Dunkerque to Croatia
We are planning to take our motorhome from France to Croatia and although we have been to France we have never ventured this far as yet .
We would very much appreciate any advice from any other members who have done this journey ,the best route ,time and mileage and any special legal requirements.
Many thanks
Colin
jeanandcolin@fsmail.net
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We are doing a similar trip end May to early July. When are you going? Our plan is to get to Croatia at the beginning of the holiday and then on the return spending a week in Austria. It's quite a long way but we do not really plan too much and drive a maximum of 6 hours a day (3 x 2hr stints) stopping early enough to make finding a stop easy and giving time to do a little local sight seeing. So, it will probably take us 4 days to get there. Our route is Calais, Belgium, Germany, then through Austria to Croatia but you could go via Italy from Austria. This route avoids tolls until Austria when a vignette is required. No special legal requirements, take 2x warning triangles, spare bulbs, first aid kit and fire extinguisher. Obviously car/caravan/recovery/medical insurance. ACSI is a worthwhile investment if going out of season and get the CMC (!) o'seas books.
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Dunkirk to the Croatian border is approx. 16 to 18 hours of driving in a motorhome. We travel this route 4 times each year ( two return journeys), normally from Calais (tunnel), and our preferred (and quickest) route is Calais, Metz, Strasburg, Stuttgart, Ulm, Fern Pass, Brenner Pass into Italy then, Dobbiaco, Cortina, Porto Gruaro and then the A4 towards Trieste. Depending on the weight of your motorhome (<3.5t) the Austrian vignette is less than 10 Euros for 10 days. The biggest cost is the French motorways but you could avoid this by going through Belgium. Despite some ongoing refurbishment I still find their road surfaces dire although others on this forum find the Belgium motorways acceptable.
There are plenty of excellent Stellplatz in Germany for overnight stops in your motorhome. Many of the German motorways are undergoing refurbishment too and as a result I would strongly recommend that you avoid the Wurzburg area where the delays are likely to be ongoing for a few years yet (hence one of the reasons we use the Fern Pass which avoids Wurzburg and Munchen). The Bavarian school holidays start on the first weekend of June this year (pfinksten) so the Italian coast and parts of Croatia will be busy for two weeks.Despite the 16/18 hours driving its a pleasant route.
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Many thanks for all your help.
not sure how to get a vignette sticker for Austria but sure we can find out.
Thanks for all your replies Colin
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Jean and colin have a look on my website here you might pick up useful iinfo.
With regards to Austrian Vignette you can buy this at any service area/garage/ADAC Office latter equal to U.K. AA. In Germany or buy at the Border Post. Not expensive. You can order on line rom toll tickets.com but you need to know the exact day you are going to need it. It is not worth trying to use roads that you do not need the Vignette for because if you come upon a Diversion (Umleitung) in German and you have to use an Autobahn the fine is very heavy.
On my website there is the route we always use Calais. Belgium, Germany, Austria, through the Karawanken Tunnel into Slovenia and Croatia. The route gives Campsites en route mainly ACSI Camping Card which we have used as far as the Karawanken. We do not go any further than that as Austria and Germany are our preferred Countries to visit. We do go over the border for days out to Slovenia and Italy.
What is the weight of your MH? If over 3.5 tonnes see RoyandSharons Thread in this section. You would need a GoBox if so not a Viggnette.
Any more help please ask will be glad to help.
DianneT
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Dianne,
Many thanks for help and advice.
We are new to this club site and feeling are our way .
As we are planning our trip to Croatia we appreciate any help from members that have done this journey.
Im not sure how to access your site as im sure it will be helpful.
Many thanks to all
Jean and Colin
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Hi,
Tips
If your searching for irritating interior Motorhome rattles then the busy Brussels RO (ring road) is just perfect as terrible road surface.
Luxembourg usually has the cheapest fuel etc
In Austria the A10 runs from Saltzburg in the north to Villach near the Slovenia border - Europe's most scenic and pleasant motorway ? It got our vote last spring with some superb picnic lay-byes.
Think a tow rope is also required in one country if not already mentioned (two are often recommended for a Caravan outfit !).
Enjoy your tour
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For information on campsites, the Croation Camping Union's website is pretty good.see Here.
For motorhomers this sub section is particularly useful: camper van routes
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Hope you read comyras post re clicking on the first here in my post. Thanks comyras for pointing that out.
I agree the A10 in Austria is the most picturesque Autobahn you will ever travel on. I know a lovely campsite just below Salzburg and just 2/3 miles off the main route. It is mentioned on my website with photo's.
\if you cannot see the here it is in green but very pale printing on here does not make it very visible click on link www.joysofeuropeancaravanning.co.uk
DianneT
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Hi Jean and Colin
3 years ago we did our first venture into Europe. If there's any advice I can give you, it is simply to read the posts on this site by: Dianne T; RoyandSharonT; ChasnCath and Deleted User User.
There is invaluable information and I followed routes/sites suggested by Dianne T (actually bumped into her and husband on our very first night in Germany, quite by accident!) Also loved ChasnCath's 'Post its" to Croatia, Krk and Cres. Sadly the Club website has robbed us all of some of the wonderful photography included in these stories. That being said, just enjoy your holiday, because you will find it amazing. The further you get from Calais, the better it gets!
We're off again to Croatia in June....can't wait!!
ps Just seen some of the wonderful photos are now back
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Having received loads of info from the regulars on this thread, my wife needs some more. We have a Post office Mastercard, which we acquired because they do not charge for using cash machines abroad, so my question is, in Croatia, is the Mastercard accepted everywhere?
Are there any other tips concerning holiday spending that you can pass On?
The holiday is getting closer and on Monday we are having to pay the balance for the tour to ACSI.
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Hi David
We're going to Camp Slatina, on Cres, using the Valbiska to Merag crossing. We booked a superior pitch last year and loved it as we were only metres from the sea on the front row. The facilities were simply fantastic. The campsite is set on a fairly steep hillside, covered in pine forests, the pitches large and terraced.There are flat concrete walkways across the rocks for sunbathing and steps into the sea with two stretches of beach. Fellow campers were all Dutch, German and Italian, all very friendly.
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Hi,
Just confirming what David said. Definitely take some Kuna with you. You will be able to use your Mastercard everywhere you would expect to use it in the UK, however not all restaurants and cafes will accept it. (Just like in Germany where a lot will only take cash)
There are many "Currency kiosks" dotted along the roadside as you get near the border, but their exchange rate is not very favourable!!
Have a great trip....enjoy!!
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