Please critique my planned route for Monaco road trip
Discussion
Hi,
I have a 7 day pass to do a road trip to Monaco, something that I've always wanted to do since I can remember.
I don't know southern France at all well so can you please critique my route and suggest roads to get from the start points and end points each day.
The only thing I need to add is that I'll be on regular summer UK tyres, not winters, although I do have snow socks in case of emergencies. I travel on the last Sunday in February.
Any advice given is greatly appreciated that avoids motorways as much as possible.
Day 1 Gloucestershire to Dijon
Boring motorway from Calais A26 then jump off at Troyes onto D671/D971 to Dijon just to get through northern France quickly.
Day 2 Dijon to Grenoble
Day 3 Grenoble to Cannes
Route Napoleon
Day 4 Cannes to Monaco for a half day look around and then ending up in Marseille
Day 5 Marseille to Clermont Ferrand via Millau Viaduct
Day 6 Clermont Ferrand to Paris
Day 7 Paris to Gloucestershire
I have a 7 day pass to do a road trip to Monaco, something that I've always wanted to do since I can remember.
I don't know southern France at all well so can you please critique my route and suggest roads to get from the start points and end points each day.
The only thing I need to add is that I'll be on regular summer UK tyres, not winters, although I do have snow socks in case of emergencies. I travel on the last Sunday in February.
Any advice given is greatly appreciated that avoids motorways as much as possible.
Day 1 Gloucestershire to Dijon
Boring motorway from Calais A26 then jump off at Troyes onto D671/D971 to Dijon just to get through northern France quickly.
Day 2 Dijon to Grenoble
Day 3 Grenoble to Cannes
Route Napoleon
Day 4 Cannes to Monaco for a half day look around and then ending up in Marseille
Day 5 Marseille to Clermont Ferrand via Millau Viaduct
Day 6 Clermont Ferrand to Paris
Day 7 Paris to Gloucestershire
A900ss said:
Hi,
I have a 7 day pass to do a road trip to Monaco, something that I've always wanted to do since I can remember.
I don't know southern France at all well so can you please critique my route and suggest roads to get from the start points and end points each day.
The only thing I need to add is that I'll be on regular summer UK tyres, not winters, although I do have snow socks in case of emergencies. I travel on the last Sunday in February.
Any advice given is greatly appreciated that avoids motorways as much as possible.
Day 1 Gloucestershire to Dijon
Boring motorway from Calais A26 then jump off at Troyes onto D671/D971 to Dijon just to get through northern France quickly.
Day 2 Dijon to Grenoble
Day 3 Grenoble to Cannes
Route Napoleon
Day 4 Cannes to Monaco for a half day look around and then ending up in Marseille
Day 5 Marseille to Clermont Ferrand via Millau Viaduct
Day 6 Clermont Ferrand to Paris
Day 7 Paris to Gloucestershire
Depends on the time of the year you're going. Personally I would travel through Belgium & Luxembourg on their dual carriageway. They're free and as fast as the French autoroutes.I have a 7 day pass to do a road trip to Monaco, something that I've always wanted to do since I can remember.
I don't know southern France at all well so can you please critique my route and suggest roads to get from the start points and end points each day.
The only thing I need to add is that I'll be on regular summer UK tyres, not winters, although I do have snow socks in case of emergencies. I travel on the last Sunday in February.
Any advice given is greatly appreciated that avoids motorways as much as possible.
Day 1 Gloucestershire to Dijon
Boring motorway from Calais A26 then jump off at Troyes onto D671/D971 to Dijon just to get through northern France quickly.
Day 2 Dijon to Grenoble
Day 3 Grenoble to Cannes
Route Napoleon
Day 4 Cannes to Monaco for a half day look around and then ending up in Marseille
Day 5 Marseille to Clermont Ferrand via Millau Viaduct
Day 6 Clermont Ferrand to Paris
Day 7 Paris to Gloucestershire
If possible, do these 3 peaks,
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zYHYrPX0Ii-...
If you really want to do the Route de Napoleon, pick up the D900 at Jausiers after Col du Galibier and before Col de la Bonnette which will lead you down to the Route d. N.
