First trip to Europe

[Paul Sussex]

Doing first European trip in my van this year.

Just me and the lad (wife/mum not coming as a) not her thing b) she looks after grand kids c) lad prefers dads no rules approach d) Dad prefers no wife rules

Me a) my inbuilt compass is broken can even get lost going to work 10 miles away b) me risk adverse and need to plan things (IT project manager).

Got a camper van last year for that very reason - start being less structured and stop overthinking things - it has worked out well so far loads of trips in the UK.

So a 12/13 day trip (summer school holidays).

Harwich to Hook of Holland (ferry booked) and that’s it!

Want to do Amsterdam for a couple of days, then Berlin and return back to UK via Dieppe.

Son (14) loves history but also chilling out.

Want to keep off toll roads if possible but not a deal breaker.

Any recommendations of places to visit on that route, places to stay or any general advice.

Think I know about traffic laws and LEZ’s.

 

[Dellmassive]

Love the abcd approach.

 

[soldas]

Your 14 year old son has kids? I joke.

Can't give any advise other than just go and have the best time. This is why I brought a van so in time me and my boys (4 and 1) can start doing bigger trips.

I used to go away with my old man in his T4 and they are honestly the best memories I have.

 

[Paul Sussex]

Love the abcd approach.

My heart was saying don’t write it in that structured way (brain took over) - just could not help myself so my trip is UK to Amsterdam, then Berlin and home.not A to B but A to ~~~~~ or in fact any structure - what is thecwirst that could happen (please don’t say)

Wow that feels so much better

 

[Frigo110]

Amsterdam, Hamburg, Berlin, Cologne, Bruges, Dieppe

Lot of nice beach stops between Bruges and Dieppe but crowded in the summer

I would consider going the other way and do Normandie, La Rochelle, Bordeaux, Mimizan, San Sebastián, ...

 

[Paul Sussex]

Thanks Frigo110,

Son would love to do Hamburger as did it last year on a cruise (I hate cruises but mother in-law paid). With two cites on the agenda a beach resort sounds more relaxing.

Was thinking

 

[Frigo110]

Don't go all the way to Berlin then. Do Bruges + Cologne and spend time along the coast.

If you want more details send me a message, I spend the first 30 years of my life in Germany (Aachen) and know the dutch/belgium coast well.

 

[Paul Sussex]

Your 14 year old son has kids? I joke.

Can't give any advise other than just go and have the best time. This is why I brought a van so in time me and my boys (4 and 1) can start doing bigger trips.

I used to go away with my old man in his T4 and they are honestly the best memories I have.

Ha ha, two grown up kids with their own families in their mid 20’s - part of the reason the Mrs said we could get a van so we could lend them it !!!) and also 14 year old that only gets off his computer when we go away. Did Busfest (T6 area) last year and he loved it - did not go online once.

Did tent camping with them all - van is a life changer, what a memory builder

 

[Paul Sussex]

Don't go all the way to Berlin then. Do Bruges + Cologne and spend time along the coast.

If you want more details send me a message, I spend the first 30 years of my life in Germany (Aachen) and know the dutch/belgium coast well.

Thanks Frigo110,

He has his heart set on Berlin and as a sucker dad I’ve agreed (even though think it is a long drive). TBH I’m like that with all the kids guess that is why they have what they want and I have H4 headlights


Once I have a better idea of route will PM you if that is ok,

 

[JumpShip]

Consider how many hours you wanna be driving .
No point trying to do too much in one go and not having time to enjoy it .
I'd say break it up and do Holland / Germany this time .
Next time time take the ferry/tunnel and do the french bit .

 

[Kind of Blue]

That sound like very good advice. It can be one thing going to somewhere specific for a purpose like visiting ones In Laws for instance! What am I saying yuck. On holiday with youngsters they can get very tired and fractions and that spreads and it can detract from the main idea of blissful harmony. However each to there own.

