Italy - May 25th for 3 weeks
Italy - May 25th for 3 weeks
Author
Discussion

gaz1234

Original Poster:

5,233 posts

245 months

Saturday 13th April 2013
quotequote all
Right, driving down through france to stelvio area down to lake garda for a week or so, prob pop over to venice and then back up to paris for 2 days.

What do we need to take?
Suggestions etc....?

Thanks

carlingofblack

363 posts

190 months

Saturday 13th April 2013
quotequote all
New pair of undies for Paris... Bloody chaos!!

Seriously,

At least two stupid reflective vests which need to be kept in the car, so not in the boot, vehicle v5 and insurance docs, spare bulbs, GB stickers and beam adjusters for headlamps or just use them on the lowest dipped setting.

Enjoy the drive, should be nicesmile

gaz1234

Original Poster:

5,233 posts

245 months

Saturday 13th April 2013
quotequote all
sleeping bags
passport
gb sticker
high vis jacket
sat nav
cig lighter adapters
insurance
breakdown cover
roaming for the phone


gaz1234

Original Poster:

5,233 posts

245 months

Saturday 13th April 2013
quotequote all
v5, why?

gaz1234

Original Poster:

5,233 posts

245 months

Saturday 13th April 2013
quotequote all
camera
few hundred euros
plastic
driving licence

dema

380 posts

201 months

Sunday 14th April 2013
quotequote all
gaz1234 said:
sleeping bags
passport
gb sticker
high vis jacket
sat nav
cig lighter adapters
insurance
breakdown cover
roaming for the phone
Breathalyser (for when in France)
adaptors

If you have an hotel booked by the lake, take the rain to Venice (just over 1 hour)as the car parks by the ferry are a rip off! If you go to Paris through the coast pop to Cinque Terre near Genova, if you go through the mountain stop in Stresa, Lake Maggiore, if you do stop here let me know and can recommend restaurants etc.

gaz1234

Original Poster:

5,233 posts

245 months

Sunday 14th April 2013
quotequote all
aa says breathalyser not needed?!...
triangle


carlingofblack

363 posts

190 months

Sunday 14th April 2013
quotequote all
V5 only as vehicle ID in case the foreign rozzers get tetchy.... I've never needed it but glad to have it.

carlingofblack

363 posts

190 months

Sunday 14th April 2013
quotequote all
And make sure you have plenty of fuel on Sundays. Not that many gas stations manned on the Sabbath and card only machines tend not to like British plastic.
My dad and i got very close to empty once as three stations in a row declined uk credit and debit cards. This was around 5/6 years ago though...

FisiP1

1,279 posts

179 months

Sunday 14th April 2013
quotequote all
gaz1234 said:
aa says breathalyser not needed?!...
triangle
breathalyser law came in last year I believe, you definitely need at least one and it may be two now(if you will use one obviously). Disposable ones are available. I only drink on holiday so it actually came in useful for me since I'm not used to judging it.

V5 because foreign police will try and do you for anything, be 110% prepared even if you think you will be technically ok.

Edited by FisiP1 on Sunday 14th April 00:41

FisiP1

1,279 posts

179 months

Sunday 14th April 2013
quotequote all
carlingofblack said:
And make sure you have plenty of fuel on Sundays. Not that many gas stations manned on the Sabbath and card only machines tend not to like British plastic.
My dad and i got very close to empty once as three stations in a row declined uk credit and debit cards. This was around 5/6 years ago though...
Italian stations often only take cash these days too. I almost ran dry coming from Siena to Chamonix in one hit because I had no cash on me. did the Mt Blanc tunnel in the red, nerve racking experience!

gaz1234

Original Poster:

5,233 posts

245 months

Sunday 14th April 2013
quotequote all
ok, problem is the car im taking is still in my dads name....

can anyone recommend accomodation @ garda?
Also how far would we get into france, swiss from somerset? Again where is a good place to stay? Wing it or book?

carlingofblack

363 posts

190 months

Sunday 14th April 2013
quotequote all
Surname the same? If so, I'd still take it;)

FisiP1

1,279 posts

179 months

Sunday 14th April 2013
quotequote all
gaz1234 said:
ok, problem is the car im taking is still in my dads name....

can anyone recommend accomodation @ garda?
Also how far would we get into france, swiss from somerset? Again where is a good place to stay? Wing it or book?
How much experience do you have driving on the continent?

You could get to the Italian lakes in one hit from Somerset(sorry read Essex, long day) if you set off early and don't run into any major delays. Don't feel bad about breaking it up into two days though, I usually do and find it leaves me far more energized for the first few days down there. Avoid large cities on the way down unless you specifically want to see something. I usually look for golf club hotels in quiet areas within 15mins of the Autoroute. Depending which way you are going Strasbourg-Basel sort of area would be OK for a stopover.