Personally I think the Millau Viaduct is a bit overrated but then I have seen it. While you're in the neighbourhood and assuming you've gone for the driving, I would suggest Col du Ventoux just to the northeast of Avignon.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zYHYrPX0Ii-...
Finally unless you particularly want to drive into Monaco, I would suggest leaving you car in Nice, take the train (17euros for 2, I think)and it pops you right in the centre of M. Get the little tourist train around and you will see a hell of a lot more than if you try to drive it.
Zed 44 said:
Depends on the time of the year you're going.
I'm booked on the Eurotunnel for 28th February so I am a littl concerned about snow if I go too high in the Alps. My car will be on regular summer tyres (snow socks in boot for emergencies). Thanks for the input, really appreciated.
February?? Forget all the mountain routes I suggested. If you need to take motorways, I would still recommend Belgium and Luxembourg.
However, I think to try and get from Gloucester to Dijon in a day is just a little ambitious. Just to get to Folkestone/Calais would take, minimum 4 hours plus another hour minimum to cross the channel plus another 5 hours to Dijon and that is if you didn't have any major traffic holdups.
And that doesn't allow for refueling, eating, getting lost, arguing, having a pee and all the other joys of touring.
Because Grenoble is a relatively short drive from Dijon, why not consider spending more time on French D roads which can be surprisingly good in northern France and splitting the distance more equally.
However, I think to try and get from Gloucester to Dijon in a day is just a little ambitious. Just to get to Folkestone/Calais would take, minimum 4 hours plus another hour minimum to cross the channel plus another 5 hours to Dijon and that is if you didn't have any major traffic holdups.
And that doesn't allow for refueling, eating, getting lost, arguing, having a pee and all the other joys of touring.
Because Grenoble is a relatively short drive from Dijon, why not consider spending more time on French D roads which can be surprisingly good in northern France and splitting the distance more equally.
CarbonXKR said:
When we drove in to Monaco last May, there was no car parking until we got to the far side of town in a multi storey with tight spaces. Best take Zeds advice and take the train in a trip 
Enjoy your run, sound like a good plan, hope the weather stays favourable....
That's very surprising. I used to live near Monaco and visited every couple of weeks throughout the year. It's true that the main carparks advertised on the electronic signs on entry can get full, but the carpark under casino square (so very central) was always free when I was there. Enjoy your run, sound like a good plan, hope the weather stays favourable....Ignore the carpark signs as you enter Monaco, instead follow the signs for casino square. Once you get close to casino square, you'll see signs for casino square carpark. It's nice and cheap as well!
Geekman said:
CarbonXKR said:
When we drove in to Monaco last May, there was no car parking until we got to the far side of town in a multi storey with tight spaces. Best take Zeds advice and take the train in a trip Enjoy your run, sound like a good plan, hope the weather stays favourable....
That's very surprising. I used to live near Monaco and visited every couple of weeks throughout the year. It's true that the main carparks advertised on the electronic signs on entry can get full, but the carpark under casino square (so very central) was always free when I was there. Enjoy your run, sound like a good plan, hope the weather stays favourable....Ignore the carpark signs as you enter Monaco, instead follow the signs for casino square. Once you get close to casino square, you'll see signs for casino square carpark. It's nice and cheap as well!
A few thoughts:
The evening before day 1 see if you can't get to Dover or even a hotel in Calais. Then on Day 1 drive straight there, to somewhere like Annecey, which apart from being a lovely place in itself is an easy 8 hours. Then Day 2 you are already there for the best of the Alps, Mont Blanc not far away etc..
The Millau bridge is a fantastic sight and a great area to spend some time, but I'd say do it another time/trip, I would not recommend leaving the French Alps for a hack over there if you've only got seven days.
In Feb there might be a lot of high ground you can't get to, but the roads will be deserted, away from the skiing areas. Exploring around there in winter time is great though.
I'd aim to finish Day 6 at somewhere like Grenoble (still in great mountains yet easy access to motorway) and on Day 7 just suffer and drive all the way home.
You might have various problems without winter tyres. Everyone else will be on them, I would have thought.
The evening before day 1 see if you can't get to Dover or even a hotel in Calais. Then on Day 1 drive straight there, to somewhere like Annecey, which apart from being a lovely place in itself is an easy 8 hours. Then Day 2 you are already there for the best of the Alps, Mont Blanc not far away etc..
