Woke up, and decided to Drive to Spain.
Discussion
I think you'll be lucky to do the Stelvio in a couple of weeks time... We went in July last year and while clear, there was some snow around (having trouble uploading a pic).
Anyway, here's a link to a live webcam right at the top of the Stelvio Pass:
http://webcam.popso.it/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT...
(Bottom left for pics taken throughout the day)
Best of luck, have a great trip!
ps. Simplon & Grimsel passes are great too and more or less on the way depending on the route travelled...
Anyway, here's a link to a live webcam right at the top of the Stelvio Pass:
http://webcam.popso.it/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT...
(Bottom left for pics taken throughout the day)
Best of luck, have a great trip!
ps. Simplon & Grimsel passes are great too and more or less on the way depending on the route travelled...
mountainreef said:
I drove to Italy last summer, around 2000 miles so things that i forgot (or rather didn't want to think about)were :
Tolls - quite expensive in France and Switzerland when you're doing 20 euros every 50-100KM
Swiss is currently 40 euros a year for tax to use the Motorway - Cheap. The sticker is a git to remove once the year is up!Tolls - quite expensive in France and Switzerland when you're doing 20 euros every 50-100KM
Edited by mountainreef on Wednesday 4th April 15:28
France and Italy are expensive to use the motorways but I would suggest you try to avoid them any way as the national roads will bring you closer to the best views and places. You;re looking at roughly 100 euros (depending on how much you're speeding) if you're caught speeding in france, not sure in Italy.
Porkster said:
mountainreef said:
I drove to Italy last summer, around 2000 miles so things that i forgot (or rather didn't want to think about)were :
Tolls - quite expensive in France and Switzerland when you're doing 20 euros every 50-100KM
Swiss is currently 40 euros a year for tax to use the Motorway - Cheap. The sticker is a git to remove once the year is up!Tolls - quite expensive in France and Switzerland when you're doing 20 euros every 50-100KM
Edited by mountainreef on Wednesday 4th April 15:28
France and Italy are expensive to use the motorways but I would suggest you try to avoid them any way as the national roads will bring you closer to the best views and places. You;re looking at roughly 100 euros (depending on how much you're speeding) if you're caught speeding in france, not sure in Italy.
Edited by Chunk49 on Thursday 5th April 11:28
Some countrys can take your UK licence away, they include Swiss. Also if the speed is very high I understand they can take your car away and imprison you. Last summer I was with a guy who was caught speeding on a french motorway and it was a on the spot 100 euros. Make sure you take all your documents with you as well, including the V5 for the car to prove it is yours. Every document you are missing carries a fine too and can lead to loads of hassle if you don't have them. If it is not your car you need a letter of authority saying you can drive it in the countries you are visiting by the owner/registered keeper.
On another note watch the hidden cameras on the french motorways, other cars flashing coming the otherway is a give away. These are very very well hidden and offen too late by the time you see them. They will be waiting for you on the next junction or peage.
BTW i've been flashed by lots of static cameras in france and never ever had any come back. But I have been chased by the Italians for a parking fine I got in Florence, took them a while but they did track me down, ended up being 50 euros and just paid up as it was nearly 9 months and couldn't be arsed to argue. LOL
BTW i've been flashed by lots of static cameras in france and never ever had any come back. But I have been chased by the Italians for a parking fine I got in Florence, took them a while but they did track me down, ended up being 50 euros and just paid up as it was nearly 9 months and couldn't be arsed to argue. LOL
I have just planned a trip to Europe.
Starting from Calais down to Valencia
Valencia up to Andorra
Andorra to St Tropez/Monanco
Monaco up to the Lakes in Italy
Finishing up in Germany then home.
All accommodation is booked, just need to plan the What to do in each City. Doing the Ferrari Museum for sure!!
3200 miles in 14 days, at roughly a cost of 3k.
Starting from Calais down to Valencia
Valencia up to Andorra
Andorra to St Tropez/Monanco
Monaco up to the Lakes in Italy
Finishing up in Germany then home.
All accommodation is booked, just need to plan the What to do in each City. Doing the Ferrari Museum for sure!!
3200 miles in 14 days, at roughly a cost of 3k.
Bookmarked.
Sounds awesome. Though from the title thought you had just packed and gone. That would have been even better!
