KatjaN

Hey!

I am planning a trip from Helsinki to Alicante with a car (Finland-Sweden-Denmark-Germany-France(through Paris)-Spain(Alicante)) and I have some questions:

1.What would be the must-see cities/sightseeings on that route in your opinion?
2.What locations/cities should we avoid?

Recommendations/experiences are more than welcome! <3

Envierges

How much time are you allowing?
How much money are you planning on spending?
How many guidebooks have you researched?

thursdaysd

Why not take the train?

And if you don't know what you want to see, why are you planning that particular route?

Is it your car, and if not have you researched drop off fees?

Bedar

Better to fly Helsinki - Alicante.

janisj

Not only how many weeks/months are you planning -- When is this trip? Would not be advisable in winter.

>>1.What would be the must-see cities/sightseeings on that route in your opinion?
2.What locations/cities should we avoid? <<

How can anyone answer such broad questions about Six countries?

Why not come up with at least an outline of an itinerary and we can help you refine things (but not if this is in winter and probably not if you are hiring a car)

PalenQ

2.What locations/cities should we avoid?>

None except maybe Benidorm!

I am planning a trip from Helsinki to Alicante with a car (Finland-Sweden-Denmark-Germany-France(through Paris)-Spain(Alicante)) and I have some questions

subjective take of moi: (Not knowing of course how long you have or season of travel)

Helsinki
Ferry to Stockholm from Helsinki or Turku
Copenhagen
Hamburg
Amsterdam
Bruges
Brussels
Paris
Loire Valley
Avginon area of Provence
Barcelona
Madrid
Toledo
Alicant'

Really that is just logical -what are your interests? In addition to guidebooks two online sources I like and which mention lots of places to stay and itineraries check www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com and ask more specific questions here.

PalenQ

Are you renting a car or have your own?

KatjaN

As we started planning the trip just yesterday, we just had start and end. We made a clearer view of our trip with ViaMichelin.

The car is the main reason why we are not flying, as the objective of this trip is to take our car from Finland to Spain and leave it there.

Our vacation is 3 weeks and as we only have 2 drivers we are prepared that it will take us minimum 5 days.

Start:
Espoo, Finland
Turku, Finland (ferry to Stockholm)
Stockholm, Sweden
Copenhagen, Denmark
Hamburg, Germany (HOSTEL)
Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Marseille/Toulouse(?), France (HOSTEL)
Barcelona, Spain
Valencia, Spain
End/Alicante, Spain

We saw from ViaMichelin that costs would be around 500€ (toll fares 190€)

PalenQ

Are you renting a car- if so picking up in Finland and dropping in Spain ain't a problem?

Minimum 5 days? Yeh if you take boring autoroutes and don't stop - but that don't sound like fun to me - thought you had at least a few weeks- is this a trip to relocate from Finland to Spain or a vacation where you stop and see things en route? If the latter you will see little besides boring freeways.

janisj

PQ: >>Are you renting a car-<<

The OP states >>The car is the main reason why we are not flying, as the objective of this trip is to take <B><u>our</B> car</u> from Finland to Spain and <u>leave it there</u><< - so no, they are not renting a car.

>>thought you had at least a few weeks-<<

OP says they have three weeks, and it appears they think the drive alone will take at least 5 days.

PalenQ

thanks jan for pointing out what should have been obvious to this sloppy reader.

3 weeks is really nice for that - would still encourage to get off autoroutes a bit and slow down like not just driving thru France from Luxembourg to Marseille (which is a major detour from a more direct route) and meander a bit like around Avignon area - like driving by the Pont du Gard (old Roman aqeuduct in country near Avignon) - and skip Marseille and hit beaches if that is key more on a direct route to Barcelona.