Europe 2014.. France, Germany, Austria, Hungary and Romania.
So with my Thai visa sorted we start on our next stage.
We booked a Ferry as Eurotunnel was full.
Day 01 Wednesday 23rd July.
Left our last UK (Maidenhead) overnight at 9:30 am .A little traffic on M25 through Surrey but no stoppages. Arrived Dover 12noon for 2pm boat but we got on the 1pm. Nida does not like boats but as we did not book until Tuesday (22nd) we had little choice. All was OK and we spent the night in our preferred camp at Le Pont d'Oye. (13 Euros including Electricity) some shopping.
Pleasant evening in Cafe/Bar socialising with local people, all very good.
Day 02 Thursday 24th .
Leisurely morning, some shopping and fill up with Diesel at Carrefour (1.33Euros/litre). On to Dinant via E42 and E411 again traffic OK. Found carpark by road for overnight, 3 other units there..very noisy with traffic (will not use again).
Day 03 Friday 25th.
Shortish drive through Luxembourg to the Moselle Valley. Found a vineyard at Palzem/Palzam (recommended) with space for 6units at 7 euros (inc electric and some facilities). Good for 1 night.. Big Thunderstorm at 4pm but clear again by 6pm for using our gas BBQ. Also Wine and spirits available to buy and bakers van.
Days 04 05 06 Saturday 26th onwards
Very short drive over to Saarburg. A pleasant AIRE by the river (8 euros or 7 if 3 nights), Small cafe, payment for power and drinking water but pricing ok (1 euro for 80 litres). Aldi shop near. Sunday walk into Saarburg, about 2 miles, very nice little town bars restaurants etc. Monday relaxing in camp and full day on the internet for 4 euros. Checking on Flights to Thailand updating web-site sorting photos etc
We booked a Ferry as Eurotunnel was full.
Day 01 Wednesday 23rd July.
Left our last UK (Maidenhead) overnight at 9:30 am .A little traffic on M25 through Surrey but no stoppages. Arrived Dover 12noon for 2pm boat but we got on the 1pm. Nida does not like boats but as we did not book until Tuesday (22nd) we had little choice. All was OK and we spent the night in our preferred camp at Le Pont d'Oye. (13 Euros including Electricity) some shopping.
Pleasant evening in Cafe/Bar socialising with local people, all very good.
Day 02 Thursday 24th .
Leisurely morning, some shopping and fill up with Diesel at Carrefour (1.33Euros/litre). On to Dinant via E42 and E411 again traffic OK. Found carpark by road for overnight, 3 other units there..very noisy with traffic (will not use again).
Day 03 Friday 25th.
Shortish drive through Luxembourg to the Moselle Valley. Found a vineyard at Palzem/Palzam (recommended) with space for 6units at 7 euros (inc electric and some facilities). Good for 1 night.. Big Thunderstorm at 4pm but clear again by 6pm for using our gas BBQ. Also Wine and spirits available to buy and bakers van.
Days 04 05 06 Saturday 26th onwards
Very short drive over to Saarburg. A pleasant AIRE by the river (8 euros or 7 if 3 nights), Small cafe, payment for power and drinking water but pricing ok (1 euro for 80 litres). Aldi shop near. Sunday walk into Saarburg, about 2 miles, very nice little town bars restaurants etc. Monday relaxing in camp and full day on the internet for 4 euros. Checking on Flights to Thailand updating web-site sorting photos etc
Day 07 Tuesday 29th.
Moving east towards Salzburg. Overnight in Carpark at Gottingen
Day 08 Wednesday 30th
Fairly short drive to Memmingen. Walk to town.. very nice
2 nights here in very good stellplatze.
Day 09 Thursday 31st
Full day in Memmingen
Met Jim and Gillian chatted with them drank beer wine and schnapps afternoon and evening.
Very nice couple whose modus operandi is quite like ours.
Day 10 Friday 1st August
Short drive to Landsberg am Lech. Pleasant enough town.
Good shopping in "Netto" supermarket close to Stellplatze.
Very ordinary big Stellplatze in a very large carpark. Many vehicles there OK but other places better.
Day 11 Saturday 2nd August.
Nice drive on the Romantische strasse big campsite with stelleplatze for 20 motorhomes.
Not cheap but all the facilities and a shop and a Hall for entertainment. Not really our style but so convenient for Schwangau and the castles so 2 nights here.
Day 12 Sunday 3rd .
Free bus to Hohen-Schwangau and buy tickets for the castle.
