1 week in Europe - advice needed....

[GSXReater]

Ok so this is the first trip outside the UK im planning.

The mission: 1 week riding in Europe seeking good twisty roads.

Where in europe to go: Dont know, help me as im clueless

Where to stay: Dont know but do you book hotels/motels/campsites in advance or go to them along the journey?

Insurance: My insurance doesnt have european cover but is it necessary, what do you get with european cover?

Im looking through the links in the faqs but I really dont have a clue as ive never done such a trip so any help would be really greatful.

Thanks.

[mark83]

[Toukakoukan]

I wouldn't bother with a tent myself.
So long as you stop each night in relatively touristy places you'll probably be able to find a hostel to stay in and unless you're camping rough each night (which is a pain in the arse) the cost of the campsites isn't going to be much less than the cost of staying in hostels.

Plus taking a tent on a bike just adds weight and bulk you don't want :p
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[Itchy]

Alps most definately.

Hotel enroute , ask for Pensions or Auberges they are cheap hotels there is also the Hotel Formule 1 €35 a night.

I would still bring a small tent a single hoop one , and something like a vango voyager sleeping bag, as hotels can fill up quick , the disadvantage of booking ahead is that it ties you to a particular route.

This isn't so bad with camp sites as there are tons of them, have a read of previous tours for some ideas ,

A good route would be to follow would be to motorway it down as far as Boug en bresse if you want to do the N74 (I wasn't that impressed with it but then it was raining)

Boug en bresse to Chambery , Chambery to Gap.

Gap to Castellane

So good roads around here are:

N85 Castellane to Grasse/ Dinge (it gets not so good after this)

N202 (fantastic)

And a lap around Mercantour and Encrins , all of that sector is excellent mountainous twisty roads.

Motorway all the way back out to Calais.


The northern bit is uninteresting and you should spend a few quid on tolls on the motorway to get out of there soon as.
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[GSXReater]

What about bike security? Should we be worried in our travels about our bikes being pinched?

[instigator]

[c-m]

Take a tent. A room might be €35 per night, where as campsite will be closer to €8 per night.

Don't bother booking way in advance, you can book from town to town though as did with some busy hostels. With campsites i didn't bother.

I would head through southern Germany and Austria and ride along through the Austrian alps, then back to the uk via france.

[Toukakoukan]

[Phoenix]

Generally speak rooms will cost you at least 2-3x as much as camping unless there's two of you, then a shared room can work out only a couple of Euros more than a campsite.

I'd say the opposite of what Touka said and stay away from the main touristy areas with hotels, especially large towns or cities, it's the small towns or villages with tourist information centres that are best. Just get where you want to be before they close and they'll find you the cheapest hotel locally, was cheaper than those Formula1 or Premier classe places.

Security I took an Oxford Monster chain goes under my seat though so it's no real inconvenience, last thing you want is your bike getting stolen, usually with all your kit attached to it.

As for destination in one week, head for the Alps or the Pyrenees, if you don't make it to the mountians you've missed out.

[Toukakoukan]

[Phoenix]

I'll admit sometimes after a long day the last thing you want to do is have to pitch up and not sleep in a proper bed, but when the weathers good and you're not too worse for wear it's usually the cheapest option and not too bad.

I understand you're talking hostels but not sure the OP is into them, I know that personally i'd rather not stop in a hostel unless it was seperate rooms which most afaik aren't i've only stayed in one that was, also a lot harder to find than hotels/motels if you're just making your route up as you go and stopping wherever you get tired often way past opening hours for tourist info etc.

[Blunet600]

You going on your own or with friends?
If your going on your own, me and R1-Nut are thinking about going south of france/spain in september/october time. Your welcome to join, i dont know how long we will be though whether its 1 week or 2, maybe more i dont know. Just thought it is better to go with company than on your own.

[r1-nut]

i will second that your more than welcome bud

As for length of time im happy to sort somthing out that works for us all

Jim..

[GSXReater]

NSRDude & R1-Nut that is really kind of you. Ive asked a couple of friends to join me and if they dont I may go by myself. If i loose my bottle then I may well take you up on your offer if thats ok with you.

[Itchy]

[Blunet600]

yeh if you want to tag along with us that will be fine. No problem what so ever.
I think as long as the people your going with respect each other and their wishes, things will be fine. If you want to stop then you all stop. No need to rush. It will be my first trip like this so would rather go with people than on my own.....(coward i know....)

[RidersRest]

If you want some good roads check out www.motomassif.info
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