France, Germany, Switzerland in a motorhome
Discussion
Hi All,
I'm looking for some advice / inspiration to a summer trip we will be taking this summer during school holidays.
We have approximately 3.5 weeks between our eurotunnel crossings and we are thinking of attempting the following....
- Down the east side of France towards Switzerland (Maybe using Belgium / Luxemberg)
- Possibly going to the Vosgues area of France
- Possibly going to Switzerland for a few days
- Possibly Lake Konstanz in Germany
- The Black Forest area of Germany
- Drive back through Germany, effectively following the Rhine valley
Day 1 is a big drive as we couldn't get a Eurotunnel crossing early in the day so will be driving from home => Folkestone and getting the 16:20 eurotunnel, bringing us into France at around 6pm, Ideally I'd like to drive an hour or two into France / Belgium that night
We would really like to include lakeside campsites to allow us to use the kayak we have, and also some decent places for family bike riding. We're not massive fans of towns etc as it just leads to the kids going on a "I want....." spree.
Ideally I'd like to avoid tolls where possible, but obviously don't want to spend hours on slow roads without making much progress.
We will have two kids (7 & 9) so driving will probably be limited to a few hours per day, and then a stop for a night or two.
For those that have done these types of trips - are we being overambitious in attempting such a big journey, should we cut out Switzerland and Lake Konstanz and instead limit ourselves to the Vosgues / Black Forest areas of France / Germany not straying too far south or away from the France / German border.
Anyone have any recopmmendations based on the above, recommendations on routes / campsites and generally whether our trip might be too much driving, not enough relaxing etc gratefully received.
I'm looking for some advice / inspiration to a summer trip we will be taking this summer during school holidays.
We have approximately 3.5 weeks between our eurotunnel crossings and we are thinking of attempting the following....
- Down the east side of France towards Switzerland (Maybe using Belgium / Luxemberg)
- Possibly going to the Vosgues area of France
- Possibly going to Switzerland for a few days
- Possibly Lake Konstanz in Germany
- The Black Forest area of Germany
- Drive back through Germany, effectively following the Rhine valley
Day 1 is a big drive as we couldn't get a Eurotunnel crossing early in the day so will be driving from home => Folkestone and getting the 16:20 eurotunnel, bringing us into France at around 6pm, Ideally I'd like to drive an hour or two into France / Belgium that night
We would really like to include lakeside campsites to allow us to use the kayak we have, and also some decent places for family bike riding. We're not massive fans of towns etc as it just leads to the kids going on a "I want....." spree.
Ideally I'd like to avoid tolls where possible, but obviously don't want to spend hours on slow roads without making much progress.
We will have two kids (7 & 9) so driving will probably be limited to a few hours per day, and then a stop for a night or two.
For those that have done these types of trips - are we being overambitious in attempting such a big journey, should we cut out Switzerland and Lake Konstanz and instead limit ourselves to the Vosgues / Black Forest areas of France / Germany not straying too far south or away from the France / German border.
Anyone have any recopmmendations based on the above, recommendations on routes / campsites and generally whether our trip might be too much driving, not enough relaxing etc gratefully received.
We do 30+ days in July/Aug, down to just south of Ancona Italy.
We tend to have bigger driving days (5+ hours), although less of them, then spend more time on the stop offs although I appreciate we have a final “destination”, rather than a tour, which we find works for us and the little one seem settled rather than moving them on every other day.
We have spent some time over the years doing 5+ days in the Jura region or Black Forest (on the way), for stop one and seem to now end up in Lake Garda for another few days, annually for the penultimate leg as such.
We tend to use the toll roads in France and Italy as the distances you can cover vs time and cost really stack up for us, although we have a preference now for driving in Germany via Switzerland, and admittedly I could save some money going via Belgium, but the peage is so much easier and frankly stress less.
I think you’d find the Black Forest will tick most of your boxes (although it is vast), lakes, walking and cycling trails, we have route we like that follows a Nordic ski trail.
