Europe Road Trip Help.

[Markbhai]

I have the rare opportunity of being between contracts and am considering a week or so taking my 230SL into Europe to get some serious mileage.  I would love some advice on things to do from this group, but this is my initial thinking.

Ferry fro Hull to Rotterdam then drive to Stuttgart and see the MB Museum... how long do I need in the museum? Should I see anything in between Rotterdam and Stuttgart?

Next stop is likely to be Zürich ... any advice around here?  Hotels might be expensive in Switzerland so should I stay in Southern Germany?

Next on to the South of France for a weekend via Geneva... I have loads of confidence in the car but how will it cope with crossing the alps? Should I take the long (boring motorway) route around them? I hope that my wife will join me here for a few days so am looking for a base near Monaco.

That's as far as I have got so far, so am still looking at a route back to England, possibly through France, can anyone recommend a good scenic route with some nice stop offs on the way?

Regards

Mark.

[Flyair]

at least for France, I would recommend the so called Route Napoleon on your way from geneva to La cote d'Azure. Plenty of info on internet to see why.

As for the Alps, dont worry. You Pagoda wouldn't know that she is crossing the mountains

[wjsvb ✝︎]

  Not sure if you are in to Fords (US), but the Museum Den Hartogh Ford BV in Hillegom (S of Haarlem) is without question one of the best marque collections around (Ford USA products 1903-1949).  Also, in Essen, Hotel Margarethenhohe, Steile Straße 46, 45149 Essen is a delightful stopping place.  More of an upscale B&B than a hotel, though a few km off the direct route.  Excellent bakery next door! Happy travels!  Jon

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Hi Mark,

In many a professions we say "Planning is half the job" then others like to travel without any planning at all. I belong to the first group and perhaps plan way too much

Anyway, You will find a lot of help at the Mercedes Benz Museum, also near by there is a Mercedes Factory (I went to both in 2009) and it was great. At the factory people from all over the world take delivery of there new cars and I am sure they have special routes planned and things to see along the way. Perhaps you like to check out this link here

-----> http://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowUserReviews-g187291-d243381-r151979980-Mercedes_Benz_Museum-Stuttgart_Baden_Wurttemberg.html

In 2009 I also went to the BMW Museum and "Die Welt" where you will find every BMW model on the market today and then some. Also at "Die Welt" people take delivery of there new cars. Here I know they provide customers with special routes and things to see. I'm sure they help you out if you ask them or communicate with them.

Link to "Die Welt" ----->http://www.bmw-welt.com/en/index.html

BMW plans trips like this for customers ----> http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=647425

Exploring the Mercedes and BMW web sites you will get great ideas for your trip.

As for accommodations, I find hotels not too my liking I prefer B&B's also the car is always in a safe place to park.

So I use this ---> https://www.airbnb.ca/s/Stuttgart?source=hdr&checkin=15-05-2014&checkout=23-05-2014

Also I google for places I like to spend some time in "Best 10 things to do in Stuttgart" for example ... the internet is a great source of info whatever did we do before 

Best of luck to you and have a safe trip

[49er]

If you will be anywhere near the Mosel river in northern Germany, I would recommend a visit to member Peter H's Hotel Neumuehle in Einkirch. Peter has two 280SL's and yours would be right at home there. BTW, I believe there is a special parking place for Mercedes "Old Timers" at their museum. We will be visiting the museum this summer but sadly, our Pagoda will not be with us.

John

[Markbhai]

This is all very helpful stuff, and it seems that Germany has lots to offer, so what's to see in the journey back home through France?

M.

[jameshoward]

We visited this place as a group a few years ago on the 2010 European Tour:

http://citedelautomobile.com/en/home

It was outstanding.

[Neil Thompson]

If this is the Schlumpf Museum James refers too I'd say its a must, if your wife is a petrol head, we stopped at Classic Remise at Dusseldorf on the way from Willengen last year and was enjoyable

Sounds like your planning a great trip, if I was you I'd travel up through France to Belgium and take the zeebrugge Hull ferry home to enjoy more time abroad and avoid uk traffic jams from Dover to Yorkshire

Neil

[jameshoward]

If this is the Schlumpf Museum James refers too I'd say its a must, if your wife is a petrol head, we stopped at Classic Remise at Dusseldorf on the way from Willengen last year and was enjoyable

Sounds like your planning a great trip, if I was you I'd travel up through France to Belgium and take the zeebrugge Hull ferry home to enjoy more time abroad and avoid uk traffic jams from Dover to Yorkshire

Neil

The very same.

[GGR]

As you will be in the area, don't miss Annecy and the lakes around. Don't miss the Alps either, the Pagoda won't have any problem. As Flyair said, the route Napoleon is very Nice. I wouldn't hesitate go higher in altitude on smaller roads, sceneries are incredible. You can cross from Switzerland to Chamonix. If you also have the occasion to go through the Grand St Bernard and Petit St Bernard passes, do not hesitate! I went thorough all this in vintage cars and never had a problem.

Further down South the "arriere pays nicois" is also very nice.