The Millau bridge is a fantastic sight and a great area to spend some time, but I'd say do it another time/trip, I would not recommend leaving the French Alps for a hack over there if you've only got seven days.
In Feb there might be a lot of high ground you can't get to, but the roads will be deserted, away from the skiing areas. Exploring around there in winter time is great though.
I'd aim to finish Day 6 at somewhere like Grenoble (still in great mountains yet easy access to motorway) and on Day 7 just suffer and drive all the way home
.You might have various problems without winter tyres. Everyone else will be on them, I would have thought.
heebeegeetee said:
A few thoughts:
The evening before day 1 see if you can't get to Dover or even a hotel in Calais. Then on Day 1 drive straight there, to somewhere like Annecey, which apart from being a lovely place in itself is an easy 8 hours. Then Day 2 you are already there for the best of the Alps, Mont Blanc not far away etc..
The Millau bridge is a fantastic sight and a great area to spend some time, but I'd say do it another time/trip, I would not recommend leaving the French Alps for a hack over there if you've only got seven days.
In Feb there might be a lot of high ground you can't get to, but the roads will be deserted, away from the skiing areas. Exploring around there in winter time is great though.
I'd aim to finish Day 6 at somewhere like Grenoble (still in great mountains yet easy access to motorway) and on Day 7 just suffer and drive all the way home.
You might have various problems without winter tyres. Everyone else will be on them, I would have thought.
I'm not too sure how many interesting roads you could link up, with most, probably all the passes shut. No doubt you will have seen websites like this, A900ss.The evening before day 1 see if you can't get to Dover or even a hotel in Calais. Then on Day 1 drive straight there, to somewhere like Annecey, which apart from being a lovely place in itself is an easy 8 hours. Then Day 2 you are already there for the best of the Alps, Mont Blanc not far away etc..
The Millau bridge is a fantastic sight and a great area to spend some time, but I'd say do it another time/trip, I would not recommend leaving the French Alps for a hack over there if you've only got seven days.
In Feb there might be a lot of high ground you can't get to, but the roads will be deserted, away from the skiing areas. Exploring around there in winter time is great though.
I'd aim to finish Day 6 at somewhere like Grenoble (still in great mountains yet easy access to motorway) and on Day 7 just suffer and drive all the way home
.You might have various problems without winter tyres. Everyone else will be on them, I would have thought.
https://www.drive-alive.co.uk/driving/alpine-passe...
With regards to winter tyres, you'll probably be OK without. The main routes tend to be clear at that time of year. I actually decided to drive to a little town in the alps last winter in a RWD car on summer tyres, and even then we managed - you just had to take things slowly. There are occasionally police checkpoints where they won't let people through without winter tyres, but I never saw any.
Personally, if you want to experience the alps, I'd drive up from Nice and just see how far you can get - it'll probably be fine. If it isn't, just go back the way you came. There's some beautiful scenery on the way which is worth seeing in any case.
It's certainly not worth buying winter tyres for - if you're not comfortable risking it (which I can totally understand) I'd just not bother with going through the alps.
I do have some photos of the roads I took at the time which I'm happy to post up if you want to get a rough idea of what to expect.
Personally, if you want to experience the alps, I'd drive up from Nice and just see how far you can get - it'll probably be fine. If it isn't, just go back the way you came. There's some beautiful scenery on the way which is worth seeing in any case.
It's certainly not worth buying winter tyres for - if you're not comfortable risking it (which I can totally understand) I'd just not bother with going through the alps.
I do have some photos of the roads I took at the time which I'm happy to post up if you want to get a rough idea of what to expect.
Geekman said:
With regards to winter tyres, you'll probably be OK without. The main routes tend to be clear at that time of year. I actually decided to drive to a little town in the alps last winter in a RWD car on summer tyres, and even then we managed - you just had to take things slowly. There are occasionally police checkpoints where they won't let people through without winter tyres, but I never saw any.
Personally, if you want to experience the alps, I'd drive up from Nice and just see how far you can get - it'll probably be fine. If it isn't, just go back the way you came. There's some beautiful scenery on the way which is worth seeing in any case.