Have a look on google maps or via Michelin for planning and estimated journey times, via Michelin will also give you estimated fuel and toll costs too, as well as recommend non toll or scenic routes.
Good luck
We tend to have bigger driving days (5+ hours), although less of them, then spend more time on the stop offs although I appreciate we have a final “destination”, rather than a tour, which we find works for us and the little one seem settled rather than moving them on every other day.
We have spent some time over the years doing 5+ days in the Jura region or Black Forest (on the way), for stop one and seem to now end up in Lake Garda for another few days, annually for the penultimate leg as such.
We tend to use the toll roads in France and Italy as the distances you can cover vs time and cost really stack up for us, although we have a preference now for driving in Germany via Switzerland, and admittedly I could save some money going via Belgium, but the peage is so much easier and frankly stress less.
I think you’d find the Black Forest will tick most of your boxes (although it is vast), lakes, walking and cycling trails, we have route we like that follows a Nordic ski trail.
Have a look on google maps or via Michelin for planning and estimated journey times, via Michelin will also give you estimated fuel and toll costs too, as well as recommend non toll or scenic routes.
Good luck
Doesn't sound too ambitious to me. Personally I'd limit the amount of time in France to and stick to Benelux and Germany as you'll find that they're cheaper when you're self catering (especially Germany).
First year we had a motorhome, we went a bit mad and went down as far as Lake Garda, then across Italy to the Jura in France, then up towards Normandy (we were looking for better weather though). This year is a much more modest trip of around 1700km as far south as Freiburg.
First year we had a motorhome, we went a bit mad and went down as far as Lake Garda, then across Italy to the Jura in France, then up towards Normandy (we were looking for better weather though). This year is a much more modest trip of around 1700km as far south as Freiburg.
Heading off to Jungfrau Switzerland in a few days time in our motorhome via the tunnel then a short hop across to Arras area visiting a couple of Cemetery's to pay our respects, before taking a couple of days to get from there to Camping Jungfrau.
Any ideas for over nighting close to Arras then somewhere 250/300 miles away from Jungfrau at all for a 9.1 mtr truck. Very happy to use toll roads for easy driving & don't want to head too far off the beaten track for night stops but ideally would like a nice rural stop over preferably by water?
Any ideas for over nighting close to Arras then somewhere 250/300 miles away from Jungfrau at all for a 9.1 mtr truck. Very happy to use toll roads for easy driving & don't want to head too far off the beaten track for night stops but ideally would like a nice rural stop over preferably by water?
dsl2 said:
Heading off to Jungfrau Switzerland in a few days time in our motorhome via the tunnel then a short hop across to Arras area visiting a couple of Cemetery's to pay our respects, before taking a couple of days to get from there to Camping Jungfrau.
Any ideas for over nighting close to Arras then somewhere 250/300 miles away from Jungfrau at all for a 9.1 mtr truck. Very happy to use toll roads for easy driving & don't want to head too far off the beaten track for night stops but ideally would like a nice rural stop over preferably by water?
We stayed at Lac de Chalain, on the waterfront on our way to Garda last summer, lovely lake. Any ideas for over nighting close to Arras then somewhere 250/300 miles away from Jungfrau at all for a 9.1 mtr truck. Very happy to use toll roads for easy driving & don't want to head too far off the beaten track for night stops but ideally would like a nice rural stop over preferably by water?
Theres some write ups on google, and 3 sites situated around the lake.
This time of year should be nice and tranquil.
Its easily accessible from the A39, and its a nice casual drive into Switzerland.
This advice is from a Swiss tent camper so I can't give you motorhome specific information, however Swiss campsites seem to be mostly caravans and motorhomes and there are few that you won't be able to get to.
As a guide many of the best Swiss campsites are run by the TCS (our equivalent of the AA). The list is here: https://www.tcs.ch/de/camping-reisen/camping/
There are three that I think might be worth looking at.
