May Holidays
Which would you do? The Rhine and the Black Forest or the French Mediteranean.We have a small motorhome and roughly a month.Oh and a small dog.
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There are a number of public holidays in Germany in May, a couple on Thursdays (Ascension Day, Corpus Christi) where many take the Friday off work as well plus the Whit weekend. This year, the 1st May falls on a Tuesday so many will be taking the Monday off, too. On top of that, several states have longish school half-term holidays in May, so that can be quite a busy time in Germany, both on the roads and at campsites. For that reason I think you'd be better off in the south of France (so long as German holidaymakers don't catch up with you there)
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If you decide to follow David's advice you may be interested in my blog of Millau and the Languedoc where we went in May 2015.
You do need to be aware though that May 1st is also a Bank Holiday in France as, perhaps more importantly, May 8th and 10th.
https://jennyandjohngocaravanning.wordpress.com/2015/06/12/provence-aude-and-millau/
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Hello Sumitra, the problem is that we don't know what interests you so we can't possibly give advice.
But public holidays need not hold you back. We had an enjoyable tour of the Netherlands in May, even though lots of the locals were on holiday too, so I wouldn't let that side of things worry you. We saw all the tulip displays, Anne Frank's house, the Dam Palace, lots of Rembrandts in Amsterdam, lots of Van Goghs in the Kroller Muller museum, Het Loo palace, the Mauritshuis and so on - and then moved down into the Belgian cities for the Diamond museum in Antwerp and things like that.
But we don't have a dog and I really don't know what we would do on holiday if we did. I think that will determine where you go and what you do. I hope it goes well what ever you choose.
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Museums tend to be a problem with a dog.We like sites generally near a town/village with shops,services and some public transport.We also like walks and warm but not blazingly hot weather.Sometimes we like a slightly more remote campsite as well so long as it has a shop/take away or restaurant.The languadoc coast and Spain might just suit.
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Could I suggest an alternative?
Go down towards The Lot and then travel alongside the Dordogne river heading west.
Literally hundreds of Campsites and Aires (many with toilet facilities if you don't have your own) on or close to the river.
Plenty of diverse places to visit and things to see and do, no problem exercising or walking your dog alongside the river, day time temperatures pleasant but not excessive for you or the dog, not as much likelihood of dog problems from insects/sand-flies and relatively quiet of tourists at that time of year.
We did it in April last year and had wall-to-wall sunshine (20 – 25 degrees) by day but cooler and more pleasant temperatures for sleeping at night.
If the weather is poor you have the option of heading further south or west to find better weather.
A month meandering, staying for a day or a week at sites, will be relaxing and should give many pleasant memories.
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Be flexible and just follow the sun
. Generally, the further south the better the weather. When we lived in Languedoc, near St Chinian, by mid May we were using our unheated pool so that is an indication of what to expect. I would go South quickly then mooch back. No bookings needed, join ACSI and don't worry about the dog who will have a lovely holiday.0 -
We enjoy the outdoors, a bit of history and sometimes even towns. This year we will be heading for Germany in May and June, probably spending the first 4/5 days and the last 4/5 days in the Netherlands.
We know about the German holidays and have booked sites for the 2 main ones (Ascension and Whitsun) but will take pot luck on all other days. Unfortunately we won't be going to the Black Forest but heading for Bavaria instead. We may end up in the Black Forest as we don't have anything planned and set in stone for the last 4 weeks.
The other members suggestions for the south of France are very valid and we often head that way ourselves.
If you do decide to go to Germany then you will find plenty of beautiful tourist sights and walking is a national pastime so there are always plenty of outdoor places to explore, perfect with a dog.
Whichever one you choose I hope you enjoy it.
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I am wondering why you ask what other people would do.
Surely your holiday is about where you want to go and what you want to see and do! No one else can make that decision for you so are their suggestions relevant?
The areas you seem to be considering are so very different - only you can decide which you want to visit this year. Hopefully you can visit the other area another year.
You have already had other suggestions so perhaps it is now even harder to decide where you wish to go. There again you may now have some ideas for trips in other years.
Wherever you go, I hope that you have a good time.
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Sumitra -
These are the ones we visited or stayed at - Serviéres le Chateau / St Céré / Beaulieu sur Dordogne / Martel / Souilliac / Carsac-Aillac / La Rogue Gagiac / St Cyprian / Terrason-Lavilledieu / St Leon sur Vezere / St Leon sur l'Isle / Les Eyzies de Tayac / Limeuil / St Sauiver / Bergerac / Port Saint Foy et Ponchapt.
Some wonderful little towns and villages and hopefully we will be going that way again later this year.
We tend to meander around, staying one night or a few nights depending on how we feel, and stopping on Aires – we have our own facilities.
Total cost for Aires we stayed at for the month was €50.
Everyone one of us is difference and we all like different things but if you want a whiff of the Dordogne have a look at some of the videos on my Youtube Channel.
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Again, if you are looking to take KeithandMargaret's advice my blog on our 2016 holiday to the Lot and Dordogne might interest you. We stayed at Beaulieu sur Dordogne with a pitch right on the riverside and a lovely English owned site in the Lot.
https://jennyandjohngocaravanning.wordpress.com/2016/05/29/dordogne-lot-and-auvergne-2016/
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For many years when holidaying with caravan and children we used to get to Calais then decide where to go depending on the weather (this was in August). We always went to Reims on the toll Autoroute because from there you have options. If the weather is fine then you don’t need to go too far - Alsace maybe or Germany and the Rhine but if it turns bad you have choices. Go South and the sun will come out when you get to Valence. Go to Strasbourg/Colmar and if it turns bad go South into Switzerland then Locarno and Lake Maggiore or the other Italian lakes. After you go through the St. Gottard tunnel and start to descend, watch the temperature gradually increase.
Much as we like the Loire, Dorgogne and the Lot (and will probably go there this year) you can get rather trapped if you go Calais - Rouen. It’s a long way to the Med. if the weather is bad. You would probably have to go as far as Montpelier.
Stay flexible is the lesson we learned and it has always worked for us.
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Very sensible advice and we will take a variety of maps/guides with us.We may head south though,because normally we holiday June/early July and the south is too hot for us.This year we have to go in May so the south may be cool enough for us to enjoy.If it isn't we will change our plan.
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