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Euro Trip in the Benz

Mr E said:
The only time that my car has been damaged is in the tunnel train - plenty of people seem to walk up and down looking for the toilet!. We always book priority boarding on the ferry now, so very little walking traffic past the car as you're first on / first off.

Never had a problem rocking up early and getting on board - and even maintain the priority boarding too. We also find it nice to get up and out of the car, grab a coffee, etc.
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Now once more I'm not so sure. I've never tried the tunnel before so wanted to give it a go, in the belief that the car would be safer. The rest on board the ferry is certainly useful, especially after a few hours driving to Dover, but I still think of it as a bit more hassle in my journey that I could do without. Whether or not I'd be able to rest whilst Mrs KE is driving is another question altogether!:dk:
 
kap02 said:
As I will be driving Manchester to Dover and then on from Calais, I would prefer to stop in Luxembourg for the night get a decent nights sleep :thumb:
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Hmm... Are you sharing the driving?

Assuming Manchester to Dover is around 4hrs 30mins (no stops, no holdups), then 45mins check-in time at the port (optimistic as you'd have to factor in the potential for delays on the way down), 90mins crossing time and a further 30mins by the time you've disembarked and are on your way. You then have another 4hrs drive to Lux City (again, no stops & no holdups). I make that 11 hours door to door but would estimate 13 to be more realistic. Now add on the hour's time difference and you should be able to sit down for a relaxing dinner somewhere around 9 or 10pm once you've showered & changed, assuming a 6am departure from Man.

Is this a pleasure trip or an endurance test? ;) :)
 
st13phil said:
Hmm... Are you sharing the driving?

Assuming Manchester to Dover is around 4hrs 30mins (no stops, no holdups), then 45mins check-in time at the port (optimistic as you'd have to factor in the potential for delays on the way down), 90mins crossing time and a further 30mins by the time you've disembarked and are on your way. You then have another 4hrs drive to Lux City (again, no stops & no holdups). I make that 11 hours door to door but would estimate 13 to be more realistic. Now add on the hour's time difference and you should be able to sit down for a relaxing dinner somewhere around 9 or 10pm once you've showered & changed, assuming a 6am departure from Man.

Is this a pleasure trip or an endurance test? ;) :)
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Sharing ?? Mrs + new benz = :wallbash: lol

Its all a bit too much.. want to relax too ! lol

Our trip will fall into the easter weekend so we have time to play with.
 
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kap02 said:
Thats one great load carrier! :rock:
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We've got 6 dogs and 3 kids, so it has to be :D

We normally just take 2 or 3 dogs to Germany and use the lower cages for luggage (the doors lift off and the central divider comes out), although there's a fair bit of space behind the middle-row seating too. With the 3.0 V6 & auto gearbox it's not the most economical vehicle in the world but it's quiet and smooth and eats up the miles. Without roof rails (deliberately not specced) it goes into multi-stories fine, and Parktronic helps there too :thumb:
 
Is it petrol or diesel ?
 
kap02 said:
Any traditional hotel recommendations for Stuttgart? Budget of around £65/£75 a night.
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I stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn Stuttgart NeckarPark, just 200 yards down the road from the museum. It can be as low as 66 Euros depending on what night you stay. Parking is about 15 Euros, but you may find something cheaper.

Watch out, the museum is shut on Mondays. You can pre-book on-line for the tours. There is a local engine factory tour available to, which even my wife found interesting! Allow 6 hours to really take it all in, and have a great trip.
 
kap02 said:
Any traditional hotel recommendations for Stuttgart? Budget of around £65/£75 a night.
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I recommend this place http://www.abaccohotels.com/en/rooms/ which is very close to the Porsche factory and museum
in Zuffenhausen and 20mins away from Stuttgart. Nice and clean with pool, spa, plenty free parking and they offer discounted museum tickets. It's actually a Porsche theme hotel . A lot of car guys staying, so the Mrs might be outnumbered (as was my partner), but not necessarily a bad thing:bannana:. And hey, you're taking her to Paris so I'm sure she'll be fine with this. :)
 
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bing said:
I recommend this place Abacco Hotels GmbH: Rooms which is very close to the Porsche factory and museum
in Zuffenhausen and 20mins away from Stuttgart. Nice and clean with pool, spa, plenty free parking and they offer discounted museum tickets. It's actually a Porsche theme hotel . A lot of car guys staying, so the Mrs might be outnumbered (as was my partner), but not necessarily a bad thing:bannana:. And hey, you're taking her to Paris so I'm sure she'll be fine with this. :)
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That looks cool ! Not to fussed about a short drive to each tour.
 
Regarding the Porsche and Mercedes Museum tours, can they both be done in one day?

Where is the Mercedes Factory located and how long is required for that?

Thanks.
 
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kap02 said:
Where is the Mercedes Factory located and how long is required for that?
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The main production facility is in Sindelfingen, which is about a 20 minute drive from the centre of Stuttgart. The factory tour is around an hour long, but they were only doing one tour a day in English (at 11am daily) when I was last there.
 
Hotels and Destinations all booked :)

Route yet to be confirmed.....

Calais > Luxembourg (One night) - Through Belgium

Luxembourg > Stuttgart (One night) - Mercedes & Porsche Museum

Stuttgart Via Rhine falls to > Saint Sabine (Côte-d'Or) - 1 night / Rhine falls and top of Switzerland

Saint Sabine (Côte-d'Or) > Paris (2 nights) - Traditional French Chateau :)

Paris > Calais > Home!

Car ready and waiting.... :)
 
will be watching this with great interest, I'm looking at a long trip myself around July time, london, down to Split in croatia, ferry to ancona in italy then around the south of france and back up. France is the area I'm really trying to come up with things to do/see, not sure I'll bother with Paris, the only thing that is immovable at this time is the Poulet de Bresse service stop near Bourg-en-Bresse, cant get it out of my mind after reading this:

Heston Blumenthal introduces Europe's best roadside cafes | Travel | The Guardian

and I do so loooooove rotisserie chicken! Its close to Saint Sabine (which I only discovered since you mentioned it, whats the Chateau called? might investigate too!), so I rather suggest you stop off there and eat one!

Unfortunately at (I'm generously estimating) 15mpg average, petrol will be rather a lot over the 3k odd miles!
 
Poulet de Bresse in a service station is by any standard brilliant. I look forward to the report!
 
Re: the French Breathalyser Law - Latest info I've heard (from a friend who lives over there) is that enforcement of the law has been delayed indefinitely. It is unclear whether the law is being repealed, or whether the intention is still that it should be enforced at some indeterminate time in the future. I would advise that you check for yourself before going, though.
 
Interesting, perhaps they've seen the Catch 22 as well :)

At the end of the day, given current attitudes to drinking and driving, you shouldn't need a breathalyser to tell you not to drive.
 
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