European Road Trip... help with planing?
Discussion
I am going to be doing a road trip starting 22nd June. Should be awesome, but I'm limited to about 8 days, and its quite a trip! I was wondering if anyone had done something similar before, and maybe could make some suggestions to make the route as interesting as possible.
Im in the process of planning, and have a rough idea what I want to see.
Picking up the car from southern Spain (Mijas) and then start. I want to do the East Coast of Spain, Alicante prob stop 1. Want to spend a Day in Barcelona so thats Day 2.
Then up to the Pyrenees to cross to France - Now this is my first question mark really - Where to cross? Any good driving roads over the eastern side of the mountain range? (sure there are plenty but don't know where to start)
Cross over to France then route to the S.E and prob stop in Montpellier. Then its up the coast to Marseille/Cannes/Nice and finally Monaco.
Then the question mark again. Basically I really want to do some great roads through the Alps. Ideally the best would be Stelvio Pass - But it seems that might just be too far to achieve.
So, we will cross into Italy. And then what? any recommendations of the best route from there back? I think it will leave us about 4 days to get back to the Uk, and Im really not too bothered about how we get back. Either back through France or up through Switzerland/Germany etc.
I will keep plodding on looking into the route but would welcome anyone with experience of similar and route suggestions.
Car will be a 911 964 Targa. Driving split between myself and a friend. Really can't wait!!
Im in the process of planning, and have a rough idea what I want to see.
Picking up the car from southern Spain (Mijas) and then start. I want to do the East Coast of Spain, Alicante prob stop 1. Want to spend a Day in Barcelona so thats Day 2.
Then up to the Pyrenees to cross to France - Now this is my first question mark really - Where to cross? Any good driving roads over the eastern side of the mountain range? (sure there are plenty but don't know where to start)
Cross over to France then route to the S.E and prob stop in Montpellier. Then its up the coast to Marseille/Cannes/Nice and finally Monaco.
Then the question mark again. Basically I really want to do some great roads through the Alps. Ideally the best would be Stelvio Pass - But it seems that might just be too far to achieve.
So, we will cross into Italy. And then what? any recommendations of the best route from there back? I think it will leave us about 4 days to get back to the Uk, and Im really not too bothered about how we get back. Either back through France or up through Switzerland/Germany etc.
I will keep plodding on looking into the route but would welcome anyone with experience of similar and route suggestions.
Car will be a 911 964 Targa. Driving split between myself and a friend. Really can't wait!!
We do quite a hefty European journey quite regularly - not a driving holiday, more a means of getting somewhere.
Approx 300 miles through the UK, and then 750 through France to the border with Spain.
What i would say is that there is an epic road leading from a place called Prats de Mallo la preste, to a lovely little town called Ceret, in South Eastern France.
My advice would be to cross the border near there, no formal crossing, and head to Ceret, and then via Mauriellas, Le Boulou and to Argeles sur Mer (the beach bit!). This is one of my favourite roads on this planet!! You should be able to find a hotel in Argeles or nearby Collioure (one of my most favourite places on this planet!) or Saint Cyprien on the internet.
I've done a google map for you:
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=argeles+sur+me...
Also, if you're heading to Montpellier, would suggest a drive perhaps 1-2 hours further north to take in the stunning Millau viaduct. It's not a particularly good drivers road, purely motorway, but it's something else!
Bear in mind - Spain is cheapest for fuel - full stop. Diesel is cheaper than petrol.
In France, diesel is cheaper than petrol. But France is dearer that Spain for both petrol and diesel, and dearer than the UK for petrol, but diesel is slightly cheaper in France than in the UK - or at least was last time i was there.
As per UK, service stations are more expensive for fuel - although they tend to advertise prices on the motorway; supermarkets cheapest - but massively so - i've seen a service station approx 5 miles from a supermarket with circa 30p a litre price differences in the past. There are lots of supermarkets close to motorway junctions too.
Can i ask - what car, or is it a hire car?
Approx 300 miles through the UK, and then 750 through France to the border with Spain.
What i would say is that there is an epic road leading from a place called Prats de Mallo la preste, to a lovely little town called Ceret, in South Eastern France.
My advice would be to cross the border near there, no formal crossing, and head to Ceret, and then via Mauriellas, Le Boulou and to Argeles sur Mer (the beach bit!). This is one of my favourite roads on this planet!! You should be able to find a hotel in Argeles or nearby Collioure (one of my most favourite places on this planet!) or Saint Cyprien on the internet.
I've done a google map for you:
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=argeles+sur+me...
Also, if you're heading to Montpellier, would suggest a drive perhaps 1-2 hours further north to take in the stunning Millau viaduct. It's not a particularly good drivers road, purely motorway, but it's something else!
Bear in mind - Spain is cheapest for fuel - full stop. Diesel is cheaper than petrol.
In France, diesel is cheaper than petrol. But France is dearer that Spain for both petrol and diesel, and dearer than the UK for petrol, but diesel is slightly cheaper in France than in the UK - or at least was last time i was there.
As per UK, service stations are more expensive for fuel - although they tend to advertise prices on the motorway; supermarkets cheapest - but massively so - i've seen a service station approx 5 miles from a supermarket with circa 30p a litre price differences in the past. There are lots of supermarkets close to motorway junctions too.
Can i ask - what car, or is it a hire car?
I did this a few years ago and drove back from Spain via Saragossa, Huesca and stopped off in Pau. I've not driven over the Pyrenees any other way (went down to Alicante via Perpignan) but it was a fantastic drive. Pau is also a great stop but may be too far over for you.
Either way I'm sure any route over the Pyrenees will be stunning so hope you enjoy!
Either way I'm sure any route over the Pyrenees will be stunning so hope you enjoy!
I'd suggest holding your arms out to the sides 90 degrees to your body, palms down, and then running around and making a kind of 'nnnnnnneeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwww' noise with the odd 'rat tat tat tat' noise thrown in for good measure, especially over France / Germany / all of Europe.....
Alternatively, get a nice steel and sharpen your blade and use a more precise rocking motion backwards and forwards to remove smaller amounts of wood each time you glide over the protrusion
HTH
Alternatively, get a nice steel and sharpen your blade and use a more precise rocking motion backwards and forwards to remove smaller amounts of wood each time you glide over the protrusion
HTH
hurstg01 said:
I'd suggest holding your arms out to the sides 90 degrees to your body, palms down, and then running around and making a kind of 'nnnnnnneeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwww' noise with the odd 'rat tat tat tat' noise thrown in for good measure, especially over France / Germany / all of Europe.....
Alternatively, get a nice steel and sharpen your blade and use a more precise rocking motion backwards and forwards to remove smaller amounts of wood each time you glide over the protrusion
HTH
Brilliant Alternatively, get a nice steel and sharpen your blade and use a more precise rocking motion backwards and forwards to remove smaller amounts of wood each time you glide over the protrusion
HTH
Have a dig through this lot - it may give you some ideas.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Here's a route for you Taking-in stunning Lake Como, and three Swiss passes!
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