Advice on my route through Germany, The Alps & Monaco

[modzi]

I've been reading the forums on here with great interest over the last few days with a view to planning a driving holiday and found the information invaluable - however there are a few concerns and I am hoping the pistonhead faithful will be able to offer some direction and share advice on my route, choice of vehicle and timescales..

I have 6 days and 5 nights from when I land in Dunkirk on 21st July

Mercedes S320 with 20" rims ( are they going to be a problem?)

The route is to visit Nurburgring for 2 laps and carry onto Stuttgart for a homage to the Mercedes Museum then a route through the Alps down to Torino and then onto Monaco and back through Cannes and up Route Napoleon taking in Grenoble, and finally stopping at Riems to see the old GP circuit.

Am I trying to fit in too much?
Are there any better routes I should consider?
Is the vehicle going to manage the route?

The alternative could be to leave Nurburgring & Stuttgart for another time and just head straight to Monaco via route Napoleon then onto The Alps & maybe fit in Davos & Stelvio on the way back

I appreciate there are a few questions to answer but any help would be useful as this is my first driving holiday.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&a...

Edited by modzi on Wednesday 5th May 12:05

Edited by modzi on Wednesday 5th May 14:18

[S10 GTA]

Lifted from the GTA site.

Someone else has a road trip planned, and this was his idea.

Day 1 - Chunnel and schlepp to Lyon / Grenoble area.
Day 2 - Route Napolean then on to Uzes for the night
Day 3 - Millau Viaduc
Day 4 - Nice - Monaco area
Day 5 - Monaco to Turin - Staying at the Lingotto (former Fiat Factory with test track on the roof, featured in the Italian Job)
Day 6 - Day in Turin
Day 7 - Corrmayeur to Chamonix via the Mont Blanc Tunnel
Day 8 - Geneva possibly
Day 9 - Back to Blightey

[RacingTeatray]

S10 GTA said:

Lifted from the GTA site.

Someone else has a road trip planned, and this was his idea.

Day 1 - Chunnel and schlepp to Lyon / Grenoble area.
Day 2 - Route Napolean then on to Uzes for the night
Day 3 - Millau Viaduc
Day 4 - Nice - Monaco area
Day 5 - Monaco to Turin - Staying at the Lingotto (former Fiat Factory with test track on the roof, featured in the Italian Job)
Day 6 - Day in Turin
Day 7 - Corrmayeur to Chamonix via the Mont Blanc Tunnel
Day 8 - Geneva possibly
Day 9 - Back to Blightey

I think you'd slightly struggle to get from the Route Napoleon to Uzes in a day. I drove down to Monaco at Easter, and, because I too went that route, I can tell you that Lyons-Nice via Grenoble, Sisteron and the Route Napoleon takes at least six hours. It's about 450kms, much of it on very twisty roads (which is obviously the whole point!). And Nice to Uzes is probably a further 3 or 4 hours.

[fergus]

modzi said:

I've been reading the forums on here with great interest over the last few days with a view to planning a driving holiday and found the information invaluable - however there are a few concerns and I am hoping the pistonhead faithful will be able to offer some direction and share advice on my route, choice of vehicle and timescales..

I have 6 days and 5 nights from when I land in Dunkirk on 21st July

Mercedes S320 automatic with 20" wheels ( are they going to be a problem?)

The route is to visit Nurburgring for 2 laps and carry onto Stuttgart for a homage to the Mercedes Museum then a route through the Alps down to Torino and then onto Monaco and back through Cannes and up Route Napoleon taking in Grenoble, and finally stopping at Riems to see the old GP circuit.

Am I trying to fit in too much?
Are there any better routes I should consider?
Is the vehicle going to manage the route?

The alternative could be to leave Nurburgring & Stuttgart for another time and just head straight to Monaco via route Napoleon then onto The Alps & maybe fit in Davos & Stelvio on the way back

- make sure the Ring is open when you plan to go over
- if you're around the Ring, look up the B500 (south of the Ring) through the black forrest.
- You may be better saving the German part of the trip for a seperate excursion. You'll be doing a LOT of driving otherwise
- 20" rims - why?

[modzi]

I was hoping this was possible in 6 days but feel I might be pushing my luck?

Day 1: Dunkirk - Nurburgring - Stuttgart
Day 2: Stuttgart - Zurich - Davos
Day 3: Davos - Stevios - Torino
Day 4: Torino - Monaco
Day 5: Monaco - Grenoble via Route Napoleon
Day 6: Grenoble - Reims - Dunkirk

The last day is likely to be more of a dash to the port with a generous break in the middle to take in Reims GP.

I am very limited on time and 6 days is the limit as I have to be back for a wedding in London, and it has to be completed over the 21st - 26th July.

Always a dream to wake up in Monaco Hotel De Paris on my 30th Birthday and im not about to give up just yet!!

[modzi]

The 20" rims sit really well and by adjusting the airmatic suspension settings you can go very low with no rub in the arches.

With a wider rear setup you get so much more grip round the corners and the chrome deep dish allows me to comb my hair in the morning!

Agreed I might have to keep Germany for next time but the Autobahn is very tempting

[skodamanpat]

I would consider going to the ring on the way home rather than the way out, then if you do stuff it or get stuffed at least it won't ruin your entire week. Depending on how much driving you can cope with it is possible to land in Dunkirque 1am and drive straight down the autoroute over the millau viaduct and make Nimes for your first night.

Head east on day 2 over Mout ventoux and into Cannes, or miss out Ventoux (which can be a pain with cyclists) and head east to Monaco, take a circular route up the col de turini and back to Cannes for the night.
Day 3 Up the route Napoleon, round the verdon gorge and then either rejoin the Napoleon and head for Grenoble or cut East and over the col de Bonet and head back for Gap/ Baratier

Day 4 petite and Grand st bernard passes to Crans

Day 5 Head north east and have a play, Nufenen, gothard, furka, grimsel, Brunig passes to Meiringen then head directly for or near to Ring, stuttgart is fine but may be a little late for the museum.

Day 6 Ring action in the morning then quick shclepp for the evening ferry.

Bobs your uncle and Fanny is your Aunnty.... Have fun

Edited by skodamanpat on Wednesday 5th May 15:04

[RacingTeatray]

Sounds good.

[modzi]

Thanks Skodamanpat.

I just put that route into Google Maps and it looks great.

Not sure how much of my driving the missus can take.....this trip is def going to be a head banger in more than 1 way!!

Cheers

[Egbert Nobacon]

Try and incorporate the "Route des Grands Alpes" (Google it) into your plans.

Starts on shores of Lake Geneva at Thonon-les-Bains and ends in Menton on the Riviera. 684km, 16 mountain passes - a truly spectacular journey with lots of places to stay enroute.

[S10 GTA]

Egbert Nobacon said:

Try and incorporate the "Route des Grands Alpes" (Google it) into your plans.

Starts on shores of Lake Geneva at Thonon-les-Bains and ends in Menton on the Riviera. 684km, 16 mountain passes - a truly spectacular journey with lots of places to stay enroute.

I have driven some of that without knowing. I lived in les gets for a while, and took my traffic down to Evian and back one day when I was bored. I also had my activa out there and had my suspension pipe fixed in a local Citroën garage.