Are you looking at ideas for a Christmas getaway but are worried about your carbon footprint? Do you need to take your dog with you? Last Christmas we went for a road trip through France, Switzerland and Northern Italy, taking in lakes, cities, rivers, mountains, cathedrals and castles. We loved it and so did our dog!
I will take you through our itinerary and our experience of travelling through Europe in winter and with our furry friend.
A winter sunset over Schaffhausen, Switzerland. © Alps2Coast
When we think about road trips through Europe we tend to imagine hairpin bends on the Amalfi coast or the lavender-scented backroads of Provence in summer. The idea of a winter car odyssey complete with an alpine crossing seems more complex, and if you add a dog as a passenger perhaps even daunting. We had done winter road trips before, but never with a pet in the back seat, and I admit we were a bit nervous. Still, the lure of the road proved too strong, and we decided to take the practicalities in our stride and give it a try.
The moment we booked our tunnel crossing from Folkestone to Calais, we felt committed - and actually excited - to try something a bit out of the ordinary. Here is what we loved, what we learned, and why we are doing another winder road trip with our dog this year.
Preparing for a winter road trip with a dog. What are the challenges and how we tackled them.
Travelling through Europe by car in winter is undeniably more challenging than in summer. First of all, you have no control of the weather. On your road trip, you may encounter fog, ice, or even snow. So you need to plan while retaining some flexibility. If the alpine tunnel you were planning to use is closed or jammed, you may need to change your itinerary, which may even mean going through a different country.
It is important to be aware of the weather forecasts so you can change your plans if needed. For the same reason, also make sure that the accommodation you book has a solid 24-hour cancellation policy
A Swiss Road in winter. © Florian Van Duyn/Unsplash
The other challenge is that night sets in early, so if, like us, you prefer to drivel in daylight - it is easier and you see more -, you will need to plan for shorter journeys or give up lie-ins.
Every European country seems to have their own rules about winter tyres. In France, you need winter tyres or chains in the alpine region; in Switzerland they are only recommended, unless road signs say otherwise; in Italy you need them on the motorways; in Germany winter tyres are not required unless the weather turns snowy, icy or sloshy. So technically you can go from the UK through France, cross the Rhine and enter Italy through Switzerland without needing winter tyres, and with tyre chains in the booth. But if we found ourselves in Germany and found some snow, we may be stuck there. We had tyre chains from a previous trip, but decided to invest in all season tyres before setting off.
The other tricky issue is that while taking a furry friend through Europe is reasonably easy, but if you come from the UK post-Brexit paperwork, rules and costs make it complicated, I will write a post on this, but in the meantime here is the link to the UK government's summary of the current rules.
Now, on to the actual journey!
1: Our itinerary; Where did we go?
2: Our trip day by day. What did we see?
3: Would we do it again?
Our winter road trip itinerary : Where did we go?
I love summer, but there is something special about travelling before Christmas. And on a road trip through Europe at that time of the year you get to experience the festive vibe in different countries. Winter is also a good time to explore Europe's cultural and natural highlights without the crowds. And some of the hearty food Europe is famous for tastes so much better when it is cold outside!
After booking our Channel crossing and addressing the practical challenges taking a dog to Europe and travelling in winter see above), we started to shape the itinerary of our road trip through Europe.
Reaching the cathedral city of Troyes; soaking up the Christmas spirit and Lumières de Noël of Montbéliard's Christmas market; crossing the Alps and relaxing in the subtropical microclimate of Lake Maggiore; savouring he culinary and cultural delights of Bologna, the food capital of Italy; admiring the Rhine waterfalls at Schaffhausen; enjoy the festive vibe in the fairy-tale Alsatian village of Colmar; and to finish it off in style, a couple of days amongst the beautiful hills of the Champagne region.
When we started the whole of Europe was going through a cold snap, but the travel gods were with us. It was cold but crisp all the way to Lake Maggiore, and the frosty winter mornings made for magical dog walks. And the out of season face of some of Europe's great attractions repaid our planning efforts.
Here is our travel log!
Our road trip day by day: What did we see?
We got Leia (our dog) settled in her seat, and drove off in the early morning, dreaming of Christmas markets and gothic cathedrals. After the gifts of Brexit (the additional formalities of travel with a dog, passport and custom controls) we drove onto the shuttle train into the Channel tunnel. 35 minutes later, we were in France! Our first road trip destination was the beautiful city of Troyes.
