Best route Calais to Lake Garda

[Harleyboy]

Hello,

I could use some advice from folks who have driven to Garda. We're holidaying in Salo in August and am thinking about the route. Car satnav suggests 750 miles from Calais travelling through France and Italy only, which concurs with viaMichelin route planner. This seems reasonable but want to know if your experiences could suggest any other routes?

I want some scenery over the Alps, some great roads, and would have liked some Autobahn action although the family might not! Much as I would love some moutain hairpin action, it's unlikely to happen at speed without kids vomiting all over the back seats but it doesn't mean I can't pretend...

We are thinking of staying overnight in Ski resort to break the journey. I'd also like to know whether many of you have done this in one go? I've driven from Perpignan in south west France to Calais in one hit but it was a bit of a trek!

As this is PistonHeads, you might be interested to know that the car is a 2011 535d MSport Touring.

So, in summary, suggested routes and stopovers would be welcomed

Thanks

[G Man]

Here is a google map of the passes

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?oe=utf-8&clie...

Head for Andermatt which is the centre of the Alps stay here

http://www.wallisersonne.ch/contents/de-ch/d3.html English spoken and 3 major mountain passes are a stones through and then main road to Garda

Good google map of Hotels on route http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?oe=utf-8&clie...

[dcb]

Harleyboy said:

Car satnav suggests 750 miles from Calais travelling through France and Italy only, which concurs with viaMichelin route planner. This seems reasonable but want to know if your experiences could suggest any other routes?

I'd go Calais - Namur - Luxembourg - Karlsruhe - Ulm
- Fussen - Innsbruck - Brenner.

About 800 miles, so slightly further, so I'd make it a two
day job with a stopover like maybe Luxembourg on the way.
The wife'n'kids will appreciate that.

Hit the autobahn early on day 2 and you will make
lots of progress before you get to the speed limited
bits where you merely sit on the cruise control at
an appropriate speed.

Take the old road over the Brenner if you want
to save a few quid and do some more interesting driving.

Take the Imst - Soelden - Vipiteno road over the
Timmelsjoch and Jaufenpass for many extra points, if you
have plenty of spare time and nerves of steel.

[Harleyboy]

thanks, as you say, a few more miles but good autobahn and the choice of passes look good. Brenner for most family friendy,I guess.

Thanks for the links.

[dcb]

Harleyboy said:

thanks, as you say, a few more miles but good autobahn and the choice of passes look good. Brenner for most family friendy,I guess.

Thanks for the links.

Cheers.

I forgot to mention to

a) fill up with petrol
b) buy all the booze you can
c) if you are a smoker, buy all the fags you can

when you are in Luxembourg.
A lot lot cheaper than anywhere else.

[collos]

Do not exceed the limits if you shop in Luxemburg the German Zoll are quite cute at releaving people of money.

[Benjman]

Hello Harleyboy,

I would recommend the route via Luxembourg, as already mentioned. Head down the A5 towards Basel to cross the border to Switzerland and then through the alps to Garda. As you drive a Diesel, be aware that the Diesel price in Switzerland is more expensive (not much) than in Germany.

If you want to make a break, you could stop for the night in the Blackwood forest or somehere in Switzerland. I did a similar trip last year from South England to the Lake Constance (about 900 miles on one day), and this was quite enough.

Enjoy your trip.

[Harleyboy]

Thanks Benjman. I'd like to do it in a day, for the heck of it. But a stop is required so I'll look at these overnight options.

[gonz]

Hi Harleyboy,

For what it's worth, my parents twice made the road trip to Italy, when i was younger. It was a few years ago now so can't comment on fuel prices, but would expect the roads to have improved considerably.

Both times we got out of France asap into Belgium. The route i remember took us east through Mons and on to Luxembourg. Then continued into Germany and then south to Strasbourg. All the time staying away from France. At Strasbourg stay in Germany then down to/through Switzerland and over the Alps, travelling through/past Basle/Basel and Lucerne. Then south east-ish towards Bellinzona, Lugano and Italy which should bring you to the border crossing at Chiasso, very close to Como/Lake Como. You would then head due east to Lake Garda.

The basic route from Calais was across and down, avoiding France.

First trip we did it in two days. One of the trips we even got lost in Frankfurt!?!? Second trip, in a single day. First ferry over and at our hotel by Lake Como by 10pm. Two drivers with minimal stops. It was a good trip and in the days before satnav, so we did a proper detailed route plan - road names/numbers, distances and timings. It helped us no end and we didn't get lost. Even with satnav, it pays to plan ahead, and as you are trying to do.

Strangely, I can't remember anything of either of the return trips.

Hope my notes are helpful whatever route you take.

[terrygriff]

Did this a few years ago in August - outward we used San Bernadino ( think thats its name ) tunnel into Como area and onto Milan. We had a 3 hour wait ( holiday traffic was horrendous ) at the tunnel as they were only allowing limited convoys through, return journey through Brenner pass which was much easier and went back through Innsbruck, Munich onto Stuttgart and into France and onto Calais. It's a long way in one stretch but we had only one driver, stopped off in Strasbourg both ways, great city, lots to do if you want it and not too big to get in and out off

[dcb]

collos said:

Do not exceed the limits if you shop in Luxemburg the German Zoll are quite cute at releaving people of money.

I've not seen any German customs officials for more
than ten years.

Lux-DE borders have been down for quite some time.
Ever heard of the Schengen agreement ?

Personal use, only, officer, unless you cart daft amounts.

IIRC it's about 200+ pints of beer, 3Kg of loose tobacco,
and I've forgotten how much the wine limit is - 50 litres maybe ?

I'm sure these lovely folks will be able to advise

http://www.route66-tobacco-lux.com/

[collos]

I live in Germany near two adjacent borders and see the dreaded zoll officers quite often believe you me they are there marked and unmarked.

[cat220]

We stayed in St Omer on the first night (had driven from Glasgow) then headed over to Luxemburg for one night. From there over to Wurzburg in Germany (lovely old town). From Wurzburg we headed down to Fussen via a mixture of the "romantic Road" and the 7, which has some great unrestricted stretches, seen 162mph on the gps at one stage! :-)
From Fussen we headed to Chur via Davos (great roads). From Chur we headed via the Oberalpass to Andermat, stopped for some food then headed to Furkapss, from there to Gletsch, then up to the the top of the Grimsel pass, doubled back due to time and headed down into Italy via the Nufen Pass. Driving in the alps was fantastic and I was driving a 7 series, the car performed brilliantly! We headed down to Como for 5 days then continued down to the south of France and then back home through France! Fantastic trip!

If you need any info on where we stayed feel free to drop me a PM.

Cheers,
C