Ideas for a euro road trip in a week's time...

[thenortherner]

Hi,

Finally managed to organise some time off work next week. So as of Friday, I have a full week off and intend on doing a bit of a road trip across Europe.

Ideally I don't want to spend more than 4 nights away, or drive more than 5-6 hours a day. Some of the places / roads that appealed look like they're impassible at the moment due to adverse whether, so this is also a consideration.

I'm doing this one on a bit of a budget so £50 or so a night for a hotel really.

Something mountainous like Austria would also be nice.

Any ideas welcome.

Cheers,

[rsv gone!]

Well with only two days either way you won't get to Austria (on interesting roads). Turn left at Calais and head for the Ardennes and Western Germany.

Aim to do a loop of Luxembourg or something.

Edited by rsv gone! on Wednesday 22 September 19:47

[G Man]

We did a great tour of the Black Forest and the Vosges Mountains hotels £50 a night easy
Here is our hotel map http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en...

Here is our routes

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?oe=utf-8&clie...

[Davey S2]

For that length of time stick to the area around Reims / Champagne. Some great roads and lots to do.

[thenortherner]

Cheers for the suggestions guys.

Will do some proper research on Saturday and at the very least book the ferry.

[thenortherner]

I can possibly do 5 nights away. Surely this is enough to get to Switzerland or Austria and back?

Still, worried about roads being closed due to snow.

[thenortherner]

The Crack Fox said:

I was up Stelvio c.10 days ago, it was still clear then, great weather actually, I've got a great link to a swiss website showing what Alpine passes are open, updated daily, useful to check en-route ! Will post it up when I'm back on my usual PC.

You can get there in a few days, but it's a bloody boring drive down, unless you stop off at the 'ring which is roughly halfway (check their calendar for 'TF' days when you can get on for c.€22 a lap). I seriously wouldn't bother with much of France of Belgium en-route unless you want some pics at Reims F1 place or a p*ss-up somewhere.

Drop me a line if you want some suggestions for a route etc. It's my kinda thing.

Hi,

That'd be appreciated - thanks for that. Even better if I can download the route straight to my TomTom...

Whichever way I choose, the first leg will be Calais to the Nurburgring. Then I reckon it'll only be 4-5 hours drive to apline passes.

I thought the Stelvio pass would be full of snow at this time. Now it's really tempted to do the Stelvio.

The link would be great re. which passes are open. But I'm a bit apprehensive that I'll book hotels on the back of doing a particular route and then finding the road(s) to it closed.

[0836whimper]

I'd be tempted to do the Black Forest and the Vosges Mountains suggestion with that much time. There's some great roads in the Vosges, e.g the Route des Cretes.

[thenortherner]

Hi,

Well I got back from the trip today. I cut it down to 3 days for various reasons and stayed at a cracking hotel right near the entrance to the ring.

Anyhow, I'll be using your website to plan a trip come new year. Thanks a lot for the advice.

Here's some photos if you're interested.

http://img153.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=45837249.jpg

[thenortherner]

No, wasn't Ringhaus hotel. Forgotten the name of it now, but it was only a couple of miles from the track entrance. Really good family run place. There was no bar, but an 'honesty fridge' full of all sorts of beers. None of which were more than 2 euros!

But the Nurburgring was great. Really good atmosphere, met some really decent people and the cars were fantastic.

It's great to see these cars being used for what they were designed for. And until you stand by the side of the track on some sections you don't quite realise how steep the track is, or just how quick the cars go round. Videos / Youtube etc just doesn't give the perspective.

[thenortherner]

The Crack Fox said:

Over the years I have come to the conclusion that some of the flashier stuff in the carpark never actually makes it onto the 'ring y'know, Ferrari's and the like, revving their engines and going around in the little queue, but ultimately never going any further than the carpark. Makes me laugh. The local nutters in E30s and old Golfs are the ones to watch. I could sit there for hours just watching (but it is more fun to drive the 'ring)....

Yep, plenty of local nutters in old M3s and GTIs. But I was amazed at the proportion of expensive stuff on the track. Loads of 911s, many of them GT2s and GT3s, and they weren't being driven gently. Even the Saleen made it on to the track. I was amazed at the number of GTRs there considering I've hardly seen any in the UK. Clio 197s were certainly popular.

But you're right, plenty of cars sat in the same space in the main car park without moving for hours. I didn't see any Ferraris on the track.

Ironically one of the fastest car I saw was a Saab 9-5 Aero estate. It was absolutely flying and passed just about everything.