Our Euro Odyssey Awards

Wrapping it up!!!

Spending 300 days on the road isn't for everyone, however, after visiting 27 countries and clocking up 46,000km over 10 months, we've got a fair idea on where to go in Europe and where you should probably avoid in a motorhome.

We've spent a fair bit of time debating the winners of each of the following categories and know that they won't necessarily sit well with many people, so if you disagree we're happy to hear your thoughts.

1. Overall Favourite Country (Based on People, Cost, Scenery, Ease of WC)

• GREECE  - This was a very quick and unanimous decision by both of us! The people are so relaxed and friendly, the beaches are absolutely stunning and we could finally unwind and spend less time driving.

A magical sunset at one of our wild camp spots in Greece.

2.  Overall Least Favourite Country 

• SWEDEN –   relatively boring country with some very average drivers (no wonder they have such safe cars). Stockholm was amazing but it just felt like we were passing through it to get to Norway.

3. Best Drivers

The Classic Fiat in Italy

• We would say drivers in the U.K. are the best, but given we didn’t spend a great deal of time there on the Euro Odyssey; this award is tied between the GERMANS and the SPANISH. The Spanish really bumped up a spot after a pedestrian went out of his way to stop traffic for us so we could reverse the van on to a busy road.

4. Worst Drivers

• ITALY – hands down. No argument. Probably the worst drivers in the world to be honest.  We’ve written a whole blog on their antics, which include constantly talking/texting on their phone while driving, unrestrained children, pulling out in front of vehicles moving at high-speed and generally just being a nuisance.

5. Best Country for Motorhomes

• FRANCE – the French are easily the most accommodating for campervans in Europe with their plethora of Aires and designated spots. They welcome Wild Campers with open arms and if you happen to be parked somewhere you shouldn’t, they will direct you to where you should with a smile.  The next best country would have to be Portugal.

One of many rest stops in France.
Perfect for the Camper! 

6. Worst Country for Motorhomes

The worst wild camp in South Brent,
UK topped off with a big dog turd
right outside the sliding door...

•  ENGLAND –  luckily we didn’t spend too much time travelling around England as you pretty much can’t park anywhere, but as these are Euro Awards the prize (surprisingly) goes to GREECE, as it’s actually illegal! Luckily there is no one to police it and it seems the Greeks really don’t care as long as you’re tipping a few dollars in to their country to keep them afloat.

7. Most Underrated Country

•  CZECH REPUBLIC – Friendly people, beautiful towns, extremely cheap and you can park pretty much anywhere. Even in an apple orchard!
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  The beautiful town of Telc, in the Czech Republic

8. Most Overrated Country

• ITALY - a rabbit warren of roads that seem to take you to fairly unremarkable places. Outside of the big ticket destinations (Rome, Florence, Venice) the place is a treasure trove for those who enjoy visual pollution.

9. Most Expensive

• NORWAY - could quite possibly be the most expensive country in the world. Fuel was the most expensive we came across on the trip and food and alcohol are far above what you would find in western Europe. The only cheap thing here appears to be Salmon - which isn't such a bad thing!

10. Least Expensive

• PORTUGAL - it was a fairly close call between Morocco and Portugal, however, the Portugese took the award as we didn't have to pay for any wild camping sites while in Morocco much of our time was spent in guarded parks and campgrounds, which came at a cost.

MOST MEMORABLE SMALL TOWNS 

1. England - Stratford-Upon-Avon
2. Scotland - Oban
3. France - Biarritz
4. Germany - Meissen
5. Poland - Gizycko
6. Denmark - Ribe
7. Sweden - Amla
8. Norway - Roros
9. Finland - Hanko
10. Russia - Only visited large cities St Petersburg & Moscow.
11. Czech Republic - Olomouc
12. Latvia - Sigulda
13. Lithuania - Trakaix
14. Estonia - Tallinn
15. Slovenia - Lake Bled
16. Switzerland - Laterbrunnen
17. Austria - Hallstatt
18. Croatia - Korcula
19. Serbia - none - too afraid to stop anywhere!
20. Bulgaria - Rila 
21. Greece - Monemavasia
22. Italy - Matera
23. Spain - Ronda
24. Morocco - Erg Chebbi
25. Portugal - Sintra
26. Luxembourg 
27. Lichtenstein 

TOP PHOTOS OF OUR EURO ODYSSEY

Rafting down 'The Elevator' in Voss, Norway.

D-Day Landing Celebrations in Arromanches, Normandy, France.

