4 day round trip to northern Europe ideas needed
Discussion
Evening all,
I've got 4 days holiday with the misses and we fancy a mini tour around northern Europe.
At first we thought about visiting the World War 2 graves near the D-Day Landing sites. Then we thought about a drive through Belgium or Holland.
I'm looking for ideas.
We don't want to do loads of driving but a few hours here and there would be great especially if its through some picturesque scenery.
Also any good suggestions of nice hotels. Maybe posh hotels with pools and spas or Château types.
Not discounting the above War Graves or Belgium or Holland but would like some ideas on places to stay and things to do around them.
I've got 4 days holiday with the misses and we fancy a mini tour around northern Europe.
At first we thought about visiting the World War 2 graves near the D-Day Landing sites. Then we thought about a drive through Belgium or Holland.
I'm looking for ideas.
We don't want to do loads of driving but a few hours here and there would be great especially if its through some picturesque scenery.
Also any good suggestions of nice hotels. Maybe posh hotels with pools and spas or Château types.
Not discounting the above War Graves or Belgium or Holland but would like some ideas on places to stay and things to do around them.
I did this in October with the Mrs. Bt far the best hotel we stayed in was this one:
http://www.laterooms.com/en/hotel-reservations/699...
You can normally get a good deal through late rooms.
I can recommend Bruges, Amsterdam and Brussels. I wouldn't bother with Paris, do it on a weekend trip on Eurostar instead and take advantage of the fact you are in the car to do the NE bit maybe? I did Paris and it was nice, but would have done more Bruge and Brussels and Normandy if doing it again.
http://www.laterooms.com/en/hotel-reservations/699...
You can normally get a good deal through late rooms.
I can recommend Bruges, Amsterdam and Brussels. I wouldn't bother with Paris, do it on a weekend trip on Eurostar instead and take advantage of the fact you are in the car to do the NE bit maybe? I did Paris and it was nice, but would have done more Bruge and Brussels and Normandy if doing it again.
Hi
Just a suggestion but if its nice scenery/driving you are after why not nip over to the Vosges Mountains in Alsace/Lorraine, NE France? Absolutely beautiful scenery and driving. Lovely villages (make sure to visit Munster!)
To break the journey up over there I would recommend
http://en.likhom.com/bnb.asp?bed-and-breakfast=Cha...
It is a real rustic old fashioned Chateau but the owners (David and Anushka) are fantastic people. Make sure to dine with them and they will cook whatever you fancy. Same with the wine - you can choose from the cellar or go with the recommendation of David. They dont take take plastic so make sure to have Euros.
We based ourselves in Gerardmer at the Grand Hotel
www.grandhotel-gerardmer.com/uk/accueil.php
and explored the area. You are a stones throw from Switzerland and also near the Schlumpf car museum.
http://www.collection-schlumpf.com/en/schlumpf/
On the way back I would recommend le chartreuse hotel (it has 3 choices of places to eat!)
http://www.lachartreuse.com/menu.htm
Anyway, just a few ideas.
Good luck
Just a suggestion but if its nice scenery/driving you are after why not nip over to the Vosges Mountains in Alsace/Lorraine, NE France? Absolutely beautiful scenery and driving. Lovely villages (make sure to visit Munster!)
To break the journey up over there I would recommend
http://en.likhom.com/bnb.asp?bed-and-breakfast=Cha...
It is a real rustic old fashioned Chateau but the owners (David and Anushka) are fantastic people. Make sure to dine with them and they will cook whatever you fancy. Same with the wine - you can choose from the cellar or go with the recommendation of David. They dont take take plastic so make sure to have Euros.
We based ourselves in Gerardmer at the Grand Hotel
www.grandhotel-gerardmer.com/uk/accueil.php
and explored the area. You are a stones throw from Switzerland and also near the Schlumpf car museum.
http://www.collection-schlumpf.com/en/schlumpf/
On the way back I would recommend le chartreuse hotel (it has 3 choices of places to eat!)
http://www.lachartreuse.com/menu.htm
Anyway, just a few ideas.
Good luck
some detailed ideas here, my only comment is drive to Ypres for a must visit, the Menin Gate is very emotional and the people are very friendly. Further afield I've just come back from Swiss Mountains, maybe a bit far in 4 days but worth planning for next time and the tunnels are fab!
There is a pleasant Chateau close to Verdun, and quite a few WW1 museums and battlefields in the area.
Verdun is approx. 5 hours drive from Calais - about 250 miles. Have done it in a Smart and found some quite nice roads, which we later re-traced in the Lambo.
Chateau.
War Museum.
Inside of nearby War Memorial.
Verdun is approx. 5 hours drive from Calais - about 250 miles. Have done it in a Smart and found some quite nice roads, which we later re-traced in the Lambo.
Chateau.
War Museum.
Inside of nearby War Memorial.
I've just done a 4 day trip to Normandie.
Drove from Callais to Deauville via the scenic backroads and stayed there for 2 nights. Deauville is great. Quite a posh French seaside resort similar to Le Touquet. Lots of nice restaurants and bars and a fantastic beach. Lots of hotels as well although we were camping.
From there we again drove cross country to the tip of Normandie to a place called Mapeurtus-sur-mer which was a quiet little place with a nice bay right on the coast. Nice place but quite quiet. Not much there other than one bar and a (very good) fish restaurant.
Last day we went to Honfleur which is a great (if expensive) place. Great to sit at one of the harbourside bars and have a few beers.
Other idea would be to drive cross country to Reims and then down as far to Dijon before starting to head back. If you are in this area then you have to drive the D996 which is the old road from Reims to Dijon. Its brilliant.
Drove from Callais to Deauville via the scenic backroads and stayed there for 2 nights. Deauville is great. Quite a posh French seaside resort similar to Le Touquet. Lots of nice restaurants and bars and a fantastic beach. Lots of hotels as well although we were camping.
From there we again drove cross country to the tip of Normandie to a place called Mapeurtus-sur-mer which was a quiet little place with a nice bay right on the coast. Nice place but quite quiet. Not much there other than one bar and a (very good) fish restaurant.
Last day we went to Honfleur which is a great (if expensive) place. Great to sit at one of the harbourside bars and have a few beers.
Other idea would be to drive cross country to Reims and then down as far to Dijon before starting to head back. If you are in this area then you have to drive the D996 which is the old road from Reims to Dijon. Its brilliant.
Gassing Station | Events & Meetings | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff