Can anyone recommend any cottages/self catering/center parcs style accomodation in Germany?

[GetOrfMoiiLand]

Thinking of going to Germany for a week in late August.

DP used to live there and hasn't been back for 10 years, so booking it as a surprise.

We will be driving, but he used to live in and around Aachen and Trier. Is there somewhere near those areas which would be a nice place for a holiday.

He also lived in Hamburg, what would that be like?

Or any other suggestions for Germany in a driveable distance from the UK.

Not quite Germany but we went to a Centre Parc in Holland - Het Heijderbos - which was very close to the German border and was fab. DS1 wants to go back this year (given that the only other holiday he has been on which was also last year was to DisneyLand Paris that's pretty high praise)

Think they also have Centre Parcs in Germany - similarly priced to the dutch ones so significantly cheaper than in the UK!

Oh thanks I didn't think of Centre Parcs, I will take a look.

we stayed here many years ago. In Holland but just across the border and very close to Aachen. Easy access to Germany, but also lots of other places to visit in Belgium such as Maastricht.

Unfortunately it's about 10 years since we were there so can't update you on the facilities etc but the accommodation was very spacious & cheap, clean but a bit shabby. It had a massive open air swimming pool when we were there, which they aren't showing any more but I think it also had public access so perhaps it no longer belongs to the park, or has just gone - you'd need to check if that was important to you.

Looks like they also have some places in Germany. Eurocamp also have some places in Germany, but have only been to the Black Forest.

Out of interest where in the UK are you (roughly if you don't want to be too specific)

I am in Gloucester, btw, so a bit of a drive in the UK to Dover prior to driving in Europe, that's why I wanted somewhere close in germany.

There is a center parcs in Bispinger Heide - not too far from Hamburg. I went there about 10 years ago.

When we went to het heijderbos (which looks like it is about an hour and a half from aachen, there are a couple of others a bit closer but in belgium) it was about a 4 hour drive from calais.

we ended up staying for the night in Ypres in both directions to break up the drive (and partly because we wanted to extend our mid-week cp stay and turn it into a bit more of a holiday with exposure to a real place) - got a good deal on hotels.com (i think) for a novotel just off the town square and it was a lovely little town to wander around and explore, plus lots of history. and going back in particular - it meant we were returning somewhere familiar for the dc (6 and 3) so it wasn't too much more upheaval, then in the morning we bought croissant etc from the fab bakery across the road for a couple of euro (instead of a mega expensive hotel breakfast) and didn't have to set off too early to get to calais in good time to get lots of some quality shopping in at the hypermarket and shopping centre as well as get to the ferry in time.

We did say if we were to go back we would consider getting the overnight ferry to hook of holland, thus start the holiday late the night before (we would be able to drive there pretty much if we set off after work), do the overnight on the ferry and then have a much shorter drive the next day, then spend the time venturing to cp again but also going to germany and somewhere in the netherlands. downside is that it costs more - but we were looking fairly last minute - if you know times now then you may well be able to pick up a better bargain!

There's also supposed to be a playmobil land somewhere in germany that has a hotel attached - but when I last looked into it dh and i decided that it was too far in to drive to. however, if you are going to be driving to germany anyway it might fit in quite well - my dc would love it but I know it will only appeal to those with relatively young kids!

Thank you very much - that sounds a great idea (breaking up the journey there are back).

I did think about the Zeebrugge ferry, however I loathe boats so would prefer to just take the shuttle to Calais and drive further.

www.landal.com have some parks in the Trier area. We stayed at Sonnenberg for a week over Easter. It was lovely.

lilo linked to Landal Hoog Vaals - next to Aachen. We have been 3 times in the last year. It is a lovely place. Also, we are just outside Brussels and have a spare room, if you want/need a stop off - I can provide MN recommendations