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Thinking of driving from London to Czech republic

4 replies

Veronikaash · 14/08/2010 20:56

We are thinking to drive from London to Czech republic (prague)in december, to spend christmas there. 14 hours with no stopping.
I need advice!!
Our children 4y and 9mnths(in december), how to make them "busy" in car?
get eurotunnel or ferry?
Also do we need any "stamps" for driving through Germany and Czech?
Any idea how much it cost for petrol..etc?

OP posts:
Lotkinsgonecurly · 14/08/2010 20:58

We've just done 10 hours to south of France. Our children 6 and 3 demanded stops every 2 hours and we couldn't drive any longer than 5 hours per day. It just drove everyone mad, the 3 year old was the worst.

We didn't have but will get a dvd player for the car for the next long journey. Best of luck/.

Veronikaash · 16/08/2010 08:32

How about getting petrol in Belgium or Germany, do they speak english? Am really worried.
If something happens to car, coulkd we contact AA abroad?
pls, pls, more advice needed.

OP posts:
mrswobblebottom · 19/08/2010 18:43

We did Southampton to Prague a few years ago, stopping in Cologne overnight on the way down and doing non-stop on the return trip.

We went by Euro tunnel and back on ferry from Calais. Buying petrol or diesel is simple in all the european countries you go through (we went through France, Belgium, Holland, Germany and Czech Republic). Garages are generally self service as they are here, but you may have to pay before putting nozzle in tank. If youve got AA European cover you will be fine, just follow the instructions.

It is compulsory to have headlights on in the czech republic and you must carry full set of spare bulbs and hi-viz reflective jacket in case of breakdown. You must also have a licence to drive on motorways in czech republic which is a sticker you display in the windscreen, ours was supplied by family who live there but maybe you could get yours or at least advice from czech embassy in London??

If you travel on a Sunday through Germany its much easier and quicker because all HGV lorries are parked up and not allowed to use the autobahns.

Our children were older and the dvd players in the car were invaluable! 14 hours is a long time, it took us 18 hours Prague to Southampton non-stop including boat.

It was not my choice to drive, but to visit BIL, was only way as DH wouldnt fly! He has since done fear of flying course and has been to USA 4 times!! Would fly if we go again! Hope this is useful info, DH dictated most of the above!!

LoveBabyLoveTravel · 24/08/2010 20:20

Hi,

We drove 2000 miles this summer. We took the ferry to Brussels and drove through Italy, France, Switzerland and Germany. My son was 5 months old at the time. Our first day was a 6 hour drive and I was dreading it but it was actually ok. We planned the rest of the trip so that we weren't doing any more than 3 hours driving per day, and this normally involved one stop (unless he was sleeping in which case we kept going!)

Getting petrol is no problem. We found at most petrol stations the attendant would come out to the car and we just said and mimed 'fill it up' - they always understood!

I was apprehensive before we left but it was an amazing trip and I'm so glad we drove, we got to see so much more of the countries we visited.

We didn't get breakdown cover but at the very least you have to upgrade your insurance so that you're covered abroad. Give them a call and they'll be able to give you a quote for both. Breakdown insurance is pricey but it'll give you peace of mind.

I started a blog while I was away because I felt there was a need for a website dedicated to sharing family travel tips. Take a look and ask questions/leave comments. www.lovebabylovetravel.com

All the best,

Anna

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