Day 1 - Calais to Troyes
Because of the 1 hour time difference, by the time we arrived in Calais it was midday. The drive between Calais and Troyes takes about 4 hours, and we had to stop at an autogrill for a bite to eat and to give the dog a little walk, so the sun was about to set when we arrived at our hotel in Troyes.
After freshening up, we went for a stroll through the centre, to admire the gothic architecture after dark, and toast to the smooth start of our road trip. Troyes is part of the Champagne region, so a celebration with the local sparkling seemed fitting!
The restaurant Grill de Saint Jean was very welcoming to our dog. Troyes is part of a group of tourist locations committed to dog-friendliness, and they even have a dedicated brochure with a list of partner restaurants on their website. The locally-themed food and wines were delicious too!
Over dinner we mused over the history of Troyes splendidly preserved centre. half-timbered. Like the Great Fire of London, a great fire in the early Renaissance destroyed the medieval urban centre, so all houses in the centre were rebuilt at the same time in the same style.
Something is left of medieval Troyes, though - its stunning cathedral and a couple of other churches. We would see those tomorrow.
Day 2 - Troyes
After walking our dog, we set out for the centre again, to visit Troyes' most celebrated monument. Like many medieval towns, Troyes suffered many fires, and an earlier one at the end of the 12th century. The new cathedral was rebuilt on the same site in the new style that was spreading across France - Gothic.
Although it took four centuries to complete, you would not guess it by looking at it. as the exterior is all in the same style. If the exterior is stunning, the interior literally blows you away. Slender yet might vaulted gothic arches soaring upwards, and 150 sqm off the most famous glass windows in Europe, a triumph of light and colour.
The 15th century north rose window of Troye's cathedral.© Alps2Coast
And to add to the charm of the place, outside mass time it was very peacefully, just a handful of tourists admiring the immense space. Mystical in the real sense of the word.
We also visited the museum attached to the cathedral, were interesting objects including relics brought back from a Crusader bishop are kept. By the end, it was lunchtime!
The weather was pleasant and we found an outside table at a patisserie - inside they did not accept dogs - for a quick and delightful lunch of sandwich and flan.
After lunch, we went looking for one of the most photographed corners of Troyes, the Ruelle des Chats (Alley of the Cats). This tiny street, whose upper floors almost touch, is a living example of how tight medieval roads could be. The half-timbered houses of Troyes have beautiful images carved in their woodwork, and if you want an explanation for this alley's name, look out for the wooden sculpture of a cat! namesake cat in the stonework.
What's in a name? © Alps2Coast
Just around the corner is Troyes' oldest surviving church, the 12th century La Madeleine, another gothic masterpiece with glass windows and delightful sculptures.
After leaving the church, it was time for some shopping. One of the advantages of a road trip is that the only limit to your luggage is the size of your car's boot! Champagne and the local Chaource cheese were top of our list, and I also managed to sneak into a bookshop for some reading to keep up my French.
We were lucky with our dinner, as the dog-friendly place we had identified, Comptoir des Halles, only opens for an early dinner at the weekend. We just happened to be in the right place at the right time.
Day 3 - Drive to Montbéliard
The drive between Troyes and Montbéliard is quicker, around 3 hours, so we decided to stop at one of the shopping outlets Troyes is famous for, to pick up some Christmas gifts.
By midday we were on our way. We had only booked one night in Montbéliard, enough time to enjoy the famous Christmas lights (Lumières de Noël). The Montbéliard Christmas market is famous for its quality, all the stalls are vetted and have to sell locally-made and good quality products, so it seemed like the perfect place to look for unique Christmas gifts.
As we could not find dog-friendly accommodation in our budget range in Montbéliard - it is a small town - we booked a stay in nearby Belfort, just 15 minutes down the motorway.
This is were it all went wrong. By the time we had got to the hotel, freshened up, and returned on the motorway, the jams to get into Montbéliard were horrendous. After one hour in the car, barely moving, we realised that it just wasn't meant to be.
We learned a lesson in Montbéliard. A car is not the best way to get into small town at times when something big is going on. Next time I am most certainly doing by train!
The sights we did not see. © Tourism Montbéliard
Day 4 - Drive to Stresa
Our failed attempted to get into Montbéliard was the low point of the journey. There was a silver lining though. As we pretty much had a night in, we could set off early the next morning. Given the drive was about 6 hours, by leaving at sunrise - around .30 - we could hopefully arrive by the lake shore before the evening set in.
