Cheapest and quickest route from Wales to Poland by car?

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welshguyinpolaThreads: 32 Posts: 463 Joined: Jan 9, 08 ♂	Edited by: Moderator Sep 19, 10, 23:09 #1
Can somebody help me pls?? My parents would like to travel from Wales to Poland by car around Xmas time and we are wondering which is the cheapest and quicest route to take. Is it better to take the Dover - Calais route or is it better to go to the hook of Holland and across?? Also can anyone tell me in which countries along the way the roads are tolled? I appreciate your help

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Sep 19, 10, 23:23 #2

welshguyinpola:

My parents would like to travel from Wales to Poland by car around Xmas time and we are wondering which is the cheapest and quicest route to take. Is it better to take the Dover - Calais route or is it better to go to the hook of Holland and across?? Also can anyone tell me in which countries along the way the roads are tolled?

The best bet is Harwich-Hoek van Holland overnight. It's then a straight run across Holland and Germany, and you can make the Polish border in one straight run. From there, the best advice is to stop for the night either in Frankfurt-Oder or Slubice - you can easily make the Polish border in a day from Hoek van Holland - but I wouldn't recommend that they take on Polish roads without a good night's sleep first.

Only tolls on either the route from Calais or the Hoek is 33zl for the Polish section of A2 between Nowy Tomsyl and Lodz.

SeanBMThreads: 41 Posts: 8,727 Joined: Mar 10, 08 ♂	Sep 19, 10, 23:25 #3
welshguyinpola: by car around Xmas time Just a thought, will you need winter tyres?

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Edited by: warszawski Sep 19, 10, 23:38 #4

welshguyinpola:

Here is a link you can plan your route and it will give you the costs:

http://www.viamichelin.co.uk/tpl/hme/MaHomePage.htm

You have been given the best advice from
delphiandomine, do not take on the polish roads unless well rested.

and

SeanBM: The weather conditions in December should be taken into consideration

What about flying with wizzair directly from Liverpool to Gdansk it has got be safer and probably about the same price

http://wizzair.com/skylights/cgi-bin/skylights.cgi?step=1

Chicago PollockThreads: 10 Posts: 638 Joined: Apr 10, 10 ♂	Sep 20, 10, 04:41 #5
Speaking of driving to Poland. Can one rent a car in England and drive around Poland? For instance when visiting England I often rent a car and drive about the British island. Can one do the same and take the car to Poland? Or do I have to rent a car in Poland?

warszawskiThreads: 60 Posts: 2,389 Joined: May 21, 10 ♂	Sep 20, 10, 19:10 #6
Chicago Pollock: Speaking of driving to Poland. Can one rent a car in England and drive around Poland? For instance when visiting England I often rent a car and drive about the British island. Can one do the same and take the car to Poland? Or do I have to rent a car in Poland? It was a problem before PL was part of the EU, now may be different.

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Edited by: skibum Sep 20, 10, 22:05 #7

You don't tell us whereabouts in Poland they are heading, it makes a big difference to the best route, and also the advice.

For many areas I'd recommend Dover to Dunkirk, then a virtual straight run to Berlin then it depends which city in Poland you want to go to. No tolls at all on this route, apart from the Severn Bridge (I forget whether you pay going into or out of Wales) and the Dartford crossing.

dr-nick

Sep 22, 10, 20:20 #8

Hello,

Key information missing is where in Poland you are going.

If southish towards Krakow, then I would recommend following the E40 all the way from Calais or Dunkerque to your destination. Its an easy route to follow through France, Belgium, Germany and then Poland. There are tolls on the Polish sections but they don't cost much (about 16 zlotty total). Its dual carriageway or better all the way to past Krakow on the E40. The Polish stretch from the German border to Krakow has always been quiet when I have used it.

Petrol, ferries and overnight accommodation will be your main costs not road tolls in Poland. Petrol is considerably cheaper in Poland than Germany.

There are laws in Germany and Poland, I think, about winter tyres that you should check yourself maybe with the AA before you travel. You may or may not need them. There are also laws in Poland about driving with your headlights on during the day at some times of the year i.e. winter. Check this out. Also make sure you have all the emergency equipment needed in each of the EU countries you plan to pass through.

If you are going somewhere northish in Poland the Berlin route is recommended by others, though I haven't tried it myself. Germans tell me the authobahns in the north are better. I believe at least one stretch of road in Poland is still not dual carriageway though before you get to Warsaw. Locals may be able to comment here.

Crossing the channel to Hook is quite expensive, to Calais by Eurotunnel somewhat cheaper and quicker, to Dunkerque by Norfolkline somewhat cheaper but 2 hours instead of 40 minutes on Eurotunnel. If you know when you are going book it asap. It will be cheaper now than nearer the time.

We have managed to get from London to the far side of Krakow in one day but you are in Wales and if you are going that far, I would strongly recommend an overnight stop somewhere, particularly if you haven't done the trip before, probably somewhere around eastern Germany (many German autobahn services have motels but expect to pay around 70 Euros for one room).

We have only travelled in the summer so I would be cautious about road conditions. You may not get as far as you would hope in one day.

Whatever route you take, travelling on Saturday and Sunday is likely to be quieter with less lorries. Lorries are banned from some EU countries on the weekend.

Have a great trip, If the weather is OK, you might even enjoy the drive.

Cheers

zetigrekThreads: 59 Posts: 2,709 Joined: May 20, 10 ♂	Edited by: zetigrek Sep 22, 10, 21:08 #9
dr-nick: Key information missing is where in Poland you are going. Gdynia. Welshguy is famous inhabitant of that town

WroclawThreads: 77 Posts: 7,404 Joined: Apr 1, 06 ♂ [Moderator]	Sep 22, 10, 21:29 #10
dr-nick: There are also laws in Poland about driving with your headlights on during the day at some times of the year i.e. winter. that is 24/7 365 days of the year. it was november till about march. now it's all year.

welshguyinpolaThreads: 32 Posts: 463 Joined: Jan 9, 08 ♂	Oct 8, 10, 17:36 #11
zetigrek: Gdynia. Welshguy is famous inhabitant of that town Sopot actually. My parents are gonna fly to berlin and I will get them from there. Thanks for ur help everyone

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