps/hNd9q
Currently I have the following on the itinerary (Not staying everywhere for a night of course, but see what we feel along the way)
Dunkirk - Lille - Brussels - Cologne - Antwerp - Bruges - Dunkirk
Was wondering what people thought about:-
a) The destinations above in December/January (any better routes/gems I am missing?)
b) Are winter tyres compulsory in Germany regardless of how the weather is at the time? I have just looked and the averages temperatures seem to be about 8 degrees.
http://goo.gl/maps/hNd9q
V6Alfisti said:
Dunkirk - Lille - Brussels - Cologne - Antwerp - Bruges - Dunkirk
Was wondering what people thought about:-
a) The destinations above in December/January (any better routes/gems I am missing?)
b) Are winter tyres compulsory in Germany regardless of how the weather is at the time? I have just looked and the averages temperatures seem to be about 8 degrees.
http://goo.gl/maps/hNd9q
Dunkirk is twinned with Middlesboro. Not sure it's a tourist destination, moreWas wondering what people thought about:-
a) The destinations above in December/January (any better routes/gems I am missing?)
b) Are winter tyres compulsory in Germany regardless of how the weather is at the time? I have just looked and the averages temperatures seem to be about 8 degrees.
http://goo.gl/maps/hNd9q
of a working port.
Lille is a former coal town. I don't think there's much going on there.
Brussels ok.
Cologne - big city. Some folks like it, but not me.
Antwerp - good idea.
Bruges - the tourist industry with a town attached. Expect plenty of Americans and Brits.
Ghent is far better and cheaper. Places like Oudenaarde, Veurne, Kortrijk, Poperinge & Ypres are also
worth considering.
As for winter tyres in Germany, whatever the law says, you'd be mad to not have them.
-10C and a foot or two of snow is quite usual over there and so you don't want to look
like the umpteenth badly prepared Brit swanning around on summer tyres in the middle
of winter, do you ?
dcb said:
Dunkirk is twinned with Middlesboro. Not sure it's a tourist destination, more
of a working port.
Lille is a former coal town. I don't think there's much going on there.
Brussels ok.
Cologne - big city. Some folks like it, but not me.
Antwerp - good idea.
Bruges - the tourist industry with a town attached. Expect plenty of Americans and Brits.
Ghent is far better and cheaper. Places like Oudenaarde, Veurne, Kortrijk, Poperinge & Ypres are also
worth considering.
As for winter tyres in Germany, whatever the law says, you'd be mad to not have them.
-10C and a foot or two of snow is quite usual over there and so you don't want to look
like the umpteenth badly prepared Brit swanning around on summer tyres in the middle
of winter, do you ?
Thanks DCB, some great suggestions there to reconsider - initial picture hunting re:Ghent look great!of a working port.
Lille is a former coal town. I don't think there's much going on there.
Brussels ok.
Cologne - big city. Some folks like it, but not me.
Antwerp - good idea.
Bruges - the tourist industry with a town attached. Expect plenty of Americans and Brits.
Ghent is far better and cheaper. Places like Oudenaarde, Veurne, Kortrijk, Poperinge & Ypres are also
worth considering.
As for winter tyres in Germany, whatever the law says, you'd be mad to not have them.
-10C and a foot or two of snow is quite usual over there and so you don't want to look
like the umpteenth badly prepared Brit swanning around on summer tyres in the middle
of winter, do you ?
Dunkirk is just the arrival port, and winter tyres being re-considered purely because the temperatures are about 8 degrees at the moment and I am questioning the value of sticking on £700 worth of winter tyresfor what will be very few miles in west Germany (+8 degrees) and +8 degrees in Belgium
V6Alfisti said:
Thanks DCB, some great suggestions there to reconsider - initial picture hunting re:Ghent look great!
You are welcome. If you want some pub and hotel tips for Ghent, I can help.V6Alfisti said:
Dunkirk is just the arrival port, and winter tyres being re-considered purely because the temperatures are about 8 degrees at the moment and I am questioning the value of sticking on £700 worth of winter tyres for what will be very few miles in west Germany (+8 degrees) and +8 degrees in Belgium
It all depends how far away from the coast you get. Keep it less than 50-100 miles and you won't need winter tyres quite so much.
200 miles from the coast (i.e. bits of Germany like Cologne) and the weather gets harsh.