You may wonder why I planned such a long drive. The simple answer is that unless you have unlimited time, there will be a couple of days during a road trip through Europe when the driving time is significant. However, if there is a country where a long drive is actually not tiresome, be it winter or summer, it is Switzerland. The scenery is so incredible that you end up stopping a number of times just to admire the views and take photos!
As a matter of fact, the weather was overcast pretty much all the way to Lugano so we did not stop as often as on other trips. That actually turned out to be a good things. We reached Lugano by lunchtime, and the sun made a promising appearance, so we decided to ignore Google's instructions -Swiss motorway, border, Italian motorway.
A small part of Lake Maggiore is actually Swiss, and the main centres on the Swiss side of the Lake are Locarno and Ascona. Instead of the border, we typed Locarno in Google Maps. In 15 minutes, without crossing any border, we hit the lake, and drove around Locarno and Ascona in bright sunshine, before crossing the border at a cute little border booth by the water!
Christmas decorations in Ascona, on the Swiss side of Lake Maggiore ©Azzedine Rouichi/Unsplash
Before reaching our delightful apartment on the outskirts of Verbania, we stopped for a very late lunch in very welcoming pasticceria in Canneto Riviera. The village slopes towards the lake, and past the elegant nineteenth-century villas with their gardens brimming with lemon trees and agaves, we could see the glitter of the water, and we could not resist its pull. We strolled to the shore and as the sun kept playing hide and seek behind some newly-arrived clouds, Leia managed her first Maggiore swim.
Leia in the lake © Alps2Coast
We arrived at our apartment at sunset, welcome by the host who offered us a box of organic produce from his vegetable patch and local wine, for a sunset drink in a garden full of orange trees.
Sunset with oranges.© Alps2Coast
Day 5- Lake Maggiore
It was misty in the morning and even when humidity cleared it remained overcast. We knew that the ferry to the Isole Borromee does not run in winter, but our plan was to explore the coast without the summer traffic. We went to a coffee shop for breakfast, and then walked through Verbania, to get a feel for the centre and admire the beautiful lakeside villas, Verbania sits on a promontory and is considered the greenest town on Lake Maggiore, also thanks to the splendid Botanical Gardens at Villa Taranto, which are sadly closed in winter. It also has a good beach were we took Leia for her morning walk - although she decided the morning water was too cold for a swim.
Villa in Verbania © Tobias Arweiler/Unsplash
From Verbania we drove 20 minute down the road to Stresa, where we left the car in a parking lot with views of the lake and took a long walk along the Lungolago. Stresa is considered the 'pearl' of Lake Maggiore. After the opening of the Simplon Pass, it became a dream destination for transalpine nobility and artists. Hemingway notoriously spent a few months there, recovering from a World War I injury and writing A farewell to Arms.
Most of the grand hotels were closed, but the beauty of Lake Maggiore in low season is that the locals are really welcoming and friendly when they have more time to look after you, and that human warmth compensates for not being able to to the Grand Hotel's Hemingway bar for a cocktail. Besides, when the clouds clear, in this heaven of lemon trees and tropical plants, it is very hard to tell the season.
After our brisk walk by the lake, we stopped at an open pizzeria, and discovered some more local wines such as the delightful white Arneis, which I had never tried before.
A villa entrance in Stresa. ©Mikita Yo/Unsplash
We had one more destination before the sun set, and it was Baveno. By the time we finished our lunch the last of the clouds had cleared. Like the previous day, the lake was glittering in sunlight, and the Isole Borromee shone in the distance. Baveno has a delightful hillside centre so we explored that first, and then went back to the Lungolago for yet another stroll,
If you are looking for crowds and a party vice, winter Lake Maggiore is certainly not the place for you. But we were sad to leave. There are so many hikes and cycling opportunities in the mountains right behind the lake, which also pride themselves on their locally grown produce, cheeses, wines, and hearty dishes. And we only saw the western (Piedmontese) side of the lake! There are great attractions on the eastern (Lombard) side too! I would love to go back for a whole week, rent a flat and enjoy an away from it all Christmas with sunshine all around me.
