View Full Version : Euro road trips
volospian
28-09-2009, 17:16
I'm organising a Euro road trip for myself and some mates. Anybody here arranged one before? If so, any pearls of wisdom that may save me from any annoying, or indeed, illegal, situations?
They drive on the wrong side of the road over there :)
Apart from that, never done it, so can't help, but hopefully that useful tidbit will help a little on your quest :)
Briggykins
28-09-2009, 17:30
Drove down to Spain once, that were fun. Erm, all I know is you need a red triangle in your car. Also take lots of Euro coins for the toll roads, if you're going on em.
Flibster
28-09-2009, 18:35
Ensure you have in each car a set of spare bulbs, a warning triangle and enough reflective jackets for everyone in the car - and they must be CE marked and in the car - you're not allowed to get out of the car to get them.
I think thats the minimum you'll need.
fire extinguisher as well in some countries.
Leave enough time to actually do stuff, rather than driving all day. And allow time to pull over if you see something interesting.
Personally I wouldn't book to many hotels, Just a few of he main city ones, just find BB or hotels where you fancy.
Don't forget Europe breakdown cover and your green insurance certificate for travelling abroad as well as health insurance and a bundle of euros for speeding fines.
also remember drink driving.
A Place of Light
29-09-2009, 18:30
I'm organising a Euro road trip for myself and some mates. Anybody here arranged one before? If so, any pearls of wisdom that may save me from any annoying, or indeed, illegal, situations?
Where are you planning to travel to/through?
A Place of Light
29-09-2009, 18:35
and your green insurance certificate for travelling abroad.
If you mean the E111 form, this has been replaced by the EHIC card for a while now mate.
It's free, lasts for five years and is available here (http://www.ehic.org/?gclid=CLuFyMCtl50CFVtn4wodijIO2Q). Simply fill in the online form and the card will be posted to you.
If you mean the E111 form, this has been replaced by the EHIC card for a while now mate.
It's free, lasts for five years and is available here (http://www.ehic.org/?gclid=CLuFyMCtl50CFVtn4wodijIO2Q). Simply fill in the online form and the card will be posted to you.
nope, it's the form you get from he car insurer to say you are insured abroad.
But yep add that to the list, as I've heard (no idea how true but sounds reasonable) many ravel insurances wont pay out if you don't have one of These. As they can claim x-amount from the NHS and just cover the rest.
A Place of Light
29-09-2009, 18:48
nope, it's the form you get from the car insurer to say you are insured abroad.
AFAIK all car policies (unless they specifically state otherwise) bought in this country cover you to drive anywhere else in the EU.
AFAIK all car policies (unless they specifically state otherwise) bought in this country cover you to drive anywhere else in the EU.
umm perhaps you are right, you used to need the green card, has this been changed?
A Place of Light
29-09-2009, 20:07
umm perhaps you are right, you used to need the green card, has this been changed?
For a long time mate.
Since we all became one big happy EU.
Now you just go wherever you wish, without needing to inform your insurers.
volospian
30-09-2009, 09:01
Where are you planning to travel to/through?
Nowhere outside the EU. The most basic route will be Milan via the 'ring, and then back via a currently undetermined location in France (La Sarthe... maybe), so France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Italy mainly.
I was wondering about things like arranging Hotels and so on. If people have had any expereinces that may be usefull, lol
It will be raising money for charity as well, so any ideas on legal issues that may arise as an "organiser" (i.e. if I arrange things, am I responsible for the travellers in any kind of legal sense, so if they get injured or whatever, am I liable, you know, that sort of thing).
A Place of Light
01-10-2009, 00:05
Nowhere outside the EU. The most basic route will be Milan via the 'ring, and then back via a currently undetermined location in France (La Sarthe... maybe), so France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Italy mainly.
I was wondering about things like arranging Hotels and so on. If people have had any expereinces that may be usefull, lol
It will be raising money for charity as well, so any ideas on legal issues that may arise as an "organiser" (i.e. if I arrange things, am I responsible for the travellers in any kind of legal sense, so if they get injured or whatever, am I liable, you know, that sort of thing).
I've always arranged everything in advance (I'm a tad anal like that) via Hotels.com or booking.com. If you're doing switzerland you'll need a Vignette, which you can pickup a little cheaper on the bay of E. Also, if you're doing the 'ring I can recommend a very good hotel close to the track if you like?
volospian
01-10-2009, 21:36
I've always arranged everything in advance (I'm a tad anal like that) via Hotels.com or booking.com. If you're doing switzerland you'll need a Vignette, which you can pickup a little cheaper on the bay of E. Also, if you're doing the 'ring I can recommend a very good hotel close to the track if you like?
Yeah, cool. PM me.
Cheers,
Rich
A Place of Light
02-10-2009, 18:35
Yeah, cool. PM me.
Cheers,
Rich
I thought I'd do it in public, in case anyone else is travelling there and is looking for accomodation.
