Road trip to Monaco!!

Road trip to Monaco!!

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Discussion

James1927

Original Poster:

41 posts

121 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
Hi guys and gals

I'm planning a blast down to Monaco over the BH weekend in my P&J but have never driven outside of the UK before...

Do you have any advice or tips to share with a newbie - other than drive on the other side of the road biggrin

Many thanks

James

Neil1300r

5,487 posts

177 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
When on the French motorways in an Aston you are legally obliged to speed.
In the unlikely event you get stopped by the Rozzers and they ask why you were speeeding, just reply "Because its so easy". You will be waved on your way.

mikey k

13,011 posts

215 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
Neil1300r said:
When on the French motorways in an Aston you are legally obliged to speed.
In the unlikely event you get stopped by the Rozzers and they ask why you were speeeding, just reply "Because its so easy". You will be waved on your way.
:lol: just tell them RobGT sent you wink
Monaco is a LONG drive from the channel
Use some of the Route Napoleon to get there
A bit late but a Sanef toll tag makes like MUCH easier
If you use the tunnel train blag it on to the high loads train smile

Check the AA site for what you MUST take
Watch out for speed traps on hte autoroutes/edges of towns and lowered speed limits if it rains

Speculatore

2,002 posts

234 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
James1927 said:
Hi guys and gals

I'm planning a blast down to Monaco over the BH weekend in my P&J but have never driven outside of the UK before...

Do you have any advice or tips to share with a newbie - other than drive on the other side of the road biggrin

Many thanks

James
Here is the route we took down but we did it over 2 nights to enjoy the scenery. You would probably miss out the stop at Lake Annecy if you are on a rush to get to Monaco.



Make sure you get the obligatory 'Casino Square/Hotel Paris' shot
[url]

And Route Napoleon is a must
|http://thumbsnap.com/yscSpeWQ[/url][url]

The Electronic Toll Tag is an absolute must but probably too late for you to get one now.

krisdelta

4,566 posts

200 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
[quote=Speculatore]

And Route Napoleon is a must
[quote]

Indeed - a lovely piece of road! Use the run "up" from Grasse to figure any plod deployments (mostly on the weekends) and enjoy the spectacular scenery cool

avinalarf

6,438 posts

141 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
Speculatore said:
Here is the route we took down but we did it over 2 nights to enjoy the scenery. You would probably miss out the stop at Lake Annecy if you are on a rush to get to Monaco.



Make sure you get the obligatory 'Casino Square/Hotel Paris' shot
[url]

And Route Napoleon is a must
|http://thumbsnap.com/yscSpeWQ[/url][url]

The Electronic Toll Tag is an absolute must but probably too late for you to get one now.
Hi David,just sent you a pm.
Best regards,
Steve

BravoV8V

1,858 posts

173 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
Like Mikey has already said, you're probably a bit late for this but it is definitely worth getting:

https://www.saneftolling.co.uk/Eurotunnel-Le-Shutt...


It might be worth enquiring to see if you can pick one up at the Chunnel.

VantageBabe

142 posts

250 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
Speculatore that looks like a fab route - we are hoping to do a trip like that maybe next year so we may well copy your route tongue out;)

hashluck

1,611 posts

274 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
Although they have postponed it becoming law in France (or subject to a fine) I would recommend getting a couple of the disposable brathalyser kits to show willing

Also you are supposed to disable speed camera alerts on any Sat Nav (and radar detectors are banned)

Carry Hi-Vis vest or jackets for driver and passenger(s) INSIDE the car (not in the boot). This is probably the most important of the recent law changes in EU

Last trip I made I went via Mulhouse and visited the fantastic French National Car Museum which houses the Schlumpf Collection - Bugatti after Bugatti


F1 NDW

1,116 posts

145 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
I don't find much joy driving in France these day's. Earlier this year I did Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco and France. The Northern Europe part and the Alps were fantastic. The slog back up through France from Monaco was a PITA. I had wanted to come back up on the Car train but the Vanquish was too wide. If you really want to give your Aston a blast take it to Germany! The French are really giving British drivers a hard time these day's, especially if you are going via Calais.

AWV12

600 posts

146 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
I would also suggest the Belgium => Germany => Swiss => Italy route.

Much more fun, both in the Alps as on the German Autobahn (did a trip to Swiss last weekend, with great scenary in CH and comforting high speeds of over 290 km/h in D :-))

Edited by AWV12 on Monday 18th August 21:26

Little Donkey

1,544 posts

140 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
Get two wheels up on the outside raised path when driving through the train carriages to avoid scuffing your alloys.

Omaruk

610 posts

158 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
Little Donkey said:
Get two wheels up on the outside raised path when driving through the train carriages to avoid scuffing your alloys.
Alternatively you can go in the lane for vehicles over 2m high. The track widths are wider and you wont scuff your alloys. Euro tunnel are used to wide sports cars using this method and don't seem to mind at all

F1 NDW

1,116 posts

145 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
Omaruk said:
Little Donkey said:
Get two wheels up on the outside raised path when driving through the train carriages to avoid scuffing your alloys.
Alternatively you can go in the lane for vehicles over 2m high. The track widths are wider and you wont scuff your alloys. Euro tunnel are used to wide sports cars using this method and don't seem to mind at all
Guy's I'm talking about he 50year old car train from Italy to Holland. The old carriages will not take the wide Vanquish.

vankypanky

526 posts

184 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
only problem with the freight train is then having to share a carriage with smelly fat belgian lorry drivers.

vankypanky

526 posts

184 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
route napoleon is pretty amazing although the first bit on sat nav takes you through peoples back gardens and the like.
the rest is just incredible

James1927

Original Poster:

41 posts

121 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
quotequote all
Hey guys

Really appreciate all the input and advice - having weighed up our options I think we're going to head a little further East before making our way down to Monaco, spending more time in Switzerland than France - some of the roads look amazing! May even have to pop across to the Stelvio Pass !!

I read up on the AA website and it mentions headlamp adjustment - do you guys know if there's an option to change the headlights into 'euro mode' in the car? I've had a look in the manual but can't see anything.

Many thanks

James

Speculatore

2,002 posts

234 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
quotequote all
James1927 said:
Hey guys

Really appreciate all the input and advice - having weighed up our options I think we're going to head a little further East before making our way down to Monaco, spending more time in Switzerland than France - some of the roads look amazing! May even have to pop across to the Stelvio Pass !!

I read up on the AA website and it mentions headlamp adjustment - do you guys know if there's an option to change the headlights into 'euro mode' in the car? I've had a look in the manual but can't see anything.

Many thanks

James
We did Stelvio on the return trip from Monaco.




so the whole thing looked like this..


tonyhall38

4,194 posts

215 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
quotequote all
don't follow Daves Lunch stops.....they are closed....

ockhamsrazor

90 posts

166 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
quotequote all
There's not much I miss since leaving Blighty many moons ago, but driving to foreign climes for the weekend sure is one of them - dead jealous!