View Full Version : Europe journey in few weeks.
I am going to do a journey in next few weeks. I will travel from London to Paris, stay there for 2 nights visiting my friend, than going to St. Moritz in Switzerland to visit another friend (2 nights again) and then I will go to Czech republic and after few days straigh back to London. And am wondering if you guys can give me some answers on my questions or even some useful hints which I didn't realize before.
- Ferry/tunnel journey - so far it looks like the cheapest way is to buy actually 4 tickets. Two same day return tickets which will cost about £40 (ferry) or £56 (tunnel) comparing to return ticket for those 2 weeks which would be £60 (ferry) or £85 (tunnel). Looks quite silly, does anyone have experience with that and maybe a tip where or how to buy these tickets cheapest?
- what documents do you carry with you when you travel to Europe?
- what about the compulsory equipment (hig-vis jacket, first aid kit, etc..)
- any tips on good and cheap breakdown cover for Europe for approx. 2 weeks
Might forgot some questions so will be adding later probably. Thanks.
christopher
26-06-12, 12:06 PM
I always use the Eurotunnel and buying the later in the day tickets (usually from 4 o'clock onwards) makes them about £20 cheaper (each way). When you get there it gives you the option of an earlier train at no extra charge if there is space, which for a motorcycle there is on 99.9% of the trains.
Now you are not guaranteed that this will work how you want so it's a bit of a gamble, but I've done it countless times and never had a problem.
Luckypants
26-06-12, 12:13 PM
Documents - V5 (not a copy), Insurance certificate, MOT, drivers license (both parts), passport, breakdown insurance docs, EHIC card, travel insurance (make sure it covers riding motorcycles over 125!).
Compulsory Eqpt - hi-vis under seat, spare bulbs, cloth warning triangle that fits over a helmet, first aid kit and from next month a breathalyser kit for France. - most of this I carry anyway.
I believe that the tunnel/ ferry operators have a term that if you do not use the return portion of a day crossing, they have the right to charge you for difference between what you paid and a single. So you could end up paying for the equivalent of two singles!
I've never done it, maybe others have?
I believe that the tunnel/ ferry operators have a term that if you do not use the return portion of a day crossing, they have the right to charge you for difference between what you paid and a single. So you could end up paying for the equivalent of two singles!
I've never done it, maybe others have?
Well that's exactly what I am concerned of and what came to my mind and wanted to hear experience of others.
The cheapest place when I crossed was DFDS Seaways for the bike. Irritating how expensive it is - it compares to a car, but bikes seem to fill the spare nooks and crannys on the boat.
Specialone
26-06-12, 10:52 PM
Regarding the breathalysers, They come into force July 1st but government guidelines say they will be enforced (ie, start fining) from November.
Specialone
26-06-12, 10:54 PM
Id also recommend annual breakdown cover, works out cheaper over the year, i just upgrade for £3 extra for the month im going to Europe then drop it down again next month.
Good point with breathalysers but luckily I will do it in July, so won't bother having one.
Breakdown covers really interst me. Any tips on short cover just for this trip or even for long term covers which would cover me here in UK as well as on that trip?
Edit: So far I have found best price here: http://www.vehicle-rescue.com/ Does anyone know this company? Real experience? Those big guys are really expensive, for example AA is almost £150 for that trip...
Edit: Also this is fairly priced http://www.breakdowndirect.co.uk/
Purity14
27-06-12, 02:19 PM
Documents - V5 (not a copy), Insurance certificate, MOT, drivers license (both parts), passport, breakdown insurance docs, EHIC card, travel insurance (make sure it covers riding motorcycles over 125!).
Compulsory Eqpt - hi-vis under seat, spare bulbs, cloth warning triangle that fits over a helmet, first aid kit and from next month a breathalyser kit for France. - most of this I carry anyway.
Are you kidding, im setting off tomorrow to Italy, and high-vis, spare bulbs, warning triangle that fits over a helmet?? first aid kit...?
How will I fit everything in my bike - what a load of nonsence.
Steve_God
27-06-12, 02:31 PM
They're cheap! I've been looking for Euro breakdown cover for me in the car next month and that's far cheaper than anything I've come across!
They're cheap! I've been looking for Euro breakdown cover for me in the car next month and that's far cheaper than anything I've come across!
