Little European Trip

Peerzy

Peerzy

Peerzy

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Joined
9 Nov 2008
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Looking to do a quick drive into Europe next week, no reason but pleasure.

I've got something on Monday night and Friday night so it'll be Tuesday morning through to Friday early afternoon.

I'm not sure where to go really, don't want to spend the entire trip in the car and planning 3 nights in 3 different locations.

Drew this up as a random plan but just picked big cities I knew, anyone got any advice?

With a night in Gent or Liege, a night in Dusseldorf (worth going further for Dortmund?) and a night in Eindhoven. Obviously none of this is set in stone and I'd much rather go to a nice place than just a big city because I know the name.

Not looking for a driving experience so no 'ring trip. It's more of an excuse to do a bit of European driving in the Porsche, be to a few countries I've not been to and spend some quality time with the better half.

Insurance covers me in Europe so it's just a case of booking hotels and ferries I guess.

Fire away with suggestions please OcUK :)
 
I'm contemplating this with a few friends. We did France and Belgium a couple of months back and it was great fun!

Although I also would like to do a full on trip to Germany to tick all the boxes - nurburg, stuttgard, munich, black forest... worked out that it would be a pricey trip with my fuel costs. Still thinking of doing it before my situation changes!
 
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What is it with you and trying to cram stuff like this into random small periods of time?! Just cancel the thing on the Friday night and make a week of it :p
 
[TW]Fox;22041648 said:
What is it with you and trying to cram stuff like this into random small periods of time?! Just cancel the thing on the Friday night and make a week of it :p
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Friday night is GFs sisters birthday, so can't cancel.

It's 4 days/3 nights which I why I've decided to keep the trip quite local. 12~ hours driving over that time should give us plenty to take in bits we want and give us an idea of where we might want to visit again for longer.

It's either this or do sod all for the week off!
 
I wouldnt do Eindhoven or Liege (Luik).. not when there are much nicer towns within an hour or twos drive.

For a stop over in NL it has to be Utrecht or Amsterdam for me, and in BE it would be Antwerp or Leuven, Possibly Brugge.
 
I can definitely recommend Bruges, Cologne and even Aachen as cool cities to visit that seem roughly on your route. Bruges is pretty small, but there's a fair amount to see, Cologne is much bigger and has some impressive architecture. I preferred Cologne over Dusseldorf, personally, but it's also a nice place.
 
Been working in Cologne for the last 2 months, not far from Dusselldorf and can confirm its a badass night out, hit it up around FriesenPlatz, on a tuesday night its student central, giggety giggety!
 
Won't be doing any 'mega' nights out, it's more a road trip to explore.

Updated the map to THIS.

Means we could now spend the first night in Leuven, second night in either Cologne or Dusseldorf and the third night in Utecht before heading home on the final day. No idea what to do in any of the cities though.
 
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Peerzy said:
Won't be doing any 'mega' nights out, it's more a road trip to explore.
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Cologne has history as well, not just nightlife and is only 4 hours from Calais.

Also atm there is a lot of contra flow traffic thorugh belgium and france, which is rubbish, will add time to your trip, so bare that in mind.

The Netherlands isn't far either
 
BAcon said:
Cologne has history as well, not just nightlife and is only 4 hours from Calais.

Also atm there is a lot of contra flow traffic thorugh belgium and france, which is rubbish, will add time to your trip, so bare that in mind.

The Netherlands isn't far either
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See my edited post above with a new potential route. Drove to Munich 2 weeks ago through Belgium, France and Germany and found the roads to be a million times better than the UK, even the road works hardly held us up at all.
 
Peerzy said:
See my edited post above with a new potential route. Drove to Munich 2 weeks ago through Belgium, France and Germany and found the roads to be a million times better than the UK, even the road works hardly held us up at all.
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Depends what time you hit brussels, my workmates drove back here the weekend just gone and the normal 4 hour journey, took 7 hours with traffic. So try to stay away from brussells during peak times

I drove back here 3 weeks ago and didnt get any delays at all, its all about timing
 
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Looks like you're passing Arnhem. If you're into your military history there are some interesting locations in that area where Operation Market Garden (the film A Bridge Too Far was based on this Op) took place.

As for what to do, Cologne has a stunning cathedral, a Lindt chocolate factory, and lots more besides. I'd recommend just popping into the central tourism office and picking up the free spiel on what to see. Then you can either follow their recommendations or just wander the streets at your own pace.

And yes, as BAcon says, it's an epic night out too. :D

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BAcon said:
So try to stay away from brussells during peak times
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Just wanted to +1 this, the traffic on the motorways just outside Brussels is absolute pants. Think M25 on a bad day. Avoid peak hours at all costs!
 
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Liege is a dump and Düsseldorf has nothing of interest.

Leuven is very nice, but there's not a lot going on really. Go to Bruges if you haven't been, otherwise Gent is also very nice. I'd also recommend Ypres (Ieper)
You can then also go to West vleteren and have the best beer ever.

Brussels is worth a visit, even if the traffic is absolutely abysmal.

