Monaco Grand Prix 2012 - Best Route

[randlesf]

Hi everybody, this is my first post and I am looking for some advice. I am planning a road trip for me and a few friends to the Monaco Grand Prix. I have the basic route down planned, and wondered if you could help me with ideas on the way back. Below is what i have planned so far, can you fill in the gaps, or even suggestions for a better route to Monaco;

Day 1 - Thursday

Leave Chester around 6pm and head for folkestone for an overnight stop

Day 2 - Friday

Cross channel, head to Reims then come off the motorway visit the old pits and cross overland to Dijon. Pick up the motorway again and head for an overnight stop in Annecy.

Day 3 - Saturday

Annecy to Grenoble, then Route De Napoleon and on to an overnight stay in Nice

Day 4 - Sunday

Train in and out of Monaco from Nice for the Grand Prix and a 2nd night in Nice

Day 5 - Monday

???????????? - Overnight stop

Day 6 - Tuesday

??????????? - Arrive at calais for around 6pm for a crossing and drive back to Chester for around 10pm

Back to work and reality Wednesday

We will be in a convoy consisting of an Elise, 350Z and a couple of Carreras. Any good routes to get us back in time for a tea time crossing on Tuesday?

[onyx39]

[neilus]

I would try and get myself over to Grasse and pick up the Route Napoléon (N85) upto Grenoble, it's aboute 200 miles and assuming you don't get held up much traffic will be about 5 hours driving.

[donna180]

Could do Col de Turini and Col de Braus and return home via the Alps....

http://www.alpineroads.com/maritimes.php

[RP1]

If you want a scenic route with some epic roads on your return, Head North from Monaco into the Vanoise National Park, and take the D902 (Col d'Ilseran) through Bonneval Sur Arc and Val d'Isere, an awesome road, one of Europe's highest I think, bit scary in the dark though!!

For a worthy detour (or you can continue this way and come back through the Mont Blanc tunnel, though I wouldn't - its bloody boring!) go up the Col Du Petit Saint Bernard at Seez(D1090/SS26) over the border into Italy and back again (about as far as La Thuile is far enough), another awesome road and some spectacular scenery.

After that keep on the D902 until it becomes the D925 to Beaufort - wonderful road and truly idillic scenery with some great places to stop for a picnic/photos along the way, from there head for Sallanches (various routes you can choose, all are good) to join the Autoroute Blanche which will take you back towards Geneva then home. You won't be disappointed!

You could overnight it at Megeve which is a gorgeous little town and starting in the morning from there should easily see you back to Calais for about 4-5pm (or earlier if you have a road angel!)

Pic is near the top of the Col du Petit St Bernard the first time i did it (not an ideal vehicle for the job really, boiled the brake fluid on the way back down!)

Your little convoy sounds like the perfect sort of cars for the roads!

Will see if i can dig out some pics from last time.

Edited by RP1 on Thursday 15th December 16:41

Edited by RP1 on Thursday 15th December 16:43

Edited by RP1 on Thursday 15th December 16:45

[randlesf]

[quote=RP1]If you want a scenic route with some epic roads on your return, Head North from Monaco into the Vanoise National Park, and take the D902 (Col d'Ilseran) through Bonneval Sur Arc and Val d'Isere, an awesome road, one of Europe's highest I think, bit scary in the dark though!!

For a worthy detour (or you can continue this way and come back through the Mont Blanc tunnel, though I wouldn't - its bloody boring!) go up the Col Du Petit Saint Bernard at Seez(D1090/SS26) over the border into Italy and back again (about as far as La Thuile is far enough), another awesome road and some spectacular scenery.

After that keep on the D902 until it becomes the D925 to Beaufort - wonderful road and truly idillic scenery with some great places to stop for a picnic/photos along the way, from there head for Sallanches (various routes you can choose, all are good) to join the Autoroute Blanche which will take you back towards Geneva then home. You won't be disappointed!

You could overnight it at Megeve which is a gorgeous little town and starting in the morning from there should easily see you back to Calais for about 4-5pm (or earlier if you have a road angel!)




Pic is near the top of the Col du Petit St Bernard the first time i did it (not an ideal vehicle for the job really, boiled the brake fluid on the way back down!)

Your little convoy sounds like the perfect sort of cars for the roads!

Thanks for such a detailed reply. You route back to blighty sounds good, I will have a look on the map and let you know how we get on.

[RP1]

Another pic from last time, on the D925 overlooking Lac De Roseland before beaufort!

[NickVyse]

Have to agree about the Col d'Iseran - coming back from picking up an RS2 in Mulhouse I went through Chamonix, Mont Blanc tunnel, up and over the Col de Petite St Bernard, Col de Iseran, Col de Val Cenis and onto Turin, down to Cuneo and then back through the Alps via Col de Tende and the Cote d'Azur.

What a day that was. If you have the time it's well worth the detour - but having said that you'd have to double check the Col de Iseran is open at the end of May, touch and go. Route Nap on the way down, this route in reverse going home, just incredible.

Nick

---

m2bmw • le foulon, provence, france. enjoy a driving holiday on europe's best roads

[smack]

NickVyse said:

Have to agree about the Col d'Iseran - coming back from picking up an RS2 in Mulhouse I went through Chamonix, Mont Blanc tunnel, up and over the Col de Petite St Bernard, Col de Iseran, Col de Val Cenis and onto Turin, down to Cuneo and then back through the Alps via Col de Tende and the Cote d'Azur.

What a day that was. If you have the time it's well worth the detour - but having said that you'd have to double check the Col de Iseran is open at the end of May, touch and go. Route Nap on the way down, this route in reverse going home, just incredible.

Nick

Yes, the high Alp passes may not be open at that time, all depends on how warm it has been. At the end of May Petite St Bernard still might be under 3m of snow and ice.

And Nick, dump the advertisement before the mods catch you - it is not allowed in your posts (profile it is fine...)

[NickVyse]

smack said:

And Nick, dump the advertisement before the mods catch you - it is not allowed in your posts (profile it is fine...)

fair enough

[smack]

NickVyse said:

smack said:

And Nick, dump the advertisement before the mods catch you - it is not allowed in your posts (profile it is fine...)

fair enough

Just giving you the heads up, they are a bit hot on the T&C's here. Nice place you have though, in a lovely part of the world! (I pass though that way often on bike trips)

[don logan]

IF the passes are open I will be going London to Chamonix - Chamonix to Briancon (Chamonix to Auron was a bit of a stretch last September)Via Mt Blanc tunnel/Pt St Bernard/Iseran/Galibier then Briancon to Vence via Bonette.

If Pt St Bernard isn`t open then I`ll go via Megeve to Albertville, at that point if Iseran isn`t open I`ll go up the Maurienne valley and turn right for Galibier, if neither are open I`ll go to Grenoble and Briancon from there.

If Bonette isn`t open I`ll go Briancon to Vence via Digne les Bains.

[DangerDoom]

Are many of the passes open at the end of May?

Thinking about driving down for the Monaco F1. Notice that some of the Swiss Alpine passes don't open until the 1st of June. Do they rigidly stick to that or do they open them up earlier if conditions are acceptable?