Happy Motoring!

[Markbhai]

We visited this place as a group a few years ago on the 2010 European Tour:

http://citedelautomobile.com/en/home

It was outstanding.

This looks brilliant, and will definitely be on my agenda for the return journey.  I have been given strict instructions by my wife (who is not coming with me) to go to the Daniel Dampf vineyard which is not too far from here so its perfect.

I have decided to use this trip as an excuse to raise money for breast cancer as a cousin has just been diagnosed and I feel helpless to offer her support as she lives in Australia.  I can't say that the trip will be a great sacrifice but if I can raise a few quid then its a win-win.

Mark.

[Raymond]

If you come in to Stuttgart from the North, consider going to the Nurburgring.  There are two companies there who will rent you a race car with an instructor.  I hired RSR.  It was on my bucket list and I will always be happy to have tackled the toughest race track in the world.  Driving South along the Mosel Valley is fabulous, and a stop at Beilstein is in order.  You really should make it two weeks.  One going Southeast and one returning.  Get a good Sat-Nav and take the B-roads!  The drive from Stuttgart through the Black Forest and ending at Mulhouse, FR to see the Schlumpf collection is a good day. 

[Flyair]

and dont miss the hotel Carlton in Monaco Monte Carlo for a photo session

[Markbhai]

First of all, thanks for everyone's help and advice on this trip.  I can't say that I have taken it all, but I can say that I am very excited about the proposed route and itinery.

If anyone is interested I have created a blog which can be found on markbhai.blogspot.co.uk which I will keep updated once the trip starts.

Since doing this, I have learned that one of my cousins has been diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of only 42.  I have therefore decided to turn this trip into a charity event and see if I can raise money for Breast Cancer UK.

The overall trip will be c 3,000 km, so it feels like a challenge as well as good fun.

Here is the proposed route:

12/05 pm - Bradford to Hull - board Ferry to Rotterdam
13/05 am - Rotterdam to Nurburgring (or possibly Cologne)
13/05 pm - Nurburgring to Stuttgart
14/05 am - Mercedes Benz Classic Car Museum Stuttgart
14/05 pm - Stuttgart to Lugano (Switzerland)
15/05 am - Lugano to Brescia
15/05 pm - Watch the commencement of the 2014 Mille Miglia
16/05 am - Brescia to Savona
16/05 pm - Savona to Nice

17/05 - 19/05 am - Relaxation in Monaco

19/05 pm - Nice to Gap (Route Napoleon)
20/05 am - Gap to Geneva (Route Napoleon)
20/05 pm - Geneva to Chablis wine region
21/05 am - Visit Vinyard
21/05 pm - Chablis to Zeebrugge - board ferry to Hull
22/05 am - Hull to Bradford

I hope that you all enjoy the updates I provide during May.  If you do, please feel free to sponsor me.

Regards

Mark.

markbhai.blogspot.co.uk
www.virginmoneygiving.co.uk/markroebuck

[GGR]

With no much detour you could pass by La Spezia and enjoy the Cinque Terre.

[Jke11y]

I am doing a very similar trip about a week after you in my newly acquired pagoda. London down to St. Paul de Vence then back a couple of weeks later.

[dwahi]

Good Luck! Looks like an amazing trip!

[Flyair]

Gentlemen,
needless to say that we are expecting detailed reports with photos and video links from both trips

[Markbhai]

Stan.

You shall get them from me, in fact the blog has already started at http://markbhai.blogspot.co.uk

Photos to be added as the trip commences.

Mark.

[Flyair]

Mark,

Very impressive route. The map looks like a dream for any decent Pagoda driver. Good luck and keep the blog updated for us - the followers of your trip

[Moss Andrews]

When you're near Den Haag don't miss the Louwman Collection!

http://www.louwmanmuseum.nl

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Nice link Moss! Thanks for charing.

Nice video on this site ... Scroll down to go to the YouTube clip and view in full screen ... Enjoy!

Go to this link ------> http://www.louwmanmuseum.nl/Bezoeken/Bezoekers-informatie.aspx

[JamesL]

Great journey - enjoy it.  in 2005 I did the SNCF Car Train to Nice, then Como, Stelvio, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Munich, Calais. Mine was more holiday than driving though. You HAVE to do the alps and the Route Napoleon is stunning too - which may keep you on course.

Shame you can't stop more/take more time - the Porsche museum in Stuttgart is also very good.

Also did Santander - Rome - Alsace - Calais a few years back. Such fun!

[Markbhai]

There is so much I would love to do, I wish I could do 3 weeks!

My wife is flying out to visit me in Nice for the weekend, so I guess if I am going to get any time in any one place it will be there...that said, I will be glad by then to have a rest from driving.

Thanks for the link  to the collection in The Hague...I am now considering changing mt departure point to fit this in.

Regards

Mark

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Mark, I know you will not be going that far north, however, perhaps a feature trip will find you near Hamburg Germany. If if so sure to visit this great spot.


Miniature Wonderland in Hamburg a must see ----> http://youtu.be/ACkmg3Y64_s