The Isole Borromee from Baveno. ©Ruggero Dominichini/Unsplash
Day 6 - Drive to Bologna
The red brick centre of Bologna ©Petr Slovacek/Unsplash
The drive to Bologna was not particularly exciting. You drive through the flattest part of Italy, the Pianura Padana, an area the locals like to compare to midwest America for its broad horizons and agricultural vocation. The cities are all incredible, but as we were driving to Bologna there was no time to stop. We arrived in Bologna in early afternoon, just as the roads of the centre started to fill with the unmistakeable smell of roasted chestnuts. I was already in food heaven!
We were staying with friends, so for the first evening we just followed them for a sunset walk along the portici to Piazza Maggiore and the two towers, stopping for hot chocolate and pastries at the delightful Pasticceria Borbonica, After dinner we visited Palazzo d'Accursio, the seat of the Bologna administration, where, under a reinforced glass floor, you can see the excavations of Roman Bologna.
Day 7,8 & 9 - Bologna
San Petronio, Bologna's unfinished cathedral ©Bianca Ackermann
The next day my friend had arranged for us a guided tour of the 'Portici' of Bologna, a distinctive architectural feature that was recently included on the UNESCO-Heritage List. The memories of my university years, when I never needed an umbrella because the porticoes protect you from the rain, came back. I also learnt so much I never knew, such as how the porticoes evolved over time, and the intriguing history behind some of the most celebrated ones, such as the one you can see in the picture above, framing the view of the cathedral.
The tour took most of the morning, and we dedicated the afternoon to exploring the medieval and paleo-Christian church complex of Santo Stefano, and a visit to the Two Towers. With Bologna being Bologna, seat of the oldest university in Europe, a bookshop made an interesting stop. As the evening made its way in, we found ourselves wandering in the old medieval alleys between the towers and Piazza Maggiore (the main square), and could not resist the temptation of aperitivo in an osteria - they seemed ok with the dog - followed by a trip to a gastronomia, where we bought some of Bologna's famous delicacies such as lasagne to sample at home.
On the morning of Christmas eve, we we made our way to Via Piella, for one of the most intriguing sights of Bologna, the 'finestrella,- or 'small window.' It is a window not just over a space but back in time, a glimpse of what Bologna looked like in the middle ages, all the way to WW2, crisscrossed by canals that carried people and goods, within the city and even to other cities, such as Venice.
Bologna's canals. © Daniel Sessler/Unsplash
In Piazza Maggiore, we visited the Palazzo di Re Enzo, and then made our way to the church of San Domenico, in the university quarter. It is one of the most fascinating of Bologna's churches, and the list of the artists who worked in in reads like a who's who of the Italian Renaissance.
Entering Piazza Maggiore ©Bianca Ackermann/Unsplash
It was time to head back and start preparing our Christmas Eve dinner, and food for our Christmas lunch!
Christmas morning flew, and we had reserved one activity for the afternoon, to work off the calories of a Bolognese Christmas. Forcing ourvelves away from the soft nougat and crème-pâtissière-filled tortellini - not to be confused with the savoury ones! , we embarked on one of the Bolognesi's favourite endeavours, a climb from the city centre to the Sanctuary of San Luca, on top of the hill of the same name. It is one of the most memorable walks you'll ever do. In Bolognese style, an umbrella will not be required: the path up the hill has been covered by the longest portico in the world, 600 archways for a total of of 4km!
Leia loved the climb too, and was totally exhausted by the time we came down, to enjoy a final dinner with our friends!
Leia fast asleep. © Alps2Coast
If you exclude the Christmas preparation and celebration, I only stayed a couple of days in Bologna. If you are staying longer, or for more ideas on what to see, check out my detailed Bologna post.
Day 10 - Drive to Schaffhausen
On Boxing Day, we said goodbye to our friends early. The day ahead was going to be the longest drive of the road trip, and being winter, we needed to make the most of the reduced number of hours of daylight. Furthermore, to avoid traffic, we wanted get to Milano - 2 and a half hours away - before the Milanesi woke up and started heading to the Alps. By 10.30 we were by Lake Como, and the continued on through Switzerland. Our destination was a city we had visited on a previous occasion and that had left us with wonderful memories - Schaffhausen.
The whole journey took 6 hours, which became 7 hours with comfort stops and a quick lakeside lunch by Lake Lucerne.
Lake Lucerne in winter sun © Alps2Coast
It was still daylight when we arrived in Schaffhausen, so after checking into our hotel we went around the city as it turned pink with sunset.
