June 2026: Austria & Back
Discussion
Hello all
I'm looking for some recommendations and guidance on my first Euro trip this summer. The general itinerary is:
Outbound
Day one: London to Calais, via Eurotunnel, and down to the Black Forest. I'll stay somewhere in the area, with the idea to drive local roads the following morning.
Day two: enjoy BF roads before drive to Munich, pick up the missus from the airport, drive onto Austria (setting-up camp near Grossglockner).
Return
Day one: drive to Munich, dropping off missus again, and stay somewhere overnight
Day two: finish the journey back to the UK via Eurotunnel
My questions are:
1. Does anyone have any recommendations for where to stay in/around the Black Forest for the outbound leg?
2. I'm undecided where I could stay overnight on the return leg between Munich & Calais. I'm in no rush, so am open on any recommendations
3. Is it worth getting a device for French tolls in advance? I've come across Emovis & Tollbird and heard good things
I'm looking for some recommendations and guidance on my first Euro trip this summer. The general itinerary is:
Outbound
Day one: London to Calais, via Eurotunnel, and down to the Black Forest. I'll stay somewhere in the area, with the idea to drive local roads the following morning.
Day two: enjoy BF roads before drive to Munich, pick up the missus from the airport, drive onto Austria (setting-up camp near Grossglockner).
Return
Day one: drive to Munich, dropping off missus again, and stay somewhere overnight
Day two: finish the journey back to the UK via Eurotunnel
My questions are:
1. Does anyone have any recommendations for where to stay in/around the Black Forest for the outbound leg?
2. I'm undecided where I could stay overnight on the return leg between Munich & Calais. I'm in no rush, so am open on any recommendations
3. Is it worth getting a device for French tolls in advance? I've come across Emovis & Tollbird and heard good things
MPC09 said:
Hello all
I'm looking for some recommendations and guidance on my first Euro trip this summer. The general itinerary is:
Outbound
Day one: London to Calais, via Eurotunnel, and down to the Black Forest. I'll stay somewhere in the area, with the idea to drive local roads the following morning.
Day two: enjoy BF roads before drive to Munich, pick up the missus from the airport, drive onto Austria (setting-up camp near Grossglockner).
Return
Day one: drive to Munich, dropping off missus again, and stay somewhere overnight
Day two: finish the journey back to the UK via Eurotunnel
My questions are:
1. Does anyone have any recommendations for where to stay in/around the Black Forest for the outbound leg?
2. I'm undecided where I could stay overnight on the return leg between Munich & Calais. I'm in no rush, so am open on any recommendations
3. Is it worth getting a device for French tolls in advance? I've come across Emovis & Tollbird and heard good things
Motorway vignette for Austria is perhaps more important - france can be avoided for the most partI'm looking for some recommendations and guidance on my first Euro trip this summer. The general itinerary is:
Outbound
Day one: London to Calais, via Eurotunnel, and down to the Black Forest. I'll stay somewhere in the area, with the idea to drive local roads the following morning.
Day two: enjoy BF roads before drive to Munich, pick up the missus from the airport, drive onto Austria (setting-up camp near Grossglockner).
Return
Day one: drive to Munich, dropping off missus again, and stay somewhere overnight
Day two: finish the journey back to the UK via Eurotunnel
My questions are:
1. Does anyone have any recommendations for where to stay in/around the Black Forest for the outbound leg?
2. I'm undecided where I could stay overnight on the return leg between Munich & Calais. I'm in no rush, so am open on any recommendations
3. Is it worth getting a device for French tolls in advance? I've come across Emovis & Tollbird and heard good things
i don't remember a toll section from belgium into france if you went that way
motorways and expressways in austria may be not possible to avoid - last one i got refused to take card, even though they had a card machine, and had to pay cash
bip and go also for french toll tags
Black Forest: Last year we stayed in the Holiday Inn Express in Baden-Baden. Good location with secure parking and only a short walk to the town centre.
Roomers Hotel accross the road also looked good judging by the number of Ferraris parked outside!
From Baden head straght onto the B500 and enjoy the Black Forest.
Roomers Hotel accross the road also looked good judging by the number of Ferraris parked outside!
From Baden head straght onto the B500 and enjoy the Black Forest.
We drove to Austria last year - details and routes are half way down here:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
We stayed in Freiberg im Breisgau on the way through in the Black Forest and it was nice for a night. You're also well placed for some good roads.
Bip and Go worked for us - put on the tunes and the cruise control and enjoy the lovely empty autoroutes. Don't speed as there are loads of unmarked cameras and they will fine you for just a few kph too fast. Every time I've gone via Belgium it's been utterly awful!
Mulhouse has the greatest car museum in the world even if the town is a bit meh. Strasbourg is beautiful but will likely be very busy at that time of year.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
We stayed in Freiberg im Breisgau on the way through in the Black Forest and it was nice for a night. You're also well placed for some good roads.
