First thoughts - Black Forest and Amsterdam by Tunnel

[Vanman]

I've never taken my Campervan out of the country before, but I'm thinking that soon would be a good time - maybe Spring.

I suppose the plan, such as it is, is to mile crunch where necessary and enjoy the destinations. So the questions that spring to mind are -

When is a good time to go? We're retired, but we will only have 7-10 days and would like to avoid snow chains, temperatures above the mid 70's and not mad busy.

What are the "must see" sights? We like scenery, castles, flowers, we don't like walking, museums and ferries.

Are there any "must do" routes?

Are there any great sites, we like places like York Rowntree - walking distance of Restaurants and full leccy and facilities, particularly in Amsterdam but along the way too?

Thanks for any hints / tips or advice

Paul

 

[Grianan]

We’re not retired so are limited to 2 weeks. Last year was our first year in the van, although we’ve holidayed in France many times before. We went to Germany in August and the South of France in October.

If I could choose my months I would choose May and September.

Setting off from Runcorn you have a 4 hour advantage on us BUT with 7-10 days you should think carefully about how far you want to drive.

In your shoes, I think I’d consider Amsterdam and Holland, Mosel or the Rhine, Ardennes, Burgundy, Loire, Normandy etc

Of those, we have enjoyed Loire, Normandy, Ardennes and the Mosel. Burgundy is on our hit list.

Enjoy!

 

[mitzimad]

Abroad is so much easier with a motorhome dont try and cram too much in pick an area and wander around it for a week with a few days either way for travelling

 

[mitzimad]

the belguim cost north of dunkirk and into holland is nice lots of seaside with wide promenades ostend for a wander round cant help with sites as we use aires and camperstops but acsi book is esential if you uuse sites

 

[EX51SSS]

I know this sounds strange but don't try to be too adventurous. Get the ACSI book for discounted camping at recommended sites. Travelling is easier except for the city areas.
Either crossing is good. Train is only 35 minutes but more expensive than the ferry but I use the train as I have a dog and don't want her put in the cage even for the 75 minute crossing..
Think about getting a credit card such as Halifax Clarity which gives one if the best rates and no commission. Good for fuel purchases, food etc. Always buy in euros not sterling if requested..
Lots more advice will come along

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[Zains Pops]

Why drive to Tunnel and the back north to Amsterdam. Look at Ferries from Hull and start your holiday without UK traffic jams. Although Holland is quite good at jams itself

 

[David and Sally]

Dutch roads are quite busy, even on the motorways out of Rotterdam.

My favourite trip is the Mosel. About 300 miles from the ferry so a couple of days down there. There are a lot of sites on the banks of the Mosel but our favourite is

Sun-Park in Graach an der Mosel

Herzlich Willkommen auf dem Wohmobilstellplatz Sun-Park in Graach an der Mosel.

www.sunpark-mosel.de

It's a short cycle ride or bus into Bernkastel and the local village has some bars and restaurants. Great beer garden on site too.

Trier as a city is well worth a visit. If you have time you could then turn right and head for the Vosges Mountains. Colmar is beautiful.

The Ardennes are lovely with loads of WW2 sites to visit but the weather can be rainy even in the summer. If you like motorsports loads going on in and around Spa Francorchamps.

As advised above, don't rush and enjoy the trip.

 

[Riverbankannie]

I have to echo what everyone else has said. With 7 to 10 days travelling between Calais, Amsterdam and Black Forest not practical.
if Amsterdam is your preferred reason for going, just take a meandering Route there and back. Take in Ypres, Bruges and the coast on the way to Amsterdam and then look for a couple of places such as those suggested above on the way back.
If Amsterdam just a stab in the dark, then I would also suggest you aim for the Mosel in Germany and do a meander on that and maybe Koblenz and a bit of the Rhine,

 

[WillH]

Again I think you are taking on too much. Don't over plan, just go and see how you get on. None of our trips in Europe end up as we think they will.

 

[joemocks79]

I know this sounds strange but don't try to be too adventurous. Get the ACSI book for discounted camping at recommended sites. Travelling is easier except for the city areas.
Either crossing is good. Train is only 35 minutes but more expensive than the ferry but I use the train as I have a dog and don't want her put in the cage even for the 75 minute crossing..
Think about getting a credit card such as Halifax Clarity which gives one if the best rates and no commission. Good for fuel purchases, food etc. Always buy in euros not sterling if requested..
Lots more advice will come along

I'm doing a 6 month trip around Europe, predominantly countries I've not visited yet so I'm avoiding France and Germany, is the ASCI book of sites cover Poland, Scandinavia, Baltic States and eastern europe or is it mostly western Europe? Also we have 2 dogs and I note that the membership seems to give a discounted rate including only 1 dog so I don't know if that renders it immediately redundant. Sorry to hijack this post with another question but I wanted to get any feedback on ASCI and it's limitations to see if it would be worthwhile for my trip?

