London to Portofino in a day?
Discussion
Would it be very hard to do in F360 in a day? I've never travelled to Italy by car before. I remember I've done one overnight trip to Nice a while ago (very similar mileage, 800+ miles but in different car though, no near as fast as F is) which took me around 14 hrs. TBH I enjoyed it a lot but was tired by the end of the trip as it was overnight overnight trip after whole day in the office and I don't like driving at night. I have done a lot of circa 500 miles trips but it is almost 850 miles we are talking about now.
Planning to leave around 6am, taking tunnel, then pass Reims, Dijon, Geneve, Mont Blanc tunnel, Alessandria, Genova, Portofino. I've been travelling down to Geneve few times and know this road well but never been through this route to Italy.
I'm planning to do it by 8-9pm (circa 850 miles, no speeding
)
Do you think it is realistic? Would it be too hard? Any suggestions please?
I was thinking to take slightly different route to enjoy more "country roads" but this would be an extra 200-300 miles and at least 18hrs altogether which is not doable in 1 day. I will be driving along, my missus doesn't want to go by car that far (even with overnight break halfway) so she will take a plane on the same day and I will be meeting her in Italy.
Planning to leave around 6am, taking tunnel, then pass Reims, Dijon, Geneve, Mont Blanc tunnel, Alessandria, Genova, Portofino. I've been travelling down to Geneve few times and know this road well but never been through this route to Italy.
I'm planning to do it by 8-9pm (circa 850 miles, no speeding
)Do you think it is realistic? Would it be too hard? Any suggestions please?
I was thinking to take slightly different route to enjoy more "country roads" but this would be an extra 200-300 miles and at least 18hrs altogether which is not doable in 1 day. I will be driving along, my missus doesn't want to go by car that far (even with overnight break halfway) so she will take a plane on the same day and I will be meeting her in Italy.
I did Santa Margherita (next to Portofino) to Arras near Calais in 11.5 hours. I was in a Maser 4200 GT, set off with a full tank and had to stop about 3 times to refuel, remember thinking at the time that I would never do so much driving in a day ever again. Had some high speed blasts between Genova nad Alessandria, remember hitting 160 and keeping it there for a while which won't have done the fuel consumption much good. To be honest I think that much driving in one day is probably verging on being irresponsible unless you have Red Bull on drip feed!
The 360 will be more than comfortable/able enough to do the trip, however doing it in day means taking mainly motorways. That takes away from the whole trip & the journey will be a bit boring IMO..
I've done loads of euro drives & the fun is in driving some great roads with plenty of stop offs.. My ideal is driving between 400 & 600 miles a day with a nice hotel to look forward to at the end of the day..
I've done loads of euro drives & the fun is in driving some great roads with plenty of stop offs.. My ideal is driving between 400 & 600 miles a day with a nice hotel to look forward to at the end of the day..
I think it is an age think. I used to do London - Copenhagen in one go on a regular basis and seemingly enjoyed it. That was 20 years ago. Now i agree with Ferdi, that the trip should be an experience in itself rather than just going from point to point. I am leaving for Monaco a bit later today and have booked a hotel in Troyes for tonight. Can't wait to get going.
Regarding Portofino, make sure when you arrive because the last bit from Santa Margarita d. Ligure to Portofino can take a couple of hours if you arrive at the wrong time of day.
Regarding Portofino, make sure when you arrive because the last bit from Santa Margarita d. Ligure to Portofino can take a couple of hours if you arrive at the wrong time of day.
Just bear in mind when you say you have not done for a while that exceeding the 130kph (85mph)in france is now a serious no no.
Not sure of levels but think 130 to 160 is or was about 90 euros / £90, 160 plus is a ban in france and they will take your license and car until you can ship out a friend to drive it home for you.
I remember as a kid watching big mercs and bm's cruising at 100 mph plus thinking one day, now I have something that will do it they move the goal posts !!
Just be careful and enjoy
Not sure of levels but think 130 to 160 is or was about 90 euros / £90, 160 plus is a ban in france and they will take your license and car until you can ship out a friend to drive it home for you.
I remember as a kid watching big mercs and bm's cruising at 100 mph plus thinking one day, now I have something that will do it they move the goal posts !!
Just be careful and enjoy
Hi
I don't think this is out of the question at all, it depends on whether you want to get there ASAP.
