a copy of the Accor brochure
I did think that such a thing would be a godsend, but looking through their website could see no indication that they exist. Is this a definite thing? Any tips on how to get hold of one?
I did think of the laptop angle, but would probably be very panciky about it getting stolen.
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The one we have we picked up at the Accor in Aachen last year
(an awful day - roadworks on the Fern pass, massive detour round Kempten in S Germany, horrendous thunderstorms, some sort of conference on in Aachen - we got one of the last few rooms so I vowed never to go without one if we go over again)
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"a copy of the Accor brochure "
Pop into any Accor hotel when you first get there and pick one up - come to think of it I might have a spare one - will check this evening and let you know
How about going to a British IBIS hotel and getting one?
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or (and this is on the web site, but it took some finding)
ring any reservation centre for a full brochure of 4000 hotels in 90 countries
United Kingdom 0870 609 0961
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or (and this is on the web site, but it took some finding) ring any reservation centre for a full brochure of 4000 hotels in 90 countries United Kingdom 0870 609 0961
Absolutely brilliant. Thank-you very much.
When we drove around SW USA last year we had a similar thing for Motel 6's, and found it incredibly useful. Even if we didn't end up using one of their hotels, it meant that we were never spending the day worrying about where we'd be stopping, we could relax and enjoy, knowing we had options.
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it's a pleasure to be of help - 'pass it forward' ?
I notice you mentioned the camping option - it is 10+ yrs since I did that, and my experiences were very mixed - I can remember two good campsites, but I can remember more that were noisy, overpriced and crowded, including one where people left the site to the sound of gunshots in the middle of the night......
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people left the site to the sound of gunshots in the middle of the night......
That would be Bastogne, about 1944? You have aged well BoraS.
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A few thoughts - sorry if covered above already.
Dover has a castle and a museum, both of which are OK but not what I really want when I'm going away...all due respects to Dover, it's a bit run down in places...
Speedferries at the moment have just one boat (while writing this I recveived an email saying they are increasing their tonnage for the summer). So if you miss it, it's a bit of a wait until it's been there and back again. And they are predicting being fairly full over the next few months, which doesn't surprise me given their pricing and BOGOF offers, so you may not easliy be slotted onto the next one anyway.... I am off to Spa this weekend and would have used them, but they are not running (maintenance I think)
I personally dislike the Tunnel, based on 1 bad experience where I checked in on time but was "bounced" by late arrivals for earlier trains. Not impressed. But then - I also enjoy being on the sea...
Speedferries check in time is really fast, and they only ask you to be there about 30 mins before. Boat is a bit basic but the crossing is dead quick.
Check before departure if there are problems with the ferries, and especially freight, as when the ferries go offline for a while the police use the M20 as a car park for lorries and it would be closed. Might not be your route anyway...
Your first leg is easiest on the M'way, right under Calais, past Dunkerque, Ostend, Brugges, through Ghent to Antwerp. Goodf acclimatisation period...but if you check the map there is also an N road from Boulogne which takes you via St Omer to join m'way at Ghent. I used this recently and, despite the snow, it was pretty quick, mostly.
It would be hard to do but make sure you don't miss the cathedral in Cologne.
Nurburgring - if you are going to go, make sure it is open! I haven't yet done it (but I will next week all being well!), but it isn't always all open. Check the official website for opening times tinyurl.com/6d74y
I've been warned to keep out of the way of people "going for it" round the Ring as not everyone's driving ability matches their confidence. You could have used the Ring taxi, possibly piloted by Sabine (of TV fame) but this is booked some months ahead.
Wouldn't bother with the tent - Etap would be my minimum std accorhotel mentioned above (Formula 1 don't have en suite), but they tend to be out of town (driving distance), and very handy (and easy to find) for major routes. I don't usually book their breakfasts, preferring to find something "local".
The Munich beer place mentioned above is well worth a visit.