Another cracking wild camp spot over Varberg, Sweden.

The beautiful rustic town of Roros, Norway.

Czech's hidden gem - Olomouc.

Heading to the town of Papingo, Greece.

One of the many lighthouses of Sunderland, England.

Outside Mont St Michel, France.

This was a public bath house in Moscow, which was turned into another church.

Getting some AK-47 shooting practice in at a bunker in Riga, Latvia.

Europe's highest train in Laterbrunnen, Switzerland.

Roaming the streets of Bayeaux, France.

Driving through the French Alps to Briancon.

Claire earning some extra cash at Oktoberfest!

Moving at a leisurely pace through Greece.

Heading down a dusty old track in Denmark. 

Wild camping in the empty carpark at Port Katsiki, Greece. After a couple of days of stormy weather we settled down here to relax for a while.

Taking a bike ride through Denmark.

Sweden may be a boring country but it still had small treasures like this place - Lake Siljan, Mora.

Morning stroll up the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi - a real highlight of our trip!

Another amazing photo opportunity in Sweden - this time in a town called Eskilstuna.

The Trolltunga - well worth the long walk in.

A monk heading back to work in Lagrasse, France.

An old Moroccon gentleman selling sea urchins on the beach in Oulidia, Morocco.

Reaching the top of the Vrsic Pass in Slovenia.

You Would Never Believe Spain is so Green!

Day 274-293


After having little luck with the surf on the Portugese coast, we decided to move things along a bit quicker and see what northern Spain had to offer. 

Unfortunately, conditions were not much better and Europe was still in the depths of winter. 

The following pictures show the final three weeks of Our Euro Odyssey, as we venture across the stunning northern Spanish coast and then mach it through France, back to an even colder UK!

While scouting out a wild camp location in northern Spain we came across this beautiful spot that was home to this waterfall and hydroelectric plant. 

We also had a party in the van that night (with ourselves) and Luke discovered he is quite unbearable after about 4 glasses of rum.

Our daily dose of a UNESCO World Heritage site, this time its the 10-15m Roman walls that surround the town of Lugo.

The wall was about all the town had going for it - oh and free parking on Sunday's.

Mr Espana Truck Driver so desperate for a kip ends up in someone else's bedroom!

This scene reminded us of the movie Final Destination 2 only the logging truck ploughed into a house not into us...thank god!

In search for a wave on the Spanish Costa Verde. This time it's a freezing morning at Playa Aguliar - with no surf.

Camped at the bottom of some very steep and hopefully stable cliffs. We had the beachfront all to ourselves and were treated to this view the following morning.

Driving into Bilbao, you could quickly avoid geting off at the exit and keep on driving to San Sebastian, however, we had heard good things about some of the architecture there.

i.e. The Guggenheim.

Guggenheim, guggenheim, guggenheim...

An amazing building by Frank Gehry - a man who has never seen nor used a spirit level.

Very average photo so you're probably wondering how it made it into the blog?

Well, it was taken in a town called 'Poo'. Thats right Poo!  

Enjoying Tapas and a glass of white wine (out of a glass) in San Sebastian - what a treat!

Meanwhile Luke forgot he was in public and was scoffing down tapas in record speed. 

Doing a spot of shopping and admiring the surf beach right on the towns edge in Biarritz, France.

One of the last major towns we visited in France, but quite possibly one of the best.

There's a plethora of waves within walking distance of Biarritz. 

Despite the arctic temperatures in the water, there were also a plethora of surfers on longboards enjoying the swell and the clear, crisp water.

We parked up in another amazing French aire the night before just outside town of St-Denis-d'Oleron and then wandered around this amazing fort the following morning.

Inside the fort of St-Denis-d'Oleron. Unfortunately the Creperie had been closed for sometime.

The very old castle walls of Parthenay, France. These walls date back to 1100 and are still solid as a rock - not like that bloody brick fence out the back of our house! 

The town of Chinon nestled on the banks of the Loire river. 

Ambois one of the lovely towns we visited in the Loire Valley. Another great French town that also accommodated for campers out the back in a small 'Wild Camping Platz'.

Amboise is famous for the house where Leonardo Da Vinci lived and died.  

This ones for you Fleury! 

The worst weather of the whole trip on our very last day of Euro Odyssey in Calais, France.

It was seriously -10 degrees with the wind chill. We did brave the weather and get out for an amazing French meal in a local bistro.  

Stay tuned for our final blog which will feature the OurEuroOdyssey awards, the total cost of our trip and Top 5 Photographs.