 | Home > Expedition & Overland > Heading to Austria - top tips needed! |
 
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| NickEJ Member Since: 24 Nov 2012 Location: Ljubljana Posts: 152   
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Having done the journey from Slovenia to Essex three times in the last six months I have the following observations:-
1). If you do go the Belgium route, which is a quick and easy way into Germany, avoid Brussels during the rush-hour. The "ring-road" around the city is not complete and only goes around the North which, thanks also to the inevitable road works, can make for very heavy and slow traffic. 2). The same is also true of Munich. 3). You can buy a vignette at any of the service stations from Munich onwards. 4). If you do stop at a service station in Germany, which are very good by the way, just make sure you have 50 or 70 cents handy in coins for the loo. You'll get it back if you keep your ticket and buy something. 5). I think there are a number of things that you need to carry such as a fluorescent vest and first-aid kit on top of the usual warning triangle, spare bulbs etc. At least you do here in Slovenia and I think they've just copied the Austrian system. Slovenia is worth a look if you have time. Have a good trip. Nick |
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7th May 2017 8:33am |
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| strang Member Since: 16 May 2012 Location: Happy Valley Posts: 1362 
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Michelin paper maps are very good too. They highlight all the scenic routes, so if you have time, you could go the pretty way, rather than just hammering it down the autobahns...... Euro-Leafing to infinity and beyond.....
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8th May 2017 6:57pm |
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| Ramsay Member Since: 30 Sep 2015 Location: Moffat, Dumfries & Galloway Posts: 625  
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Another vote for Grossglockner an excellent drive and divert to the glacier not just go straight over. I also suggest the Ice caves at Werfen. Salzburg is well worth a visit particularly the castle. 1995 Defender 110 CSW
1971 SIIA Lightweight |
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8th May 2017 8:27pm |
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| mactheknife Member Since: 08 Jul 2016 Location: Somerset Posts: 51 
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Just back from the trip to Austria.
Thanks for all the tips. The Grossglockener was fantastic.  Click image to enlarge Had to wait for a small avalanche to be cleared on route and gave the low ratio gears a workout. Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge The pictures don't do it justice though! Did 2500 trouble free miles in total, including a 18 hour nonstop run. Not bad for a 13 year old vehicle. Thoroughly enjoyed Austria and would highly recommend it. Lots to do, not a bad view to be had and very friendly. |
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21st May 2017 10:10pm |
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| Wild Card 90 Member Since: 03 Dec 2014 Location: Gerlingen Posts: 1060  
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Mactk, do tell more.
What route did you take? I take it the 18 hour nonstop was the journey home in one stint. 1998 Tdi 90 SW, 2008 Td4 90 SW, 2012 2.2 90 SW, 2" raised Trailmaster/Terrafirma Heavy Track Raids, 255 MTīs, Recaro CSīs, anorak, wellingtons |
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22nd May 2017 4:19am |
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| mactheknife Member Since: 08 Jul 2016 Location: Somerset Posts: 51
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The route we took was as follows:
Calais Eurotunnel to Maria Alm. A26 & A4 via Reims and as far as Strasbourg. The Peage routes are very good, the Liber-t pass means you can drive through tolls at 30km/h. You'll need to get your passenger to hold it out of the window if you have a heated screen. Crossed the Rhine into Germany on the D4, then autobahn route 5 then 8 Stuttgart to the east of Munich, Route 93 to the Austrian border. Then the 164 Leoganger road to Maria Alm. That was the 18 hour trip, including the Somerset to Folkstone leg. Expect traffic issues around Stuttgart and Munich due to roadworks. We broke the return leg up by overnighting in Nesselwang, Germany, which is near Schloss Neuschwanstein (the castle in Chitty chitty bang bang, be warned its over run with tourists and you can only do guided tours, the next English tour was two hours after we arrived so we gave up!) Maria Alm is about an hour from a lot of the locations we visited: Salzburg (excellent, go see the castle above town, Hohensalzburg) Click image to enlarge Zell Am See (nice town & cable car to high alpine walking route Pinzgauer Spatizergang) http://www.summitpost.org/pinzgauer-spaziergang-walk/304291, you can walk for up to 19km on the alpine ridges. Krimml waterfall (about 1 1/2 hours, but worth a day out clambering up some amazing falls. Take a picnic. Costs Ģ2.50 each) Click image to enlarge Grossglockner high alpine road ( private road with a toll. Take you up the highest road in Austria. Allow two to three hours and fill up before hand. There's restaurants etc on route but nothing else. Views are stunning). We also hired e-bikes, electric motor assisted mountain bikes - great for lazy people to tour alpine back roads and cycle paths! There are loads of routes mapped out near Saalfeden, free maps are available. Routes are graded by length and effort required. Austria is beautiful, well priced and very friendly (pet friendly too, including restaurants and some cable cars). This time of year the resorts are just opening, so no crowds. We are already planning our next trip there, with the mutt this time! |
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22nd May 2017 8:36pm |
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