Euro Road Trip - 11 days, 6 countries, 3k miles

[MattS5]

This is a long one....apologies!

So I just got back from this trip. Went with my son (who turned 21 the day after we got back) and a mate I've known for nearly 30 years. He also took his son, who is similar age to mine.
We've done a few raod trips in our time, most recently the NC500 back in Sept 2019.

I was in my S5 and he was in his Golf R.

Day 1 started early in north Norfolk.



We headed to the tunnel for a 7:20am train. I booked lower carriage as I've had previous experience with the kerbs on the upper decks and didnt wish to repeat it.
Got there ar 6:45 and was seamless.





Once the orher side, we headied to Stuttgart via Reim,then to Baden Baden (via the B500 high road), then onto Stuttgart



Reims






Day 2 - Stuttgart to Grossglockner. (Porsche Museum - Neuschwanstein Castle - Innsbruck - Gerlos - Ferleiten - Grossglockner high road)

















Arrived at the place we were staying the night (at Edelweissspitze Grossglockner) in the dark, and had to enter the pass by going up an exit barrier which had ben left open as the pass itself closed to traqfiic at 7pm.
This place was very quirky and I had been recommended it by a someone I work with....it was dead basic but I'd been promised it was a great place to be at sunrise.


Day 3 Grosggglockner to Lienz via mountain passes

Lienz to Sillian, Sillian to Brixen, Brixen to Vipiteno (Lunch in Vipiteno)



Mountain passes from Vipiteno to St Leonhard. up to TOP Mountain Motorcycle Museum then back down to Gasthof Schönau where we were staying



























The hotel room balcony had a great view and for £90 a night, was awesome value.




Day 4 Travel to Thusis - Switzerland
St Leonhard to Merano, Merano to Bolzano, Bolazano to Sarntal, Sarntal to Sarentino, Sarention to Vipiteno,



Vipiteno to Val Venosta, Val Venosta to Engadin, Engadin to Albula Pass, Albula pass to Thusis, Stay night at Berge





















Great pizzas for dinner



Less great...the crack in my screen which appeared on day 1 and was just 4 inches then, had spread nicely over a few days



But did get a nice run in with my son around the lake




Day 5 Travel to near Chamonix
Berge to Andermatt - Andermatt to Furka pass - Furka pass to Grimsel pass - Grimsel pass then Susten pass to near Chamoniix
Stay night at Saint-Gervais Hotel and Spa (nr Chamonix)




















Day 6 Travel to Col du Turini.
Chamonix to Courmayeur - Courmayeur to Briançon - Briançon to Jausiers - Jausiers to Hotel
























Day 7 Travel to Menton - France
Col du Turini to Moulinet - Moulinet to Sospel - Sospel to Col De Castillon - Col De Castillon to Menton
Park car and get train to Monaco for rest of day
Evening in Menton.


















Day 8 Menton to Digne-Les-Bains
Following Route Napoleon - Menton to Golfe-Juan - Golf-Juan to Cannes - Cannes to Grasse - Grasse to Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey - Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey to Castellane - Castellane to Digne














Day 9 Destination Auxerre
Digne-Les-Bains to Sisteron - Sisteron to Gap - Gap to Corps - Corps to Grenoble - Grenoble to Beaune - Beaune to Auxerre



Our first sign of rain in 9 days and it only rained for the AM, but we didnt get many pics on the road.














Day 10 Auxerre to Normandy then onto Le Havre.
I'd never been to this part of France, so as we were here for the overnight ferry, it was a great time to spend some time to relfect amd appreciate just what went on here some 70 years ago











































Day 11 - Portsmouth to Norfolk



And a rough route to connect itr all up




A few numbers:

3,065 miles covered
6 countries visited (some twice).
Averaged 24 mpg. (low teens on the passes and high twenties on the auotroutes).
128 gallons of petrol.
98 RON fuel is around 10% more exepensive in Europe.
Flashed by at least 4 speed cameras (a hatrick in France and one in Austria).

Had an absolutely fabulous time and was great spending so much tiome with my eldest son. He loved it.

[Ussrcossack]

Great trip and photos

I did some of the German and Italian places this year plus Monaco

I keep telling myself to get the photos and narrative done and posted up here

[Suspicious_user]

That's fantastic, I do love an alpine road trip. I've done many of those roads as we usually drive to Innsbruck every other October (well Tux, but no one knows where that is).

We also had a similar trip at Easter 2023

Arrive from Hull in to Europoort then drove to Rust to visit Europa-Park, then over to Munich, down to see Neuschwanstein Castle, then over to Zurich, Couple days there, then Interlaken and Montreux then Chamonix, before heading north to Versailles and back to England at Newhaven, then a drive up to Scotland.

[Boxster5]

Great write up and photos - exactly our type of holiday and luckily my wife appreciates them too. We’ve done a few over the years in Boxsters including Alpine trips - must admit our favourite was Sustenpass. Furkapass gets all the glory because of the James Bond connection but like you if coming from Andermatt direction, the road is pretty narrow and slow at the beginning.
We re currently in Northern Spain in an 718 after driving through France.
Some great driving roads here too and we ve barely scratched the surface.
I might seem dumb but how do you upload that many photos into a post? I could only manage a few the last time I tried and the post ended up a bit pants tbh

Edited by Boxster5 on Friday 18th September 15:29

[Mr Tidy]

An epic trip and stunning scenery.

[joshcowin]

Suspicious_user said:

That's fantastic, I do love an alpine road trip. I've done many of those roads as we usually drive to Innsbruck every other October (well Tux, but no one knows where that is).

We also had a similar trip at Easter 2023

Arrive from Hull in to Europoort then drove to Rust to visit Europa-Park, then over to Munich, ]

Was Euro park worth it? I am thinking of going next year, we have no kids!

[Suspicious_user]

joshcowin said:

Was Euro park worth it? I am thinking of going next year, we have no kids!

we've been a couple of times. We have kids. We've stayed in hotels on site - the food is over priced. We were there in April, and it was raining - but waterproofs kept us dry. I'm not a great fan of roller coaster but the kids love them so they always have a wonderful time. The Water park is enjoyable too, the outdoor part was bracing when the air temp was 10 degrees. I'd go back for a third time. There's a Michelin starred restaurant on site, Eatrenalin, we'd love to go but the kids we too young before. Maybe next time.

[MattS5]

Boxster5 said:

Great write up and photos - exactly our type of holiday and luckily my wife appreciates them too. We ve done a few over the years in Boxsters including Alpine trips - must admit our favourite was Sustenpass. Furkapass gets all the glory because of the James Bond connection but like you if coming from Andermatt direction, the road is pretty narrow and slow at the beginning.
We re currently in Northern Spain in an 718 after driving through France.
Some great driving roads here too and we ve barely scratched the surface.
I might seem dumb but how do you upload that many photos into a post? I could only manage a few the last time I tried and the post ended up a bit pants tbh

Edited by Boxster5 on Friday 18th September 15:29

Sounds like you're on a great trip too, and in a great car for it. Although I must add, my S5 was a great drive despite it's age and relative size.
Northern Spain is on the to do list next year with my other son, so hopefully that'll happen.

With regards pictures.... I uploaded them individually into the post having organised then in a folder on my laptop...... It took an age, something like 2 and half hours in total after I got a few muddled up!

I'm sure there is a quicker way, I just don't know it

[Suspicious_user]

I enjoy alpine roads in the winter.

Going over a summit at 2300m in snow is excellent fun.

[Stuart70]

Excellent - thank you. Got my road trip planning on for next year!