Top tip. Leave the wife at home. Saves on house/dog sitting costs and you you only have one small squashy bag to take with you. Tell her you'll bring her something shiny back from your trip to make up for it
Sounds awesome. Though from the title thought you had just packed and gone. That would have been even better!
Top tip. Leave the wife at home. Saves on house/dog sitting costs and you you only have one small squashy bag to take with you. Tell her you'll bring her something shiny back from your trip to make up for it
ppWe've booked the same for this summer, though with the 34hr Portsmouth/Bilbao crossing we managed to get the club room for a decent price-600 quid iirc with the return ferry from Cherbourg included.
We'll be staying in Bilbao for the first night as it looks like a good town, then onto the rioja region for you know what.
Then it's the Pyrenees & up the west coast of France, Bordeaux to Rochefort is supposed to be a good drive.
Biggest ball ache will be the Cumbria to Portsmouth journey but hey, we get cheap housing so best not complain too much.
Bookmarked.
We'll be staying in Bilbao for the first night as it looks like a good town, then onto the rioja region for you know what.
Then it's the Pyrenees & up the west coast of France, Bordeaux to Rochefort is supposed to be a good drive.
Biggest ball ache will be the Cumbria to Portsmouth journey but hey, we get cheap housing so best not complain too much.
Bookmarked.
Finally, high-speed Internet!
Day 1 Images
Left the Lake District and drove to Portsmouth
Queueing for the ship to Bilbao
They put all the SUVs and sport cars in the same queue.
The good news was they made sure we had plenty of space. Except we seem to be next to an oil supply dump. ;-)
Sailing out of Portsmouth
Day 1 Images
Left the Lake District and drove to Portsmouth
Queueing for the ship to Bilbao
They put all the SUVs and sport cars in the same queue.
The good news was they made sure we had plenty of space. Except we seem to be next to an oil supply dump. ;-)
Sailing out of Portsmouth
cragswinter said:
We've booked the same for this summer, though with the 34hr Portsmouth/Bilbao crossing we managed to get the club room for a decent price-600 quid iirc with the return ferry from Cherbourg included.
We'll be staying in Bilbao for the first night as it looks like a good town, then onto the rioja region for you know what.
Then it's the Pyrenees & up the west coast of France, Bordeaux to Rochefort is supposed to be a good drive.
Biggest ball ache will be the Cumbria to Portsmouth journey but hey, we get cheap housing so best not complain too much.
Bookmarked.
Blimey ......... Why take the 34H ferry .............. the 24hr is bad enough but the 34h???????? Prepare yourself. You do know why they do a 34h ferry.We'll be staying in Bilbao for the first night as it looks like a good town, then onto the rioja region for you know what.
Then it's the Pyrenees & up the west coast of France, Bordeaux to Rochefort is supposed to be a good drive.
Biggest ball ache will be the Cumbria to Portsmouth journey but hey, we get cheap housing so best not complain too much.
Bookmarked.
As you are coming so far, I'd have gone for the 19h from Plymouth to Santandar.
I've sailed on that ship, isn't she the largest of the fleet? It's (if memory serves) got a curved bar.
The first time I travelled on it it had at least bar stools, which made for a great night chatting and drinking, the second time they had taken them away.
The problem is that there are no large entertainment areas on board that work so well on ships like the Port Aven.
The first time I travelled on it it had at least bar stools, which made for a great night chatting and drinking, the second time they had taken them away.
The problem is that there are no large entertainment areas on board that work so well on ships like the Port Aven.
Re: Ferry. For sure the 34hr was bad enough but it was the only one I could book at short notice and get a room without bunk-beds.
Re: Curved Bar - Yup, thats the one!
It was not too bad. I spent the last two weeks at a conference and cramming 2 months of dissertation prep into the same 2 weeks, so ended up sleeping 20+ hrs.
Day Three - Bilbao to Oviedo
I prepped a route stright into the "Picos De Europa", it looked like nice roads on the Michelin Maps and we planned a route that ended at Oviedo.
Hotel Info: Ayre Hotel Oviedo (http://www.ayrehoteles.com/en/hotels/ayre-hotel-oviedo/the-hotel/home/)
The hotel is just outside the old part of the city but that makes access in and out of the city easier. Room rate was 81 Euros (includes breakfast) and excellent value, brand new and very high quality 4-star hotel. Parking is 12 Euros per night and is underground. Access is a little steep but taking slowly and at an angle meant no bumping.