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[Riverbankannie]

I'm doing a 6 month trip around Europe, predominantly countries I've not visited yet so I'm avoiding France and Germany, is the ASCI book of sites cover Poland, Scandinavia, Baltic States and eastern europe or is it mostly western Europe? Also we have 2 dogs and I note that the membership seems to give a discounted rate including only 1 dog so I don't know if that renders it immediately redundant. Sorry to hijack this post with another question but I wanted to get any feedback on ASCI and it's limitations to see if it would be worthwhile for my trip?

In case this request is not spotted I have found you an answer about dogs posted on another thread
It says that on each campsite entry, it specifies whether price includes 1 dog or 2 and you may have to pay for the second dog.
If you are travelling through France, Germany or Holland and if you intend to use campsites in these countries, then you could save the price of the books/card in just a couple of nights so worth having even if there are less listed campsites in the Baltic countries.

 

[Vanman]

If I could choose my months I would choose May and September.

Setting off from Runcorn you have a 4 hour advantage on us BUT with 7-10 days you should think carefully about how far you want to drive.

In your shoes, I think I’d consider Amsterdam and Holland, Mosel or the Rhine, Ardennes, Burgundy, Loire, Normandy etc

Thank you for that information, May or September are now in pole position

I have been to Normandy and surrounds with motorbike trips so Black Forest / Amsterdam remain the objective. I will look carefully at the amount of driving involved. I do enjoy driving so I don't see it as an onerous task, but I do want to spend a fair amount of time looking as well.

 

[Vanman]

Abroad is so much easier with a motorhome dont try and cram too much in pick an area and wander around it for a week with a few days either way for travelling

Thanks for your thoughts. There is always a balance to be achieved

We're not 'beach holiday' sorts though, we have enough time for chilling all year. When we go away we like to see something extra special and make 'best' use of our short time away.

I suppose ideally we'd travel down to the Tunnel (280 miles) and overnight there. Drive to Stuttgart 470m and spend 2 days there, drive to Amsterdam 390m and have 3 days there, drive back to Calais and overnight near Folkestone before heading home. That's 10 days in all.

It probably seems a lot of driving to some, and I don't know the roads, but the distances look OK.

 

[Vanman]

I know this sounds strange but don't try to be too adventurous. Get the ACSI book for discounted camping at recommended sites. Travelling is easier except for the city areas.
Either crossing is good. Train is only 35 minutes but more expensive than the ferry but I use the train as I have a dog and don't want her put in the cage even for the 75 minute crossing..
Think about getting a credit card such as Halifax Clarity which gives one if the best rates and no commission. Good for fuel purchases, food etc. Always buy in euros not sterling if requested..
Lots more advice will come along

Thanks - a specialist credit card sounds good. I have no pets but I do have a wife who is anti-ferry. It stems back to a bad IOM crossing several years ago and it seems there's no getting past it. It's tunnel or going solo!

I spent an hour or so looking at the Black forest today - reviews etc. and was a bit disappointed at how little - other than trees and wild animals there is to see there ... I may have to move my attention to Amsterdam and more northerly parts of Germany / Belgium / Luxemberg etc.

 

[Reallyretired]

We have two dogs and sometimes use sites. ACSI includes at least one dog and we have sometimes been charged a bit extra for the second, but not always. Some sites ACSI gives huge savings, others hardly anything so a bit potluck.

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[Vanman]

Thanks again for all your comments. You have worn me down, I give up! Black forest is postponed for now and trip will be relaunched as Amsterdam and surrounds! It will not however be meandering, I don't do meandering. It will have specific plans for specific days - even if some are 'chilling days'.

 

[Grianan]

For what it’s worth, I did a lot of research before we went to Germany last summer and had lists of places we wanted to see and stellplatz we fancied staying at. It covered multiple areas as we were weather driven and we didn’t know how long journeys would take. I have a fairly low boredom threshold too ... and with only 2 weeks do t want to waste time.
That system worked well and gave us enough flexibility without being aimless ... we still managed some spontaneity and changed route on one occasion when it didn’t seem to be working.
I will do similar next year.

 

[Vanman]

Well after 4 years of planning we finally made it!

The plan was extended to 14 days -

Day 1 Runcorn to Folkestone and Chateau du Ganspette (30 miles from Calais)
Day 2 Acclimatise and visit Blockhaus museum and local Supermarket.
Day 3 Travel to Freiburg (Hirzburg Camping) eat next-door at Gasthaus Zum Stahl
Day 4 Visit town, Schlossburg, Cathedral
Day 5 Lunch in Market square, evening meal in local hostelry
Day 6 Travel scenic route B500 through Black Forest to Cologne (Lunch at Lake Mummelsee) dinner at onsite restaurant (Haus Berger)
Day 7 Guided tour of Koln Cathedral (3 Kings shrine)
Day 8 Rhine cruise and Lindt Chocolate factory tour
Day 9 Travel to Amsterdam, Dinner at Grahams Kitchen (Taster menu)
Day 10 Van Gogh Museum, Kings Day!
Day 11 Canal Ring Boat trip, Sea Palace meal
Day 12 Visit to Keukenhof (Tulip gardens)
Day 13 Drive back to Chateau Ganspette, meal in their restaurant
Day 14 Back to Le Shuttle and drive home

Thoroughly enjoyed it. Only problem is SWMBO thinks Italy would be quite nice next time!

Thanks again for all the help and advice