European road trip checklist.

[ferrariF50lover]

Ok folks, I'm considering a jaunt to south west Germany to see a friend this summer. I want to go via Ypres. My basic plan is:
Day 1 - Home to Kent (not really negotiable)
Day 2 - Kent to Dover, Tunnel to Calais, Calais to Ypres. Remainder of day at Ypres. 2100 or so, brive to Brussels
Day 3 - Day in Brussels then drive to small village just over the German border.

On my list, I have:

European breakdown cover
European insurance cover
No silly speeding in France, for fear of the Gendarmerie
Pep pills for driving in unbelievably boring Belgium

Anything I'm missing? Any hints, tips or tricks?

Simon.

[Alucidnation]

Belgium will not be a boring drive.

[sooperscoop]

Credit card
Insurance
Passport
Fistful of Euros
Satnav if you want.

That's it.

A bunch of 'people' will be along shortly to talk about things like headlight deflectors, spare bulbs and hi-viz vests. These people can be safely ignored.

[ferrariF50lover]

You and I have been to different parts of Belgium

Simon.

[Riley Blue]

Have you tried the search facility? It just returned 18,300 topics in 0.22 seconds.

[ferrariF50lover]

Riley Blue said:

Have you tried the search facility? It just returned 18,300 topics in 0.22 seconds.

Which is true of absolutely every new topic posted on this entire website. No, I didn't check the search facility. I expect to see this post from you on every new thread posted from now until the end of time.

Simon.

ETA - Just been through the results on the first page of the search and not a single thread was relevant to the question I'm asking. There was one which came close, but it was from 2004. Times have changed in the last decade.

Edited by ferrariF50lover on Tuesday 13th May 00:06

[YankeePorker]

We're obviously different characters, I was expecting a list including torch, puncture repair kit, 12V compressor, Leatherman, tie wraps, duct tape, etc! Have fun!

(I can be safely ignored!)

Edited by YankeePorker on Tuesday 13th May 02:44

[Riley Blue]

ferrariF50lover said:

Riley Blue said:

Have you tried the search facility? It just returned 18,300 topics in 0.22 seconds.

Which is true of absolutely every new topic posted on this entire website. No, I didn't check the search facility. I expect to see this post from you on every new thread posted from now until the end of time.

Edited by ferrariF50lover on Tuesday 13th May 00:06

Other web sites are available for when simple facts are needed e.g. http://tinyurl.com/mwrow8h

[bishbosh66]

Ear defenders for the trip through Belgium. Horrible motorways made of lots of slabs with lines intbetween, so the "clunk, clunk" sound is repeated in the car throughout the journney. On the plus side you can leave your car headlights/torches etc at home, as the Belgiums like to light up all of the motorway. Makes the transition from Belgium to Germany on the motorway kinda fun.
Depending on which place you are going in Germany, you may need the emission sticker for you car. Not all places require it, but several of the big cities do.

[Sid's Dad]

What about a playlist? your favourite radio station may not be available, so you might want to do a special album on your iPod or load your multichanger or sort your cassettes out, depending on the age of your car.

I'm planning a drive down to Cannes alone in a 1989 Mercedes 300SL and in addition to the things you've listed I have added:

New road atlas.

Decent satnav (won't have In the the uk but want to negotiate my way through Paris with no navigator on board so have relented in this occasion)

List of dealers for your car across Europe, with relevant ones en route highlighted

Good motoring phrase book - my schoolboy French doesn't run to alternator belt, or timing chain....

One of those ball-throwers that dog walkers always have (£3.99 from pet shop) which is ideal for handing change over at toll booths when alone in a RHD car

Anything else?

[GC8]

V5C, MOT certificate, insurance certificate.
GB sticker and headlamp adjustment.
Warning triangle.
High visibility tabard. Must be kept within the cabin and one for each passenger ideally.
First aid kit.
Fire extinguisher.

[Foppo]

Don't know if it has been mentioned didn't read all post.

Logbook or rental agreement always with me when driving abroad.

[IntriguedUser]

I've be driving from London to Barcelona this August so will be following the thread.

[GC8]

Spare bulb kit doesn't seem to be compulsory anywhere now, but I still would. When stopped by the Police in Stuttgart they demanded to see my first aid kit, high-vis and fire extinguisher (6kg!) and triangle, of which none were compulsory and only the triangle was recommended.

[BoRED S2upid]

GC8 said:

Spare bulb kit doesn't seem to be compulsory anywhere now, but I still would. When stopped by the Police in Stuttgart they demanded to see my first aid kit, high-vis and fire extinguisher (6kg!) and triangle, of which none were compulsory and only the triangle was recommended.

First aid kit? Would a packet of neurofen do?

I've never taken any of this.

[GC8]

I agree that a packet of plasters and a shoulder bandage will seldom make any difference.

[GC8]

I wouldn't bother. It isn't enforced, even for Rostabifs.

[Petrol Only]

Top tip. Don't bother heading to Dover. Your only be disappointed at the train station.

[zed4]

One tip I have is make sure you have a sat nav preloaded with every McDonalds location. No, not for the dodgy waste meat that's been bleached for apparent human consumption, they have free wifi! Free wifi in Europe is so useful. For half of our European Road trip my brother and I had no accommodation booked. We simply drove until we got tired, then found the nearest McDonalds, navigated to it and ordered some fries, and booked a nearby hotel on the iPad.

[DonnyMac]

Depending on the countries traversed you'll need -

Headlight deflectors
Yellow vest(s) for all (and in the car not the boot)
Bulbs
Fire extinguisher
Breath/alcohol analyser
First aid kit
Etc

I have at least four of these kits purchased. Every time I go over to the continent I forget the one that's in the other car/ under the stairs...

Other than saying 'we've done it again, and I'm not buying another kit' I haven't had any of the above on the last 6 trips over, so, as above, anyone mentioning headlight deflectors and the like can be safely ignored.

I have some for sale if you need one