Trip Advisor ranks the hotel 1 of 49 in the region (http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g187452-d2100227-Reviews-Ayre_Hotel_Oviedo-Oviedo_Asturias.html)
Finally arriving at the Hotel in Oviedeo. The Wifey wanted to stay here as it was designed by Santiago Calatrava.
All tucked up and ready for bed.
Hmm, hamburger. Not exactly quintessential Spanish cuisine. At least the beer is Spanish.
Today was great. Dry in the morning, a little rain and then blizzards and snow in the afternoon :-) Awesome. Car coped really well. Average MPG was 28 and we did about 500km over multiple passes, although 4800ft was the highest pass we never had any any major snow. I stuck a GoPro HD on the front and rear so will edit together some footage of today and upload soon.
Re: Curved Bar - Yup, thats the one!
It was not too bad. I spent the last two weeks at a conference and cramming 2 months of dissertation prep into the same 2 weeks, so ended up sleeping 20+ hrs.
Day Three - Bilbao to Oviedo
I prepped a route stright into the "Picos De Europa", it looked like nice roads on the Michelin Maps and we planned a route that ended at Oviedo.
Hotel Info: Ayre Hotel Oviedo (http://www.ayrehoteles.com/en/hotels/ayre-hotel-oviedo/the-hotel/home/)
The hotel is just outside the old part of the city but that makes access in and out of the city easier. Room rate was 81 Euros (includes breakfast) and excellent value, brand new and very high quality 4-star hotel. Parking is 12 Euros per night and is underground. Access is a little steep but taking slowly and at an angle meant no bumping.
Trip Advisor ranks the hotel 1 of 49 in the region (http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g187452-d2100227-Reviews-Ayre_Hotel_Oviedo-Oviedo_Asturias.html)
Finally arriving at the Hotel in Oviedeo. The Wifey wanted to stay here as it was designed by Santiago Calatrava.
All tucked up and ready for bed.
Hmm, hamburger. Not exactly quintessential Spanish cuisine. At least the beer is Spanish.
Today was great. Dry in the morning, a little rain and then blizzards and snow in the afternoon :-) Awesome. Car coped really well. Average MPG was 28 and we did about 500km over multiple passes, although 4800ft was the highest pass we never had any any major snow. I stuck a GoPro HD on the front and rear so will edit together some footage of today and upload soon.
Edited by redback911 on Tuesday 10th April 22:00
Edited by redback911 on Tuesday 24th April 10:35
Wozy68 said:
Daniel, I do not know what/if you have pre booked your hotels or even have time, but please seriously consider the N260 from its start at Biescas and head East as far as Puigcerda and there head down to Perpignan to get back on track.
Beautiful road, and stunning scenery,
Brilliant! That looks perfect. Looking at the map I plan to drive to Burgos tomorrow, then Pamplona the day after and I can add the Biescas to Puigcerda N260 on my way to Barcelona. Will be a long day but we can always find somewhere if needed. Beautiful road, and stunning scenery,
redback911 said:
Brilliant! That looks perfect. Looking at the map I plan to drive to Burgos tomorrow, then Pamplona the day after and I can add the Biescas to Puigcerda N260 on my way to Barcelona. Will be a long day but we can always find somewhere if needed.
Ok, great and hope you enjoy it. Ah your heading south to Barcelona. Then I guess you'll turn south about 10 miles short of Puigcerda and take the E9 direct........ I'm mucho jealous. I'm not heading back to Spain until June.
FYI. Burgos to Pamplona if memory is correct is not far from each other. Pamplona then along the N240 then 260 to Puigcerda is a long way but doable. If you wanted to do it over two days then Vielha is a good stopover place (north off the N260 on the N230 near vilaller) and then next day either take the N240 south again or take the c28/c13 from Vielha to Sort. (To rejoin the N260) which is a fabulous road with many many hairpins for the first third of the way.
Though to be honest Vielha might well still be in winter season. ...... its very cheap otherwise, though there aint alot to do there. I stay in a great hotel ..... clean and new for around 30 euros a night out of season.
Sorry, I'm getting a little carried away. ......... Enjoy your trip and have a safe journey.
Edited by Wozy68 on Tuesday 10th April 22:23
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