Walking through the delightful streets of the centre, with its painted merchant houses and guild halls, felt like stepping into a fairytale! And the climb up the hill to the Munot Fortress just added to the feeling.
View from the Munot fortress © Alps2Coast
The magical sunset did the rest. We left ready for dinner, and in heaven.
Day 11 - Schaffhausen and the Rhine Falls
We started early the next morning, with a brisk 45-minute walk along the Rhine, from the Altstadt of Schaffhausen to a suburb called Neuhausen, where you'll find one of the magnificent natural sights that Europe has to offer: Rheinfall, the waterfalls on the mighty river Rhine.
We had already visited once in late spring, when the water is at its peaks because the winter snow is melting, and the falls looked like in this video. In winter, the falls are maybe less magnificent in terms of abundance of water, but incredible in terms of atmosphere.
The humidity creates fog around the falls, and when we arrived at Neuhausen we could hear the falls long before we could see them. That is a memory I will treasure forever. And the falls clouded in mist - you could barely see the castle perched like an eagle on the rock island in the middle of the falls - felt straight out of a medieval story.
Rheinfall © Alps2Coast
As the sun rose behind the castle, the clouds and mist started to dispel, but it was time for us to say goodbye to the falls and head back to the centre of town for a solid Swiss brunch of rösti and eggs.
Before driving off, we took another walk through the peaceful Altstadt, vowing to come back. The Black Forest awaited. It wasn't my first wintertime trip to the Black Forest, but it was very different. The other time, the sky was swelling with snow, and a dusting of last night's snow whitened the pines. This time, although cold, it was bright sunshine all the way.
A view of the The Black Forest © Benni Asal/Unsplash
The road from Schaffhausen to Freiburg is very picturesque and passes by some of the Black Forest's most famous destinations, such as lake Titisee, where we stopped for a walk.
Titisee © Waldermar/Unsplash
We then crossed the Rhine south of Freiburg, and entered Alsace. Our hotel was outside Colmar, and had been lucky enough to find a hotel with a spa, so we spent a relaxing evening of pampering and delicious food - the hotel restaurant was divine.
Day 12 - Colmar
As we stepped out of our hotel the next morning, the very symbol of Alsace was there to welcome us: a stork had made its nest on the top of a church wall next to our hotel!
The stork, which flies away to Africa and returns nine-month later, has long been associated in locale folklore with the idea of birth and fertility. The Alsatians believe specifically that the magnificent birds bring luck to their houses. Despite their reverence for storks, the population dwindled, and before my trip I had seen this interesting article and video about the efforts to support the growth of the storks population.
An Alsatian stork © Alps2Coast
Leaving the stork in their next, we drove off to Colmar. Its Christmas market is one of the few in Alsace that stays open after Christmas, and we arrived on the penultimate day. It was as lively as you would expect, and, after the setback of Montbéliard, it was so nice to finally enjoy some spiced vin chaud while wandering through the stalls!
Canalside decorations© Alps2Coast
I won't deny it, Colmar is busy. But that comes with being such a famous market in such a small town. It is not just popular with the French. Italians, Brits, and Spaniards flock to the Christmas markets of Alsace, but there is such a happy vibe you almost do not care!
What I loved about Alsatian markets is that the Christmas creativity spreads to literally anything. It is not just the civic buildings, the shops, the monuments - and the market area - that burst with Christmas decorations.
A bridge decorated for Christmas in Colmar © Alps2Coast
The bridges and roads are dressed up for Christmas, and people even decorate their own houses!
An example of Alsatian Christmas creativity © Alps2Coast
We had the option of going through the market in Colmar and then head to a nearby village, but we decided to stay. Wandering through the village unhurried, we had the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of Colmar beneath its beguiling Christmas dress.
Alsatian iron-wrought shop signs © Alps2Coast
The delightful traditional shop signs, the painted facades, and the beautiful cathedral. I found the statue of Mary, the sculpted portal and bronze door incredibly graceful.
The cathedral portal © Alps2Coast
We left in the late afternoon, as we felt we deserved a treat and wanted to spend some time in the hotel spa before dinner. Despite the rich food, this beautiful holiday had really detoxed our system, and we were switching into new-year-resolution mode!
Day 13 - Drive to Reims
The drive from Colmar to Reims is delightful. There is no obvious motorway connection, and we took Route Nationale 59 through the Vosges mountains. It feels like a brighter extension of the Black Forest. Gone is the darkness, the conifer varieties there seem to have lighter coloured leaves, and the road was quiet - maybe it was the holiday season -, and cutting through lovely villages.
