Trip to Germany (advice needed)

[Smudge]

I'm going to see my crout family in June and I'm looking for any advice on ferries from Hull to Rotterdam and the Danish/German roads.
Also looking for a good sat nav recommendation one which i can torrent maps for easily.
I'm only going to Lengerich so it's not intended to be a long journey provided I don't get lost and head for the Alps.
So that's Ferries, sat navs and what to expect!

[Tim in Belgium]

There is one ferry from Hull - Rotterdam, it can be pricey (P&O) but is generally cheaper than the Newcastle - Ijmuiden (Amsterdam) crossing. Another alternative is Harwich - Hook of Holland, but proably not worth it after factoring fuel & tyre wear.

Also crout is Kraut I believe.

Whereabouts are they? (A big town near the place you mention?) All the roads in Holland are pretty dull and they're quite hot on speeding too, with plenty of cameras on the motorways, which is something to consider when the joined up Euro speed camera network comes together next year.

Holland also has more expensive fuel than the UK & Germany.

Get to Germany asap. I've never been to Denmark so can't help there.
As for sat-navs man up and buy a map ;) It's all I use on bike tours :D

[Smudge]

Sorry yes I should slow down when typing it is Kraut lol and I did mean Holland not the Danes.
I've spent countless hours with soggy maps so I thought I would join the gadget trend for sat nav.
I'm only travelling to Lengerich just near Osnabruck.

[Biker Biggles]

Dont mention the war.:D

[Smudge]

£247 return ticket by P&O seems totally over board (pun) I don't want a cabin but it seems Its compulsary.

[Ed]

£247!! BH!!! Daylight feckin robbery!!! £43 return Dover - Calais. But how much more fuel would you use etc etc

As for Holland having more expensive fuel Tim - are you sure? - £1.22/litre here today, £1.26/litre diesel.

[Smudge]

I was expecting £100 tops and I don't mind sleeping with my bike.

[Tim in Belgium]

1.54 euro a litre for petrol is the cheapest here, more on the motorways and main roads.

Diesel is cheaper, but not ideal for a bike ;)

[Tim in Belgium]

£247 return ticket by P&O seems totally over board (pun) I don't want a cabin but it seems Its compulsary.

That sounds about normal, it's costing me over 300 quid to come back with the car this Christmas, but the advantage is less miles and less time off work, the ferry is 6km from my office, so I drive on after a day at work, and on the return drive off straight to the office.

Do the maths wrt dover calais and there won't be much in it cost wise if you think about fuel, tyres, servicing, time off etc, but worth checking.

[Cymraeg_Atodeg]

I'm going to see my crout family in June and I'm looking for any advice on ferries from Hull to Rotterdam and the Danish/German roads.
Also looking for a good sat nav recommendation one which i can torrent maps for easily.
I'm only going to Lengerich so it's not intended to be a long journey provided I don't get lost and head for the Alps.
So that's Ferries, sat navs and what to expect!

Ferry that could be best is go from Harwich... It lands on the other side of the dock from the Hull ferry, but, is a 5 hour shorter trip, so, you save yourself 3 hours by the time you ride down from T'North to Harwich...

Also, I have a Garmin Zumo 550 and it is great!

[Ed]

Diesel is cheaper, but not ideal for a bike ;)

I'll take Pete's counsel on that;)

[Biker Biggles]

Fly,and either hire a car or do without?

[Smudge]

The whole point is to go on my bike I don't do cages!!!!
I may aswell do the Alps in the same journey so it makes a more cost effective holiday.
Checking out Garmin zumo 550 cheers I thought Tom Tom rider looked good but I need a big display as I'm blind as a bat!!!!!!!!!

[Ed]

Garmin? - Get one, they're ace. You won't get lost. I also bought a map, 'Route des Grandes Alpes' recommended on here, and it really is good. But it's for the French side so won't help you Smudge:D

[maviczap]

Here's a joke to break the ice

'Haben sie ein tote vogel in Ihr hose?'

Don't call them Krauts, just a hint

[Smudge]

I am part German so I'm allowed and no I don't have a dead bird in my keks lol

[andrewsmith]

£247 return ticket by P&O seems totally over board (pun) I don't want a cabin but it seems Its compulsary.

DFDS is also £247 return and the cabin is mandatory for a 15 hour crossing!

Germany is around the £1.30l for petrol

Enjoy it mate! Do a couple of cheeky laps of the ring on the way back :smt040

[Lozzo]

£247!! BH!!! Daylight feckin robbery!!! £43 return Dover - Calais.

£30 return for me and the bike in sumertime. I paid less than £247 for a return for me and bike to Malta from Civitavecchia, which is 32 hours each way. No cabin needed, just grab a section of restaurant seating and claim it as yours for the duration. Apparently this was the better option as the cabins had the hum of machinery and engines all night, but the restaurant was silent.

[Smudge]

Sadly the no cabin option is a rubber dingy or oodles of acf50 and a massive snorkle so it seems the choice is pay the £247 or travel four times futher and save £90.

[orose]

I wouldn't worry about it - we worked it out in relation to a trip to (eastern) Holland a few years back, and the added mileage and fuel for the tunnel didn't swing the balance away from the Hull ferry. The added advantage is that the cost on that ferry doesn't rise too much when its a small group - 4 travel for about the same price as 1.

The reason the cabin is required is that it's a 14 hour crossing, but it is a floating hotel - they don't want bikers cluttering up the corridors ;)

[maviczap]

I am part German so I'm allowed and no I don't have a dead bird in my keks lol

Thats alright then Fritz ;)

Its a phrase my wifes Uncle uses to say have you farted :p

[Smudge]

I wouldn't worry about it - we worked it out in relation to a trip to (eastern) Holland a few years back, and the added mileage and fuel for the tunnel didn't swing the balance away from the Hull ferry. The added advantage is that the cost on that ferry doesn't rise too much when its a small group - 4 travel for about the same price as 1.

The reason the cabin is required is that it's a 14 hour crossing, but it is a floating hotel - they don't want bikers cluttering up the corridors ;)

Yep I may be taking a passenger just to make it a little less of a rip off.
I havn't been on a ferry in years so i still thought you could just book a seat!
I remember everyone sleeping in the outside porchy bits and most throwing up over the edge.

[orose]

On the shorter trips, you still can - I think it's just longer ones that require somewhere to sleep.