Belgian Plod (for Plod) are pretty relaxed, but the German Plod are no nonsense.
Unprepared Brits are a standing joke amongst the Germans
and you'll get funny looks from the locals trying to drive around
on summers in winter.
You will be committing that cardinal German offence, not organised !
dcb said:
Lille is a former coal town. I don't think there's much going on there.
Why oh why post the above? You quite plainly don't know anything whatsoever about Lille.OP - Lille is a fine idea; the city centre and squares are really very nice. Lots of shops, bars etc. If you route your trip carefully you can visit Messines/Passchendaele/Ypres etc on the way there/back if that sort of thing floats your boar.
Bruges is a good idea - it will be quite quiet at this time of year, but there are lots of nice shops, bars, restaurants etc. It attracts lots of tourists for a reason. Ypres is liable to be very quiet indeed.
One thing to bear in mind though is that an awful lot of stuff might be closed.
Yes, Germany changed the law on Winter tyres in 2012 if not 2011.
You must have winter tyres on your car or they will have you.
Before the law change, the German car insurance would not cover anybody crashing in Winter without the appropriate tyres.
If you're doing a European road trip, I recommend Spa for a track day and Austrian A1 ring. Austria is stunning and Salzburg is my favourite city simply because the food and scenery are second to none.
Good luck, happy motoring and don't forget your heavy duty tape, tow rope, jump leads, emergency tools, health kit, triangle etc etc - but you knew all that no doubt!
You must have winter tyres on your car or they will have you.
Before the law change, the German car insurance would not cover anybody crashing in Winter without the appropriate tyres.
If you're doing a European road trip, I recommend Spa for a track day and Austrian A1 ring. Austria is stunning and Salzburg is my favourite city simply because the food and scenery are second to none.
Good luck, happy motoring and don't forget your heavy duty tape, tow rope, jump leads, emergency tools, health kit, triangle etc etc - but you knew all that no doubt!
When in Antwerp get yourself to Paters Vaetje in the town square and work your way through as many beers on the menu as you can... you might want to make this one of your stop over locations
Little update, ended up seeing Lille, Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges and my view of each.
Lille :- Actually quite charming, nice walk around with a good town centre and not just concentrated to a small area
Brussels :- Better than expected, modern in some ways and traditional in others. Good vibe
Antwerp :- Not quite as nice as expected, but perhaps because we booked the most time here and tired of it. Quite a concentrated old town (which is lovely and some hidden gems) but the surrounding area is pretty low. The walk around the MAS was good.
Ghent :- Absolutely adored Ghent, really charming, didn't feel touristy. Loved it
Bruges: :- Again very pretty, but as mentioned quite touristy and mostly seemed to be shops but some really lovely parts.
PS: Beer was good!!
Lille :- Actually quite charming, nice walk around with a good town centre and not just concentrated to a small area
Brussels :- Better than expected, modern in some ways and traditional in others. Good vibe
Antwerp :- Not quite as nice as expected, but perhaps because we booked the most time here and tired of it. Quite a concentrated old town (which is lovely and some hidden gems) but the surrounding area is pretty low. The walk around the MAS was good.
Ghent :- Absolutely adored Ghent, really charming, didn't feel touristy. Loved it
Bruges: :- Again very pretty, but as mentioned quite touristy and mostly seemed to be shops but some really lovely parts.
PS: Beer was good!!
VBRJ said:
Sounds like a good trip! You can't beat Belgian beer!
Did the car behave itself?
Quite right about that!Did the car behave itself?
The Alfa was totally faultless, finding somewhere safe to park it for less than 15-20 euro a night, less easy however.
I found:-
Lille, street parking after 7 or 8 pm on Sat and all day Sun is free.
Brussels - Interparking at about 15 euro for reduced hassle
Antwerp - There is a place near stadtpark for 7 euros a day but I got caught in the mother of traffic jams and left it in secure underground parking by centraal station, normally 20 euros per night but hotel get 25 percent discount.
Ghent - Street parking is about 7 euros per day and felt safe leaving it, the most redic system (for a foreigner in particular) to get the day rate though, press the yellow button, then insert card, then press blue button then green. Had to get a local involved with that one as they were equally bemused, even whilst reading the step by step guide in local language.
Bruges - Super easy, 3.50 euro per day and free bus into town (or 15 min walk)
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