Oh and I'd definitely book in advance


Edited by FisiP1 on Sunday 14th April 00:57

dema

380 posts

201 months

Sunday 14th April 2013
quotequote all
gaz1234 said:
ok, problem is the car im taking is still in my dads name....

can anyone recommend accomodation @ garda?
Also how far would we get into france, swiss from somerset? Again where is a good place to stay? Wing it or book?
In July I'm going to stay here http://www.booking.com/hotel/it/luna-sirmione.en-g... . Sirmione is the most lively town around the lake at due to the locations it feels like stay by the sea, other areas are also nice ( Limone as an example) but more "lake feel", as I'm form Lake Maggiore I'll be getting "lake fix" when I'll visit the family.

good point on bringing a trianlge and on petrol, you'll have no problem on M'way and in towns normally petrol stations take in turns to stay open on a Sunday, as other says, keep a spare £20 just in case. Keep in mind that petrol in Italy is now 2euro x litre

pingu393

10,710 posts

231 months

Sunday 14th April 2013
quotequote all
Breathalyser law repealed, but may be brought back at a moment's notice.

I'm driving to Monaco GP from 15 - 31 May. Venice is pencilled in for 22nd. Stevlio is not usually opened until 1 June, but can open early if the snow permits. It was closed when I drove up it on 27 May 2010.

Things that I'll be taking...

a) Passports.
b) Driving licences (both parts) for all drivers.
c) Insurance documents for the car.
d) V5C.
e) Travel Insurance for you.
f) EHIC cards for all.
g) Recovery cover.
h) Ferry/Tunnel tickets AND the credit card they were booked with.
i) Investigate roaming charges for mobile and internet and arrange as appropriate.
j) Vests (one for you and each passenger the car could take (4 seats = 4 vests), all carried inside the car).
k) GB sticker, or GB on number plate, with either Euro or Union Flag.
l) Headlight adapters.
m) Spare bulbs for ALL external lights.
n) Warning triangle.
o) First Aid box.
p) 1 litre of engine oil.
q) Toolkit.
r) Sat nav (updated to latest version of map) + maps of all countries you will visit.
s) Post Office credit card = no commission. Also a VISA credit card AND a MASTERCARD credit card.
t) Euros
u) Vignettes (Austrian + Swiss motorways) can be bought in advance.
v) Emission sticker for German cities has to be bought in advance.
w) French toll road card can be bought in advance (I don't use the French toll roads, but these cards allow you to go straight through the toll booths without waiting). You will pay extra for this.

+ a good selection of CDs smile

Troubleatmill

10,210 posts

185 months

Sunday 14th April 2013
quotequote all
If car >3 years old you will need to take the current MOT.

gaz1234

Original Poster:

5,233 posts

245 months

Sunday 14th April 2013
quotequote all
MOT as well?

gaz1234

Original Poster:

5,233 posts

245 months

Sunday 14th April 2013
quotequote all
pingu393 said:
Breathalyser law repealed, but may be brought back at a moment's notice.

I'm driving to Monaco GP from 15 - 31 May. Venice is pencilled in for 22nd. Stevlio is not usually opened until 1 June, but can open early if the snow permits. It was closed when I drove up it on 27 May 2010.

Things that I'll be taking...

a) Passports.
b) Driving licences (both parts) for all drivers.
c) Insurance documents for the car.
d) V5C.
e) Travel Insurance for you.
f) EHIC cards for all.
g) Recovery cover.
h) Ferry/Tunnel tickets AND the credit card they were booked with.
i) Investigate roaming charges for mobile and internet and arrange as appropriate.
j) Vests (one for you and each passenger the car could take (4 seats = 4 vests), all carried inside the car).
k) GB sticker, or GB on number plate, with either Euro or Union Flag.
l) Headlight adapters.
m) Spare bulbs for ALL external lights.
n) Warning triangle.
o) First Aid box.
p) 1 litre of engine oil.
q) Toolkit.
r) Sat nav (updated to latest version of map) + maps of all countries you will visit.
s) Post Office credit card = no commission. Also a VISA credit card AND a MASTERCARD credit card.
t) Euros
u) Vignettes (Austrian + Swiss motorways) can be bought in advance.
v) Emission sticker for German cities has to be bought in advance.
w) French toll road card can be bought in advance (I don't use the French toll roads, but these cards allow you to go straight through the toll booths without waiting). You will pay extra for this.

+ a good selection of CDs smile
vignette? what is this?
will this do the job regards lights: http://www.amazon.co.uk/euro-sticker-Headlamp-defl...

gaz1234

Original Poster:

5,233 posts

245 months

Sunday 14th April 2013
quotequote all
ouch, £300 for euro breakdown cover.