Europe looks tempting

petemc · 24-04-2008, 00:07

So big news is that a publisher in LA wants me to write a book on HDR. They're going to give me a nice advance so I'm thinking I need material for the book outside of Liverpool. Its been on my mind for a long time now, travel Europe. My plan so far is simply to sell my Corsa and get something a bit comfier for the trip. Something with aircon. I'd like to visit Paris and Austria at least. Its tempting to get the train instead, to save driving all that way but in my heart I know its those little moments between places that can make the trip. Also its a fair lot of stuff to lug around with me. This is all I have so far on the idea. I just want to get in my car and go there. How realistic is that? Can I just drive off with little planning and wing it all? No hotels booked or anything. Just going where the road takes me. My Dad is being like "Where will you stay? You need this and that. What will you do for this? Its a very long way." Its getting me down. Its something I feel I should do. Its not often someone gives you the money to live a dream.

divine · 24-04-2008, 00:24

I don't think just spontaneously going off and doing it is a great plan... it'll be more expensive that way...

One request though - get a decent photo of the Millau viaduct :P

Del Lardo · 24-04-2008, 00:30

I can't see a problem with just heading off. Plenty of small hotels in French villages that you can just turn up and get a room. Alternatively there are plenty of campsites that you can stay at for 10 euros a night. Just take a tent with you

petemc · 24-04-2008, 00:31

I don't think camping will suit me. I'll be taking my laptop to backup images to and writing along the way so I'll need that hotel down time. Plus hotels are comfier

Del Lardo · 24-04-2008, 00:36

It's really going to depend on your budget. Plenty of hotels available in Europe for 40-50 euros a night

Will · 24-04-2008, 07:03

You dont' need to over plan. Of course it's easy for me I can just be plonked in France and get on with it. Often I've just on a whim said let's go here/there. Europe's easy to get around, it doesn't have to be expensive and can be fun. Obviously this is coming from someone who's spent a lot of his life travelling all around the place.

I'd suggest a little bit of a plan just for your sake.

Burble · 24-04-2008, 07:08

It's entirely doable as long as you're not the sort of person who frets about not having stuff booked. A friend of mine flew out to Boston last year with the intention of driving about that part of the US for a couple of weeks. He had nothing booked other than a motel for the first night but despite there being no shortage of motels there he worried so much that he'd have to sleep in the car that he ended up coming home early.

You would be best suited with a plan of some sorts, just so that you will see the places you want to see but if you've not idea what you want to see then jump in the car, pick a direction and drive. It's a great way to get to know a country.

kaiowas · 24-04-2008, 08:37

I'd have thought it'd be a good idea to least worth make a shortlist of places you feel you must visit and then have a quick look on the map to determine which is the best order to do them in and if the duration of the trip is going to be limited (by finances, other commitments etc) then a loose timetable of when you intend to visit each main place just to help you pace the trip so you don't end up having to come home having not been able to visit all the places you wanted to.

I'm not saying you need a full day by day itinerary and obviously the plan can be flexible and changed on the fly but with no planning at all it'd be easy to find yourself drifting and not making the most of the trip.

petemc · 24-04-2008, 10:39

Yeah I agree. A basic plan of places would be good otherwise I might miss out on something really amazing.

Matblack · 24-04-2008, 10:45

I agree with some sentiments here, I'd make a list of places to go and see and then roam between them taking in things as you go. I would think that your style suits more dramatic pictures so make sure you have the must sees on your list. In most towns you can get a room somewhere unless there is a big event on, but if you would worry about not having somewhere to stay then by all means book ahead.

If you are concerned about getting trapped in your car with nowhere to stay then take a small compact tent with you and a sleeping bag just in case, the odd night camping would probably be fun.