Yeah, they are....the question is...how it's going to be once all will go wrong :D So someone's personal experience would be very useful.
Edit: this also looks like giving good offers: http://www.european-breakdown-cover.com/Home.aspx?u=0 For me it was about £30 from Green flag and £160 from AA and AA policy was worse in about 10 criterias which most of them they don't cover at all.... only one where AA was better was legal cover (£50t vs £20).
Nobbylad
27-06-12, 02:37 PM
Are you kidding, im setting off tomorrow to Italy, and high-vis, spare bulbs, warning triangle that fits over a helmet?? first aid kit...?
How will I fit everything in my bike - what a load of nonsence.
You'd better hope you don't get a tug then, because I've known people to have to pay considerable amounts of Euro for not having basics such as warning triangle, spare bulbs and first aid kit.
Up to you in the end of the day, but to say it's nonsense...is....well....nonsense.
christopher
27-06-12, 02:42 PM
Unless the law has recently changed (?) you don't need a warning triangle for France or Italy when travelling by motorcycle (I don't know of any country that does require two wheeled vehicles to carry one actually).
As for the rest spare bulbs in themselves are not a requirement unless in Spain/Portugal however it is illegal to ride with faulty lights in France hence the advisory to carry a spare set there.
First aid kit and reflective jacket is compulsory in various countries, to be honest it's a good idea to carry those at all times anyway.
This isn't the most up to date data (published July 2010) but Suzuki have a Euro checklist at a glance document:
http://www.suzuki-gb.co.uk/uploads/suzuki_pre_tour_euro_rules.pdf
But obviously double check the details of the specific countries you will be travelling to.
I've seen this list from Suzuki earlier but two years is just too long ago to take it seriously I am affraid. If they would have create on now, that would be a big savor of time though. Otherwise I will have to search before I'll go.
A tip for cheap ferry tickets.
I just bought a return ticket for my journey on this site http://www.directferries.co.uk/ for 38 euros!
Although it took some tricks. If you do it normally you will get somewhere to £50. I chose the journey from Calais to Dover (not Dover to Calais) and the currency euro. Then on next page you change the direction on the left side and here we go... better price in cheaper currency....at least it has worked like that for me. Can't guarantee it as a general procedure.
I am going to be adding some questions and tips to this thread continuosly that it all will be at one place.
1) On the ferry, will they provide me with straps or should I buy some?
2) what road atlas is better? AA or Collins?
Luckypants
02-07-12, 11:13 AM
I am going to be adding some questions and tips to this thread continuosly that it all will be at one place.
1) On the ferry, will they provide me with straps or should I buy some?
2) what road atlas is better? AA or Collins?
1) They provide straps and will do it for you.
2) Neither, get a Michelin spiral bound A4 atlas. Michelin maps are better for France. spiral bound means it can be folded open without damage and A4 fits nicely in a tank bag. EDIT: one of these http://www.amazon.co.uk/France-2012-Motoring-A4-Spiral-Michelin/dp/2067169645/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1341227667&sr=1-3
Thanks Luckypants! yeah I am aiming to spiral bound one. Does Michelin do even atlases for more countries than just one (I did not find any)? I need at least France, Switzerland, Germany and maybe even Austria and Belgium. That's why I was looking at AA's and Collins', they do these. Obviously the question is how good it is while you have there so many countries which I will have to check and rather buy it personally.
Edit: found them even for more countries. Will take a look at them. Thanks
Luckypants
02-07-12, 11:29 AM
They do a European atlas, but it may not have the detail you need. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Europe-2012-Motoring-A4-Spiral-Michelin/dp/2067173677/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1341228515&sr=1-1
I take detailed map of the main country and less detailed ones for any I'm passing through. Works OK.
Well, I'm gonna be passing through just pretty much all of them :))) I'll take a look somewhere in shop and will see what would work better for me. Thanks
This is worth a read and might help clarify some issues...
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/touring_tips/compulsory_equipment.pdf
-Ralph-
02-07-12, 01:10 PM
A perfect example of why all advice posted on forums should be taken with a very large pinch of salt.
This is worth a read and might help clarify some issues...
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/touring_tips/compulsory_equipment.pdf
Good tip, thanks. Although all that equipment applies for bikes as well as for cars? Do I need red triangle on a bike?
