ROC Holidays in the Sun?

evileye_wrx · December 10, 2006, 02:49

For some time I've been toying with the idea of doing a big driving holiday sometime in the future. I asked the Wife if she was interested and she has flatly refused. Lack of luggage space, no where to plug in the straighteners, she cries. But, the way I see it, her loss could be the Club's gain.

Now, I've never tried organising anything like this before (Although I've run a few hiking and mountain biking trips in the UK and abroad) so have no idea really if it's feasible but I had a few questions which I thought our Hive Mind may be able to fathom out. so here goes....

1. Firstly, how far is feasible to expect to travel in a day?

2. How far would people be willing to travel in total?

3. Would people be more interested in Gumball-style Autobahn sprint or a more leisurely scenic tootle?

4. Stopovers, should they be in small towns (cheaper but harder to arrange ahead of time, and less nightlife) or capital cities (more expensive, but more banging nights out)?

5. Would people be willing to take on delegated organisational duties?

6. How much would people be willing to pay for this type of holiday. Cost is going to include fuel, accommodation, food and drink. Anyone think of anything else that I've glaringly missed out?

7. Would this be considered to be Convoy driving or just a group of people going in the same direction in the same type of car?

8. If its a convoy, are there any special permits/ requirements that would have to be taken into consideration?

9. Camping anyone?

10. This year or next?

Finally, and I suppose this should have been asked first. Is anyone interested in doing this? The more the merrier and all that.

The 2 trips I that had come into my thoughts were :-

MR2ROC Midnight Sun Run to Narvik (or further north!) in Norway. Inside the Arctic Circle where the sun never sets (in the summer anyway). Holland - Autobahnland - Denmark - Sweden - Norway.

and

Gibraltar ROC. Barbary Ape, Pillar's of Hercules, British Bobby's trip to the Gateway to Africa via the Pyrenees. France - Andorra - Spain.

Of course I could just be talking quarter to 3 in the am drivel, but I think something like this would be really fun. Oh yeah, and guess who just bought a Boot Rack s:wink: :wink: s:wink:

Phil

rtbiscuit · December 10, 2006, 03:15

1. Firstly, how far is feasible to expect to travel in a day?

depends if its a solid driving holiday with a stop at the end, or a leisurly tour, with regular stop offs and sight seeing

2. How far would people be willing to travel in total?

don't fancy doing russia, but possibly 2000-3000 miles round trip

3. Would people be more interested in Gumball-style Autobahn sprint or a more leisurely scenic tootle?

gumball styley could be lonely on a long haul all by your self. or we could partner up. less cars but 2 to a car, people swap passengers at each stop. you have more company and you get to meet lots of people

4. Stopovers, should they be in small towns (cheaper but harder to arrange ahead of time, and less nightlife) or capital cities (more expensive, but more banging nights out)?

i don't have huge amounts of money, could do the odd city maybe

5. Would people be willing to take on delegated organisational duties?

possibly, although my schedule is very hectic already

6. How much would people be willing to pay for this type of holiday. Cost is going to include fuel, accommodation, food and drink. Anyone think of anything else that I've glaringly missed out?

not a clue, i haven't had a holiday in 6 years

7. Would this be considered to be Convoy driving or just a group of people going in the same direction in the same type of car?

possible convoy

8. If its a convoy, are there any special permits/ requirements that would have to be taken into consideration?

i'm sure the lead car and end car must have a flag, this signals the convoy. but my parents are ex military, so i'm not sure this is a civilian requirement.

9. Camping anyone?

i like the canvas

10. This year or next?

next, as we only have 20 days left

over all a good idea, but i would like to see what others have to say.

and for me i'm tied to travelling in the school holidays only, can't get time off work as a teacher to go hoildaying

Anonymous · December 10, 2006, 09:55

Have done this 4 years running now, firstly with the celica club, but then with friends from celica club but with no affiliation to the club as we had changed cars etc.

Biggest number f cars we had was seven (all highly modified) and didnt require any permits or markings etc, except we did have matching stickers in the windows etc.

First year we didnt do a lot of miles as such but tended to do short higher speed sprints around France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Lichtenstien etc. stayed in IBIS type hotels (similar to travel lodge) and had 3 days in a chateau - great holiday! (IBIS roughly £45 a night)

since then the numbers have reduced and we've ventured further a field, Biarritz and spain one year, St Tropez and Italy another, and next year were off to Lake Garda (only two cars so far this time)

We did look at the scandanavian countries, but had been told by various car/bike club groups we met on the road that the roads can be pretty poor in some areas (dont know this personally, perhaps Tem or redracer could confirm?)

mileage wise we tended to vary it on a daily basis, 500 miles for the first day say, but then a leisurely 250 the next. The driving does tend to catch up with you after while if you over do it.

You will find that everyone has a different tollerance to driving, some will happily knock out 400 miles day after day and will get frustrated if you dont appear to be doing enough miles, others would prefer to do the sites and only drive half days.

going by my past experience of driving in groups over long distances, I would honestly suggest a long weekend away first, thus giving everyone a taster and also confirming that relationships are sustainable when together on a daily basis. I've been lucky so far, but you are making quite a majr commitment both financially and holiday time wise and you dont want to be disapointed.

Cant recommend it enough! great laugh, a real buzz pulling into services in convoy (hardly ever see an MR2 in mainland europe) and a real comaraderie if the group jells.

