First time on a long drive...Advice requested.
Discussion
Hello All,
I am planning to drive to Lake Garda in a Bentley Continental GT in the last week of September and return a week later. As it's my first long drive in France ( I briefly visited Nantes a couple of years back but otherwise have not driven in Europe for twenty years) I would appreciate the benefit of your advice.
I have allowed two days en route each way from the tunnel and have so far put this itinerary together.
Day 1. Arrive in Calais early Thursday afternoon and proceed to a hotel just off the A26 at Reques Sur Hem (1 hour)
Day 2. Next day drive to a hotel roughly half way which would put us in South East France (possibly near Epinal or Colmar). Failing that press onto Mulhouse or even Basel areas. (Maximum 8 hours)
Day 3. Drive onwards to our holiday hotel near Salo. Which is on the west side of Lake Garda. (Around 5-6 hours)
Day 4. A week later head up the Stelvio pass and then head back to north west Switzerland. (Maximum 7 hours) Possibly a Movenpick at Egerkingen or a hotel near Basel.
Day 5. Drive back through France to a hotel in Gosnay. (Around 6-7 hours)
Day 6. Drive an hour or so back to Calais for an early afternoon departure back to UK and home.
The French hotels near Calais and the Italian hotel are booked but I need two good hotels for the intermediate stops. As the first hotel is nearer Calais on day one, then an outbound stop near Epinal or Colmar looks the most sensible if I aim for around six to seven hours of driving. That should give me much the same onwards to Italy the next day.
Allowing for the last hotel being a little more south east of Calais then I thought of staying in Switzerland on the way back. But if it's reasonable to head back into the Alsace then I am happy to do that. However as driving the pass will take second place to heading home I am not too worried if we don't fit it in on this holiday.
Could I ask for any advice on hotels that you may know that are convenient for the route and also might have multi language skills as whilst I will do my best, my French (and Italian) skills are likely to bring only shame upon me! I have found a few hotels that look nice on line but they do not get good reviews on Trip Advisor or other review sites.
Also any advice on driving the Bentley in that whilst I don't want to speed (honest!) I am aware that the Gendarmerie are more than likely to single it out as a suitable way to pass some time and practise their English.
All suggestions welcome and your advice is gratefully received.
BB
I am planning to drive to Lake Garda in a Bentley Continental GT in the last week of September and return a week later. As it's my first long drive in France ( I briefly visited Nantes a couple of years back but otherwise have not driven in Europe for twenty years) I would appreciate the benefit of your advice.
I have allowed two days en route each way from the tunnel and have so far put this itinerary together.
Day 1. Arrive in Calais early Thursday afternoon and proceed to a hotel just off the A26 at Reques Sur Hem (1 hour)
Day 2. Next day drive to a hotel roughly half way which would put us in South East France (possibly near Epinal or Colmar). Failing that press onto Mulhouse or even Basel areas. (Maximum 8 hours)
Day 3. Drive onwards to our holiday hotel near Salo. Which is on the west side of Lake Garda. (Around 5-6 hours)
Day 4. A week later head up the Stelvio pass and then head back to north west Switzerland. (Maximum 7 hours) Possibly a Movenpick at Egerkingen or a hotel near Basel.
Day 5. Drive back through France to a hotel in Gosnay. (Around 6-7 hours)
Day 6. Drive an hour or so back to Calais for an early afternoon departure back to UK and home.
The French hotels near Calais and the Italian hotel are booked but I need two good hotels for the intermediate stops. As the first hotel is nearer Calais on day one, then an outbound stop near Epinal or Colmar looks the most sensible if I aim for around six to seven hours of driving. That should give me much the same onwards to Italy the next day.
Allowing for the last hotel being a little more south east of Calais then I thought of staying in Switzerland on the way back. But if it's reasonable to head back into the Alsace then I am happy to do that. However as driving the pass will take second place to heading home I am not too worried if we don't fit it in on this holiday.
Could I ask for any advice on hotels that you may know that are convenient for the route and also might have multi language skills as whilst I will do my best, my French (and Italian) skills are likely to bring only shame upon me! I have found a few hotels that look nice on line but they do not get good reviews on Trip Advisor or other review sites.
Also any advice on driving the Bentley in that whilst I don't want to speed (honest!) I am aware that the Gendarmerie are more than likely to single it out as a suitable way to pass some time and practise their English.
All suggestions welcome and your advice is gratefully received.
BB
Edited by BoeingBoy on Monday 25th August 13:36
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