I'd strongly recommend the Hotel Blaue Ecke, in Adenau. The town is less than 10 minutes away from the main entrance to the 'ring (there is an entrance in Adenau itself but that's for a different part of the circuit I believe) and it's a nice, easy drive from the hotel to the track.....sorry, I meant road ;)
The hotel is very modern, exceptionally clean and it has its own bar/restaurant with good quality and reasonably priced food. The staff all speak English, most of them fluently, and there is off street parking at the rear of the hotel. The hotel is popular with 'ringers too, which can be helpful.
IIRC a double room was around 70 yoyo's.
Price it up Here (http://www.blaueecke.de/start/)
volospian
03-10-2009, 17:05
Cool, cheers!! :D
If you're after accomodation in Nurburg, I've been there three times and have always stayed at Haus Ringblick, which is a B&B directly opposite the very well known (Sabine works there part-time) Pistenklaus restaurant.
Ringblick was €30 a night last time we went which was for very clean en-suite rooms with good breakfast. It's also about 3 mins drive from the entrance to the track :)
I'm soooo wanting to do a Europe trip at some point! Really really do! I want to travel most of the East first and then tackle New Zealand and Africa... but I desperately want to do Europe!
Annoyingly for me, most of my friends are all grown up and in full time jobs/settled down with mortgages and things so canny come away for that length of time. Will sort something out - when I get my magic up to scratch I will try and tour using that :)
I cannot offer any advice other than HAVE FUN! :D Will be a blast :)
Annoyingly for me, most of my friends are all grown up and in full time jobs/settled down with mortgages and things so canny come away for that length of time.
PHEEBS, MARIE, PRINCESS GRIFF & JINGO WORLD TOUR!!! :D
Hahahaha! The world wouldn't know what hit em! :D
Knipples
18-10-2009, 16:09
Oh my golly gosh what an idea! ;D
Bringing carnage to the world, as you've never seen before!
There would be no food un-eaten, no dance floor un-boogied and no place of silence!!! :D
A Place of Light
19-10-2009, 00:16
but I desperately want to do Europe!
Take the Nike approach and just do it. Start with a long weekend and work up.
A Place of Light
19-10-2009, 00:18
Also, anyone doing the 'ring should try the famous "Steak on a stone" at the Pistenklaus. It's overpriced, and the staff are for the most part pretty uppity/arrogant.....but it is nice food.
APOL - I'm going to :) Sometime in the next 12months! Need to get my magic up to scratch first though so I can utilise it whilst travelling :)
And ref Steak on Stone.... it would have to be mega amazing food for me to go if the pricing/service is awful! Not just "nice"! Did you mean mega amazing?! :D
A Place of Light
20-10-2009, 23:52
APOL - I'm going to :) Sometime in the next 12months! Need to get my magic up to scratch first though so I can utilise it whilst travelling :)
And ref Steak on Stone.... it would have to be mega amazing food for me to go if the pricing/service is awful! Not just "nice"! Did you mean mega amazing?! :D
It is good grub.....over rated IMHO but still good grub. I stand by my comment on the service as I think they've got a bit of a superiority complex going on.
My problem is there are just too many places I want to visit and not enough time to do so. :(
If it's just "Good grub" then I would find myself wandering the back streets and nooks and crannys until I found one with awesome personal service and excellent grub :D
Call me stingey but I wouldn't go out of my way to hand over wonga for something over priced with poor service for grub that's just good :D
Been thinking more about travelling Europe. Could be so exciting.
A Place of Light
22-10-2009, 19:50
If it's just "Good grub" then I would find myself wandering the back streets and nooks and crannys until I found one with awesome personal service and excellent grub :D
Call me stingey but I wouldn't go out of my way to hand over wonga for something over priced with poor service for grub that's just good :D
Been thinking more about travelling Europe. Could be so exciting.
It's decent food, but I think most people go so they can say they've had steak on a stone, rather than it being a testament to how good it is.
I've been doing euro road trips for a few years now and can't say I've had a bad experience. Next year I'll be gracing monaco with my presence, along with a few other stops.
volospian
27-10-2009, 21:03
Well, if this run works.... and it may not for a variety of reasons, we will be running some form of event annually. It's a "test run" at the moment of an event that will be for charity, so this (technically next) year it's only open to close friends, but if it all goes the way we hope it will, the next year (2011) it will have a wider audience.
A Place of Light
28-10-2009, 19:26
Well, if this run works.... and it may not for a variety of reasons, we will be running some form of event annually. It's a "test run" at the moment of an event that will be for charity, so this (technically next) year it's only open to close friends, but if it all goes the way we hope it will, the next year (2011) it will have a wider audience.
Well, if you need any tips feel free to ask. I can't claim to be the font of all knowledge on this subject, but I've picked up a few things on my travels.
vBulletin® v3.7.4, Copyright ©2000-2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.