Trip Planning: Information, advice and questions!

[Sam-Wise]

Evening Folks - I’m thinking of heading back to EP first week of May, this time doing the ‘Europe round trip’ hotel deal, where you get a night in each. Have any of you had this package before? If so, do you reccommend it, and is it worth its fairly chunky price tag?

 

[Craig]

Evening Folks - I’m thinking of heading back to EP first week of May, this time doing the ‘Europe round trip’ hotel deal, where you get a night in each. Have any of you had this package before? If so, do you reccommend it, and is it worth its fairly chunky price tag?

It is a chunky price tag, but factoring in the price of the annual pass it's one of the cheapest ways of staying on resort. A few people have done it, and it's definitely worth it if you want to experience each of the hotels!

 

[Sam-Wise]

It is a chunky price tag, but factoring in the price of the annual pass it's one of the cheapest ways of staying on resort. A few people have done it, and it's definitely worth it if you want to experience each of the hotels!

Thank you, Craig - the only thing that worries/concerns me about it is, May I need to return to my room mid morning/early afternoon for any reason, I won’t technically have a room, until checkin time? Assuming you have to check in and out of each, so you’re effecfively without a room for 4/5 hours a day?

 

[Craig]

Yup you'll have your luggage moved to a new room each day, so downside is that you'll be without a place to chill for a few hours a day. I'd think it pretty likely they'd move you as quick as possible, so your room may be available before official check in time though. One of the downsides of it I guess!

 

[Sam-Wise]

Booked it up yesterday. £1600 for two of us, with flights and car hire - Can't quite believe what I've paid for 5 nights, but after going last time and staying in Rust, I vowed that when I returned, it'd be for the Hotel Hopping - so I'm just going to suck it up, and make the most of it

 

[Sam-Wise]

Quick one folks - I'm there Sunday 13th - Friday 18th May, has anyone been at that time of year, any idea as to what crowd levels will be like?

 

[Rob]

Quick one folks - I'm there Sunday 13th - Friday 18th May, has anyone been at that time of year, any idea as to what crowd levels will be like?

Looking at the opening hours for when you are going it would appear that you've chosen a quiet week! The park is currently set to close at 7pm on the Sunday and 6pm on the weekdays, although they will extend if it is busier than they are expecting or if the weather is particularly nice.

With the time you have though I would not worry as to whether the park is busy or not, you'll find it enjoyable either way!

 

[AstroDan]

Quick one folks - I'm there Sunday 13th - Friday 18th May, has anyone been at that time of year, any idea as to what crowd levels will be like?

May is the best time of year to visit EP. Typically good weather and a quiet park.

 

[Sam-Wise]

Fantastic - Can't wait to get back, 3 years without EP is too long.
I'm flying to Frankfurt this time, and driving down from there - Has anyone traveled this route before?
Believe it's around a 2 hour drive, means I don't have to fly from London, and can hop on a plane from Manchester

 

[AstroDan]

Fantastic - Can't wait to get back, 3 years without EP is too long.
I'm flying to Frankfurt this time, and driving down from there - Has anyone traveled this route before?
Believe it's around a 2 hour drive, means I don't have to fly from London, and can hop on a plane from Manchester

Yes. Although I then took a train. But car will work fine.

Only shame about May this year is that Can Can Coaster and Madame Freudenreich Curiosités won't yet be ready.

 

[Sam-Wise]

Yeah, I'm planning on heading to Holiday Park on the afternoon of last day for some Expedition Geforce action, so the car will be handy in allowing me to do that

Fairly gutted about not getting to see the CanCan Coaster, however I imagine with having a Club Card, I'll be back again later this year.

 

[Sam-Wise]

Does anyone have any tips for the hotels? Must do restaurants etc? Did I see somewhere you can take away pizza to your room?

 

[Burbs]

Does anyone have any tips for the hotels? Must do restaurants etc? Did I see somewhere you can take away pizza to your room?

Pizzeria La Romantica is very tasty and good value for money. You can’t book however, so you have to just rock up.

I have also eaten at the “meat skewer” buffet resturant in Hotel Castillo Alcazar, which is amazing, albeit a bit more pricey at 33€ per head, and it doesn’t include drinks.

 

[AstroDan]

I find the service at the Pizzeria quite poor, if I am honest.

My favourite resort restaurants are:

Silver Lake Saloon (a la carte, weekends (Fri/Sat/Sun) best as live entertainment)
Harborside (Bell Rock; really good buffet)
Don Quichotte (El Andaluz; a la carte - good pricing range)
Sala Santa Isabel (Santa Isabel, upscale buffet)
Ammolite (one of the best restaurants in Germany)

 

[Thrillomatic]

We were there in May last year and crowd levels were perfect: tiny queues but enough people milling around to give a nice vibe. The buffet in the Bell Rock was the worst meal I've ever eaten at EP and I left hungry but it sounds like we might have just been unlucky. Best meal so far was the buffet in the Colosseo. Absolutely fantastic selection, so good we went twice in one trip. The evening entertainment was something else too - a Mariachi band playing Sleigh Ride in an Italian restaurant (OK, that was a December trip, to be fair ...)

 

[venny]

Silver Lake Saloon food is relatively good value for EP. The burgers are good. The service though has been consistently poor to non-existent on all our visits.

The buffets I find expensive, but of a good quality. Pizzeria la Romantica has always been pretty good for us, in a spectacular setting. Whilst the service wasn’t exemplary it certainly beats Silver Lake every time we’ve been.

We often share a meal in St Louis. Same price as the restaurant I think, but a more relaxed atmosphere.

I’m in the minority, but generally I find EP’s food to be relatively expensive, albeit of a decent quality. There is good value to be had, but only in certain places.

 

[Mikw]

I really want to do Europa park, but i'm on an extremely tight budget, is there a cut price way of doing it?

 

[Burbs]

Ah yes of course, Silver Lake Saloon!

I have eaten there twice and have found it to be verrrrrrrrrrry nice, and verrrrrrrrrrry good. They seem to like people from Newcastle too.

 

[Rob]

Silver Lake Saloon food is relatively good value for EP. The burgers are good. The service though has been consistently poor to non-existent on all our visits.

The buffets I find expensive, but of a good quality. Pizzeria la Romantica has always been pretty good for us, in a spectacular setting. Whilst the service wasn’t exemplary it certainly beats Silver Lake every time we’ve been.

We often share a meal in St Louis. Same price as the restaurant I think, but a more relaxed atmosphere.

I’m in the minority, but generally I find EP’s food to be relatively expensive, albeit of a decent quality. There is good value to be had, but only in certain places.

Service in Silver Lake can be very hit and miss; although it was improved on my visiting in July 2017 and New Year just gone. It is a must for anyone visiting though in my eyes, always a great experience!

One of my favourite restaurants to eat in at the hotels is Don Quichotte in El Andaluz; the menu is varied and the food delicious.

I really want to do Europa park, but i'm on an extremely tight budget, is there a cut price way of doing it?

In short yes; driving and camping can be a cheap way to do EP. I have never done this but others on here have any may be able to give your more helpful information.

 

[KingNemesis]

I really want to do Europa park, but i'm on an extremely tight budget, is there a cut price way of doing it?

Depends how tight your budget is?

I'm visiting in two weeks time as a group of four for four days. With flights from Gatwick to Basel, Trains from Basel to Ringsheim, Stay in an apartment in Rust (Ferienwohnung Kirschbaum) and a Europa Park annual pass. All of this comes to about £310 per person.

I'd call that a bargain!