 

[Paul Sussex]

Consider how many hours you wanna be driving .
No point trying to do too much in one go and not having time to enjoy it .
I'd say break it up and do Holland / Germany this time .
Next time time take the ferry/tunnel and do the french bit .

Thank JumpShip

The round trip looks to be about 1,000 miles and 25 hours of driving over 13 days. Coming back via Dieppe means only a half hour journey back in the UK. Putting it like that it does sound a lot of time on the road.

 

[Moodz]

We have done a bit of European exploring and I love history and interesting places. One of the most interesting places I have visited is Colditz castle which is an hour or so from Berlin. You can get a guided tour of the castle and see the tunnels and the glider and other artifacts the prisoners of war made to attempt to escape. It would be best for your son to read the Colditz book by Pat Reid before going so he knows the story of the castle. My wife is not really interested in this stuff but actually wants to return to see it all again! You can stay overnight in the castle or do as we did and stay at the campsite in Colditz.
In berlin you can get a tour of a flak tower and an air raid shelter with a company called Berlin unterwelten. I wouldnt bother personally with Checkpoint Charlie as it is definately underwhelming as is the car park that is on top of the Fuhrer bunker. The Brandenburg gate and the Reichstag are interesting as is the Soviet war memorial and other statues nearby.
Another interesting place is Ypres in Belgium for all the first world war stuff and there is a great campsite with a ten minute walk into the town. The beer is great.
Bastogne in belgium is another interesting place for the Battle of the Bulge stuff and two excellent museums etc.
The Mohne Dam where the bouncing bomb was dropped by 617 Sqn The Dambusters is another one.
I will try to think of others when I get time.

 

[Frigo110]

Thank JumpShip

The round trip looks to be about 1,000 miles and 25 hours of driving over 13 days. Coming back via Dieppe means only a half hour journey back in the UK. Putting it like that it does sound a lot of time on the road.

No,
you´re not driving it over 13 days.
You will have a few days with 10h in the car an a few w/o driving. That´s why I would break it down or do Berlin by plane later
Driving in Berlin will be a challenge (Emission Zone sticker required) and finding a "campside" that is on the lower end of acceptable is also not easy.

 

[Paul Sussex]

We have done a bit of European exploring and I love history and interesting places. One of the most interesting places I have visited is Colditz castle which is an hour or so from Berlin. You can get a guided tour of the castle and see the tunnels and the glider and other artifacts the prisoners of war made to attempt to escape. It would be best for your son to read the Colditz book by Pat Reid before going so he knows the story of the castle. My wife is not really interested in this stuff but actually wants to return to see it all again! You can stay overnight in the castle or do as we did and stay at the campsite in Colditz.
In berlin you can get a tour of a flak tower and an air raid shelter with a company called Berlin unterwelten. I wouldnt bother personally with Checkpoint Charlie as it is definately underwhelming as is the car park that is on top of the Fuhrer bunker. The Brandenburg gate and the Reichstag are interesting as is the Soviet war memorial and other statues nearby.
Another interesting place is Ypres in Belgium for all the first world war stuff and there is a great campsite with a ten minute walk into the town. The beer is great.
Bastogne in belgium is another interesting place for the Battle of the Bulge stuff and two excellent museums etc.
The Mohne Dam where the bouncing bomb was dropped by 617 Sqn The Dambusters is another one.
I will try to think of others when I get time.

Thank you Moodz

Did look a Colditz Castle but was not too sure how good it would be - so really useful to hear and will add that back onto the list of possible places - did not know there was a campsite in Colditz itself which sounds great.

Will have a look at the other places you suggest and thank you again.

 

[Paul Sussex]

No,
you´re not driving it over 13 days.
You will have a few days with 10h in the car an a few w/o driving. That´s why I would break it down or do Berlin by plane later
Driving in Berlin will be a challenge (Emission Zone sticker required) and finding a "campside" that is on the lower end of acceptable is also not easy.

Think you are right going to break it down and stop at a few places on the way.