After cancelling last years holiday due to lack of funds we're now two Christmas bonuses better off and have decided we can afford a trip. W've decided it would be fun to get the train to Strasbourg from Manchester, have a few days there then hire a car, tour the wine route, have one night in Freiburg, drop the car off back in Strasbourg and have two nights in Paris for the holidays on 13 and 14 July. Our Strasbourg hotel is paid for but I've just booked everywhere else so these could be altered. I'd welcome advice on whether there are things I'm missing are there any places/things to do/restaurants that people look back on really fondly.
5 July - early train from london to Strasbourg - we got the Hilton for just £50 a night
6 July - special birthday - thinking Umami over Buerehiesel
7 July - Strasbourg
8 July - last night in Strasbourg - dinner at Le Gavroche
9 July - Hire a car and drive south stopping at Obernai, Mont Sainte-Odile, Barr, Zotzenberg, Mittelbergheim and Andlau (Obernai and MSO are the two longer stops). After the last stop diving on to Thannenkirch where we have Hotel Haut Koenigsbourg booked.
10 July - Chateau Haut Koenigsbourg then Bergheim, Ribeauville, Hunawihr, Riquewihr and Kientzheim before overnight in Colmar at the Hotel Turenne
11 July - Morning and early afternoon in Colmar then Neuf-Brisach before special birthday treat of dinner at Auberge de L'Ill, staying at Hotel La Clairiere, which I hope is walking distance from the restaurant. It would have been nice to drive the Route de Cretes in the Vosges but I don't think we have time.
12 July - drive to Freiburg. See the Munster and I'd like to take a look at the Vauban district as I'm a town planner. Have wanted to visit Freiburg for a long time since reading it was one of Germany's greenest cities. Is there a different district that may be better than Vauban? Staying at the Hotel Schwarzwalder Hof.
13 July - drive back to Strasbourg via Gengenbach. Train to Paris. Staying at Hotel Elysee Etoile near the Arc de Triomphe.
14 July - up early to see the military parade - we overslept many years ago and missed it, hence a hotel close to the Champs Elysee.
15 July - trains to London and Manchester.
Hotels are picked based on reasonable prices, location and good enough Tripadvisor ratings.
Comments, tips and advice much appreciated.
Thanks, Tim
10 nights in France - Strasbourg, Alsace wine route, side trip to Freiburg, finishing off in Paris for 14 July - advice please.
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It sounds perfectly lovely and well-thought-out to me!
Spent five nights in Alsace a little while ago and really enjoyed it. Glad you're making it to Gengenbach. It's a great little town.
Great itinerary
We drove this route some years ago. Have a wonderful trip.
Years of listening to advice on this site paying off!!
Check on parking for the hotel which is in the old town. Parking is generally difficult in Freiburg as outsiders are officially not allowed to park for extended periods (more than a few hours) in residential neighborhoods. I would look for a hotel at the end of a streetcar line and use public transportation to see the old town and the Vauban district.
Did you check prices of driving to Hull and catching the Ferry to Zeebrugge or Rotterdam, the drive from there to Strasbourg is about the same distance from either port, it might prove cheaper than the flights? Also you can take wine home with you.
Thanks Michael, will check that out. Is Vauban the best district to look at for a geeky planner to check out?
Bilbo - We're getting the train. We drove to Greece a few year ago and love driving holidays but thought we'd give it a rest this time. I'm also dealing with a new train line at work so trains are on my mind. At under £125 return the TGV seemed a great deal. I will check the ferry though just to ease my mind.
Thanks for the advice
Is Vauban the best district to look at for a geeky planner to check out?
I would not know, but even before that development, the newer suburbs of Freiburg were designed for walking and bicycles.