We are planning a trip our VW California camper to Greece & back between April - June 2011. We have no set route just a rough outline that we have created on google maps.
Information on your favorite campsites, roads & sights vaguely along our route would be very gratefully received. To give some background we are experienced visitors to France & Switzerland but that's it.
Link to map here:
Perhaps have a look at www.magbaztravels.com for an interesting blog from a couple of full-timers who have done all the European destinations you could think of - plus a few more. Lots of practical advice and tips. And also for links to other websites which might be relevant to your trip.
Nurnberg has a really lovely campsite about 5km outside, we have only stayed there in winter for the xmas markets, but would imagine it to be lovely at the time you are going. Website HERE, only in German, but you'll get the drift. You can walk to the U-bahn to the town, it is a very interesting town.
Further on, we have also stayed in Prague, about 9 years ago now, so not recent. Site details HERE. We loved Prague, went in by bus and metro. Also took the train one day to Kutna Hora, and the Ossuary, that is one hell of an experience, bizarre but interesting! Details HERE.
then we have also been to Vienna twice in the motorhome, we stayed outside of Vienna, Donaupark Tulln, which at that time took Camping Cheques, you'd have to check if they still do. That was nice, with the site organising a bus into Vienna several days a week.
Also in Vienna, we stayed closer to the town on Camping Wien Sud, a good site with excellent transport into the town centre. Whilst there one day we took the train to Bratislava, Slovakia, not that far from Vienna. That was a really interesting day too, and Bratislava very interesting.
That's my pennorth for now, if I can think of anywhere else, I'll post it on here.
I'm very interested in your trip too, Greece is somewhere we've said we'd like to go in the motorhome one day.
I'm afraid can't be of help with camping - have never done Greece in that way - but well worth the journey and the holiday.
I'm not quite sure what your route is because thamp changes when I zoom in and out! The Italy part is fine. However, you seem to be missing out the most interesting parts of Greece: doing a circular tour of the Pelopennese will take in most of the great classical sites (as well as some stupendous beaches) and bring you back to Athens. We like northern Greece and would sugest that going north (to Salonika) then back across Europe via Makedonia would be worth considering ....
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
If you have time when you get around Preveza, a couple of days round Lefkada would be worthwhile. Very mountainous so hope the motor is up to it. Heading the other way clockwise round the coast, Paleros is a gem of a small village, Greek style of course, totally un picturesque but runs at one pace below stop.Bags of night life, in miniature, right on the beach. Spiros and Costas run the best fish resto around called "the trawler", but in Greek of course.
Interesting point, when all the road signs are in the Greek alphabet, it is bloomin difficult to know where you are looking for. We used to draw the names off the map, and then look for the pictures on the road signs. Only applies off the beaten track, but it would be a pity not to stray a bit if you have travelled that far. If you are not too bothered about big roads, I would be tempted to go round the coast through Astakos to Mesolongi. Quiet road, and running alongside the Ionian all the way.
Thanks everyone for your excellent information. Hope you don't mind I've added your suggestions & comments to my google map. Let me know if this is a problem & I will remove or amended. A friend of mine has just past me a load of information he's found from magazines etc so I'll add this. I'm going to track the whole trip with a i-gotu device which will allow me to upload my entire trip along with geo tagged photo's & information when I can get near a wifi connection.
We took the overland route to Greece with our caravan in 2008, though the only point where your proposed route and ours cross is Prague, where we stayed at a very good campsite (http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revid=9332) If you take the ferry to Igoumenitsa and follow the E90, Ioannina is worth a visit, as is Metsovo, but once you've crossed the Pindos mountains I'd recommend taking the E92 to Kalambaka, to see the amazing Meteora region (monasteries perched on top of rocky pinnacles.) We didn't actually camp there as we had left our caravan in a campsite at Sounion and drove to Meteora for a few days, but there are plenty of campsites in the area. From Kalambaka continue south to Trikala and east to Larissa, to pick up your original route to Volos and Pelion. That's a lovely area - a trip on the little Pelion Railway up to Milies is a must. We stayed at Kato Gatzea (http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revid=9375). For more info see our blog at www.travelpod.com/members/oldagetraveller.
As Minicamper2001 says, www.magbaztravels.com is a mine of information. We had the pleasure of meeting Margaret and Barry on a campsite in Bulgaria and they have just about been everywhere! I agree with Paul M that it would be a shame to miss Athens, but there's only so much you can see in a limited time. Kalo taxidi!
------------- Il vaut mieux vivre ses reves que rever sa vie
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Greece & back
