 | Home > Expedition & Overland > Heading to Austria - top tips needed! |
 
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| Rallymental Member Since: 17 Aug 2015 Location: The Garden of England Posts: 468   
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I'd take the eurotunnel if I were you, if you take the Eurostar you won't be able to take the car!
I've never driven to Austria but plenty elsewhere, if you stop in an 'aire' towards the west be careful of thieves, kids mainly and they're not subtle, I was standing by my car when one came up next to me and had a good look through the window!! Further east and you'll be ok. Don't forget that from now on (May 2017) if you get flashed on a French speed camera you will get the fine come through your door at home. If you take the Belgium route option keep your wits about you as the Belgian drivers are a bit special. Sorry, don't mean to be doom and gloom. Enjoy your holiday!!  The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results.
Solihull, 1948 - "If we paint the chassis, it will last for years" Solihull, 2015 - "If we paint the chassis............................. |
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5th May 2017 11:57pm |
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| hafman Member Since: 28 Mar 2017 Location: W Sussex Posts: 81
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I'd probably avoid the French motorways and route via Belgium and Germany to save on tolls. Don't forget that Austrian motorways require a vignette (can be purchased at service areas in Germany). Can't help with what to see in the area other than Berchtesgaden is quite interesting (if you are interested in WW2), and there is a fab open air spa at Bad Reichenhall.
I'm going to a Steyr Puch Haflinger Treffen in nearby Bad Ischl in June - it is a wonderful area. Austria is seriously underrated as a destination. |
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6th May 2017 5:49am |
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| LandRoverAnorak Member Since: 17 Jul 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 11324
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The Grossglockner High Alpine Road is spectacular and well worth a visit.
 Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge https://www.grossglockner.at/gg/en/index Darren 110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia |
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6th May 2017 5:59am |
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| BigRuss Member Since: 15 May 2010 Location: Norfolk Posts: 2785 
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Zell Am See is a nice place to visit and so is the salt mines at Salzburg Russell
2011MY 110 XS USW Black |
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6th May 2017 6:52am |
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| mactheknife Member Since: 08 Jul 2016 Location: Somerset Posts: 51 
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[quote="Rallymental"]I'd take the eurotunnel if I were you, if you take the Eurostar you won't be able to take the car!
Thanks Rallymental that brightened my morning. Yes the Eurotunnel is a much better idea! |
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6th May 2017 9:49am |
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| mse Member Since: 06 Apr 2008 Location: UK Posts: 5038 
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Thats what we do, we avoid France for all of Europe - southern Europe in particular Mike |
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6th May 2017 9:52am |
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| mactheknife Member Since: 08 Jul 2016 Location: Somerset Posts: 51
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Thanks hafman, Just looked up the vignette. I found a Michelin website this morning that estimated tolls through France to be around Ģ50 each way. The Belgium route takes the same time so I'll take that one as you suggest. |
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6th May 2017 9:53am |
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| Mr Fox Member Since: 10 Sep 2011 Location: green & pleasant land Posts: 1037 
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To be blunt, unless the Ģ50 is going to make a difference in what you can do once you get to Austria, it is money well spent. I've done the trip you're doing many, many times over the past decade and although it looks the same on maps, the French motorways are superior and due to the toll, less crowded.
The section through Germany is particularly bad because they've been improving a large section of the motorway toward Munich (and other sections) for the past 6+ years and it just jams up with traffic as a result (3 lanes down to two, or worse one and then compounded with accidents). In terms of places to go once you're there - pretty much all of the Tyrol region is worth exploring - truly beautiful scenery. As LRA mentioned, Grossglockner is a nice (paid) section of road to drive but does get busy as the weather improves (slow coaches, campers, etc) On the border is: http://www.neuschwanstein.de/englisch/tourist/ - well worth a visit. If you head into the Tyrol, this is a great place for either a day trip or to overnight: https://www.gramaialm.at/en A nice drive to it, super scenery once there and the food is typically Austrian (Tirolean) and better still, the beer! Lastly, the vignette is no big deal - once into Austria, stop at the first petrol station and pick one up. They are readily available and I always avoid the places just before the bordered because they are rammed with people and busy. |
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6th May 2017 10:30am |
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| Mr Fox Member Since: 10 Sep 2011 Location: green & pleasant land Posts: 1037
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As an aside, I grabbed one of these a few years back - https://www.saneftolling.co.uk
It means you can drive through the 30kmp lane at the toll stations and not worry about paying at each one. Makes the French motorways even easier  |
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6th May 2017 10:41am |
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| mactheknife Member Since: 08 Jul 2016 Location: Somerset Posts: 51
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Thanks AM94 ,
Useful to know about the autobahn roadworks. I'm looking at the liber-t passes now. Schloss neuschwanstein is on the to do list. As is the grossglockner thanks to this thread. |
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6th May 2017 8:08pm |
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| Chris86 Member Since: 15 Jul 2014 Location: South Yorks Posts: 789 
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Fantastic Country to visit!
Main piece of advice.......regarding hot drinks! Its near impossible to get a proper cup of tea in Austria- if you (like me) get through several brews a day you'll need to take your own bags. Chris |
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6th May 2017 8:44pm |
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| mactheknife Member Since: 08 Jul 2016 Location: Somerset Posts: 51
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Thanks Chris,
Very helpful, my wife loves tea! |
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6th May 2017 9:18pm |
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| Riverboy Member Since: 16 May 2016 Location: French sector, Earth Posts: 1288 
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Same here in France. Nats P.
 I have to import my Tea from London. |
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6th May 2017 9:29pm |
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| Wild Card 90 Member Since: 03 Dec 2014 Location: Gerlingen Posts: 1060  
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I second AM94īs view on taking the French autoroutes, and consider it well worth getting a remote pay pager to speed up the drive through the toll booths. The money spent on tolls is almost recouped with less fuel, brake pads and tyre wear. I have driven almost every route over the years, Germany, past Cologne, Belgium, and even Luxembourg. I now use the French route every time, as it is so much more effective.
Drive down to Reims, across to Metz, then past Strasbourg. Cross the lower part of the Black Forest, for some amazing roads and views, and then drive along the north coast of Lake Constance, taking in the town of Lindau before crossing into Austria at Bregenz. Then the mountains start, and there are any number of great roads and passes worth investigating. Stephen 1998 Tdi 90 SW, 2008 Td4 90 SW, 2012 2.2 90 SW, 2" raised Trailmaster/Terrafirma Heavy Track Raids, 255 MTīs, Recaro CSīs, anorak, wellingtons |
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6th May 2017 10:13pm |
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