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?

[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.

[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.