I drive a few times per year from London via Eurotunnel to northern Jutland in Denmark - a total of around 850 miles iirc. When I am driving with my OH, we usually leave after work and stop in Munster around midnight and do the rest the next day, although if I am going on my own I have driven several times overnight in one with coffee and Redbull at every fuel stop. I usually arrive around 7 or 8am (10-11 hours of driving) feeling shattered but after 4-5 hours sleep am fine to get started on the vacation It saves me wasting the best part of a day. I have done this in my old BMW550 although more than happy to do it in the Datsun GTR I have now
The comfort of the car in question is only a small factor for me, in 2006 I drove from Le Mans to Skagen via Calais to drop a friend off - a distance of some 1750kms - in one go in my old 964 without aircon. I arrived partially and temporarily deaf and it took around 14 hours from memory.
So to summarise, if you absolutely prefer to get there ASAP then aslong as you have good stamina and concentration skills it should be no problem. It would not be a problem for me from experience
Gumballers who do only 600-700 miles per day are amateurs imho
I don't think this is out of the question at all, it depends on whether you want to get there ASAP.
I drive a few times per year from London via Eurotunnel to northern Jutland in Denmark - a total of around 850 miles iirc. When I am driving with my OH, we usually leave after work and stop in Munster around midnight and do the rest the next day, although if I am going on my own I have driven several times overnight in one with coffee and Redbull at every fuel stop. I usually arrive around 7 or 8am (10-11 hours of driving) feeling shattered but after 4-5 hours sleep am fine to get started on the vacation
It saves me wasting the best part of a day. I have done this in my old BMW550 although more than happy to do it in the Datsun GTR I have nowThe comfort of the car in question is only a small factor for me, in 2006 I drove from Le Mans to Skagen via Calais to drop a friend off - a distance of some 1750kms - in one go in my old 964 without aircon. I arrived partially and temporarily deaf and it took around 14 hours from memory.
So to summarise, if you absolutely prefer to get there ASAP then aslong as you have good stamina and concentration skills it should be no problem. It would not be a problem for me from experience
Gumballers who do only 600-700 miles per day are amateurs imho
To be honest I think it's a just a bit too far.
I drive down at least twice a year to just east of Monaco in my wife's car and we occasionally do it in one go (but the kids (and wife) get a bit jumpy!).
I did it a couple of months ago on my own in my 911 - you need to go motorway all the way - and quite frankly it gets really boring. You'll spend lots of time looking for someone to "play" with on the motorway.
Plus the last bit of the A8 motorway as you go through Nice and then it gets a bit wiggly - you'll be tired and probably not enjoying it too much! But for me (from London) this trip is do-able in a day. However Portofino is another couple of hours and I think a couple of hours too much....
I drive down at least twice a year to just east of Monaco in my wife's car and we occasionally do it in one go (but the kids (and wife) get a bit jumpy!).
I did it a couple of months ago on my own in my 911 - you need to go motorway all the way - and quite frankly it gets really boring. You'll spend lots of time looking for someone to "play" with on the motorway.
Plus the last bit of the A8 motorway as you go through Nice and then it gets a bit wiggly - you'll be tired and probably not enjoying it too much! But for me (from London) this trip is do-able in a day. However Portofino is another couple of hours and I think a couple of hours too much....
Thx a lot guys.
Based on the above it looks like it should be doable.
In ideal world I would've taken different route from Reims - N44 & N19 to Besancon, then Lausanne, St Bernard tunnel, Aosta, Alessandria, Genova.
The actual mileage should be evn less but I guess N road would add another 4-5 hours time (at least).
I'm OK driving long distances on my own, I normally don't fall asleep whilst driving. My main concern is not to get tired that much so I will have to spend next day doing nothing
Looks like leaving around 5am will be a good idea, so I can catch earlier channel train
I know the roads up to Mont Blanc tunnel but ve never been south of the tunnel. How is Aosta/Alessandria/Genova bit of the route early evening hours?
edit: and also I understand you can't do 200+ on the French motorways on cruise control all way down any more what is the safe speed, is it 160 kph? (I mean I'm not too bothered about the fines but don't want the car to be seizes, this will destroy the whole holidays)
Based on the above it looks like it should be doable.
In ideal world I would've taken different route from Reims - N44 & N19 to Besancon, then Lausanne, St Bernard tunnel, Aosta, Alessandria, Genova.
The actual mileage should be evn less but I guess N road would add another 4-5 hours time (at least).
I'm OK driving long distances on my own, I normally don't fall asleep whilst driving. My main concern is not to get tired that much so I will have to spend next day doing nothing
Looks like leaving around 5am will be a good idea, so I can catch earlier channel train
I know the roads up to Mont Blanc tunnel but ve never been south of the tunnel. How is Aosta/Alessandria/Genova bit of the route early evening hours?
edit: and also I understand you can't do 200+ on the French motorways on cruise control all way down any more
what is the safe speed, is it 160 kph? (I mean I'm not too bothered about the fines but don't want the car to be seizes, this will destroy the whole holidays)Edited by 4leks on Thursday 26th May 13:13
fulham911club said:
I've just looked at the route you'd take - its about the same as I do (time wise).
