Suggestions for Europe in a Week - By Car

[Peter West]

Dear All

It seems my bug for Elsmar is back - that or the people around me are just boring and i need to find sanctuary! (Truth is my boss is on holiday in the UK for 2 days and I did a lot of my work on the weekend already).

I have enforced holiday leave in August where I will be in Toulouse (South of France) on the 1st Sunday, and need to be in Arnhem (East Netherlands) 7 days later. I thought it was a good opportunity to discover Europe but now have the question - where!?

Initial thoughts were along the lines of:

Toulouse - Montpellier - Monaco - Geneva - Liechenstein - Luxembourg - Dusseldorf - Arnhem

Honestly - I just want to see the towns and people's lives. I am not a big museum/artsy person. I like food, people, buzz (but not too much) - hence looking to cover as many places in a day or less (i.e. a drive around and stop off at 1 or 2 places then move on.

Also - I find driving peaceful - long drives are relaxing - plus I have been driving in UAE and India so am not disturbed by the 'Arc de Triomphe' european traffic.

Too ambitious, too conservative (should i head for Bratislava and skip Luxembourg)? Any recommendations on different routes or must see places? I am open to all ideas

Thanks a lot

Peter

[phloQS]

Maybe you should switch from Düsseldorf to Aachen, which shortens your way. Aachen is a bit smaller but a very nice students city with a good nightlife. For tourists cologne would be better with its famous dome and many good breweries (I do not knoww if you like beer ;-)). Remember this is the western part of germany. There are many other "hotspots" which have their own charme. Alway good are berlin, Munich and Hamburg, but all of them are far off your "normal" route.

Regards

phloQS

[qusys]

In Reply to Parent Post by Peter West

Dear All

It seems my bug for Elsmar is back - that or the people around me are just boring and i need to find sanctuary! (Truth is my boss is on holiday in the UK for 2 days and I did a lot of my work on the weekend already).

I have enforced holiday leave in August where I will be in Toulouse (South of France) on the 1st Sunday, and need to be in Arnhem (East Netherlands) 7 days later. I thought it was a good opportunity to discover Europe but now have the question - where!?

Initial thoughts were along the lines of:

Toulouse - Montpellier - Monaco - Geneva - Liechenstein - Luxembourg - Dusseldorf - Arnhem

Honestly - I just want to see the towns and people's lives. I am not a big museum/artsy person. I like food, people, buzz (but not too much) - hence looking to cover as many places in a day or less (i.e. a drive around and stop off at 1 or 2 places then move on.

Also - I find driving peaceful - long drives are relaxing - plus I have been driving in UAE and India so am not disturbed by the 'Arc de Triomphe' european traffic.

Too ambitious, too conservative (should i head for Bratislava and skip Luxembourg)? Any recommendations on different routes or must see places? I am open to all ideas

Thanks a lot

Peter

In Italy rather than Geneva, I could suggest Sanremo ( it is the town of flowers and it is also famous for casino) and all Ligury coast with Ventimiglia and other sea towns. They are very attractive and touristic place where there are lot of foreign people. Following the seas you could reach Five Land between Ligury and borderline of high Tuscany. The landscape is marvellous, food is good and they are vey animated.

[Peter West]

Ok now that is the type of thing I am interested in. Casinos and flowers, beer and good nightlife. Think i need to do some reading.

Both of you are spot on - i realise that with my comment that i dont like museums etc, i do like scenary. Places i will remember for a long time. I prefer my memory over a camera (although as I get older I place less trust in the former) as i associate images with other senses.

I like the ideas. Maybe if i get a very fast car.....

[qusys]

In Reply to Parent Post by Peter West

Ok now that is the type of thing I am interested in. Casinos and flowers, beer and good nightlife. Think i need to do some reading.

Both of you are spot on - i realise that with my comment that i dont like museums etc, i do like scenary. Places i will remember for a long time. I prefer my memory over a camera (although as I get older I place less trust in the former) as i associate images with other senses.

I like the ideas. Maybe if i get a very fast car.....

Hi Peter,
If you want you could also book a stop over in some towns of the borderline between Swiss and Italy, toward North when you are going to Germany.
Lugano is full of life , for example , and it is worth of a visit for night life as well as Campione d'Italia where there is another famous casino to play roulette and texas hold'em if you like. In addition you can enjoy the marvellous landscape of Alps, lakes and valley on this itinerary.
Hope this helps