A view of the Vosges © Raphaël Brun/Unsplash
The journey took 4 hours, so we arrived in Reims in time for a late lunch and for a visit to the cathedral. I had seen it before, but loved it and wanted to go back. We were a bit nervous taking the dog inside, so we took turns. My husband went for a walk through the centre with Leia, while I visited, and I waited for him while enjoying the charms of Reims after dark.
Reims Cathedral © Michel Williams/Unsplash
Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims is no ordinary cathedral. This masterpiece of spires and stained glass windows encloses the sacred space where in 496 St Remi, the local bishop, baptised the Frank king Clovis, traditionally considered the first king of all the Franks. Later, Clovis was crowned here and the cathedral received papal permission to anoint future kings. During history, the French kings have made ample use of that permission, as 33 French monarchs were crowned in Notre Dame de Reims over the centuries.
Reims Cathedral, Baptism of Clovis © Wikipedia
Entering this space feels like a journey through over a millenium of French history. As you would expect of the site of so many coronations, the cathedral's interior is magnificent, But it manages to remain mystical, a feeling probably aided by the stained glass windows - amongst the most beautiful and well-preserved in Europe. The rose windows, in particular, are spectacular, filling the space with a kaleidoscope of colours when the sunlight filters through them.
Our hotel was outside the centre, en route to the Montagne de Reims, where we wanted to go the next day.
Day 14 - Reims
We knew what we wanted, and the weather was on our side, a sunny winter day. We would go an explore the small villages between Reims and Épernay, the most significant champagne producing area, home of Premier Cru and Grand Cru. We visited a number of the village.
Champagne hill with vineyards © Free Nomad/Unsplash
Amongst the most memorable I have to list Hautivillers, This village was born as an abbey, and at the end of the 17th century the Grand Cellérier (monk in charge of foodstuff and the vineyards) was a certain Dom Pérignon. His assistant was another monk, Dom Ruinart. And the rest is history! Unfortunately, the abbey is now owned by Moët & Chandon, so we could not visit it. Thankfully the burials of the two monks have now been moved the abbey church, which is open and has an interesting history.
The area around Aÿ, the birthplace of Bollinger Champagne, is also delightful, with half-timbered houses and Renaissance wine presses - Francis I and Henry IV of France used to love the local wines! We enjoyed the wine tasting and express visit at Aÿala. We had to take turns because Leia gets nervous with groups, but it was still great.
We were determined to visit smaller Grand Cru and Premier Cru producers that do not export abroad, to bring home something unique and yet more affordable. After Aÿ we continued to Mailly-Champagne and Rilly-la-Montagne, where we found what we were looking for.
A Champagne Muller vineyard © Champagne Muller
It is hard to dislike champagne tastings, and we enjoyed all of them. If I have to pick the best experience, it was Champagne Muller. The owner was there, and shared so much of her experience, the impact of climate change on the vineyards, and snippets of information such as the reason why so many champagne producers - like herself - have German names. There was a wave of migration from Alsace to Champagne, and the Alsatians brought not just their German last names but their wine-making skill.
Day 15 - Drive to London
We took it easy on the last day, had a lovely French breakfast, enjoyed the pool at our hotel, and then prepared for the Channel crossing. When a holiday comes to an end, it is always a bit sad, but we had our booty of Champagne, cheeses, and the Alsatian kouglof and Italian nougat to welcome the new year!
Would we do it again?
Of course! We were nervous embarking on a winter road trip through 3 countries in Europe with a dog - and Leia can be particularly nervous with strangers - but it all worked well. People where generally welcoming and understanding, and the couple of situations when we had to take turns to enter attractions were manageable.
We learnt a few lessons along the way - I still intend to go to Montbéliard - and I have to be honest, we were lucky with the weather. Before getting the dog we did another winter trip to Germany and it snowed all the way back to Strasbourg, so I know it can be tougher than it was this time.
Overall, though, the benefits of a winter road trip far outweigh the potential negatives. Some attractions will be closed, and the weather may be cold but you also end up having some popular sites almost completely to yourself, not queueing to get into buildings or museums, and your hosts and people you interact with on your journey will have the time to engage with you and actually enjoy it. If you need proof that I mean my words, I am about to book another Channel crossing for this December!
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