Help needed for upcoming Euro trip

[Frances The Mute]

I'm just starting to plan a trip for next summer and I'm looking for a bit of guidance. I've read quite a bit already from the sticky thread and have enjoyed what a lot of you have experienced.

Essentially, my trip was going to focus on Italy and I'm currently looking at a trip time of two weeks as I do like to explore a lot more given the fantastic places that can be reached. Basically, Monaco, Italy, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Austria and Hungary are on the cards.

My question is this; having spent many years driving to and around Europe for 'ring trips and with work and that I'm targeting Italy in summer, what options are there to either ferry or possibly use a train to get the car to the 'start' of the trip without spending two days and 1000 miles actually there?

[E31Shrew]

You've sold the E31! Shame on you! Not sure of costs but could pop it on a train or go to Santander by boat?
We drove to Spain and toured France in the 8 series but went from Portsmouth to Caen as wanted to visit places in France en route

Good luck as just noticed I haven't been in the least bit useful!

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Frances The Mute said:

two weeks as I do like to explore a lot more given the fantastic places that can be reached. Basically, Monaco, Italy, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Austria and Hungary are on the cards.

We Euro trip every year, and I'd say that itinerary is very ambitious. If you want to spend masses of time in your car it's very dooable, but if you want some quality holiday time I'd cut it back a bit. (maybe delete the last three countries)

[Magic919]

Any specific places in Italy?

[Frances The Mute]

E31Shrew said:

You've sold the E31! Shame on you! Not sure of costs but could pop it on a train or go to Santander by boat?
We drove to Spain and toured France in the 8 series but went from Portsmouth to Caen as wanted to visit places in France en route

Good luck as just noticed I haven't been in the least bit useful!

I did. It was time to move on but it's gone to another enthusiast who has put a lot of love into it already so it's all good.

Santander is a little too far west for what I was looking at but it's close to Bilbao whichever is somewhere I'd also like to visit. 700 miles from Monaco which is possible....
Do you have any knowledge of possible car-transporter trains?

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

We Euro trip every year, and I'd say that itinerary is very ambitious. If you want to spend masses of time in your car it's very dooable, but if you want some quality holiday time I'd cut it back a bit. (maybe delete the last three countries)

I'm still messing around with possible routes so this may change slightly but a lot of this trip will be about enjoying the car.

Magic919 said:

Any specific places in Italy?

Lake Como, Tuscany, Florence & Venice are pretty much the must do places. I'm looking at spending about 5 days enjoying Italy before heading back home...via Budapest and/or Vienna.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Varenna on Lake Como

[plenty]

Frances The Mute said:

My question is this; having spent many years driving to and around Europe for 'ring trips and with work and that I'm targeting Italy in summer, what options are there to either ferry or possibly use a train to get the car to the 'start' of the trip without spending two days and 1000 miles actually there?

Do a search for "Motorail".

[Magic919]

Frances The Mute said:

Lake Como, Tuscany, Florence & Venice are pretty much the must do places. I'm looking at spending about 5 days enjoying Italy before heading back home...via Budapest and/or Vienna.

I'd expect you could see them, but it does sound like you'll spend a lot of the time driving. I'm in Italy at the moment, probably a couple of hours North of Florence.

I tried the auto rail experience in France some years ago and found it's not for me. I didn't get any rest on the train. Despite having a ticket for the return leg, I drove back.

Gratuitous Italy shot.

[steve51800]

We did Vienna and Prague last year, drove from North East to Harwich, overnight in Eastern Holland, once across Germany, 4 nights in Vienna, 3 nights in Prague, One night back in Germany, one in Holland then back on ferry home, all in covered approx 2,800 miles, couple of long days getting to Austria, mainly autobahn with a few small detours, some nice roads in Austria, some of the best roads were in Czech Republic, as well as some of the worst!!
We randomly pulled off the autobahns on the way back to break up the journey and find a meal, we stumbled across Colditz, not at all like it is portrayed on the TV.

[Frances The Mute]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

Varenna on Lake Como

Glorious. Exactly what I was expecting of the Lakes...

plenty said:

Do a search for "Motorail".

Cheers. I'll look into it.

Magic919 said:

I'd expect you could see them, but it does sound like you'll spend a lot of the time driving. I'm in Italy at the moment, probably a couple of hours North of Florence.

I tried the auto rail experience in France some years ago and found it's not for me. I didn't get any rest on the train. Despite having a ticket for the return leg, I drove back.

I love to have something to do en route to Italy but there's nowhere we wish to visit until Switzerland so I see that part of the journey as a bit of a slog if I'm honest.
Two weeks is the target but not set in stone so it can run over by a few days if need be. I still need to work out what car stuff to do (Pininfarina in Turin etc) so it will all add up.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Frances The Mute said:

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

Varenna on Lake Como

Glorious. Exactly what I was expecting of the Lakes...

plenty said:

Do a search for "Motorail".

Cheers. I'll look into it.

Magic919 said:

I'd expect you could see them, but it does sound like you'll spend a lot of the time driving. I'm in Italy at the moment, probably a couple of hours North of Florence.

I tried the auto rail experience in France some years ago and found it's not for me. I didn't get any rest on the train. Despite having a ticket for the return leg, I drove back.

I love to have something to do en route to Italy but there's nowhere we wish to visit until Switzerland so I see that part of the journey as a bit of a slog if I'm honest.
Two weeks is the target but not set in stone so it can run over by a few days if need be. I still need to work out what car stuff to do (Pininfarina in Turin etc) so it will all add up.

The Ferrari museum in Turin is awesome

[Voldemort]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

Varenna on Lake Como

Is that the Royal Victoria? Stayed there for four days last year and it was magnificent: would go back at the drop of a hat!

[Magic919]

For this trip we stopped near Lyon overnight. We're off to Aosta on the return leg then generally pass through Switzerland.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Voldemort said:

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

Varenna on Lake Como

Is that the Royal Victoria? Stayed there for four days last year and it was magnificent: would go back at the drop of a hat!

It was further round towards the ferries. Can't for the life of me think of the name

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Here




...although we stay in Hotel Du Lac