Slovakia

[MATKAT]

Sue and I considering going to Slovakia for a little trip.
Question is, is it feasible when we only realistically have about 10 days total for our summer break....................
Children rather cramp our style here !!!
Any advice suggestions and routes gratefully received.
Thanks
Fred'

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Fred, It's do-able, if you take a North Sea Ferry into Holland (either Newcastle or Hull)

Then you can make your way across into Germany (former East Germany) and head for Dresden area, picking a relatively scenic route or a m/way dash to clear the flatter parts of Germany
Stay over nr Dresden and enter Czech, where you can visit Praha (Prague either on your way or way home) and then meander down the Bohemian countryside, in the direction of Bratislava.
Head up to the Slovakian hills near Ostrava and then onto the Polish Tatra's, nr Zakopane to stay, where Krakow and its architecture/salt mines...is easily do-able in 10 days

To give you an idea, I did Amsterdam to Dresden in 1 day on m/way, then on 9/11 in 2001 I did Dresden, down through Czech & Slovakia countryside in 1 day on small roads to Budapest, entering Budapest @ about 7pm on that fateful day..........so easily done in 10 days
That should give you ample time for sightseeing/relaxing in the areas in both cities and countryside

 

[MATKAT]

Thanks Jonny

Thats a great help..................cheers Is it feasible via Calais?? or another channel port?? Mind the way you went makes sense

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Anything's feasible..................but from Alvechurch to Dover, it's a m/way hike for nothing

Nicer to wander across the Peak District, over the M1 to North Lincs, via the twisties and pop over the Humber Bridge to Hull, for the 9pm sailing to Rotterdam.
Boarding is about 7pm, so you only need an afternoon off to get the boat.

Nice romantic evening meal on board, cabin for 2 and off the boat the next morning @ 8am in Rotterdam.

Traverse Holland/Germany to Desden in a 1er and Eastern Europe is then your lobster (transit time only 1.5 days each way = 3 days, only an afternoon in UK & 1 day across Holland/Germany x 2).............

7 days to explore Czech/Slovakia/Southern Poland & Tatra's and maybe even Northern Hungary (Eger on Hungarian/Ukrainian Border is beautiful, with its Ottoman influence) & Budapest..................easily done

Sounds like a plan...................enjoy

 

[MATKAT]

Thats perfect!!

Hey Johnny that sounds an excellent plan..could even stop off at Mcflurry for a cuppa'
Will explore that one ..Thanks

 

[Invicta Moto]

Thats a great help..................cheers Is it feasible via Calais?? or another channel port?? Mind the way you went makes sense

Perfectly feasible. I did Zeebrugge to Brno in about 10 hours on a DR800... so a GS will pee it with a stop or two on the way? Even two up. Plus I suppose you have to consider if the ride there is aprt of the holiday as scenic roads only or thrash the balls off the crate to get there...

I used the A4 route via Dresden/Prague route on the DR, but usually go on the A3 route nowadays via Koln/Frankfurt/Nurnburg/Amberg and then into Czech...

Have you thought of where you want to go in Slovakia?

I only have experienced thr Tatras and the west along the Czech border and down to Bratislava and along the Danube as far as Komarov/Komarom.

Not been since 1998 though so things will have changed. Can recommend Brno as an overnight stop.... if you choose to take the "normal" slog across via Germany and enter Czech at Rozvadov.

Fewer prozzies on the roads in that area than you get in the north of Prague from former East Germany! But still scenic off the motorway!

 

[Bezzler]

I was working in the Tatra last year things have changed there in the past few years. I usualy go across the tunnel head for Reims on the E50 this road will take you all the way through France (yeh its Paege but not so many trucks and good roads), Germany ( watch out the germans only have it signposted as A6). into CZ, Plzen , Prague , Brno. and all the way through to the Tatra. If you get to the Tatra check out Spiss castle and the surrounding bits. stay here if you can (Poprads bigger but crap) Spiska nova ves. was an ok town. fairly good hotels and a couple of restaurants with English menus. Just watch out for the gypsy towns (you'll know these when you hit em, rubbish and wooden huts everywere). I usualy stop overnight around Heidleberg, then Prague( or you could push on to Brno as suggested) Once you hit Slovakia the road gets tough, Two lane, lotsa big trucks and mad buggers overtaking on blind bends so take it easy, If I can help anymore PM me.

Happy travels

 

[MATKAT]

Thanks so far

Thanks for the input so far........................foute out fairly clear.....now does anyone have any input for en route accommodation and in Slovakia
Thanks
Fred

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Thanks for the input so far........................foute out fairly clear.....now does anyone have any input for en route accommodation and in Slovakia
Thanks
Fred

Bring a Czech/Slovak map next weekend (MMM) and we'll have a look together, Fred

 

[MATKAT]

Thanks

Thanks Johnny

 

[Bezzler]

Thanks for the input so far........................foute out fairly clear.....now does anyone have any input for en route accommodation and in Slovakia
I usualy stay at the Holiday Inn @ Waldorf,Germany . It's a good halfway stop to Prague. 1 junction north of A6/E50. on A5. (look on a good map it's just below Heidelberg) safe parking,
In Prague I use the Rennaisence Hotel. safe parking (underground) and an easy 4min walk into town.
Slovakia depends were your aiming for.

 

[Robbo lone rider]

Last year on a trip through Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Czech Republic we passed through Tatranska Lomnica in the Tatras. There is a hotel there which gives discount to motorcyclists did not stop there but may make it this year. I hope to get to Llangollen next weekend i will be camping and have a yellow 1150 if you would like a chat

 

[Britishbeefy]

Just got back. Awesome! Did Hoek ferry, Chemnitz, Krakow, Kosice, Uzhgorod, took some time off the main roads, Poland has nothing but minor potholed roads in my (limited) experience but needs to be done just for Auschwitz. Will write it all up at some stage but was 3000 miles in 10 days. Longest day didn't have the most miles, 12.5h and only 400 miles (that's Poland for you!). Really good/hot weather in CZ, Poland, SLovakia, Ukraine too....a bit wet and wild on the way back Fri/Sat with snow on Motorways in Germany.
Like I said I will write it up, when I've stopped making up with er indoors!!