For peace of mind get a Green Card (not compulsory though). Also check the legal requirements for equipment for each country, and breakdown insurance is also an option.
Most of all, enjoy the drive - I adore driving on the continetnt...
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I've driven the original Nurburgring (More accurate name Nordschleif, or "North Loop") on two separate occasions (holidays), and throughly recommend it.
Once in a MKII Golf GTi and the other, of all things, in the roly poly Sierra DOHC 2.0 GL that was my father's company car at the time. (Thanks, BT!) Even in these relatively mundane cars, and at the time with me having Class One kart raced for something like eight years, the fun, and concentration to drive quickly, were immense.
Controlling the car somewhere just on the sensible side of the limit was the easy part. Doing so whilst trying to establish which way the track went after the next blind hump, with a rash of Porkers and Brabus Mercs crawling all over your bum(per!), a superbike or two in your blind spot, a 30MPH Eurolines coach (yes, really) hoving in to view right in the middle of the track, and a thought somewhere at the back of your mind that you're a long way from home if it all goes Pete Tong, was not so easy. The big brown pants moment though was almost complete brake fade three quarters of the way round my final lap in the Sierra. The pedal went straight to the floor, having worked perfectly for the corner before, and use of gears, some sideways drift, the full width of the track, plus rumble strips and a short stretch of grass, was my only salvation...
Time to stop, but after several sessions of five laps each, I was bushed anyway.
Would I do it again?
Stoopid question!
Where are the keys?
If the track's open to the public on the day(s) you're there, don't miss the opportunity. The museum is good, too.
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Apparently the costs if you get it wrong on the Nordschleif are horrendous. Every piece of damage has to be paid for in full, at "not cheap" rates and IIRC it has to be closed while they mop you up, so you also pay for loss of revenue too.
Won't stop me though :-)
The taxi option is hereabouts tinyurl.com/4dm5j (I'm sure there was an English button the other day...). It's been featured many times on TV (Clarkson & others). It's probably the one to be on, but they are already booking for July...
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Your first leg is easiest on the M'way, right under Calais, past Dunkerque, Ostend, Brugges, through Ghent to Antwerp. Goodf acclimatisation period...but if you check the map there is also an N road from Boulogne which takes you via St Omer to join m'way at Ghent. I used this recently and, despite the snow, it was pretty quick, mostly.
Actually, we have our eye on a first stop hotel which is just outside St Omer, so that second route may be the one we use.
It would be hard to do but make sure you don't miss the cathedral in Cologne.
SWMBO has planned this part of the trip, but I believe that's one of the reasons why Cologne.
Nurburgring - if you are going to go, make sure it is open! I haven't yet done it (but I will next week all being well!), but it isn't always all open. Check the official website for opening times tinyurl.com/6d74y I've been warned to keep out of the way of people "going for it" round the Ring as not everyone's driving ability matches their confidence. You could have used the Ring taxi, possibly piloted by Sabine (of TV fame) but this is booked some months ahead.
Hmm... Feeling less confident about the 'Ring myself now... We'll see.
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people left the site to the sound of gunshots in the middle of the night...... That would be Bastogne, about 1944? You have aged well BoraS.
Titisee, 1990 (if it gets through the swear filter)
Though the campsite boss, shaven headed with a junkers moustache, wouldn't have looked out of place in a 1914 Cavalry regiment
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it's a pleasure to be of help - 'pass it forward' ? I notice you mentioned the camping option ...
To be honest, now I know we'll have this brochure to hand, I think we can knock the camping idea right on the head.
I have also just arranged European motor insurance (£31.50) and European breakdown cover (£107.10 but that includes a years Uk breakdown cover too) through my insurer Privilege.
It's all starting to come together nicely :)
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And remember your E111.