Walk up the Hill Ok and then a long wait to go in.
guide poor (could not hear him) but castle quite good but poorly lit.
Day 13 Monday 4th.
Over the border to Austria , a very short drive. Overnighted at Heiterwang at the SUNNAWIRT Gasthaus.
A super place... host Paul very friendly and a good musician (Saxaphone and accordion) and singer . Good childrens playground food available. Thoroughly recommended our best place so far.
Day 14 Tuesday 5th
Over the Fernpass to Hall in Tirol near Innsbruck..A lovely drive..kept off the motorway.
Useful Stellplatze with all the facilities and all in for £12
Day 15 Wednesday 6th.
Restful day at the same campsite. Hall is a lovely little town.
Day 16 Thursday 7th
LPG topup and then to SCHWAZ Aire
Good value at 4 Euros space for 10 Campers.Between 6pm and 8pm at least 10 others arrived and stayed in the carpark adjacent.
They all left early next day.
Day 17 Friday 8th
Short drive to Pertisau but no parking for MHs so to Maurach for 2 hrs .
Easy drive to Zell am Zillertal then very twisty drive up and over the Hill could not go to our planned stop at Neukirchen so back to Zell am Zillertal.. Nice campsite but expensive (£23) met UK couple and Italian man with UK wife all very pleasant.
Day 18 Saturday 9th
Longish drive to Maria Alm a "Farm Aire" ..Full but we could stay in the field. Huge storm as we arrived..Tree got blown over in River. Late arrival got stuck in the mud in the wetfield. We Ok..Probably OK here if the weather is good but only just ok for us. Overpriced at 10 Euros but facilities available
Day 19 Sunday 10th
Lovely early drive over the mountains towards Schladming then long valley drive to Vordenberg.
Very nice small town/village near an IRON mountain..good industrial heritage. Free spot but too near busy road.
Day 20 Monday 11th
Shortish drive to Veitsch. 3 spaces in town hall carpark for motorhomes no facilities but no charge.
Again road noisy at night.
Day 21 Tuesday 12th
On to Vienna . Very large camp/aire south of the city. Newly opened, facilities good but a bit cramped and not quite enough as there was room for 170 MHs.
Day 22 Wednesday 13th.
Convenient Metro stop to go to Vienna. Cathedral really good s was Schornbrunn palace.
Back to same Aire..it was full later.
Moving east towards Salzburg. Overnight in Carpark at Gottingen
Day 08 Wednesday 30th
Fairly short drive to Memmingen. Walk to town.. very nice
2 nights here in very good stellplatze.
Day 09 Thursday 31st
Full day in Memmingen
Met Jim and Gillian chatted with them drank beer wine and schnapps afternoon and evening.
Very nice couple whose modus operandi is quite like ours.
Day 10 Friday 1st August
Short drive to Landsberg am Lech. Pleasant enough town.
Good shopping in "Netto" supermarket close to Stellplatze.
Very ordinary big Stellplatze in a very large carpark. Many vehicles there OK but other places better.
Day 11 Saturday 2nd August.
Nice drive on the Romantische strasse big campsite with stelleplatze for 20 motorhomes.
Not cheap but all the facilities and a shop and a Hall for entertainment. Not really our style but so convenient for Schwangau and the castles so 2 nights here.
Day 12 Sunday 3rd .
Free bus to Hohen-Schwangau and buy tickets for the castle.
Walk up the Hill Ok and then a long wait to go in.
guide poor (could not hear him) but castle quite good but poorly lit.
Day 13 Monday 4th.
Over the border to Austria , a very short drive. Overnighted at Heiterwang at the SUNNAWIRT Gasthaus.
A super place... host Paul very friendly and a good musician (Saxaphone and accordion) and singer . Good childrens playground food available. Thoroughly recommended our best place so far.
Day 14 Tuesday 5th
Over the Fernpass to Hall in Tirol near Innsbruck..A lovely drive..kept off the motorway.
Useful Stellplatze with all the facilities and all in for £12
Day 15 Wednesday 6th.
Restful day at the same campsite. Hall is a lovely little town.
Day 16 Thursday 7th
LPG topup and then to SCHWAZ Aire
Good value at 4 Euros space for 10 Campers.Between 6pm and 8pm at least 10 others arrived and stayed in the carpark adjacent.
They all left early next day.
Day 17 Friday 8th
Short drive to Pertisau but no parking for MHs so to Maurach for 2 hrs .