Bip and Go worked for us - put on the tunes and the cruise control and enjoy the lovely empty autoroutes. Don't speed as there are loads of unmarked cameras and they will fine you for just a few kph too fast. Every time I've gone via Belgium it's been utterly awful!
Mulhouse has the greatest car museum in the world even if the town is a bit meh. Strasbourg is beautiful but will likely be very busy at that time of year.
seefarr said:
We drove to Austria last year - details and routes are half way down here:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
We stayed in Freiberg im Breisgau on the way through in the Black Forest and it was nice for a night. You're also well placed for some good roads.
Bip and Go worked for us - put on the tunes and the cruise control and enjoy the lovely empty autoroutes. Don't speed as there are loads of unmarked cameras and they will fine you for just a few kph too fast. Every time I've gone via Belgium it's been utterly awful!
Mulhouse has the greatest car museum in the world even if the town is a bit meh. Strasbourg is beautiful but will likely be very busy at that time of year.
How did you find Freiberg, the hotel you stayed in and (asides from being stuck in there for a few minutes) the car park? The more I research, I think I'll aim for this end of the BF rather than Baden-Baden. https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
We stayed in Freiberg im Breisgau on the way through in the Black Forest and it was nice for a night. You're also well placed for some good roads.
Bip and Go worked for us - put on the tunes and the cruise control and enjoy the lovely empty autoroutes. Don't speed as there are loads of unmarked cameras and they will fine you for just a few kph too fast. Every time I've gone via Belgium it's been utterly awful!
Mulhouse has the greatest car museum in the world even if the town is a bit meh. Strasbourg is beautiful but will likely be very busy at that time of year.
GSA_fattie said:
MPC09 said:
Hello all
I'm looking for some recommendations and guidance on my first Euro trip this summer. The general itinerary is:
Outbound
Day one: London to Calais, via Eurotunnel, and down to the Black Forest. I'll stay somewhere in the area, with the idea to drive local roads the following morning.
Day two: enjoy BF roads before drive to Munich, pick up the missus from the airport, drive onto Austria (setting-up camp near Grossglockner).
Return
Day one: drive to Munich, dropping off missus again, and stay somewhere overnight
Day two: finish the journey back to the UK via Eurotunnel
My questions are:
1. Does anyone have any recommendations for where to stay in/around the Black Forest for the outbound leg?
2. I'm undecided where I could stay overnight on the return leg between Munich & Calais. I'm in no rush, so am open on any recommendations
3. Is it worth getting a device for French tolls in advance? I've come across Emovis & Tollbird and heard good things
Motorway vignette for Austria is perhaps more important - france can be avoided for the most partI'm looking for some recommendations and guidance on my first Euro trip this summer. The general itinerary is:
Outbound
Day one: London to Calais, via Eurotunnel, and down to the Black Forest. I'll stay somewhere in the area, with the idea to drive local roads the following morning.
Day two: enjoy BF roads before drive to Munich, pick up the missus from the airport, drive onto Austria (setting-up camp near Grossglockner).
Return
Day one: drive to Munich, dropping off missus again, and stay somewhere overnight
Day two: finish the journey back to the UK via Eurotunnel
My questions are:
1. Does anyone have any recommendations for where to stay in/around the Black Forest for the outbound leg?
2. I'm undecided where I could stay overnight on the return leg between Munich & Calais. I'm in no rush, so am open on any recommendations
3. Is it worth getting a device for French tolls in advance? I've come across Emovis & Tollbird and heard good things
i don't remember a toll section from belgium into france if you went that way
motorways and expressways in austria may be not possible to avoid - last one i got refused to take card, even though they had a card machine, and had to pay cash
bip and go also for french toll tags
MPC09 said:
seefarr said:
We drove to Austria last year - details and routes are half way down here:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
We stayed in Freiberg im Breisgau on the way through in the Black Forest and it was nice for a night. You're also well placed for some good roads.
Bip and Go worked for us - put on the tunes and the cruise control and enjoy the lovely empty autoroutes. Don't speed as there are loads of unmarked cameras and they will fine you for just a few kph too fast. Every time I've gone via Belgium it's been utterly awful!
Mulhouse has the greatest car museum in the world even if the town is a bit meh. Strasbourg is beautiful but will likely be very busy at that time of year.
How did you find Freiberg, the hotel you stayed in and (asides from being stuck in there for a few minutes) the car park? The more I research, I think I'll aim for this end of the BF rather than Baden-Baden. https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
We stayed in Freiberg im Breisgau on the way through in the Black Forest and it was nice for a night. You're also well placed for some good roads.
Bip and Go worked for us - put on the tunes and the cruise control and enjoy the lovely empty autoroutes. Don't speed as there are loads of unmarked cameras and they will fine you for just a few kph too fast. Every time I've gone via Belgium it's been utterly awful!