At Flaach there is a nice site right on the Rhine with a great outdoor pool and a nature reserve. We used to live 15km away and would go several times a year. Our children loved it. It's very close the southern side of the Black Forrest
The site at Disentis has a really nice water play area with bathing lake. You can also pan for gold in the river (I've never done it though the site is always full of people doing it so they must find something).
Further south the site at Lugano is right on the lake. There are always some enormous motor homes here.
For all of them in the summer I'd book.
That's not to say there aren't other good sites, however Switzerland doesn't have an enormous number and many are full of permanent caravans.
As a guide many of the best Swiss campsites are run by the TCS (our equivalent of the AA). The list is here: https://www.tcs.ch/de/camping-reisen/camping/
There are three that I think might be worth looking at.
At Flaach there is a nice site right on the Rhine with a great outdoor pool and a nature reserve. We used to live 15km away and would go several times a year. Our children loved it. It's very close the southern side of the Black Forrest
The site at Disentis has a really nice water play area with bathing lake. You can also pan for gold in the river (I've never done it though the site is always full of people doing it so they must find something).
Further south the site at Lugano is right on the lake. There are always some enormous motor homes here.
For all of them in the summer I'd book.
That's not to say there aren't other good sites, however Switzerland doesn't have an enormous number and many are full of permanent caravans.
magooagain said:
How about the Alsace wine trail? It's a very beautiful part of France and plenty of nice small towns and villages etc. maybe visit a wine chateaux.
Drop down to Mulhouse for the car museum?
Thanks for this suggestion, Hadn't thought of a wine trail (I don't really drink) but looking at this online it seems perfect for the route we were thinking and in the area we were thinking. Drop down to Mulhouse for the car museum?
Our current plan (subject to change massively) is to spend a few days getting down towards Strasburg (probably via Belgium / Ardennes / Luxemburg), and then exploring the Vosgues / Rhine Valley / Black Forest areas (Possibly Konstanz) and then back home again.
DSL2 - When are you due into the Jungfrau? We love the area for Skiing and Lauterburnne has a great little watch shop!!!
I am going to be visiting there on the 21st to see about arrangement for our prospective MH for the winter ski season.
I'll be hard to miss in a logoed up CancerResearch, Modified Mini Cooper S with a little PH Smilie on the rump!
Would be great to just say hello.
V.
I am going to be visiting there on the 21st to see about arrangement for our prospective MH for the winter ski season.
I'll be hard to miss in a logoed up CancerResearch, Modified Mini Cooper S with a little PH Smilie on the rump!
Would be great to just say hello.
V.
Hi Vex, here already old fruit & unfortunately leaving next week. A real shame as it’s absolutely fabulous & of course would of been great to meet up for a few beers & a chat to say thanks for when I picked your brain with my home auto issues!
We are staying at camping jungfrau & ive picked up the winter offer brochure, it’s a steal from 1st October through to 30th April for 1390 euros plus electric on top, seems very fair indeed almost wish I was into skiing & winter sports!
I don’t want to leave, contemplating looking into leaving the truck here & flying home, then coming back next month for a few weeks.
We are staying at camping jungfrau & ive picked up the winter offer brochure, it’s a steal from 1st October through to 30th April for 1390 euros plus electric on top, seems very fair indeed almost wish I was into skiing & winter sports!
I don’t want to leave, contemplating looking into leaving the truck here & flying home, then coming back next month for a few weeks.
We tend to do bigger days to get where we want to as quick as we can. The kids (10, 8 & 8 now) see it as a part of the holiday and enjoy chilling for a day reading, playing games and playing on their tablets.
This year we're off to the Italian Lakes for a fortnight and expect to do it over two days. I haven't worked out the details but the first will be 4 hrs to the tunnel and then 6 or so on, then 6 the following day with a stop off somewhere en route. When we go to the Alps we leave straight after school on Friday, do 9 hours or so to an aire near a lake in Mesnil-St-Pere then we're in the resort just after lunch on Saturday in time to sort ski hire etc.