Easy drive to Zell am Zillertal then very twisty drive up and over the Hill could not go to our planned stop at Neukirchen so back to Zell am Zillertal.. Nice campsite but expensive (£23) met UK couple and Italian man with UK wife all very pleasant.
Day 18 Saturday 9th
Longish drive to Maria Alm a "Farm Aire" ..Full but we could stay in the field. Huge storm as we arrived..Tree got blown over in River. Late arrival got stuck in the mud in the wetfield. We Ok..Probably OK here if the weather is good but only just ok for us. Overpriced at 10 Euros but facilities available
Day 19 Sunday 10th
Lovely early drive over the mountains towards Schladming then long valley drive to Vordenberg.
Very nice small town/village near an IRON mountain..good industrial heritage. Free spot but too near busy road.
Day 20 Monday 11th
Shortish drive to Veitsch. 3 spaces in town hall carpark for motorhomes no facilities but no charge.
Again road noisy at night.
Day 21 Tuesday 12th
On to Vienna . Very large camp/aire south of the city. Newly opened, facilities good but a bit cramped and not quite enough as there was room for 170 MHs.
Day 22 Wednesday 13th.
Convenient Metro stop to go to Vienna. Cathedral really good s was Schornbrunn palace.
Back to same Aire..it was full later.
HUNGARY
Day 23 Thu 14th Aug
Leisurely start and drive to Mosonmagyaróvár just in Hungary.
Walk to city for some shopping. Pleasant campsite called Kis-Duna just outside . 15 Euros for all facilities inc electric and wifi
Day 24 Estergom
Nice drive to "The Danube Bend".
Pleasant town.. bought new sandals for £7.
Campsite OK with pool and all facilities
Day 25 Eger
Longish drive "round the bend" and towards Budapest crossing the Danube via a big new bridge and then motorway.
Campsite Ok but rather crowded
Day 26 Sunday 17th Egerszolac Spa
Spent the morning in Eger..nice town.
Very short drive to Natural Thermal Baths £2.50 entrance and £1.50 car park.. Overnight in the car park
Day 27 Lillafurud.
Very pretty drive over wooded hills to here.Nothing much apart from a nice rural campsite and the station.
So a train ride on "The Lillafurud Express". A 5km or so journey into the hills and back.
Day 28 Karoly Falva
Medium drive to near Sarospatak. Found the Car park in "Petr's Land" welcome glass or 3 of schnapps and a beer.
Water available and a toilet.. free. Simply a nice field
Day 29 Sarospatak
Morning walk up the hill to the lake . Not difficult but steep and uneven in places.
Then to the Spa campsite. Campsite poor but with facilities all "dodgy" but useable.
Spa very good with many different pools. However not recommended.
Day 30 Thursday 21st Aug Kisvarda
Very "rural" drive to here. Campsite really quite nice with good toilets and electric. Spa also good.
Day 23 Thu 14th Aug
Leisurely start and drive to Mosonmagyaróvár just in Hungary.
Walk to city for some shopping. Pleasant campsite called Kis-Duna just outside . 15 Euros for all facilities inc electric and wifi
Day 24 Estergom
Nice drive to "The Danube Bend".
Pleasant town.. bought new sandals for £7.
Campsite OK with pool and all facilities
Day 25 Eger
Longish drive "round the bend" and towards Budapest crossing the Danube via a big new bridge and then motorway.
Campsite Ok but rather crowded
Day 26 Sunday 17th Egerszolac Spa
Spent the morning in Eger..nice town.
Very short drive to Natural Thermal Baths £2.50 entrance and £1.50 car park.. Overnight in the car park
Day 27 Lillafurud.
Very pretty drive over wooded hills to here.Nothing much apart from a nice rural campsite and the station.
So a train ride on "The Lillafurud Express". A 5km or so journey into the hills and back.
Day 28 Karoly Falva
Medium drive to near Sarospatak. Found the Car park in "Petr's Land" welcome glass or 3 of schnapps and a beer.
Water available and a toilet.. free. Simply a nice field
Day 29 Sarospatak
Morning walk up the hill to the lake . Not difficult but steep and uneven in places.
Then to the Spa campsite. Campsite poor but with facilities all "dodgy" but useable.
Spa very good with many different pools. However not recommended.
Day 30 Thursday 21st Aug Kisvarda
Very "rural" drive to here. Campsite really quite nice with good toilets and electric. Spa also good.
ROMANIA
Day 31 Friday 22nd August Tasnad
We entered Romania near Satu Mare. Tried to change money but no parking so we headed toward Cluj Napoca.