Mulhouse has the greatest car museum in the world even if the town is a bit meh. Strasbourg is beautiful but will likely be very busy at that time of year.
The hotel was this one and it was good - large room and a nice breakfast. The Aston had no issues with the ramp and we scored a nice park. The hotel is split across the road and we were on the other side from the parking / reception / breakfast.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/vHrmnndASyyrLhk49
seefarr said:
MPC09 said:
seefarr said:
We drove to Austria last year - details and routes are half way down here:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
We stayed in Freiberg im Breisgau on the way through in the Black Forest and it was nice for a night. You're also well placed for some good roads.
Bip and Go worked for us - put on the tunes and the cruise control and enjoy the lovely empty autoroutes. Don't speed as there are loads of unmarked cameras and they will fine you for just a few kph too fast. Every time I've gone via Belgium it's been utterly awful!
Mulhouse has the greatest car museum in the world even if the town is a bit meh. Strasbourg is beautiful but will likely be very busy at that time of year.
How did you find Freiberg, the hotel you stayed in and (asides from being stuck in there for a few minutes) the car park? The more I research, I think I'll aim for this end of the BF rather than Baden-Baden. https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
We stayed in Freiberg im Breisgau on the way through in the Black Forest and it was nice for a night. You're also well placed for some good roads.
Bip and Go worked for us - put on the tunes and the cruise control and enjoy the lovely empty autoroutes. Don't speed as there are loads of unmarked cameras and they will fine you for just a few kph too fast. Every time I've gone via Belgium it's been utterly awful!
Mulhouse has the greatest car museum in the world even if the town is a bit meh. Strasbourg is beautiful but will likely be very busy at that time of year.
The hotel was this one and it was good - large room and a nice breakfast. The Aston had no issues with the ramp and we scored a nice park. The hotel is split across the road and we were on the other side from the parking / reception / breakfast.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/vHrmnndASyyrLhk49
For the Black Forest, I’d certainly recommend Hotel-Restaurant Rebenhof in Neuweier outside Baden Baden.
We stayed there last September on our first night when driving to Tuscany via the Swiss and Italian alps.
Decent hotel, reasonable rates and a really excellent restaurant (and staff).
A surprise highlight of the trip as we’d just really booked it randomly as a pitstop before more luxurious lodgings later in the trip.
Perfectly positioned to have the B500 to yourself the next morning too.
We stayed there last September on our first night when driving to Tuscany via the Swiss and Italian alps.
Decent hotel, reasonable rates and a really excellent restaurant (and staff).
A surprise highlight of the trip as we’d just really booked it randomly as a pitstop before more luxurious lodgings later in the trip.
Perfectly positioned to have the B500 to yourself the next morning too.
I lived in the area around Baden-Baden for years, and I'd strongly recommend to stay away from the main roads, even the B500. Every town, big or small has its nice scenic places, so you can't go wrong anyway.
For extended sightseeing go around Strasbourg, stay overnight (wonderful city), and lunch in La Wantzenau, Hotel Restaurant Le Relais de la Poste, for years great food, never disappoint.
Then drive across the border and enjoy the Rhine and the really nice roads.
They are the small ones between the B3 and the B500, and small towns like Kappelrodeck, Oberkirch, Sasbachwalden, Buhlertal and the like. These roads are in a wonderful scenery, not crowded at all, and lots of nice places to treasure along.
For food in the Black Forest, you can't go wrong, as most Chefs learned their craft from Harald Wohlfahrt (the one with three Michelin stars since the early 80s) one way or another, so almost every restaurant serves exceptional food and great wines as well, again more so away from the main sites.
I recommend two great places in Ebersteinburg (close to Baden-Baden), Restaurant Wolfsschlucht or across the street, Restaurant Wolpertinger, among others.
The way to Munich is either autobahn (crowded and nasty) or back roads (better), best done the fastest way.
Nice scenic driving is between A95 and A8, along B472, between Penzberg (go to Zur Wagnerei in Bichl for great steaks) and Bad Tölz, avoid Munich at all cost as traffic is awful 24/7, but if you have to...
Always be aware of speed limits and road rage in rush hour, so avoid main roads again.
For high speed driving the A9 from Munich to Nuremberg, from Greding to Feucht, is great, mostly straight unrestricted 3 lanes, to get up north.
Have a nice and safe trip!
For extended sightseeing go around Strasbourg, stay overnight (wonderful city), and lunch in La Wantzenau, Hotel Restaurant Le Relais de la Poste, for years great food, never disappoint.
Then drive across the border and enjoy the Rhine and the really nice roads.
They are the small ones between the B3 and the B500, and small towns like Kappelrodeck, Oberkirch, Sasbachwalden, Buhlertal and the like. These roads are in a wonderful scenery, not crowded at all, and lots of nice places to treasure along.
