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BaconEggAndBeans 9:57 Mon Mar 20
Driving Trip Around Europe

I'm looking at doing a bit of a tour around Europe in my car in September, taking about 8 or 9 days.

I plan to start in Rotterdam and go clockwise around Germany and then pass through Czech Rep, Austria, Northern Italy, Switzerland and finish in Belgium at Zebrugge.

You guys have any tips or info on driving in those countries? eg I've heard you have to carry a breathalyser in France, that's why I've fucked that off.

Cheers for any advice

Mart O 10:08 Mon Mar 20
Re: Driving Trip Around Europe

You don't need a breathalyser for France. They did introduce a daft law about it, but no one took it seriously, it's never been applied and now they're going to let it drop. Funnily enough, it's still a legal requirement in theory but they won't fine you for not having one.

Hammer and Pickle 10:17 Mon Mar 20
Re: Driving Trip Around Europe

You're not going to see much more than motorway if you intend to do all of that in that time mate.

defjam 10:30 Mon Mar 20
Re: Driving Trip Around Europe

What H&P said.

bruuuno 10:36 Mon Mar 20
Re: Driving Trip Around Europe

You guys? Hope you crash

Willtell 11:33 Mon Mar 20
Re: Driving Trip Around Europe

The French are idiots. Socialist idiots. A government minister decided that by having a breathalyzer in your car at all times meant you would be able to know whether you were OK to drive if you had had a drink. Of course it had to be a breathalyzer approved by French government and not some cheap Chinese import that gave a wrong reading!

It was passed as law to come into effect in one year in about 2013 I think but they discovered that there was only one company in France with an approval but their factory could not cope with the flood of orders so the law had to be delayed.

Then MPs thought about it a bit and asked what happens if a driver uses his breathalyzer? He cannot drive legally because he hasn't got one in his car! Ahh! So they had to change the law to needing 2 breathalyzers! More delays.

Then an enterprising journalist discovered that the man that introduced the law in the first place was in fact, a director of the only company approved to supply the breathalyzers! More delays came when they could not meet demand even after more manufacturers started production.

After that the driving associations started complaining saying it was absolutely pointless as it encouraged people to drink if they knew what their drinking level was before it registered on the breathalyzer.

Not to be put off by all the incompetence in forming a law, the French government wouldn't admit a mistake and let it die. Oh no sir. They showed their true nature by making the breathalyzer law require 2 breathalyzers and made the ultimate incompetent law by making it carry a penalty of absolutely nothing.

That's right. You need a warning triangle, orange jackets if you break down and there are severe penalties for not having them. You also need 2 breathalyzers but if you don't your fine will be zero, zilch, nada, rien, nothing....

BaconEggAndBeans 11:36 Mon Mar 20
Re: Driving Trip Around Europe

Good Point. The original plan was to drive down to Italy and do a drive round there.
Was planning on doing about 300 miles per day and obviously there'll be some motorway but was planning on some more scenic routes. It's the driving that's spurring me on to do it.

Bruno, As for crashing, I probably will, but your hope isn't enough to make it happen, so go suck some shit.

joe royal 11:56 Mon Mar 20
Re: Driving Trip Around Europe

Download an app called Truckfly , it shows truckstops (unsurprisingly) but also the price of a meal and if there are showers wifi cash machines etc.

In Italy cash machines are few and far between outside of main city's.

ray winstone 12:00 Tue Mar 21
Re: Driving Trip Around Europe

Lake Como, must go to Lake Como.

, 12:45 Tue Mar 21
Re: Driving Trip Around Europe

If you want to drive three hundred miles a day and meet foreigners why not just drive two and a half times around the M25 every twenty four hours making regular Service stops.

Hello Mrs. Jones 12:52 Tue Mar 21
Re: Driving Trip Around Europe

My first piece of advice is not to drive your own car. Fly or boat to Holland and rent a car there.

hammerintheorient 1:40 Wed Mar 22
Re: Driving Trip Around Europe

Hello Mrs Jones, can you use that vehicle to drive in multiple countries? If so, what's the company's name, please?

Saul Bollox 2:47 Wed Mar 22
Re: Driving Trip Around Europe

I stopped reading the OP when he said "You guys"

Willtell 11:03 Wed Mar 22
Re: Driving Trip Around Europe

Reply , 12:45 Tue Mar 21

That was actually well funny for you Comma. Had me loling

riosleftsock 11:57 Wed Mar 22
Re: Driving Trip Around Europe

Don't forget to fill your boot with bearded child rapugees before boarding the ferry.

We're running out of them round here.

gph 1:14 Wed Mar 22
Re: Driving Trip Around Europe

Go to fewer places, stay longer in each of them.

The Rhineland on its own is enough to fill up the whole 8 or 9 days with plenty to spare.

BRANDED 1:28 Wed Mar 22
Re: Driving Trip Around Europe

I love driving through the back roads in Europe. Anywhere is great. Just take time and stop a lot and take a look around.

Infidel 1:33 Wed Mar 22
Re: Driving Trip Around Europe

Drive straight to Italy. Skip the rest.

Spend the whole time driving around Tuscany.

Then come home.

Thank me later.

SecondOpinion 1:37 Wed Mar 22
Re: Driving Trip Around Europe

You could take a camera and take some pictures of your journey?

Nator 2:21 Wed Mar 22
Re: Driving Trip Around Europe

If you drive from Austria to other countries I recommend going over the mountains rather then through the massive tunnels, if you actually want to see scenery.

In Czech you will require a driving pass (it's called a vignette) you can buy them at petrol stations.

Don't forget headlight converters if you do take a UK car.

BaconEggAndBeans 9:43 Wed Mar 22
Re: Driving Trip Around Europe

Thanks for the input YOU GUYS

I've been looking into it a bit more the last few days and driving to Italy and touring there does sound better now, I could even take in the San Marino MotoGP if I do that.
I'd really prefer to take my car, it's a 335i manual (with indicators), best car I've had and should be good fun.
Good point about the headlight converters though, don't want to be dazzling the polizia.

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