Found a Spa / Campsite on the way at Tasdan..Simply OK
Day 32 and 33 on to Turda Gorge.
Interesting twisty and good road over the hills east of Zalau
Simply a grass carpark to allow walking in the gorge. Spring water available.
Big Storm but field amazingly dry the next day
Walk in the gorge at first easy but increasing steep and narrow.
Many other campers some very friendly and pleasant
Day 34
To Garbova and the Dutch run campsite.named Poarta Oilor
Simply very nice and also the owner promotes visits by local poor children.
Day 35 Saliste - Salisteanca
First visit to Calnic and the fortified church
Then to Saliste. Lovely small town and very nice small campsite..
Day 36 Blajel and Doua Lumi.(Two worlds)
Ok drive over some hills .
Campsite very nice and owners very helpful and informative.
Very pleasant small site
Day 37 and 38 Sighisoara (28th 29th August)
Aquaris a very convenient and more than adequate site.
Very nice "old quarter" inevitably somewhat of a "tourist trap" but OK
Days 39 40 41 Zarnesti (near Bran)
A lovely cap at "Alpin Ranch" a few other Europeans there. Owner very helpful.
Good BBQ one evening with beer and schnapps
Highlight was the visit to the nearby Bear Sanctuary
Day 42 43 Curtea de Arges
A very simple but (just) OK site
Day 44 Dragoske
Very wet campsite stayed in carpark for fear of getting stuck
Day 45 Carpark by Museum at Hobita
Tedius long drive and no easy camping
Days 46 and 47 Zamolxe.
Potentially nice drive north but simply too slow and again tedious. Massive road works with traffic lights and one way system. It took 2.5 hours to go about 50 miles. !
Then a better road to Zamolxe. Simply small camping area in a pension. Facilities there but wet and limited.
Huge Thunderstorm ! Nearly stuck
Drove to Timisoara but no suitable camping so Back in Hungary on 8th Sept
Day 48 and 49 Mako.
Pleasant enough campsite close to the border and Szeged
Day 50 and 51 Kiskunmaisja (Jonas Thermal camping).
Simply OK
Day 52 53 54 Longish drive to the western end of Late Balaton.
Very very nice campsite here just east off Keszthely
Day 55 Short Drive to Heviz
First campsite much too wet campsite nearby pleasant
Rosengarten
Romania pictures
Day 31 Friday 22nd August Tasnad
We entered Romania near Satu Mare. Tried to change money but no parking so we headed toward Cluj Napoca.
Found a Spa / Campsite on the way at Tasdan..Simply OK
Day 32 and 33 on to Turda Gorge.
Interesting twisty and good road over the hills east of Zalau
Simply a grass carpark to allow walking in the gorge. Spring water available.
Big Storm but field amazingly dry the next day
Walk in the gorge at first easy but increasing steep and narrow.
Many other campers some very friendly and pleasant
Day 34
To Garbova and the Dutch run campsite.named Poarta Oilor
Simply very nice and also the owner promotes visits by local poor children.
Day 35 Saliste - Salisteanca
First visit to Calnic and the fortified church
Then to Saliste. Lovely small town and very nice small campsite..
Day 36 Blajel and Doua Lumi.(Two worlds)
Ok drive over some hills .
Campsite very nice and owners very helpful and informative.
Very pleasant small site
Day 37 and 38 Sighisoara (28th 29th August)
Aquaris a very convenient and more than adequate site.
Very nice "old quarter" inevitably somewhat of a "tourist trap" but OK
Days 39 40 41 Zarnesti (near Bran)
A lovely cap at "Alpin Ranch" a few other Europeans there. Owner very helpful.
Good BBQ one evening with beer and schnapps
Highlight was the visit to the nearby Bear Sanctuary
Day 42 43 Curtea de Arges
A very simple but (just) OK site
Day 44 Dragoske
Very wet campsite stayed in carpark for fear of getting stuck
Day 45 Carpark by Museum at Hobita
Tedius long drive and no easy camping
Days 46 and 47 Zamolxe.
Potentially nice drive north but simply too slow and again tedious. Massive road works with traffic lights and one way system. It took 2.5 hours to go about 50 miles. !
Then a better road to Zamolxe. Simply small camping area in a pension. Facilities there but wet and limited.
Huge Thunderstorm ! Nearly stuck
Drove to Timisoara but no suitable camping so Back in Hungary on 8th Sept
Day 48 and 49 Mako.
Pleasant enough campsite close to the border and Szeged
Day 50 and 51 Kiskunmaisja (Jonas Thermal camping).
