Brussels-West Germany by car
Replies: 15 - Last Post: May 5, 2012 5:55 PM Last Post By: WaterhazardJack
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Brussels-West Germany by car
Hiya,I am looking to drive around following places in June(3rd-9th). Any advise much appreciated.. I am not too keen on arts, Museums, etc but love scenic places...
Looking at the google map and other threads on LP, came up with following route.
Brugge-Brussels-Bingen-Koblenz-Cologne-Dusseldroff-Antwerpen.
Bingen-Koblenz : Short cruise, Rhine Gorge,
Cologne - Cable car, Cathedral,
Dusseldroff: worth a visit?
Is this doable in a week? What are key attractions around these places and recommended places to stay. We are couple with two young children. Obviusly not planning to drive in cities but will use local public transport.
Thanks.
1
It's too much. I would focus on Belgium and spend some time at the sea.2
I dunno, I think it's possible but a bit full on.Perhaps Dusseldorf could be chopped. I would chuck Antwerp in as a day trip from Brussels - take a train, it's easier than navigating out of Brussels and into Antwerp, and Antwerp station is quite something, it'll impress the kids.
For Bingen, park the motor at Koblenz, take a stopping train to Bingen then get the boat back. Technically this is a day trip from Cologne - Cologne to Koblenz is circa 1:15 by car each way so you could use Cologne as a base. The timetable for KD's boats from Bingen can be found here:- http://www.k-d.de/english/kd-scheduled-cruises/kd-rhine-timetable.
3
HelloI would also focus in Belgium in this 6day-trip. And adding Gent (at least) as a visit. As the other pointed out, some place in the coast (Oostende perhaps) would be fun for the kids. Probably better to pick up one base of operations in Brugge or Gent (a nice appartment or similar), and from there, move to the other places by train (or by car if you have it).
If you want to visit Colony, is like 3h from Gent driving, so you can do it as a short trip for a day. Also some quick trip to south Holland could be done.
Enjoy
4
Fwoggie, Thank you very much quite usefull (as always). I will drop Dusseldorf as it was not in my list originally. I have made note of all your tips. That means I will have to book accom for Brugge (1nt), Brussels(2nts) and Cologne(2nts).#1 and #3 thanks, I will keep this as back up plan. Depending on how kids react but my main purpose for this long journey is Rhine and I have added other places to it. We already had 1beach hol this year.
5
You could do Brugge as a day trip from Brussels too if you chose; it's one hr by train, circa the same by car (Antwerp is 40 min).That would leave Brussels for 3 nights and Cologne for 2, which reduces your hopping around hotels (which can be a major logistical event when young children are involved).
7
With your interests and two kids (how old?) I would spent more time at the Middle Rhine and the Moselle rather than in the big citiesKoblenz cable car
(there are also chairlifts at Rüdesheim-Assmannshausen, Boppard and Cochem)
You could visit a castle, e.g. the Marksburg, Burg Rheinfels, Burg Eltz
You could even stay in a castle hotel: Auf Schönburg (Oberwesel) or castle hostel: Burg Stahleck (Bacharach) and Grafenschloss Diez (in the Lahn Valley not far from Koblenz).
Falconry show at the Reichsburg in Cochem may be also something for the kids.
9
#6 and #8: Many thanks this information will help me for more detailed planning and time to book accom I think (rather prefer small towns than cities for accom).Koblenz to Bingen - is stopping train route more scenic than driving (if driving I would stop at scenic places along the route where possible)?
I might skip Cologne all togther and head straight to Koblenz from Brussels depending on weather. Atleast I can expect day light until 8pm.
10
Koblenz to Bingen - if you drive to Bingen you have the problem of how to get back to your motor once you've taken the boat to Koblenz - you'd have to take a train back up stream to Bingen to retrieve the car. Better to park it up in Koblenz, take the train to Bingen, and the boat back to Koblenz, then drive back to your accom. This reduces the total driving.As for how scenic it is I'll let you know when I do it tomorrow with the folks...
12
ah, that feeling of being Dusseldroff-ed!personal empirical studies about detouring via Sutton's have led to inconclusive results, thus I can neither confirm nor deny on this...
p.s. just out of curiosity: these urges towards AM - were they before she got elected chancellor or afterwards? so were you triggered by the lure of her power or just her plain physical appearance?
13
Well...as I wrote in #14 that is an extract from the WordHazard Dictionary of Modern Slang, so not my personal experience...but...power or no power, I have a hunch Angela could be a bit of fun once liberated from that pant-suit of hers...she has that geile Mutti look in here eyes, at times...So...maybe not so un-Sarkozy-able after all?...))
