Tour of Europe
Hi
My wife and I are planning to take our motorhome to Europe for the first time next year and would be most grateful for help planning where to go for say a 28 day tour. To give you some idea of my current thought process, we've never seen the bulb field in the Netherlands therefore I was planning to start there (which ferry? we live near Chester). What time of year? (not too early so they are not in full bloom, not too late that they are nearly over, not too busy with Easter school holidays????). We're not too bothered about visiting the large City’s so from there I'm thinking through Belgium (we would like to see Bruges) then into Germany and in particular going along the Romantic Road and visiting the Black Forest. Then through Switzerland, into France and make our way back to a port for transferring back home to the UK. Looking forward to your comments.
Howard
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It sounds like the ferry from Harwich to Hook of Holland to me.- the daytime ferry is cheaper but overnight with a cabin is more comfortable.
The Keukenhof Display Gardens at Lisse will open for about 8 weeks from 21 March 2019 - Daffodil displays first, tulips later - so you can start there and then go on your way.
Good wishes.
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Easter is late next year, Easter Sunday is 21 April; schools in Holland are off from the 27th of April until the 5th of May. It's the King's birthday (a national holiday) on the 27th of April and Liberation Day on the 5th of May. So you may want to avoid those dates as it will be quite busy then.
You could cross from Harwich as suggested, or, as you also want to visit Bruges, cross via the tunnel and drive up to Bruges first, then go to Holland. From there it is easy driving into Germany, down to the Black Forest. Cross back into France and back to Coquelles for the trip through the tunnel back. I think that is how I would do it; we live in Lancashire, but prefer the tunnel; obviously it's not everyone's cup of tea, but we like it.
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We did Holland last year and used the Tunnel. For the area you are looking you are only 90min from the tunnel. We overnighted in Folkstone and made it easy but did the return led in one hit using the tunnel, we are local to you. For me it was pushing the limit to do it in one hit but was Ok with a couple of stops. A good stop for us was Ypres, really nice town. The Dutch sites were fantastic and the driving easy.
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We live in North Wales and have used both the ferry from Harwich to Hook of Holland and from Hull to Europort Rotterdam.
We consider the Hull route easiest to use for a number of reasons. It is only a 3 and a half hour drive from home across the M56 and M62. It's an evening ferry so we were able to leave just after lunch. We booked an overnight cabin but would have booked a cabin on the Harwich crossing anyway. You get off the ferry the following morning after rush hour in Rotterdam so driving is easier.
With the Harwich ferry you would have an extra hours driving at least, then an overnight stop nearby on a CL or at the port itself. After the day crossing you arrive in rush hour and the first couple of miles until you reach the motorway network can be confusing the first time you use it.
On saying all of that I prefer the Stena ship to the P&O but most things are a compromise these days.
Your itinerary sounds good. I've always thought mid April to be a good time for the bulbfields but I think that might coincide with Easter next year.
Think about investing in an ACSI card.
One thing to remember is to check the national holidays. The Netherlands have one near the end of April for the Kings birthday and some German campsites can become quite full at Pentecost and Whitsun as they make them a long weekend.
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A couple of other things spring to mind.
We stayed at a site in Jabbeke near Bruges. Not the best we've ever stayed on (or worst) but it is quite near Bruges and you can catch a bus from near the site into Bruges. The site is just off the motorway so not the quietest but Bruges is pretty so it was worth it. If you like Bruges then you'll like Colmar in France, possibly on the way back from the Black Forest. The wine villages in Alsace are also pretty and worth exploring.
Make yourself aware of Emission charges and taxes that are charged in Germany and France. Aachen and Freiburg may be en route for you. There is a thread in this overseas section that deals with such things.
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we've used the Klein Strand site at Jabbeke a couple of times and we thought it was fine....others have mentioned it too...
its also a lovely bike ride along the canal into Brugges...
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It seems quite an ambitious trip to be done in 28 days? Keukenhof is wonderful but don't forget the you can never guarantee the precise time for the blooms to be at their best as it very much depends on the weather leading up to your visit. Brugge is an interesting place to visit. Like others we have stayed at Klien Strand but I wonder if Camping Memling might be a bit nearer given that you are in a motorhome. We have certainly enjoyed the Romantische Straße but don't forget it is about 250 miles from top to bottom so all the time you are eating into your 28 days. My advice would be, if you can't extend the trip, to limit it to Holland, Belgium and Germany.
David
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Another vote for Klein Strand at Jabbeke, we've stayed there a few times, it is near'ish to the motorway but its not that bad and I'm a very light sleeper. Easy to get into Brugge from there.
The trip sounds great and 28 days will be fine, its amazing how much you can cover in that time if you don't linger too long at each stop. With a MH some things can be done between sites/aires. If you do find yourself short on time leave out Switzerland and go from Germany to France (Alsace) there is always another year, it will still be there.
Enjoy
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Howard, Back to Holland....you can easily take a Motorhome to Keukenhof display garden and park there. There is a designated area to park motorhomes - 6 euros - but it is day time parking only, and overnight is not allowed.
Although there are campsites only a few miles away paying good money for them sticks in the throats of many motorhomers so they stay overnight on the roadside alongside one of the canals outside the gardens but by the bulbfields. Some of them even walk from there to the gardens to avoid the 6 Euro parking fee too.
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Of course you need to consider the options re you crossing and then route but I would be thinking;
Harwich to Hook/Keukenhof/Arnhem/Winteswijk for Obelink shopping/Wurzburg/Fussen/Freiburg/Luxembourg/Bruges/Hook.
If time allows after Fussen you could go via the Fern Pass into Austria and Switzerland.
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Like David K, above, I think it might be a little stretched to take in Switzerland, and you have the added cost of vignettes for maybe just a few days visit. There is so much to enjoy in Alsace and the Black Forest, you could consider Switzerland for a return visit. I'd suggest you might like to consider stopping in Luxembourg for two or three days. The countryside is beautiful (and it is called Little Switzerland😊). The capital is charming and there's a great little site in Alzingen, from which you can walk or cycle into the centre. (Maybe I'm biased - I did live there for nearly 20 years.) whatever you decide, don't forget to buy your ACSI guide/discount card.
And enjoy.
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There’s ample parking for a motorhome if you visit Kaukenhof for a nominal fee. Many of the Yacht Havens in Holland have excellent Aires or Stellplatz too. The Romantik Straße is certainly worth driving through although many of the towns/villages are similar in character. There are two excellent campsites in Rothenburg am der Tauber, I’d recomend a visit to the town and to Dinkelsbuhl and Fusen if time permits.
There’s an excellent stellplatz opposite the coach parking area in Brugge that’s a 15 minute. Walk from the town centre.
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As David says a bit ambitious to complete in he time you quote. I wouldn’t tackle more than the Black Forest and back
You might get a few ideas from Holland to Black Forest here www.joysofeuropeancaravanning.co.uk. Any help please ask.
Dianne
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Black Forest and back in a month ? Wow, that' s 30 miles per day.
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Just to clarify my comment about being ambitious for a 28 day trip. It very much depends on how the OP tends to undertake the trip. If he is content on spending a day or two in each place then of course 28 days is enough but if he wishes to build in a bit of relaxation time in between places then 28 days might be a struggle, that is all I am suggesting. If the OP gets as far south as Fussen an alternative might be to visit parts of Austria rather than Switzerland?
David
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