I'm just about to start browsing the web to plan a nine day motorcycling holiday in Sweden during July, for the wife and I.
Before I start, has any backroomer got experience of making this trip, and any recommendations to make, please?
The obvious one is weighing up the potential extra cost of a ferry to Sweden - that has the advantage of more time on Sweden's excellent, empty roads, in beautiful scenery - with taking a cross channel ferry or the Eurotunnel, and riding up.
I work for a Swedish company, and spend much of my time in Sweden, so sources of advice for things to see and do is no problem. It's the mechanics of getting there and back with a bike, in the most cost effective manner, that I would appreciate knowledge of, please.
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SjB.
You've identified the main issue, cost vs time and personal endurance. Not a biker but if you'll take the views of a mere cager. ;)
Personal choice, I'd go for the Newcastle > Kristiansand DFDS ferry (as opposed to Gothenberg) then you get to experience some time in Norway too.
The problem is that the saving of the £80 channel ferry crossing courtesy of speedferries.com compared to the £500+ or so North Sea crossing with DFDS buys a lot of fuel, hotels, and meals during the journey. The money buys you a lot of extra time at your destination and a mini break at each end of the holiday.
I can't actually answer that one for you but again personal opinion only, the UK > Channel > Sweden and back is an awfully long way on roads which at times are not particularly interesting quite frankly. I know it is a motorcycling holiday, and if you are into road trips just for the sake of it then fine.
Mid Sweden (Gastrikland) > Düsseldorf was a 2 day trip each way but did involve some (ahem) golfing and the Swedish equivalent of the Calais booze run in the humongous ferry/liquor store in Hamburg. Trip could have been done a lot quicker I know.
One thing I hate is getting back from a holiday after a loooooonnnngggg drive thinking "what holiday?"
The contrast changing back from Scandinavian roads to UK bedlem is always a shock isn't it!
Oh BTW watch out! Saw my first scamera van over there the other week, in the dark too, using infra red photography. Locals hadn't a clue what it was, pity the poor innocents!
FiF
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Thanks FiF.
Kind of you to reply.
I'm a cager too some of the time, especially winter, when I pay far too much for the car whether it's in use or not as to leave it in the garage and suffer in the elements! I make no bones that the Hornet's a Big Boy's Toy! ;-)
The missus has had time to think about what she would like from the trip, and after reading your post, it's increasingly looking like we will use a North Sea ferry crossing both ways. As you say, we then get a break from riding at both ends of the journey. After a long weekend in the Loire valley with the missus, on the bike, where we toured some of the time, and got a move on for the rest of the time, for many hours a day, the trek home from Portsmouth was a drag, especially as it was in the wee small hours, and the adrenaline and excitement had subsided in to realisation of daily routine to follow!
Well, as it's such a cracking afternoon, and with the beauty of managing my own project, I'm going to call it a day now and take the bike for the smashing hour's run through the countryside over to Mum & Dad.
Will post the result of what we end up booking as it happens.
Thanks again.
SjB
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Just a thought, depending on where you live, The Harwich to Rotterdam seacat takes three hours.
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Might be cheaper to fly bucket airways to Stockholm, which is a beautiful city itself, and then hire a bike in Sweden.
Would love to do this myself...
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SjB,
Sorry to do this and add an extra complication but you got me thinking; what if you can't make your mind up. You know, your priorities vs those of SWMBO.
What about one way out & t'other way back?
Let's imagine you'd like to do the road trip part at the beginning and the laid back ferry on the way home.
The UK site for DFDS won't let you book a one way trip back to UK, but examining the Swedish website shows a one way from either Kristiansand or Goteborg to Newcastle on the Princess Scandinavia for 2 adults - 1 motorbike - incl cabin comes to ~£200.
Any good?
Hope that helps smooth the waters. ;)
FiF
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Thanks for all the assistance.
Decision now made!
... The motorbike stays at home, and I couldn't find anyone in Sweden who would rent me a bike beyond a BMW dealership who said "subject to someone not wanting a test ride"! :-((
SWMBO was not at all keen on even travelling one way up through mainland Europe, which meant travelling by ferry both ways. Despite much effort, we could not secure travel on the exact days we wanted (because the ferries don't sail), and both of our days away from work are non-negotiable for various reasons.
This would have given a shortened holiday, for which we would have paid the princely sum of £847 in ferry costs alone! (travelling on days when we can't would have reduced the cost below £400)
So, what are we doing?
Flying Ryanair to Skavsta, and then taking the bus to my Swedish office, where we will collect the pool car that I've reserved, and drive that for the holiday. Yes, travelling during the period where Sweden plc shuts up shop for six weeks has its advantages!
Total travel cost to us is £70 for Stansted parking, £150 for two air fairs including all fees, £30 for two return bus tickets, plus petrol!
Now we just need to book a summer like the last one!
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