Hi,
Please can anyway give us some help and advice.We are off to Germany on the 17th May for 5Weeks.We sail into Ijmuiden.We have a twin axle caravan.Never done a trip abroad before and not really sure of the route to take.Will we have problems getting onto sites in the school hols which I believe there is a week during our trip.
We were thinking about The Rhein /Moselle any help at all would be much appreciated.
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Can always recommend Landal Warsberg above Saarburg in Saarland / Moselle. It does have a steep "switchback" climb up to the site so it's probably worth checking access beforehand. Nice site, great location (linked to the town of Saarburg by a cable car), relaxing, lots of nature (kestrels, deer, etc) around and lots of great walking among the vineyards. Close to the France / Germany / Luxembourg border and Trier.
Note direct link to site here as the UKCS link just goes to the Landal homepage.
One of the few places we've been to that we would return to (we generally don't do return visits).
From Ijmuiden the route you could take is via Amsterdam, Utrecht and Eindhoven (A2), then you could carry on through Holland as far as Maastricht (A2) then into Belgium (E42) and via Verviers, Malmedy, then into Germany and follow it down to Trier, which is on the Moselle and could be a starting point for staying at a couple of different sites on the Moselle. You could deviate from this route and nip into Luxembourg to fill up with cheap(er) fuel.
Or from Eindhoven you could head east to Venlo and cross the border there into Germany and make for Koblenz, which is at the other end of the Moselle to Trier and you could head down the Moselle that way. Koblenz is at the confluence of the rivers Moselle and Rhein.
Have a good look at some maps and routes you'd like to take. There are a number of possibilities, depending on where you want to go and what you want to see and do.
Hi Ina
Thank you so much for your reply,I will look at the map we were defiantly going to Trier and Luxenburg.Have you done the route that you mentioned. Please can you recommend any sites.
Do you have a problem with the language as we are not able to converse in any other language other then English & Spanish.
We are retired and have to say I little apprehensive.
Hence any help is so much appreciated.But pretty sure once away we will manage.
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I've just returned from such a trip, so here are a few thoughts..
1. The trip to Ijmuiden is fine, but food / drink prices onboard are expensive. I don't know what sort of cabin you have, but I would definitely go for a 'commodore class' cabin - or at the minimum, one with a sea view.
2. The road out of the port through the fish market is cobbled and can shake a car apart.
3. As you exit Ijmuiden, there are a couple of petrol stations. These are cheaper than the motorway ones, so a good idea to tank up.
4. Saarburg is a lovely town, with 3 camp sites. I would recommend Campingplatz Waldfrieden. Very friendly and English spoken. Easy walk to a new shopping centre with large supermarket and loads of parking.
Mosel & Rhine valleys are great, but as an alternative sightseeing, you can buy a Rhineland Pfalz rail ticket for 29 Euro. This gives unlimited rail travel for 2 people for a day within the Rhine, Mosel and Saar areas.
From Trier, you could go down the Mosel to Koblenz and then along the Rhine to Mainz - or the other way along the Saar to Saarburg, Saarlouis and Saarbrucken. Great value.
On the Rhine, I sugest Mainz. The campsite is on an island in the Rhine and an easy walk into town over a couple of bridges.
Any questions about the area, just ask and I'll try to help.
------------- Two drifters off to see the world.
I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.
Thank you so very much for getting in touch.Firstly yes we have an outside cabin.We are very lucky as only 7 miles from North Shields.
Diesel prices are they cheaper than the uk.
Did you enjoy your trip we have nothing booked at all but think we will at least get booked for the first couple of nights.Do you think we would get to Saarburg the first day haven't looked at the distance as yet.
Did you manage with the language ok.
Train tickets sound great value however we have a dog do you think we could take her on the train.
We do hope to get down to the Black Forest however that's not set in stone.
How were the roads was it easy to find your way out of the ferry port onto the motorway.
Many Thanks
Frances
Quote: Originally posted by FrancesW on 06/5/2016
Hi Ina
Thank you so much for your reply,I will look at the map we were defiantly going to Trier and Luxenburg.Have you done the route that you mentioned. Please can you recommend any sites.
Do you have a problem with the language as we are not able to converse in any other language other then English & Spanish.
We are retired and have to say I little apprehensive.
Hence any help is so much appreciated.But pretty sure once away we will manage.
You're welcome. Now I must admit that I'm a bit of a cheat really: I'm Dutch and grew up in Holland but have lived in the UK all my married life, so travelling "over there" doesn't have the apprehension for us. And needless to say language isn't a problem either However, most people in Holland and Germany speak excellent English, so don't worry on that score, it won't be a problem.
We haven't done the exact route you are planning, but have travelled into (Holland and) Germany mostly from the channel ports, Calais and Coquelles (tunnel), although sometimes also from Harwich or Europoort. Capt Lightning above this post has provided a lot of useful info, so I'd note all that down too.
I'm afraid I can't give any recommended sites on the Moselle as with a motorhome we stayed on the Stellplatze which are only for motorhome use. If you are not familiar with the ACSI scheme, have a look at it here:http://www.campingcard.co.uk/germany/ It could save you a bit of money, it's an off-peak discount scheme and you'll recoup the initial outlay very quickly, as it's around £14 for the book + card.
Edited to say that you can use the card all over Europe, not just Germany, the link I provided takes you to Germany as that's where you want to go.
------------- Ina
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Frances, you are lucky to be so close to the ferry. We had to drive down from Aberdeenshire.
The trip was very comfortable, but it amused me to hear 'Anchor's aweigh' on the ship's PA aw we sailed!
Getting from the port was no real problem, but longer than I expected. Just follow the lorries!!
1. Diesel is a lot cheaper, but varies from place to place. In Ijmuiden it was about 1.03 Euro - about 78p / ltr. Cheapest place was Luxembourg at 0.875 Euro about 65p / ltr. (Shell)
2. Distance to Saarburg is about 270 miles.
3. An alternative campsite in Saarburg is Camping & Wohnmobilpark Leukbachtal. It is near Waldfrieden (my favourite) and just a short walk from the shopping centre and town.
4. Language is no real problem, though I know enough German to get by.
5. Great bar & restaurnt in Saarburg is 'Altstadteck' (the old town corner).
6. Train ticket. A dog is considered as a passenger.
The ticket costs 24 euro + 5 euro/passenger so 2 people + dog = 39 euro. Trains are generally 2 per hour.
Most German states offer similar tickets.
Hope that helps.
------------- Two drifters off to see the world.
I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.
Hi, We're also planning a trip to Germany in October and would like to know if the Stellplatz book is as easy to follow as the French Aires book. We will probably sail from Dover and would like to pick up the Rhine/Moselle and Black Forest on our way to Switzerland/Austria in November before wintering in Spain/Portugal till June. Does anyone know how the mountain passes might be at this time of year ? Thanks.
------------- All that we are is right here right now.
Hi
Do you know if campsite Waldfreiden will take a twin axle van.We recieved our ACIS book yesterday looking at the facilities O is the symbol for twin axle van that's not displayed.
Last week someone posted that most will take twin axle vans.Even if symbol not displayed.What do you think having visited.Think this is the area we are going to head for.Is this caravan site easy to find.
Regards Frances
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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: Trip to Germany
However, most people in Holland and Germany speak excellent English, so don't worry on that score, it won't be a problem.
