Looking for ideas for a 4 week touring trip in School Summer Holidays
Last year, did our first touring trip to Biarritz, then the Pyrenees and back home via the Loir Valley but with hindsight, was too much driving.
Having said that, we did enjoy ourselves that much we've decided to take our honeymoon in our van for approx. 4 weeks. Originally we thought about making our way to Croatia, but thought we'd see what members thoughts were on such a trip.
Are we making the same mistake as last year with the amount of driving in that time period?
Would we better off touring France, Germany and Northern Italy, taking in the Alps in the 4 weeks?
Not really bothered about beaches, particularly in school holidays.
Thoughts please
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It's difficult to advise, as you say yourself that last year's trip involved too much driving and yet it will involve much more driving to Croatia. Calais to Biarritz is just 667 miles, Calais to Rovinj in Croatia is 975! Half as many again!
I'd pick out other beautiful areas in France and stick to those if I were you, doing less driving between, and more 'honeymooning'! What about the Dordogne, the Gorges du Tarn, Provence, and home again? Or Alsace, Jura, Alps, and home again? Much less mileage, still loads to see and do, plenty of beautiful towns and villages and more time to see and enjoy them.
Even in the school holidays you can just go with the flow. If you stay on smaller sites, out of the tourist hot spots, you can stay as long or as little as you like. You may find (like we sometimes do) that your stay in one perfect area starts as a few days, and increases to two weeks! Or you may find that after a couple of days you've had enough and want to move on. Sometimes a move just a few miles, rather than a few countries, can be enough and take you to a whole different area.
Like Val, I would suggest just France, anywhere else is too much in four weeks. We went to the Tarn area last year, ended up staying at one site for 16 nights (Les Rivages, Millau), which must be a record for us. It really is amazing around there.
I know everyone has different tastes and needs, but we've had three-week holidays when we did a lot of travelling and enjoyed it. For example, France and Northern Spain - overnight Newhaven-Dieppe ferry, a long drive to St Emilion, stayed 2 nights, then 2 nights in the Pyrenees near the Spanish border, 4 nights at Pamplona, 2 nights at Castrojeriz, 5 nights at Ruiloba on coast, 4 nights at Itziar not far from Bilbao, back to St Emilion for 2 nights then back to Dieppe for ferry.
We've also had 3 weeks going via Luxembourg, Germany, Austria to the Italian lakes, then Chioggia south of Venice, then a week in Umbria, then back via Piedmont, over the Mont Cenis pass to St Genix, then Guignicourt and back to the Tunnel.
We're both pensioners and I don't drive, but OH was fine and we had a great time. Like you, we're not too bothered about lying on beaches but love visiting interesting old towns, art, architecture and scenery.
------------- 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!
Makes me exhausted even contemplating it! I don't drive either, OH doesn't like driving more than about 120 miles between sites. He moaned about Millau being too far.
I think it depends on what you want to do - on honeymoon(!). We like to explore an area from the campsite, finding all the gems in the area, but having time to just 'rest and relax' either on or off site, as well. Sometimes we go for a walk, and might just sit on a hillside somewhere for three or four hours, sometimes we just chill out on site with a good book, watching the birds and the butterflies, and sometimes we drive on to find a new area and start somewhere new.
Our first caravan holiday was a three week tour - Burgundy, the Gard, Carcassonne and the Dordogne, and we've done similar tours more recently, but these days we tend to spend more time on less sites.
Switzerland? Nice and easy to get to, fantastic scenery and walking. Not cheap though but our best holiday was at Brienz near Interlaken and would make a great honeymoon, if you like peace quiet clean air and fantastic scenery it could be the one for you.
------------- Hugh and Penny
2014 30+ nights.
2015
Jan 3 nights Chatsworth
Feb 2 nights Bridlington
March 3 nights Greatham Retreat CL
April 4 nights Crofton Hall CL
May/June Germany 15 nights
Thanks for the replies and it's certainly given us food for thought.
I did think there was probably enough to see in 4 weeks in Central Europe. Quite like the idea of the alps and maybe heading over to Austria and Switzerland
Austria is a wonderful Country and my favourite. You could travel through Belgium and Germany to the Tyrol easily in 3/4 days giving you 3 weeks to enjoy the most beautiful scenery and visiting some wonderful places if you would like details of them as have visited Southern Bavaria and the Tyrol many many times. These two countries are much cheaper than either France or Switzerland. No Tolls or expensive Vignettes. Just a Vignette for Austria 10 days €8.50 or 2 months for €24.80. Nothing in Germany but €33. For Car and €33 for Caravan in Switzerland.
Done Split on a two week camping hop … years ago … can't remember any problem …. stopped at Venice en route for two days.
As others say … a lot depends on who/what you are.
We did Croatia 2 yrs ago in campervan for 2 weeks was hard 3 day drive each way but well worth the drive would do it again but for more than 2 weeks next time take longer to get there and longer to get back.
Quote: Originally posted by Kelper on 24/3/2014
What about the 'Romantic Road' from south west Bavaria up ... fantatstic places to visit. Ideal 'Honeymoon' experiences! Have a look
Kelper beat me to it! And if you have a month, over the Alps to Verona and/or Venice to complete the experience?
Quote: Originally posted by morepints on 24/3/2014
Quote: Originally posted by Kelper on 24/3/2014What about the 'Romantic Road' from south west Bavaria up ... fantatstic places to visit. Ideal 'Honeymoon' experiences! Have a look
Kelper beat me to it! And if you have a month, over the Alps to Verona and/or Venice to complete the experience?
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: Honeymoon Ideas
