Two Week Trip To Europe - Where to go and everything else!

StevenF · World Chat Champion Joined: 25 Apr 2008 Karma :

Hello,

I've got an idea which will hopefully become a reality if everything goes well. I would like to tour Europe with my Girlfriend for 2 weeks in April. I briefly discussed it with my Mum and she said she and my step-dad would probably like to come as well. We could always split up and meet back up.

I want to start planning this just now, hoping that we can go ahead with it! Just want to find out how much money I'm going to be needing (each) and suggested places to visit in the 2 weeks.

I know two weeks isn't a lot of time and to add to it we wouldn't like to be going place to place to place, without seeing much of it.

Thanks,
Steven
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My Project - Honda CBR 600 F2/FM

c-m · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 May 2006 Karma :

2 weeks will give you 16/17 days including weekends. You can certainly enjoy a good tour in that time.

I would say skip the most common destinations i.e France, Italy. You've probably seen them before on school trips or package holidays, and they're expensive. They don't really change will be perfect when you're more pressed for time or have more cash to spend or an idea of where you want to go.

Take yourself slightly out of your comfort zone and make a beeline for Eastern Europe.

As to where exactly, that all depends on funds and what you want. Do you just want to be in cities or at some point do you want to visit a beach, swim in the sea or a lake?

How experienced are you and your dad? How long has your girl been pillion?

StevenF · World Chat Champion Joined: 25 Apr 2008 Karma :

kitty kat · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Jun 2007 Karma :

There are loads of write-ups on Europe, but if you want to go to Italy, what about the lakes - Garda is lovely, great road running all the way round it and some lovely little outdoor cafes. I believe lake Como is also worth a visit although never went there myself last year (excuse for another trip:) ). The pass from Italy to France is a great road with loads of hairpins and it takes you through lots of ski resorts (most of them will be empty though as they are only in use in the ski season).
Black Forest in Germany has some good roads and if you want cities then Cologne is lovely, you can sit on the pathway next to Rhine and watch the world go by, very relaxing.
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StevenF · World Chat Champion Joined: 25 Apr 2008 Karma :

dodger · Traffic Copper Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Karma :

kitty kat · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Jun 2007 Karma :

Steve & I got the ferry at 2.30am on the Saturday morning, arrived back in Calais about 2.30 Sunday afternoon 2 weeks later and went to Brussels, down through Black Forest, into Austria, Slovenia (2 nights), Lake Garda (2 nights), France, Luxembourg, Mons, Belgium (2 nights), did almost 3500 miles and never really felt too pushed.
We had 3 nights in a hotel, the rest camping, cost us about ?800 each for the holiday including fuel and an expensive hotel at Lake Bled, Slovenia (it was a birthday present for Steve).
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Enjoy everyday, tell those you love everyday you love them
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StevenF · World Chat Champion Joined: 25 Apr 2008 Karma :

StevenF · World Chat Champion Joined: 25 Apr 2008 Karma :

StevenF · World Chat Champion Joined: 25 Apr 2008 Karma :

I've never done anything like this before and would like to know what equipment and gear I would need to take with me, I'm guessing:

Panniers - can anyone recommend something cheap?
Tent - Mats and Sleeping bags
Cooking Stove
Cloths
Passport and Driving Licence
Money
Map and or SatNav

Anything else?

I have a tent but would probably get a new one - something easier and quicker to put up. Main thing is something to store all this, would need a set of panniers to hold the gear but have no idea what to look at, looking to spend as little as possible really.
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My Project - Honda CBR 600 F2/FM

tatters · Exxon Valdez Joined: 04 Jan 2004 Karma :

France/Germany and most of Eastern Europe are very boring places to tour.

Head for Italy or Spain, great weather/roads and people. Thumbs Up

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TheDonUK · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Feb 2006 Karma :

ms51ves3 · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Jun 2007 Karma :

Phoenix · Twisted Firestarter Joined: 01 Aug 2002 Karma :

kitty kat · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Jun 2007 Karma :

you will need registration document for vehicle and depending on what countries you are going to you will need first aid kit, hi vis jacket, spare bulbs.
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Enjoy everyday, tell those you love everyday you love them
Life is too short to fall out with people

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

For riding, I found Swiss alpine roads to be excellent ? and the St Bernard pass doubly so.
The cheese is pretty good too!
At Bern I set the sat nav to ?Martigny? via the shortest rather than the quickest route.
I was a bit disapointed by Italian costal roads, but nice views.
I can second Barcelona ? a bit of everything for everyone.

I went further down Spain, ending up at Granada ? has plenty of historic stuff in the town centre, seemed to be decent night life at night and the (the original) Sierra Nevada mountains next door which have some pretty good roads and great views.

c-m · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 May 2006 Karma :

Ste · Not Work Safe Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :

c-m · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 May 2006 Karma :

dodger · Traffic Copper Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Karma :

Regarding clothes, everyone takes too many...

For my next tour, I'm taking 3 t-shirts for riding [wearing one, one dirty and one clean], it's more than enough [same for underwear also!].

Maybe 1 or 2 smarter tops for night time [especially if visiting cities] and a pair of trousers that can be worn at night and of a day when exploring. Last time I took a pair of outdoor hiking style trousers, brilliant of a day and smart enough to be worn at night around Europe. And of course a pair of smartish trainers, again both for day and night wear.

It doesn't sound like a lot, but any more really isn't necessary... Very Happy

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My Bikes: Piaggio NRG| Aprilia RS 125| Suzuki GSX-R 600|Yamaha Fazer Ducati 848
Europe 2008

StevenF · World Chat Champion Joined: 25 Apr 2008 Karma :

Peirre oBollox · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 04 Aug 2004 Karma :

RidersRest · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 15 Oct 2008 Karma :

Shame you have postponed the trip to Europe, but it sounds like a wise move to do a tryout in Scotland forst - test your waterproof lit Wink

I see you were asking for tips and what to take with you on an Eu tour take a look at this link https://ridersrest.eu/tips.aspx I have listed from experiencem my own and those of our guests, if you are ocnsidering planning a couple of weeks trip take a look at www.whereistonynow.co.uk I have travelogued most of my trips since 2004 on here, will give you some ideas Wink

whereever you go it will only be the start once you have been over to Europe you will be back again and again Wink

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RidersRest Bikers only B&B in the beautiful Central Massif - France
Touring France not sure where to go? Central Massif on a motorcycle...