drive from suffolk to St Johann im Pongau- October 2009

hi, We hope to visit St Johann im Pongau in October 2009 (half term). Would like to drive there. Anyone done it before? how many breaks required? How easy/safe/difficult? plese advise

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I think one stop is absolutely necessary, but it depends on what you desire. Do you want to drive smoothly or do you want to get to Austria as fast as possible?

Don%26#39;t forget to change the side of the road! (...this joke will never die....)

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Hi - we%26#39;ve done the trip from UK a couple of times. We are in NW England so have about 250 miles further to drive than you. Each time we used the tunnel (which is the quickest option but not the cheapest). There are several route options. The shortest is across the top of France but this is also via alot of toll roads so works out quite expensive. Alternatively you can go through Belgium and down to Strasbourg to cross into Germany and go via Stuttgart area to Munich or you can go across into Germany close to Aachen and go down via Frankfurt to Munich. The last may be the best as it misses alot of road works between Stuttgart and Munich. It%26#39;s ~700 miles from the channel and we have done the whole trip in a day (with 2 drivers) but it is a long drive. You%26#39;d probably prefer to have an overnight stop. It is almost all motorway and very easy driving. The only issue you can have is the amount of traffic if you are travelling at a busy time, especially the stretch between Munich and Salzburg can be very busy at holiday time.

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Hi we own an appartment in St Johann and we drove in summer As we leave fom Newcastle its much futher than your drive. We took an overnight stop in Gent and drove all the way after its a long hard drive. I would recommend to drive to between Frankfurt and Munich stop and the carry on next day especially if you have children

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thank you everybody for the prompt response. I%26#39;ll need to give it a bit of thought and plan it. Sounds exciting. Also can avoid waiting at airports etc. Maybe I%26#39;ll pick ur brains once i%26#39;ve decided........

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Hello, me again, Have planned to drive out via the tunnel, bruges, ffirst stop in Brussels, Second stop at Stuttgart. Now planning return with 1 break. Would it be better to retrace my steps or should I try coming back via France- Strasbourg, Reims?

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Hi Mapras,

the actual journey time via the Belgian route vs the French route is fairly neutral. The main difference is that the French route has alot of toll roads so will add to your cost (they do have the benefit of being empty though). I would instead consider driving up from Munich to Frankfurt, then exit Germany around Aachen and dip back down to Calais. I intend to try this way next time as the worst road is the stretch from Munich to Stuttgart. We were recommended the German route by a coach driver.

TM

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Is the route between Stuttgart and Munich really that bad? I have changed my hotel bookings to Frankfurt instead of Stuttgart. Any idea if winter tyres are required end October ? returning 1st Nov.