First time in Germany (1 Viewer)

[engelside]

Off to visit our eldest in Berlin on Friday. Harwich - Hook of Holland. First time on the continent in the van so was looking for any obvious issues I should be aware of with continental touring. Thanks

 

[bellabee]

No issues, really. The Continent is much more motorhome-friendly than the UK. Roads through Belgium can be in poor condition, but no worse than at home. Driving speeds can be fast on the Autobahn. There are plenty of places to stop (aires/Stellplaetze), just use the Search for Sites App and you'll be fine.
Have a lovely time!

 

[suavecarve]

The Umwelt. Its a green sticker to go in your windscreen. It costs 5 or 6 years and you get it by popping into an MOT garage with your V5 document in hand.
It may not be necessary, however, strongly advise getting one. We never go into major towns so thought we would be OK then found an umwelt area in the middle of nowhere we had to pass through. I got the one the next day.
Also dont look on your map for a place called Ausfarht. Every junction seems to have a road that goes to this place !

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[engelside]

The Umwelt. Its a green sticker to go in your windscreen. It costs 5 or 6 years and you get it by popping into an MOT garage with your V5 document in hand.
It may not be necessary, however, strongly advise getting one. We never go into major towns so thought we would be OK then found an umwelt area in the middle of nowhere we had to pass through. I got the one the next day.
Also dont look on your map for a place called Ausfarht. Every junction seems to have a road that goes to this place !

Just looking at the the Umwelt, looks like I have left it to late to order by post. Can I pick one up while I am there?

 

[Figaro]

Belgium can be in poor condition, but no worse than at home.

Book your dentist now for the fillings you'll lose.

Have a read of JockandRita thread.
Info may be out of date but still a useful thread

Our First German Trip

Hi all, We tried to "blog" this on here, but had too many characters. Then we tried to "hyperlink" it from it's original source, but no luck there either. So, copied, pasted and edited from MS Word, here goes. Our First German Tour (August/September 2007) Day One After spending the night at...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[suavecarve]

Just looking at the the Umwelt, looks like I have left it to late to order by post. Can I pick one up while I am there?

Yep, just pop into any garage that looks as if it does MOTs. Then that would give you a fair to medium assessment you are in the right place.
Have a chat with receptionist and "Umwelt Bitter" whilst holding the V5 and using the internationally recognised facial expression of "I havent got a clue how to speak your language" is the tactic i used and worked.
Stick kettle on while youre waiting and your coffee will still be warm by the time its done.

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[Larrynwin]

The Umwelt. Its a green sticker to go in your windscreen. It costs 5 or 6 years and you get it by popping into an MOT garage with your V5 document in hand.
It may not be necessary, however, strongly advise getting one. We never go into major towns so thought we would be OK then found an umwelt area in the middle of nowhere we had to pass through. I got the one the next day.
Also dont look on your map for a place called Ausfarht. Every junction seems to have a road that goes to this place !

We had to laugh at that when there, windy buggers those Germans

 

[engelside]

Yep, just pop into any garage that looks as if it does MOTs. Then that would give you a fair to medium assessment you are in the right place.
Have a chat with receptionist and "Umwelt Bitter" whilst holding the V5 and using the internationally recognised facial expression of "I havent got a clue how to speak your language" is the tactic i used and worked.
Stick kettle on while youre waiting and your coffee will still be warm by the time its done.

Thanks for that. Ferry docks in Rotterdam at 5:15 pm Friday. Probably drive for a few hours then stop overnight to get to Berlin later Saturday. Do you know if MOT stations are likely to be open on Saturday mornings?

 

[suavecarve]

Thanks for that. Ferry docks in Rotterdam at 5:15 pm Friday. Probably drive for a few hours then stop overnight to get to Berlin later Saturday. Do you know if MOT stations are likely to be open on Saturday mornings?

Probably but there are people with far better knowledge than me
orridge
I also dont use Hook of Holland, and have never driven around rotterdam.

Rotterdam ..... 5.15pm ...... Friday ....... That sounds like something I would avoid greatly

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[orridge]

Just looking at the the Umwelt, looks like I have left it to late to order by post. Can I pick one up while I am there?

Yes look for any TUV Station and its about 5 Euros I believe, you will need your 5VC and possible certificate of conformality also to confirm emission class. To be fair you don't really need one as you can avoid most areas with a bit of planning but its one less thing to worry about.

 

[lorger]

Been to Berlin in the van 3 times are you sure your son stays inside the Umwelt zone.

I can recommend the Stellplatz at Magdeburg

 

[orridge]

Probably but there are people with far better knowledge than me
orridge
I also dont use Hook of Holland, and have never driven around rotterdam.

Rotterdam ..... 5.15pm ...... Friday ....... That sounds like something I would avoid greatly

Yes some are open Saturday mornings until 12:00 you can put a destination in the search here and will give you details of locations and opening hours.

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Rotterdam on a Friday night avoid any direction south on the A16 towards Breda or Antwerp but assume you will be heading directly east so maybe A15 or A20.

Gouda is nice not too far and easy drive into Germany Saturday morning.

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[engelside]

Been to Berlin in the van 3 times are you sure your son stays inside the Umwelt zone.

I can recommend the Stellplatz at Magdeburg

Just checking now and I think it looks he is just in. We will probably park somewhere a little outside in that case as I am not sure about staying in his flat with respect to insurance and leaving van unoccupied.

 

[suavecarve]

Rotterdam ..... 5.15pm ...... Friday .......

I should have followed that with

"Crackerjack"

 

[tacr2man]

another good stellplatz is City Motel at Soest . this is good for finding stops

4211 Wohnmobilstellplätze in Deutschland finden | stellplatz.info

stellplatz.info

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[WESTY66]

We came off the 5.15 at Hook on a Friday night last June and headed down the A16 (I think) towards Antwerp and stayed on a great free aire at grobbendonk, zero probs with traffic (might have been lucky)

 

[The Lord Squid]

I should have followed that with

"Crackerjack"

5 to 5, surely.