This year we're off to the Italian Lakes for a fortnight and expect to do it over two days. I haven't worked out the details but the first will be 4 hrs to the tunnel and then 6 or so on, then 6 the following day with a stop off somewhere en route. When we go to the Alps we leave straight after school on Friday, do 9 hours or so to an aire near a lake in Mesnil-St-Pere then we're in the resort just after lunch on Saturday in time to sort ski hire etc.
dterry said:
are we being overambitious in attempting such a big journey,
If it was one week, yes, but three and a half weeks to pop around the closest parts of where France, Germany and Switzerland intersect shouldn't be (unless you consider doing 200 odd miles at a time every few days as a long hard slog). We're off to Hungary for four weeks this summer and I was considering it quite a leisurely run as we plan on taking a whole week to get there, two easy weeks to do a clockwise circuit of the country and then a week to get back.Bill said:
We tend to do bigger days to get where we want to as quick as we can. The kids (10, 8 & 8 now) see it as a part of the holiday and enjoy chilling for a day reading, playing games and playing on their tablets.
This year we're off to the Italian Lakes for a fortnight and expect to do it over two days. I haven't worked out the details but the first will be 4 hrs to the tunnel and then 6 or so on, then 6 the following day with a stop off somewhere en route. When we go to the Alps we leave straight after school on Friday, do 9 hours or so to an aire near a lake in Mesnil-St-Pere then we're in the resort just after lunch on Saturday in time to sort ski hire etc.
We do the lakes via the tunnel on our way to south of Ancona, lots of options for 6 hours post tunnel, Strasbourg, Colmar ( a push), besancon, black Forest.This year we're off to the Italian Lakes for a fortnight and expect to do it over two days. I haven't worked out the details but the first will be 4 hrs to the tunnel and then 6 or so on, then 6 the following day with a stop off somewhere en route. When we go to the Alps we leave straight after school on Friday, do 9 hours or so to an aire near a lake in Mesnil-St-Pere then we're in the resort just after lunch on Saturday in time to sort ski hire etc.
The only suggestion I’d make is have a look at German, Dutch ect bank holidays if your looking to go via Switzerland/ san gottard it gets pretty busy with 3/4 hour delays, Mont Blanc is pretty much always clear (but expensive on the tunnel as well as the tolls) and Simplon pass is pretty much traffic free and will take you to north west Milan.
Bill said:
Brilliant, thanks. Do you know of any Aires going that way?
We may well, as we know it, go to Mesnil as usual as it splits the journey in half. Plus, as it's 4 hours from Calais means we get a walk in the evening round the lake.
No sorry not that I’d recommend, however for the kids I would recommend Courmayeur, if you go via the tunnel Mont Blanc, there’s a swimming pool at 1800 meters and if they wrap up they can go onto the glacier (3000 meters ?!?) loads of ice cream and fairly reasonable restaurants, and supermarkets.We may well, as we know it, go to Mesnil as usual as it splits the journey in half. Plus, as it's 4 hours from Calais means we get a walk in the evening round the lake.
If you go Simplon (my preferred) look at brigerbad there’s a big thermal spa with a big slide on the mountain!
Sorry for the Amazon link, but for Aires this book is perfect.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/guide-officiel-aires-serv...
I can also recommend this network too, so easy to use, just register and buy a card at the first one you use, then top up your card for as many or as few nights as you want. Aires are all automated access 24/7 and it's as easy as contactless payment in a shop.
https://campingcarpark.com/en/
https://www.amazon.co.uk/guide-officiel-aires-serv...
I can also recommend this network too, so easy to use, just register and buy a card at the first one you use, then top up your card for as many or as few nights as you want. Aires are all automated access 24/7 and it's as easy as contactless payment in a shop.
https://campingcarpark.com/en/
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