Mumsnet Talk

We usually go to France but fancied something different this year. Although I've been to Austria quite a few times, that was over 20 years ago and I have never driven there from the UK.

Does anyone have any tips? In particular, good places/hotels for overnight stops on the way through.

Thank you.

We drove there last year, it was a long drive but fab once we got there!

We had a stopover at the AKZENT Hotel Restaurant Höhenblick in Muhlhausen im tale, was a massive room for 5 of us, food was good.

We got stuck in lots of traffic between Fussen and Innsbruck, hit it at the wrong time, lunchtime on a saturday, so if you go that way aim to get there very early or later or midweek maybe.

We had a fab time, Innsbruck is great for kids, would definitely go back. Fantastic outdoor and indoor pools. Lots of sights, great food and not ridiculously expensive.

Enjoy

That's great, thank you. Just what I was after!

Out of interest, how did you find your hotel?

We're staying in St Wolfgang, right near the lake and my boys are so excited already!

viamichelin.co.uk is a good website to use when driving to Europe as its got hotel and restaurant guides too.

Oh, will watch with interest. We have stayed at St Wolfgang for the past three years but with flights for 5 of us it is getting really expensive so thought we might try and drive this time to cut down on cost. Just trying to work out if it will be a cheaper option. Where are you staying? St Wolfgang is fab -we have always had great weather and the lake is brilliant for watersports and swimming.

We're staying here http://www.pureholidayhomes.com/st-wolfgang-am-wolfgangsee-wonderful-chalet-with-amazing-views-p35137.html (hope that works!)

DH loves driving to our holiday destination, says its part of the holiday! So we will go through the tunnel, drive for a few hours, stop over and carry on the next day.

We're hoping for good weather but it can be a bit hit and miss still there's plenty to do whatever happens.

Its going to be a real revisit of my childhood!

I found it on booking.com, rooms for 5 much easier to find over there than in UK.

You'll have a great time, allow more time than google maps says it is as we got stuck in a few jams.

Took the bikes with us which is why we drove, was worth it as we did loads of bike riding once there.

Yes it was like revisiting my childhood as always did hols like that. Love the adventure of it all!

We drove to Austria from Paris in summer 2010 and stopped overnight in Ulm (quite nice); on the return journey we drove from Austria to Kent, and stopped overnight in Metz (grim).

Remember that you need to buy a vignette to drive on the Austrian motorways. You can buy them at service stations close to the border.

vignette = tax disc

[www.viamichelin.com Via Michelin]] is good for maps and decent quality stopovers. This one is good, stayed here with DS (5 months) en route to Austria.

Via Michelin even....