-Ralph-
02-07-12, 01:48 PM
Good tip, thanks. Although all that equipment applies for bikes as well as for cars? Do I need red triangle on a bike?
All the clarification you need is in the PDF. Somebody has gone to the trouble of posting the link for you, please go to the trouble of reading it.
All the clarification you need is in the PDF. Somebody has gone to the trouble of posting the link for you, please go to the trouble of reading it.
I did, but not found a clear answer in that PDF.
But hey, thanks for very useful comment:thumbsup: If only more like this were here:smt041
-Ralph-
02-07-12, 01:57 PM
I did, but not found a clear answer in that PDF.
But hey, thanks for very useful comment:thumbsup: If only more like this were here:smt041
Warning Triangle - France - 'C' stands for compulsory, as clearly stated below the table, and (6) suggests you need to read the notes in section 6.
"(6) Not required for two-wheeled vehicles. In France from the 1st January 2013, all drivers and passengers of a motorcycle over 125cc or a motor tricycle over 15 KW/h must wear reflective clothing while riding their vehicle."
Looks like a clear answer to me. Hope the fact that I can read was more useful for you.
But we're not talking only about France are we though? ;)
Anyway, I'd rather have this thread insults and flamewars clear. So I definitely appreciate an input, but in a bit of different way preferably.
-Ralph-
02-07-12, 03:17 PM
Anyway, I'd rather have this thread insults and flamewars clear..
Don't insult anybody or start any flamewars then. All I initially posted was a very polite request that you read the information somebody had posted for you, which by asking what applied to cars and what applied to bikes you clearly hadn't done. This sarcasm came from you...
But hey, thanks for very useful comment:thumbsup: If only more like this were here:smt041
My answer was already a reaction on your kind of a "arogant" note to read something on what I have already spent several minutes. From my point of view there was definitely better way how to express that you think those answers are there.
Somebody has gone to the trouble of posting the link for you, please go to the trouble of reading it.
And even though I agree that some are there, I am still not sure about few others and that's why I asked...on the forum...in the thread which I created for this purpose...to gather information.
Your posts here were not related to the topic so far so if you don't want to contribute or don't like this thread, then please feel free to use your right not to read it.
-Ralph-
02-07-12, 03:48 PM
Stop making excuses.
Somebody went to the effort of posting something, in an attempt to help you, which told you very clearly what applied to cars and what applied to bikes, and instead of taking the time to read it, you simply asked that person to read it for you and tell you what it said.
I asked you, very politely, to go back and read it, and you started making sarcastic comments.
Whether you think I could have put it different, or whether you think 'Please go back and read it' it was arrogant is irrelevant. You didn't read it, then you reacted badly to my post.
End of story.
Then you probably know better than me what I did or what I didn't ;)
And that's why it's often so difficult to find anything on forum because instead of useful info there are comments which has a zero added value (like yours in this thread) which one has to go through first.
What I was pointing out for example is the Belgium and fire extinguisher and first aid kit. It says that it's compulsory for vehicles registrered in Belgium. Are really all bike riders in Belgium riding around with a backpack stuffed with fire extinguisher? Maybe there are different dimensions for bikes or it's just ridiculuos enough to not apply for bikes and that's why I asked.
Same story with reflective jacket in Belgium - refers to driver but two wheeled vehicles are not excluded. So what does it mean? If it refers only to drivers than I'd say that riders don't need it. But it looks like the document excludes situations when it does not apply and two-wheeled vehicles are not excluded in this case. And that's why I asked.
And received a recommendation to read the document. Yeah, thanks, really.
-Ralph-
02-07-12, 04:25 PM
Then you probably know better than me what I did or what I didn't ;)
And that's why it's often so difficult to find anything on forum because instead of useful info there are comments which has a zero added value (like yours in this thread) which one has to go through first.
What I was pointing out for example is the Belgium and fire extinguisher and first aid kit. It says that it's compulsory for vehicles registrered in Belgium. Are really all bike riders in Belgium riding around with a backpack stuffed with fire extinguisher? Maybe there are different dimensions for bikes or it's just ridiculuos enough to not apply for bikes and that's why I asked.