It's certainly not worth buying winter tyres for - if you're not comfortable risking it (which I can totally understand) I'd just not bother with going through the alps.
I do have some photos of the roads I took at the time which I'm happy to post up if you want to get a rough idea of what to expect.
Looking on EBay it looks like I can get the correct size steel wheels fitted with nearly new winters for £175 - £200 (the benefit of skinny tyres and end of season) so that might be an option anyway as we'll have the car for at least another two winters. Personally, if you want to experience the alps, I'd drive up from Nice and just see how far you can get - it'll probably be fine. If it isn't, just go back the way you came. There's some beautiful scenery on the way which is worth seeing in any case.
It's certainly not worth buying winter tyres for - if you're not comfortable risking it (which I can totally understand) I'd just not bother with going through the alps.
I do have some photos of the roads I took at the time which I'm happy to post up if you want to get a rough idea of what to expect.
It's not an option going north from Nice and turning around if necessary as I'll be coming from the north and traveling south at this point of the route.
I'll ping you my e-mail address so you can can send me some photos of he road at this time of year if that's ok?
Thanks.
A900ss said:
Looking on EBay it looks like I can get the correct size steel wheels fitted with nearly new winters for £175 - £200 (the benefit of skinny tyres and end of season) so that might be an option anyway as we'll have the car for at least another two winters.
It's not an option going north from Nice and turning around if necessary as I'll be coming from the north and traveling south at this point of the route.
I'll ping you my e-mail address so you can can send me some photos of he road at this time of year if that's ok?
Thanks.
Ah, that's maybe not such an issue then - for me it would have been getting on for £800 which was obviously not viable.It's not an option going north from Nice and turning around if necessary as I'll be coming from the north and traveling south at this point of the route.
I'll ping you my e-mail address so you can can send me some photos of he road at this time of year if that's ok?
Thanks.
I'll await your email
Dijon to Grenoble is 3 hours max on the autoroute? I would stretch this to get further ahead or visit beaune on the way. Grenoble is bad around the rush hours so get your timing right. It has taken me 2 hours from Lyon to get to Grenoble for 9am. I have no clue about the weather. Here in Lyon we have daisies and cherry blossom and have not had winter. I am still waiting, spring cannot arrive in February - Shirley? Also avoid anywhere near or in the direction of the Alpes on a Saturday.
Sod it. I've wanted to do this trip since I can ever remember and I'm not going to let any snow spoil it.
4 new steel wheels and a set of Nokian winter D4's on order.
My wife works shifts for the emergency services so they'll be useful for the next winter when she's driving home at 2am in the morning.
4 new steel wheels and a set of Nokian winter D4's on order.
My wife works shifts for the emergency services so they'll be useful for the next winter when she's driving home at 2am in the morning.
Edited by A900ss on Wednesday 10th February 13:40
I leave on Sunday and can't wait!!! IT's like Christmas as a child.
Just a quick thought.....
When I get to Monaco, I was planning coming back via the West (Millau Bridge, Orleans and Paris) but I'm thinking if I extend another day I could go back via the East (Milan, Lake Garda, cut through Austria then Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium to Calais).
Comments very welcome if I should return via East or West.
Just a quick thought.....
When I get to Monaco, I was planning coming back via the West (Millau Bridge, Orleans and Paris) but I'm thinking if I extend another day I could go back via the East (Milan, Lake Garda, cut through Austria then Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium to Calais).
Comments very welcome if I should return via East or West.
A900ss said:
I leave on Sunday and can't wait!!! IT's like Christmas as a child.
Just a quick thought.....
When I get to Monaco, I was planning coming back via the West (Millau Bridge, Orleans and Paris) but I'm thinking if I extend another day I could go back via the East (Milan, Lake Garda, cut through Austria then Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium to Calais).
Comments very welcome if I should return via East or West.
Personally I think the east side is infinitely more interesting for driving. Just a quick thought.....
When I get to Monaco, I was planning coming back via the West (Millau Bridge, Orleans and Paris) but I'm thinking if I extend another day I could go back via the East (Milan, Lake Garda, cut through Austria then Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium to Calais).
Comments very welcome if I should return via East or West.
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