As part of our Europe holiday in June July we are thinking of renting a car and traveliing from Paris through northern France, Belgium, Netherlands and then through Germany to Zurich where we do a Swiss tour. Ideas on what to see, do accomodation things we cannot miss. We will have 4 days in Paris before hand. Have 8-10 days. 2 school teachers in their fifties and very fit. Never been to these parts of Europe. I know this is not enough time but it is all we have. Help please.

Suggest you save money and time if you do much of your trip by train, rather than car.

You should look into how much it will cost to return a hire car in another country - it is usually a lot of money. If you want to hire a car in France then I suggest you return it in France before heading to Switzerland.
What are you interested in seeing in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany?
Countryside and small towns or cities? If the latter then taking the train would almost certainly make more sense, though it may not be cheaper than car hire. If the former then yes a hire car makes sense.
Tell us what you are hoping to see and we can advise you further.

Thank you to the two people who have replied. We want to see one or two places to do with WW1 or 2, lovely countryside, old homes, castles, a different way of life to us. I am from Perth in Western Australia. Not exactly sure what we want to see so after advice mainly. We are doing a 10 organized tripe to Athens and two of the Greek Islands and a 8 day trip of Switzerland. 4 days in Paris and then we have 8-10 days. So mainly want advice of the lovely people here whao have been before.

Hi Rebecca; You can find any number of American Cemeteries on this site, including a WW1 just outside of Paris. Google for Australian Cemeteries. Richard www.abmc.gov/cemeteries/cemeteries/br.php

I'd train from Paris to Brussels then rent the car there for touring the WWI and WWII battlefields of Northern France and Belgium. Drop the car back off in Brussels and take the train to Amsterdam. Public transport is good in Netherlands, but for the battlefields you really do need a car

I was going to suggest hiring the car in France. Ypres of course is worth a visit, then on to Bruges maybe. I don't know if Amsterdam appeals or not. If not then look at smaller towns in The Netherlands to visit, then head down to the Mosel before going back into France to drop the car off. That's a bit vague I know, but I really think you need to look at some guide books to get an idea of what it is you want to see, and decide how much of it you can see in your 10 days. Then decide whether to hire a car or go by train, depending on how out of the way the places are you want to see.
Public transport is good in the Netherlands yes but if you really want to see the countryside and visit unusual places a car is more useful.

Hi; One of our favorite towns in the Netherlands is Maastricht. If you had a car, it is on the boder with Belgium. Richard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/maastricht

P.S. This is a castle hotel that we have stayed at and only 4 miles from Maastricht. Richard www.kasteelgeulzicht.nl/engels/index_en.htm

For WW2 sights in The Netherlands
http://www.airbornewandeltocht.nl/en/
There's a large grave-yard in Oosterbeek
http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries/cemeteries/ne.php
Freedom trail in Arnhem
http://www.mijngelderland.nl/nc/en/s...-trail-arnhem/
other places or websites of interest.
http://www.airbornemuseum.com/
http://www.wingsofliberation.nl/
http://www.rememberseptember44.com/rs44.htm

You could take a strange route. Champagne/Alsace The Ballon d'alsace has a lovely hidden cemetry on the top as the ww1 lines cames along the Vosges ridge. Then down to Strasbourg. Dump the car train into Germany along the Rhine (via the Pfalz and the black forest (very different to Oz). The to Swiss via Basel. If this too short. After Champagne go up to Belgium via "the Wolf's lair" only hitler HQ outside Germany and various castles leading up to Givet. Then to Luxembourg and down the moselle (again by Train or even river boar) to join up with my previous idea

Wow, you guys are fantastic. Never having been there before you have made my life so much easier. Thank you for all the advice I will neow look at all your suggestions. A big thank you.

Rebecca, sorry for all the typos. I was sitting in snow bound UK at the time as my only excuse.

Most of these areas (except Holland) are wine growing areas so plenty of space to walk and drink with pubs/wine stube every so often

We can help with planning your visit to Belgium!

If you are driving into Belgium from France, there is a great castle in a town called Boullion right on the border. Then you can continue up to Bastogne where the Battle of the Bulge took place. There are some great tours of the battle field and you can also visit the WWII memorial built to honor the American soldiers who fought there. You can then stop in Namur or Dinant (where the saxophone was invented) on your way to Waterloo where on June 18-20 there will be a historical re-enactment of the Battle of Waterloo (when Napoleon was defeated). Brussels is just a short drive from here, making it easy to continue onto the Netherlands by train. Enjoy!

Hi RebeccaHWA
We also have travelled from Australia to the Aussie sites in Northern France, into Belgium to Ypres (Menin Gate Last Post is a must-see) and to the Atlantic Wall on the Belgian coast.

If you click on my di2315 in blue at the top of this post, you will be able to see my posts on these places.
I usually only post a brief summary, but if you want any more detailed information I'd be happy to supply it.

DH & I are returning to Northern France this March with all the family in tow, to do some more detailed exploring of the area. An excellent book to read is 'Walking with the Anzacs' by Mat McLachlan. When I bought our copy it was out of print, but you can contact him direct as he may have a few copies left. Di

Hi Rebecca,
In Belgium we have been to Zonnebeke, Passchendaele, Ieper (Ypres) and Tyne Cot Cemetery, which are significant towns for Australians on the WWI trail. Tyne Cot and Ieper I found particularly moving, and like di2315 recommend the Last Post at the Menin Gate. So many names of so many dead soldiers, and that was just the soldiers on one side - such a waste. We have also driven through Northern France, although not on the hunt for war sites, and found the terrain to be a little dull for driving, particularly round Arras; Lille is a little gem and architecturally has more in common with its northern neighbours. If you are spending any time in northern France I also highly recommend Brittany, which is just lovely.

Lavandula

Belgium is, of couirse, home to the micro-brewery and the trappist brewervy.

Rebecca, if you are still watching this thread, the Australian Dept of Veterans' Affairs has just released a website listing overseas memorials that commemorate Australian service in wars and peacekeeping activities. See www.memorials.dva.gov.au

It has excellent directions for finding each one, as well as a detailed description, and pictures so you know what to look out for.
Di