I've organised all of the trips I've been on previously, so if I can offer any help/guidance just give us a shout as I'll happily help out (and attend finances allowing s;)

s;) )

P

Anonymous · December 10, 2006, 09:57

PS

you tend to get a lot of people showing an interest and wanting a say in what/where etc, and then come payment time the numbers dwindle (can be frustrating)

kanujunkie · December 10, 2006, 13:38

why not just pick a city and do an adlib run, say to somewhere like Amsterdam

ratmat02 · December 10, 2006, 13:55

I did a trip round Europe by motorbike in 2001,best holiday ever
(i dont like lying on beaches all day.)
Ferry from Hull to Rotterdam,into Germany, over night in Nuremberg,
nice place,interesting history.
Onto Austria to see my brother who then took us to Munich for the weekend,a bit of a blur but had a great time s:wink: :wink: s:wink: .
Into Italy,okish but got ripped off in Pisa and thought Venice was
rubbish.
France,Nice is not nice,ok else where,
Monaco,every petrol head has to go there once.
Up to Switzerland,erm,clean.
Then onto Amsterdam for the last weekend,wont be rushing to go back!
3,200 miles,15 nights,always got food and drink,always had a bed for the night.
If you get your head down and cover big miles on the first day,fine,after that smaller miles,have a look around,potter about.
Dont know if this helps anyone. s:? :? s:?

heathstimpson · December 10, 2006, 14:37

Quote from: "kanujunkie"why not just pick a city and do an adlib run, say to somewhere like Amsterdam

This is exactly what I would have suggested as a starter. The Lakes trip was a big success and a great weekend away with a good bunch s:wink: :wink: s:wink: s8)

s8)

Anonymous · December 10, 2006, 15:00

I've done motorcycle holidays in the past, Scotland and France. I agree you have to get there to start with so the first day tends to be a big travelling day, but the route needs careful planning as if overdone can knacker you out for the next day. If you don't have a partner to share the driving it might be ok. After 14 hours in the saddle on B roads I was ready to drop the bike and sleep under a bush. Personnally I think a long weekend would be the most I would go for, so go along with the idea of a european city run, or perhaps a short "ben nevis and back" type trip.

Anonymous · December 10, 2006, 15:03

Do it!, wekend trip to a euro city next year sounds great as a first of many s;)

s;)

Anonymous · December 10, 2006, 19:59

a trip to monte carlo! s8)

s8)

a convoy of MRS's turn up to a glamorous casino and at the end of the night! ....

penniless! ... lost the cars on the poker table! .... BROKE!

but what fun you could have! s8)

s8)

rtbiscuit · December 10, 2006, 20:21

a run to the lakes sounds good,

weekend away at the moment for me seems the best option.

never been to bonnie scotland either so thats another possiblity.

or wait till the summer and do a run to cornwall or something

Anonymous · December 10, 2006, 20:50

Just to drop in here, but I will be organising another long run Oop North somewhere sometime next year (probably to Scotland this time, although the exact destination will be decided a bit nearer the time).

Chris · December 10, 2006, 21:49

I've thought about doing the passes in the alps before, and would love to go to Monaco just to see what it's all about and say I've been there..
It sounds like the Lakes trip was a success so I'd be in for another one somewhere..

The only problem I usually find with convoy driving is communication among all the parties eg someone might want petrol/loo/food/break before others..

rtbiscuit · December 10, 2006, 21:52

with roofs down its a case of hand signals.

but we could get some walkie talkies.

breaker, breaker,

come in rubber ducky your time is up!

Anonymous · December 10, 2006, 21:52

Quote from: "Chris"I've thought about doing the passes in the alps before, and would love to go to Monaco just to see what it's all about and say I've been there..
It sounds like the Lakes trip was a success so I'd be in for another one somewhere..

The only problem I usually find with convoy driving is communication among all the parties eg someone might want petrol/loo/food/break before others..

breaka breaka

lets invest in some club walkie talkies!

over!

i like your thought process rtbiscuit

Anonymous · December 10, 2006, 21:53

best idea is a trip 2 scotland, great roads scenery and beer, and i dont have to drive 2 far s:D

s:D

rtbiscuit · December 10, 2006, 21:54

i'v always wanted to go to scotland,

but i never learnt the language! s:wink: :wink: s:wink:

Anonymous · December 10, 2006, 21:56

hoots mon its a dawdle ye ken?

rtbiscuit · December 10, 2006, 21:57

translated, "man its dead easy you child"

Wabbitkilla · December 10, 2006, 21:59

I think consensus after the lakes weekender this year was for Scotland next year.

We need to do some research into a nice place to stay, great roads and good scenery (without being eaten alive). I've done a holiday or two up in the Highlands, but i liked the West and North coasts.

Anonymous · December 10, 2006, 21:59

tennement but no inhaling tube

Anonymous · December 10, 2006, 22:01

i.e. close but no cigar

Anonymous · December 10, 2006, 22:03

Quote from: "Wabbitkilla"I think consensus after the lakes weekender this year was for Scotland next year.

We need to do some research into a nice place to stay, great roads and good scenery (without being eaten alive). I've done a holiday or two up in the Highlands, but i liked the West and North coasts.

oban to stay, glencoe/fort william/ tyndrum for roads s:D

s:D

rtbiscuit · December 10, 2006, 22:08

isn't the isle of man a drivers paradise as well

Chris · December 10, 2006, 22:25

it is but the cost of getting there is a bit stoopid, or at least it was when it was looked at as a possible earlier this year - although prices may have died down a bit after the initial feature on Top Gear..

Must find out where Evo mag go aas they always rave about the roads in scotland, and also north wales..