So you can do it.
I'd say leave a little earlier and try and get a 6.30ish tunnel : that way you'll arrive in time for dinner!
yeap, the mileage is very similar to London - Monaco I believe So you can do it.
I'd say leave a little earlier and try and get a 6.30ish tunnel : that way you'll arrive in time for dinner!
Harry Metcalfe did a similar distance in his Countach QV recently in a day, here's the proof:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiBMo7j5Gtk
Sounds like this trip will be an awful lot of fun!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiBMo7j5Gtk
Sounds like this trip will be an awful lot of fun!
Get the first Eurotunnel and you should be fine. From memory it is about 05.40 getting you into France for 07.00 local time. Gets the worst part of the journey over before the traffic builds. As everyone has stated it is a toss up between motorway to get there quickly and decent driving so a mixture should be OK. The car will be comfortable and should be no problem. I did 750 in my 360 a number of yesrs back and car was no problem. Might need a few stops though as tank not that big. Enjoy it (and no-one to nag you along the way!!)
Driven many times to and around Italy in a Tuscan. The road from Mont Blanc tunnel down to Aosta is great, and the Polizia are very easy going - probably even more so in a Ferrari.Went to Portofino 3 years ago, and definitely a stunning place to go to - I guess you know the pricing of the place ;-)
If you're concerned about the length of the journey for one person, and it is a pretty long journey in one go, ask a mate to come with you, share a bit of the driving and pay for their flight back to the UK. For me, road trips are more fun when shared, and it's a shame your other half doesn't want to join in the 'experience', but hey ho.
Are you staying just in Portofino, or travelling around Italy? I've lots of places worth visiting...just ask.
:-) PF
If you're concerned about the length of the journey for one person, and it is a pretty long journey in one go, ask a mate to come with you, share a bit of the driving and pay for their flight back to the UK. For me, road trips are more fun when shared, and it's a shame your other half doesn't want to join in the 'experience', but hey ho.
Are you staying just in Portofino, or travelling around Italy? I've lots of places worth visiting...just ask.
:-) PF
4leks said:
edit: and also I understand you can't do 200+ on the French motorways on cruise control all way down any more what is the safe speed, is it 160 kph? (I mean I'm not too bothered about the fines but don't want the car to be seizes, this will destroy the whole holidays)
Not sure of the safe speed to be honest but have heard and read some horror stories over on the Porsche forum and likes. what is the safe speed, is it 160 kph? (I mean I'm not too bothered about the fines but don't want the car to be seizes, this will destroy the whole holidays)Edited by 4leks on Thursday 26th May 13:13
I got a 90 euro fine a couple of years back, not sure what speed as they never tell you, (90mph max I recon) all I can say is it was in a 1.4 A class fully loaded with family and kit for the holidays, pi$$ed me off big time and delayed me by at least an hour or more.
Nightime probably safer but cant confirm, they have a field day come holiday times.
You can probably thank Mr Blair for giving France the nod on increasing revenue for zero cost.
The drop down into Genova on the autostrada is great fun, lots of curves and tunnels, once you join the Genova to Rapallo autostrada again there are loads more tunnels, will be awesome in a 360. Rapallo and through Santa Margherita to Portofino should take no more than half an hour unless you are arriving on a weekend early afternoon when all the day trippers are arriving. Just keep an eye out for the scooters they come at you from all angles.
PlaneFan said:
D
Are you staying just in Portofino, or travelling around Italy? I've lots of places worth visiting...just ask.
:-) PF
Will be mostly travelling around a week or so, Portofino is just a first destination point. That's why I would prefer to take 360 than flying there & hiring a car.Are you staying just in Portofino, or travelling around Italy? I've lots of places worth visiting...just ask.
:-) PF
Any particular places you would suggest to visit? Cinque Terre is on the list already
4leks said:
edit: and also I understand you can't do 200+ on the French motorways on cruise control all way down any more what is the safe speed, is it 160 kph? (I mean I'm not too bothered about the fines but don't want the car to be seizes, this will destroy the whole holidays)
When I take my wife's audi I set the cruise control to around 150kph. To be honest if you go faster than that for v long periods of time you will be just as bored and v tired as there are many sections where its 2 lane so you need to be contantly aware of other cars pulling out. what is the safe speed, is it 160 kph? (I mean I'm not too bothered about the fines but don't want the car to be seizes, this will destroy the whole holidays)Edited by 4leks on Thursday 26th May 13:13
Better to keep a steady pace and when you get bored go for a 200+ burst !
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