Which is being phased out by the end of the the year and being replaced by the EHIC - European Health Inmsurance Card
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And beware last years E111 is no longer valid for some unknown reason. You have to get another one for this year, and there is a box to tick if you are not moving house in the next 12 months, and then they'll send you automatically a new EHIC card
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" You have to get another one for this year" whoch you can print from tinyurl.com/3xlyz but it still needs to go to a Post Office to be stamped.
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Two little things Bazzabear. The German autobahns are unlit, which can be a little disarming - I find dimming the interior lights on the speedo etc. at night makes a massive difference as it helps the eyes to adjust, if you have a dimmer switch. Secondly be careful if you hit roadworks on the German network. The lane closest to the central reservation will be narrow - normally 2meters - which is not very much in a van, as I nearly found to my cost a couple of years ago. Plus, learn a bit of German if you don´t have any already. Locals love it.
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If you've not already actually made the booking with Speedferries, hurry up! I had an email from them yesterday saying that they were very nearly fully booked for the whole of July and August. If you're not a good sailor, it's worth pointing out that you really shouldn't attempt Speedferries if the sea is anything other than flat. It gets very bumpy, and lots of people start throwing up. I've had 2 bad experiences with them, but support the idea of them, and will probably give them one last chance (especially given that I have a free crossing!)
The L'Escalle hotel at the village of Escalles just up the coast is comfortable, cheap and has a good restaurant.
Keep your eyes in your rear view mirror on the autobahn for people doing 700mph and hoping you'll move over in time. I think the most "exciting" moment I had was doing about 130 and having a Porsche go past me like I was standing still.
O
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Jaguar XJS V12 - comes with free personalised oil tanker.
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Aforementioned e-mail...
Dear frequent traveller,
SpeedFerries wants to inform its customers that although capacity has recently been increased on all summer departures a large number of sailings are now close to being sold out.
Today we can predict that Dover-Boulogne will be completely sold out during August, and chances are, that also July will be ending with a 100 percent capacity usage. The same will be the case for weekends and bank holidays during all months.
SpeedFerries apologize for this inconvenience; we are in the process of acquiring additional tonnage.
However, if you are planning on travelling with SpeedFerries this year please book your ticket as soon as possible to ensure availability.
Also, there are still a few days left with the 2 for 1 offer, which makes it even more ideal to reserve now. All special offers will end this month.
Sincerely yours,
Curt Stavis
Chief Executive Officer
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"it's worth pointing out that you really shouldn't attempt Speedferries if the sea is anything other than flat. It gets very bumpy, and lots of people start throwing up."
Doh! I have done more than my fair share on high speed cats, including the days when they were so small they only took about 30 cars! I would far sooner ride the rough weather in a high speed cat (where its rough, bumpy and judders a lot- basically it bounces from wave crest to wave crest) than in a big slow old ferry where it rolls eeeevvvvverr soooooooo sloooowly with that looooooooong stomach churn at the top of the loop. and the big stomach sink at the bottom.
I remember one trip where I had three pints of lager on the go at once. One in the middle of the bar, one on the left and one on the right. Either I moved to one, or they slid to meet me. Either way there was always one nearby.
Funny - the bar was quite empty that trip.
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Deutsches museum is well worth a visit if you like things technical, very good working displays.
Incredibly varied range of exhibits, I spent 10 hours there and didn't cover the ground floor.
Worth coming off the motorway and detouring south of Munich towards Bad Tolz and Tegernsee, picture postcard scenery and an absolute delight to drive - you can then get into Austria via the Achenpass which leads you to the Salzburg/Innsbruck motorway.
IIRC, you need a motorway pass in Austria.
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Thanks for the E111 link guys, filling it out as we speak, just need to renew my travel insurance for this year now.
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IIRC, you need a motorway pass in Austria.
Correct. Several durations available.
Can be purchased at petrol stations, including in Germany leading up to the border with Austria.
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If you've not already actually made the booking with Speedferries, hurry up!
Message received and understood. I am now booking it. Cheers for the heads up.
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