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Euro Road Trip - 23 days

Posted by (Mumbai, India) on

Hi Guys,

I have gone through the forums and scanned for up to date information on various road trips one can do in Europe. I agree that i have got bits of information in different posts.

Here is my plan, as a first timer, committing the sin of trying to cover as many places as i can via a road trip. We are typical road travellers generally not that interested in spending days and nights watching museums, palaces, etc. More interested in traversing the region, soaking in the landscape, fresh air, meeting people and some bit of selfies at Historical places.

Starting out in Paris in May (2 nights), picking up a car to Brussels (1 night), Bruges, Antwerp, Rotterdam (3 nights), Amsterdam, Romantic Road through Frankfurt (Rothernburg, 2 nights), Munich (2 nights), Vienna (2 nights), Hallstatt (1 nights), Heilingenblut (Gross Glockner Mountain Pass Road, 2 nights), Lauterbrunnen (5 nights), Black Forest (Baden Baden, 1 night) and back to Paris. (1 nights again). Estimated total distance travelled will be 4800 Km+.

We are 2 couples. I request if experienced road travellers could comments on (a) sanity of my plans in terms of visit, drive, (b) safety for brown people in these locations (not worried as such, but just in case).

Thank you all for any assistance.

Regards,
Rakesh

Posted by
3391 posts

(a) I'm afraid that the sanity of your plans is in question at least at the start! This pace at the beginning of your trip does not seem at all doable even if you just keep driving without getting out of the car! I would add a night to Paris, add a night to Brussels, and spend your 3 nights in Amsterdam rather than Rotterdam. Eliminate Antwerp, and Rotterdam altogether but do find time to stop in Bruges for at least part of a day. Your German/Austrian portion and Lauterbrunnen portion are fine. If you get an early start on each of your driving days between cities it should be OK. You'll definitely get an overview of everything and be exhausted but happy but when you get on the plane to go home!
(b) Europe seems to be more and more multicultural every time I visit. I wouldn't worry about being brown in any of these locations at all! In the bigger cities you will find people from all over the world. In smaller places they are used to tourists from all over as well so, personally, I wouldn't be concerned. In some places you might be seen as a bit "exotic" since tourists from India are not as common as tourists from other parts of Asia but any attention you get is likely more out of curiosity than anything else. No matter where you are from, learning the niceties of the language (please, thank you, etc) goes a long way with people.

Posted by
4 posts

Hi Anita,

Thank you for your reply. Let me clarify, i would be staying in Paris for 2 nights before i pick up my rental car in Paris.

First stopover is in Brussels, so that we can explore Brussels for a day and the visit Bruges/Antwerp enroute to Rotterdam/Amsterdam next day. But could very well skip visiting Antwerp and just zip past through to Rotterdam/Amsterdam. I wanted to make either Rotterdam/Amsterdam as a base to explore both these cities. I will consider your suggestions about staying in Amsterdam v/s Rotterdam.

I really really wanted to go to Prague from Amsterdam enroute Germany. But these rental car companies apparently do not allow crossing Czech Borders. This was a bummer for the entire trip.

Is romantic road in Germany and places in between worth it or should i spend more time in Austria/Switzerland. Dont wanna do Italy this time round. Italy will be a tour in itself next time around.

Thanks for your help.

Regards,
Rakesh

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