Same story with reflective jacket in Belgium - refers to driver but two wheeled vehicles are not excluded. So what does it mean? If it refers only to drivers than I'd say that riders don't need it. But it looks like the document excludes situations when it does not apply and two-wheeled vehicles are not excluded in this case. And that's why I asked.
And received a recommendation to read the document. Yeah, thanks, really.
Although all that equipment applies for bikes as well as for cars? Do I need red triangle on a bike?
You didn't point out or ask any of those things, you asked if you needed a red triangle, but since you now have....
The row in the table for fire extinguishers is entitled "Fire Extinguisher (6)"
and (6) suggests you need to read the notes in section 6.
"(6) Not required for two-wheeled vehicles. In France from the 1st January 2013, all drivers and passengers of a motorcycle over 125cc or a motor tricycle over 15 KW/h must wear reflective clothing while riding their vehicle."
I can't see the issue with the reflective jacket in Belgium. Motorbikes have drivers and passengers do they not?
Again, please read the PDF that has been posted for you. I know it doesn't cover Cz and you are going, but nothing you've questioned on it so far relates to Cz, and everything you have questioned is in the PDF.
I asked if it applies for cars as well as for bikes and put the triangle as an example. Short answer "yes it applies for both" would be good enough and much better, faster and easier for us than "I know it all" arrogant answer about reading.
OK, I admit, my bad about the Fire Extinguisher that I haven't noticed the "6" on the very left and saw just the number "17". Thanks for this topic related note, that's what I wanted to read here in this thread.
I'd say that cars have drivers and passangers and motorikes have riders and pillions, that's where I saw the issue and that's where I still see it and that's why I asked.
And again, I asked on the forum where people talk and ask questions. I did that in thread created by myself and if you're one of those people who would rather come to an empty dead forum where no one says anything than as I already said, please feel free to use your right to not read this thread. Honestly, I don't force you to it.
-Ralph-
02-07-12, 04:58 PM
Short answer "yes it applies for both" would be good enough and much better, faster and easier for us
OK, I admit, my bad about the Fire Extinguisher that I haven't noticed the "6" on the very left and saw just the number "17". Thanks for this topic related note, that's what I wanted to read here in this thread
In other words when you ask for help on the forum, you don't want people to post PDF's for you to read, you just want to be given all the answers on a plate.
Why should I have to post "yes it applies for both" for you, when you can read the PDF and figure that out for yourself? Why should I have to post about the 6 in brackets next Fire Extingushers, when it's there for you to read it yourself? Why should other people put in the effort to interrogate and figure out the table/notes for you, if you can't be bothered to interrogate it for yourself?
Fair enough if you miss something, or even if you are dyslexic, or even simply too thick to figure it out, I'd have no issue then, but that doesn't seem to be the case, you seem reasonably intelligent, but you've missed everything. Is that because you couldn't be bothered?
Sorry, I don't care if you find my posts unhelpful. Expecting people to google it for you, post it for you, and then read it for you, when you are not prepared to read it yourself, is not acceptable.
Last words on the subject, thread unsubscribed.
christopher
02-07-12, 05:00 PM
Dear me. Get a room you two.
Sent from my GT-I9100P using Tapatalk 2
Last words on the subject, thread unsubscribed.
Oh finally :smt041 Thanks ;):thumbsup:
Oh dear...there I go again. Causing all sorts of hoo-ha and ker-fuffle. I will be going on a tour this year. My yellow jacket will be in my bag next to my 2 x breathalyser kits and set of spare light bulbs. I will not be buying a fire extinguisher or reflective triangle thingy. I might also take a change of stylish underwear if I can fit them in the bag.:cool:
They do a European atlas, but it may not have the detail you need. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Europe-2012-Motoring-A4-Spiral-Michelin/dp/2067173677/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1341228515&sr=1-1
I take detailed map of the main country and less detailed ones for any I'm passing through. Works OK.
Went to the bookstore yesterday and took a look inside all three of them and I have to say that the Michelin and Collins looked so much better then the AA one. And between Michelin and Collins I liked the Michelin more mostly because it was half the number of pages (weight) while having similar detail (lot of text in collins at the end).
They had 2011 and 2012 Michelin atlas and the 2011 was just so much easier to orient in...but I rather went for 2012 because of the updated info but wish it looked like the 2011.
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