For food in the Black Forest, you can't go wrong, as most Chefs learned their craft from Harald Wohlfahrt (the one with three Michelin stars since the early 80s) one way or another, so almost every restaurant serves exceptional food and great wines as well, again more so away from the main sites.
I recommend two great places in Ebersteinburg (close to Baden-Baden), Restaurant Wolfsschlucht or across the street, Restaurant Wolpertinger, among others.
The way to Munich is either autobahn (crowded and nasty) or back roads (better), best done the fastest way.
Nice scenic driving is between A95 and A8, along B472, between Penzberg (go to Zur Wagnerei in Bichl for great steaks) and Bad Tölz, avoid Munich at all cost as traffic is awful 24/7, but if you have to...
Always be aware of speed limits and road rage in rush hour, so avoid main roads again.
For high speed driving the A9 from Munich to Nuremberg, from Greding to Feucht, is great, mostly straight unrestricted 3 lanes, to get up north.
Have a nice and safe trip!
sidewinder500 said:
I lived in the area around Baden-Baden for years, and I'd strongly recommend to stay away from the main roads, even the B500. Every town, big or small has its nice scenic places, so you can't go wrong anyway.
For extended sightseeing go around Strasbourg, stay overnight (wonderful city), and lunch in La Wantzenau, Hotel Restaurant Le Relais de la Poste, for years great food, never disappoint.
Then drive across the border and enjoy the Rhine and the really nice roads.
They are the small ones between the B3 and the B500, and small towns like Kappelrodeck, Oberkirch, Sasbachwalden, Buhlertal and the like. These roads are in a wonderful scenery, not crowded at all, and lots of nice places to treasure along.
For food in the Black Forest, you can't go wrong, as most Chefs learned their craft from Harald Wohlfahrt (the one with three Michelin stars since the early 80s) one way or another, so almost every restaurant serves exceptional food and great wines as well, again more so away from the main sites.
I recommend two great places in Ebersteinburg (close to Baden-Baden), Restaurant Wolfsschlucht or across the street, Restaurant Wolpertinger, among others.
The way to Munich is either autobahn (crowded and nasty) or back roads (better), best done the fastest way.
Nice scenic driving is between A95 and A8, along B472, between Penzberg (go to Zur Wagnerei in Bichl for great steaks) and Bad Tölz, avoid Munich at all cost as traffic is awful 24/7, but if you have to...
Always be aware of speed limits and road rage in rush hour, so avoid main roads again.
For high speed driving the A9 from Munich to Nuremberg, from Greding to Feucht, is great, mostly straight unrestricted 3 lanes, to get up north.
Have a nice and safe trip!
Thanks for the tips. The more I read, the more it looks like I should avoid the B500 at all costs. It feels like it should be easy to find a number of other roads which look great. I assume they should also be much much quieter as I get away from Baden Baden and the most renowned tourist areas.For extended sightseeing go around Strasbourg, stay overnight (wonderful city), and lunch in La Wantzenau, Hotel Restaurant Le Relais de la Poste, for years great food, never disappoint.
Then drive across the border and enjoy the Rhine and the really nice roads.
They are the small ones between the B3 and the B500, and small towns like Kappelrodeck, Oberkirch, Sasbachwalden, Buhlertal and the like. These roads are in a wonderful scenery, not crowded at all, and lots of nice places to treasure along.
For food in the Black Forest, you can't go wrong, as most Chefs learned their craft from Harald Wohlfahrt (the one with three Michelin stars since the early 80s) one way or another, so almost every restaurant serves exceptional food and great wines as well, again more so away from the main sites.
I recommend two great places in Ebersteinburg (close to Baden-Baden), Restaurant Wolfsschlucht or across the street, Restaurant Wolpertinger, among others.
The way to Munich is either autobahn (crowded and nasty) or back roads (better), best done the fastest way.
Nice scenic driving is between A95 and A8, along B472, between Penzberg (go to Zur Wagnerei in Bichl for great steaks) and Bad Tölz, avoid Munich at all cost as traffic is awful 24/7, but if you have to...
Always be aware of speed limits and road rage in rush hour, so avoid main roads again.
For high speed driving the A9 from Munich to Nuremberg, from Greding to Feucht, is great, mostly straight unrestricted 3 lanes, to get up north.
Have a nice and safe trip!
Since I posted, the trip has taken a bit more form. After the first night in Freiburg, I am looking at staying in Tegernsee so I can make my way along the alpine roads. I will then do a quick one-hour up to Munich the following day to collect the missus.
I've also got Strasbourg booked in for the return leg, and may detour via Stuttgart to hit the Porsche museum (I've never been, and I'll be in a 911).
As a previous German resident, if you have any recommendations (dos, don'ts and etiquette I might not pick up via Google), I'll happily receive them. Thanks in advance!
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