Simply OK
Day 52 53 54 Longish drive to the western end of Late Balaton.
Very very nice campsite here just east off Keszthely
Day 55 Short Drive to Heviz
First campsite much too wet campsite nearby pleasant
Rosengarten
Romania pictures
Austria
A very pleasant few days with campsites as detailed below.
Day 56 Very nice drive from Heviz into Austria.
Parked up where the Stelleplatz used to be at Jagerberg.No problem just no facilities. Proper Stelleplatz near sming pool in town.
Day 57 to Bad St Leonard. Lovely little town and Stelleplatz pay at local Garage one other Camper.
Day 58 short pretty drive to Ferlach, Quite a big town with castle ..Big Stelleplatz with 6 other vehicles normal facilities.
Day 59 to Rosegg..
A lovely Stelleplatz linked to the Hotel. got there by midday and stayed..Lovely sunny weather and views
Day 69 and 70.to Schwaz
Drive along the Spittal Valley and then up and over the Alps and through the long long tunnel. Went back to the Known Stelleplatz in Schwaz.
Again very busy but OK
Germany
Day 60 Lindau. Long drive and several very long tunnels again but all OK
Stelleplatz linked to a very big campsite just into Germany on lake Constance.
Convenient and busy but showers available, washing up etc.
Day 61 Very short drive to Stetten.
A very nice Stelleplatz as part of a hotel about 15 others there but nicely laid out.
Day 62 to Hüfingen (and 63)
A very pleasant town with an adequate plus Stellplatz stayed 2 nights as there was a local market
Day 64 65 66 Freiburg
Looked for camping on the way but none suited us . I always had this one in mind. Scope for over 100 vehicles but all facilities including wi-fi for 1 euro a day. Easy walk to the tram for visiting the city. Very very nice.
Day 67 Glan Munchweiler.
Slight hiccup as our planned route was not available. so we found this Stelleplatz next to the station simply functional.
Day 68 69 70
Drive over the Hunsruck Plateau to the Moselle valley and again one of our favourites at Kinheim.
A very large meadow by the river with all facilities.
Day 71 72 73
France back to 3 days at our lovely little spot at Le Pont D'Oye.just outside Calais
2 pleasant nights socilaizing in their little bar
Sunday 5th Oct
15 min drive to Calais arr 10:15...Straight onto a train...Back in UK at 10:30
Easy drive to Maidenhead
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A very pleasant few days with campsites as detailed below.
Day 56 Very nice drive from Heviz into Austria.
Parked up where the Stelleplatz used to be at Jagerberg.No problem just no facilities. Proper Stelleplatz near sming pool in town.
Day 57 to Bad St Leonard. Lovely little town and Stelleplatz pay at local Garage one other Camper.
Day 58 short pretty drive to Ferlach, Quite a big town with castle ..Big Stelleplatz with 6 other vehicles normal facilities.
Day 59 to Rosegg..
A lovely Stelleplatz linked to the Hotel. got there by midday and stayed..Lovely sunny weather and views
Day 69 and 70.to Schwaz
Drive along the Spittal Valley and then up and over the Alps and through the long long tunnel. Went back to the Known Stelleplatz in Schwaz.
Again very busy but OK
Germany
Day 60 Lindau. Long drive and several very long tunnels again but all OK
Stelleplatz linked to a very big campsite just into Germany on lake Constance.
Convenient and busy but showers available, washing up etc.
Day 61 Very short drive to Stetten.
A very nice Stelleplatz as part of a hotel about 15 others there but nicely laid out.
Day 62 to Hüfingen (and 63)
A very pleasant town with an adequate plus Stellplatz stayed 2 nights as there was a local market
Day 64 65 66 Freiburg
Looked for camping on the way but none suited us . I always had this one in mind. Scope for over 100 vehicles but all facilities including wi-fi for 1 euro a day. Easy walk to the tram for visiting the city. Very very nice.
Day 67 Glan Munchweiler.
Slight hiccup as our planned route was not available. so we found this Stelleplatz next to the station simply functional.
Day 68 69 70
Drive over the Hunsruck Plateau to the Moselle valley and again one of our favourites at Kinheim.
A very large meadow by the river with all facilities.
Day 71 72 73
France back to 3 days at our lovely little spot at Le Pont D'Oye.just outside Calais
2 pleasant nights socilaizing in their little bar
Sunday 5th Oct
15 min drive to Calais arr 10:15...Straight onto a train...Back in UK at 10:30
Easy drive to Maidenhead
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