Cologne has much more going on than Düsseldorf.
Just remember that everything will be shut on a Sunday in Germany.

Eindhoven has naff all other than coffee shops and PSV.
 
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mjt said:
Liege is a dump and Düsseldorf has nothing of interest.

Leuven is very nice, but there's not a lot going on really. Go to Bruges if you haven't been, otherwise Gent is also very nice. I'd also recommend Ypres (Ieper)
You can then also go to West vleteren and have the best beer ever.

Brussels is worth a visit, even if the traffic is absolutely abysmal.

Cologne has much more going on than Düsseldorf.
Just remember that everything will be shut on a Sunday in Germany.

Eindhoven has naff all other than coffee shops and PSV.
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Thanks, think I'll do Cologne as my German city. Will be Tuesday-Friday so no worry about stuff being shut.

In Belgium I'm left with a choice between Gent, Brussels, Bruges or Leuven. Neither of us drink beer, cider and whiskey for me and wine for my OH.

Holland - I recon I'll drive the extra miles to Utrect unless there is somewhere better?
 
Find a place to stay in Leuven and Cologne that I'm happy with, just the Thursday night to sort now.

Utrect leaves us a bit too much of a drive on Friday and the hotel prices seem very expensive compared with Leuven and Cologne (£60~ each).

So I'm revising my choice to one of the following three; Eindhoven, Breda or Antwerp. They just are three places I've heard of that would be on a suitable drive home.

Anyone got any advice?
 
I lived in Leuven for a while, the home of Stella Artois! A university town with plenty of historic buildings, lots of bars and restos. Small enough to be able to walk around everywhere. There is a street full of restaurants near the holiday inn. Parking meters everywhere though.

Eindhoven always stuck me as another faceless provincial town, only known for being the HQ of Phillips.. I would avoid.

Breda is small and nothing special at all as far as I remember, I used to pop up there from Tienen to go to a coffeeshop after I moved to BE. Better go to Tilburg which seems to have a bit more life about it. Some decent cafes opposite the central station.

Antwerp is great, a bit like Amsterdam without the sleaze..

Leuven and Antwerp are in the Dutch speaking area so they will also be happy to speak English to you.

Arnhem might be an option aswell, its in the right area for your trip to Germany, or possibly Nijmegen.. but again, neither are really outstanding, but for sure you could get a cheap hotel and sample some Dutch culture.. Or how about Maastricht? Never been there, but I have heard good things.

if you were up in the Amsterdam/Harlem area and the weather is good.. beaches to check are Zandvoort, Bloemendal or Wijk aan Zee.. all have bars/cafes along the front and it was always a very cool place to be.. I am talking about lounge bars, fine dining wannabees and surf shacks, rather than a pickled Herring and a cuppa. On weekends the first 2 locations seem to turn into some kind of rave and traffic will be a nightmare though.
 
Ezah said:
I lived in Leuven for a while, the home of Stella Artois! A university town with plenty of historic buildings, lots of bars and restos. Small enough to be able to walk around everywhere. There is a street full of restaurants near the holiday inn. Parking meters everywhere though.

Eindhoven always stuck me as another faceless provincial town, only known for being the HQ of Phillips.. I would avoid.

Breda is small and nothing special at all as far as I remember, I used to pop up there from Tienen to go to a coffeeshop after I moved to BE. Better go to Tilburg which seems to have a bit more life about it. Some decent cafes opposite the central station.

Antwerp is great, a bit like Amsterdam without the sleaze..

Leuven and Antwerp are in the Dutch speaking area so they will also be happy to speak English to you.

Arnhem might be an option aswell, its in the right area for your trip to Germany, or possibly Nijmegen.. but again, neither are really outstanding, but for sure you could get a cheap hotel and sample some Dutch culture.. Or how about Maastricht? Never been there, but I have heard good things.

if you were up in the Amsterdam/Harlem area and the weather is good.. beaches to check are Zandvoort, Bloemendal or Wijk aan Zee.. all have bars/cafes along the front and it was always a very cool place to be.. I am talking about lounge bars, fine dining wannabees and surf shacks, rather than a pickled Herring and a cuppa. On weekends the first 2 locations seem to turn into some kind of rave and traffic will be a nightmare though.
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Thanks, looking at THIS route now, shame not to spend a night in NL but there doesn't seem to be anything amazing in the south and going too far north gives us too far to drive on the Friday to be back in time for our evening plans.
 
Amsterdam is only 1.5 hrs from Antwerp, and could be a good alternative.. especially if you have never been.

Just take the E35 from Cologne all the way to Utrecht, then 20 mins up the A2.. couldnt be easier ;) Most of the driving will then be on the Autobahn.

Otherwise its too much driving in BE for me, and they do have the worst roads of any of the 4 countries, and not much scenic value :P

edit: if you did.. the hotels will be more expensive there.. look for something like the Mercure on the Amstel, or IBIS.. ..expect to pay at least 80 euros though.

http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel...erdam-city-binnenkort-ibis-styles/index.shtml
 
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