Driving holiday

Dangermouse

Dangermouse

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When I finally manage to get MY car back me n Babytiger are thinking of planning a driving holiday through Europe for about 10 days, we would like some info as to where its really nice with awe inspiring views but cheap to just drop by guest houses for the night, we would ideally love to see mountains throughout the trip so if anyone has ideas.
We will be doing this in August as its going to be nice and warm for the top down for most of the days and give us plenty of nice photo ops:thumbs:
 
as to where its really nice with awe inspiring views but cheap

hard to combine these but --- I fell in love with Chamonix, Mount Blanc
 
I'll second the French Alps.

Stayed in the Vanoise National Park, near Chamonix - great.

I've spent more time in the Briancon area (Durance Valley) - awesome scenery, great walking and kayaking/rafting.

Ken
 
Good suggestion Graham.

Avoid Grenoble. Had car broken into - just smashed window of car in main street and grabbed what they could. Included two sets of camera gear including my Nikon F301 and lenses (that dates it somewhat). Local Police said it was a common occurrence.

Never had any problem in the Alpine vilages and towns though.

Ken
 
Nikon Ken said:
Good suggestion Graham.

Avoid Grenoble. Had car broken into - just smashed window of car in main street and grabbed what they could. Included two sets of camera gear including my Nikon F301 and lenses (that dates it somewhat). Local Police said it was a common occurrence.

Never had any problem in the Alpine vilages and towns though.

Ken
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We are thinking more of the Alpine route as this is what we both enjoy.

Anything scenic:thumbs:
 
How about Toulouse, down through Carcasonne, the old cathar / templar walled city, along the coast past perpignan and into Spain, then back the long way through Andorra and the pyrenees? 3 different counties, mountains and lots of scenery and good cheap food and drink.
 
Keep it all coming we will plan a route and take some pics..............to share of course
 
Nikon Ken said:
Good suggestion Graham.

Avoid Grenoble. Had car broken into - just smashed window of car in main street and grabbed what they could. Included two sets of camera gear including my Nikon F301 and lenses (that dates it somewhat). Local Police said it was a common occurrence.

Never had any problem in the Alpine vilages and towns though.

Ken
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simple -- dont leave ANYTHING in the car ..................:nono:
 
andrewc said:
go over the Millau Bridge :)
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Is that the long one over a revine so deep hell is only a couple of feet away from the bottom.........:eek:



This one

millau-viaduct-bridge-france.jpg
 
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Yardbent said:
simple -- dont leave ANYTHING in the car ..................:nono:
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Difficult when you're travelling. We had a car full of camping gear and just stopped off for a few minutes. That's all it took.

Ken
 
Dangermouse1964 said:
We are thinking more of the Alpine route as this is what we both enjoy.

Anything scenic:thumbs:
Click to expand...

From Grenoble to Briancon is a smashing alpine drive going from the pre-alps into the alps. In a car there are better (more scenic routes). Most times I went via Grenoble I had a minibus and canoe trailer so took the easiest route. I did venture over one the high passes once and my passengers had to push the last section.

Anyway, back to your plans. This link may help - have travelled some of the area covered and very scenic.

http://www.eurodestination.com/Holidays/driving-the-back-roads-through-the-french-alps.htm

Ken
 
wisemen said:
How about Toulouse, down through Carcasonne, the old cathar / templar walled city, along the coast past perpignan and into Spain, then back the long way through Andorra and the pyrenees? 3 different counties, mountains and lots of scenery and good cheap food and drink.
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Did the exact same route last summer. Great trip! Hit 8.000ft in the Range Rover going down into Andorra. :D (Not as cheap as I had been led to believe.)
Old carcasonne. lovely old City.


Kev.
 
Germany - Sauerland.
Semi-Alpine, awesome roads - mostly empty (Winterberg is there - some of the best ski-ing in the country)...The Sorpe, Mohne and Eder Dams are all situated there, so you can do 'English-Touristy' thing...
Best of all...
You can stop off in Iserlohn, NRW for beer and schnitzel on me...
 
Fantastic region - history, volcanoes, churches, mountains.

And virtually no Brits! So you need to get by in French.

Being as far south as it is, you will almost certainly get superb weather until the end of September. I've been there twice in September and had temperatures above 30C both times.

The advantage of September is that you can attend the Fetes Renaisssance du Roi de L'Oiseau, which is probably the best historical re-enactment jobbie in Europe. Over 4 days, starting on the 3rd Thursday of September. You need to stay at least 2 days to get the full experience of the event. I really recommend it.

A flavour here, though you need the sound up:

http://www.roideloiseau.com/

The first time I went to the Auvergne, I nearly ran over a kangaroo. It was lost. :nuts:
 
Nikon Ken said:
Difficult when you're travelling. We had a car full of camping gear and just stopped off for a few minutes. That's all it took.

Ken
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Depends... never bother to lock the car round here (North Dordogne) nobody does. I've even seen a Porsche 911 left, keys in engine running, anyway who'd want it. :lol:
 
Arkady said:
Germany - Sauerland.
Semi-Alpine, awesome roads - mostly empty (Winterberg is there - some of the best ski-ing in the country)...The Sorpe, Mohne and Eder Dams are all situated there, so you can do 'English-Touristy' thing...
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just don't hum or play skipping stones or you might get in trouble
 
It's a big plus one from me for Chamonix - I have family who live out there and run a ski hire shop. Simply awesome looking place with perfect powder an amazing sights.
Lemmie know if you want to head out skiing and need some gear.
 
david1701 said:
just don't hum or play skipping stones or you might get in trouble
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Stuff that - we ran around singing it loudly and using 'hand-goggles' and elbows-out to simulate bombing-runs on the coffee tables...lol

When taken to task we just reminded everyone that "WE WON!!!!"
 
Germany. Head for the Nurburgring and get a couple of laps in. Adenau is a lovely town as well for a night.
 
For an easy trip over I can recommend the Hull to Zeebrugge ferry

Leaves early evening, have a meal,(excellent buffet) watch a film or the cabaret/bingo, go to bed, wake up have breakfast then it docks, much less stressful than that long drive down to Dover.

Of course it depends if Belgium is somewhere you want to visit and on your route, Brugges is nice if you haven't been there before and only 30 mins from the port
 
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