Going to Austria

My Dad was a POW in a little town in Austria and I.ve decided to go there to
see what it's like. What's the drill on crossing the Channel ? Do I book or
just turn up ? How is the bike secured ? Is it my responsibility or are
there loadies ? I'm going through France and Germany( Unless you can offer a
better route ) Apart from riding on the right is there anything else that
they insist on . Any advice will be gratefully received
TIA
Ian

 

Probably cheaper to book in advnace.

AIUI the loadies handle it all, but then I've never taken a bike over the
channel


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Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Ian

I'd book. The further ahead you book the cheaper it tends to be.

Every time I've crossed there have been blokes to help strap the bike
down with a FOAD ratchet strap. Sometimes they have something to pad the
saddle, sometimes they don't. You might want to take something. Be aware
that ferry decks are as slippery as ****.

Have a Google for traffic rules over there. They're mostly fairly
obvious, but one or two are non-intuitive. On unrestricted Autobahns
there is a moral imperative demanding that you max the bike out. You'll
still have *something* hurtling past you, mind... ;^)

Austrian police are not noted for their sparkling sense of humour. Those
guards your dad told you about? They had sons.

Check with your insewerance company for your coverage. Aunty Carole
provides it FOC, some other (IIRC) charge. Also get breakdown cover.
Getting a sick bike back without it is arm-and-leg territory.

Get a *good* map.

And don't expect to get fuel in France on a Sunday...
<duck and cover>

 

Never have truer words been spoken.

 

Do the new Chip and Pin cards now work in French machines, or is it still
too much to hope?

 

Don't Filter in the Fatherland.
In France it is compulsory.

 

Obviously.

 

Ian wrote in

Download the pdf file from the AA website - covers the requirements for
all Euro countries.
http://www.theaa.com/allaboutcars/overseas/europe_advice.html

You will need to buy a vignette (like road tax) at the Austrian border.

When I went to Austria, I rode from Calais through France to Metz.
Crossed into Germany to Baden-Baden. Rode through the Black Forest to
Augsburg, Bavaria. Then south into western Austria via the Fernpass. You
can do this all on good A roads.

Returning home from Eastern Austria, we took the Autobahn from Salzburg
across Germany into Rhineland & Eiffel Mountains. Then across Belgium
back into France.

Both journeys involved 2 overnight stops.

 

IS that a recent requirement?

When I lived in Germany, we quite often used to slip across into Austria
to go skiing - I just used to drive through

 

geoff wrote in

I first went in 2000. Had to buy one then.

"Highways and expressways in Austria (also city motorways) are generally
subject to toll. The toll is effected by purchasing a toll sticker to
be attached to the windscreen." from
http://www.austria-tourism.at/ausse...ml?_artikel_id=112801&_hm=112650&_lc=uk&_hl=2

 

Turn your head for a moment and ...

yeah, it's more than 5 years since I drove there

 

wessie was seen penning the following ode to ... whatever:

[Austria]

However you don't need one if you're not using motorways or other toll
roads that are marked as such.