As for the car I would look for something medium size and not too complicated, something like a 90s BMW without too much electrical trickery would go on for ever and would be fixable by just about any garage I would have thought

Sounds like a great adventure, I envy you

MB

24-04-2008, 00:07	#1
petemc Moonshine Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nr Liverpewl Posts: 4,371	Europe looks tempting So big news is that a publisher in LA wants me to write a book on HDR. They're going to give me a nice advance so I'm thinking I need material for the book outside of Liverpool. Its been on my mind for a long time now, travel Europe. My plan so far is simply to sell my Corsa and get something a bit comfier for the trip. Something with aircon. I'd like to visit Paris and Austria at least. Its tempting to get the train instead, to save driving all that way but in my heart I know its those little moments between places that can make the trip. Also its a fair lot of stuff to lug around with me. This is all I have so far on the idea. I just want to get in my car and go there. How realistic is that? Can I just drive off with little planning and wing it all? No hotels booked or anything. Just going where the road takes me. My Dad is being like "Where will you stay? You need this and that. What will you do for this? Its a very long way." Its getting me down. Its something I feel I should do. Its not often someone gives you the money to live a dream. __________________ Thats no hamster, its a space station!

24-04-2008, 00:24	#2
divine Moonshine Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Southampton Posts: 3,201	I don't think just spontaneously going off and doing it is a great plan... it'll be more expensive that way... One request though - get a decent photo of the Millau viaduct :P __________________

24-04-2008, 00:31	#4
petemc Moonshine Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nr Liverpewl Posts: 4,371	I don't think camping will suit me. I'll be taking my laptop to backup images to and writing along the way so I'll need that hotel down time. Plus hotels are comfier __________________ Thats no hamster, its a space station!

24-04-2008, 07:03	#6
Will BBx woz 'ere :P Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 2,147,487,208	You dont' need to over plan. Of course it's easy for me I can just be plonked in France and get on with it. Often I've just on a whim said let's go here/there. Europe's easy to get around, it doesn't have to be expensive and can be fun. Obviously this is coming from someone who's spent a lot of his life travelling all around the place. I'd suggest a little bit of a plan just for your sake. __________________ *No No!*

24-04-2008, 08:37	#8
kaiowas The Stig Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fightertown USA Posts: 1,458	I'd have thought it'd be a good idea to least worth make a shortlist of places you feel you must visit and then have a quick look on the map to determine which is the best order to do them in and if the duration of the trip is going to be limited (by finances, other commitments etc) then a loose timetable of when you intend to visit each main place just to help you pace the trip so you don't end up having to come home having not been able to visit all the places you wanted to. I'm not saying you need a full day by day itinerary and obviously the plan can be flexible and changed on the fly but with no planning at all it'd be easy to find yourself drifting and not making the most of the trip. __________________ Anal Fish Porn

24-04-2008, 00:30	#3
Del Lardo Absinthe Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cambridge Posts: 2,539	I can't see a problem with just heading off. Plenty of small hotels in French villages that you can just turn up and get a room. Alternatively there are plenty of campsites that you can stay at for 10 euros a night. Just take a tent with you

24-04-2008, 00:36	#5
Del Lardo Absinthe Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cambridge Posts: 2,539	It's really going to depend on your budget. Plenty of hotels available in Europe for 40-50 euros a night

24-04-2008, 07:08	#7
Burble Rocket Fuel Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 7,826	It's entirely doable as long as you're not the sort of person who frets about not having stuff booked. A friend of mine flew out to Boston last year with the intention of driving about that part of the US for a couple of weeks. He had nothing booked other than a motel for the first night but despite there being no shortage of motels there he worried so much that he'd have to sleep in the car that he ended up coming home early. You would be best suited with a plan of some sorts, just so that you will see the places you want to see but if you've not idea what you want to see then jump in the car, pick a direction and drive. It's a great way to get to know a country.

24-04-2008, 10:39	#9
petemc Moonshine Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nr Liverpewl Posts: 4,371	Yeah I agree. A basic plan of places would be good otherwise I might miss out on something really amazing. __________________ Thats no hamster, its a space station!

24-04-2008, 10:45	#10
Matblack Baby Bore Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Svalbard Posts: 9,770	I agree with some sentiments here, I'd make a list of places to go and see and then roam between them taking in things as you go. I would think that your style suits more dramatic pictures so make sure you have the must sees on your list. In most towns you can get a room somewhere unless there is a big event on, but if you would worry about not having somewhere to stay then by all means book ahead. If you are concerned about getting trapped in your car with nowhere to stay then take a small compact tent with you and a sleeping bag just in case, the odd night camping would probably be fun. As for the car I would look for something medium size and not too complicated, something like a 90s BMW without too much electrical trickery would go on for ever and would be fixable by just about any garage I would have thought Sounds like a great adventure, I envy you MB __________________ "we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two"