Trip to St Anton
Discussion
i was wondering if any one could help me with an upcoming trip to St Anton. i have looked at two routes that are roughly the same in distance and am not sure which one would be the best, i have outlined the two below and would welcome any input.
1) Calais,through Belgium down through Luxembourg, into Germany down past Stuttgart into Austria. Most Direct route, mostly motorway, although alot of interchanges (easy to miss at 100mph) but 4 borders to go through which could be slow? but maybe less toll roads...
2) Calais down to near Strasbourg, into Germany down past Stuttgart in to Austria. This route has less borders and aware of the speed limits etc, but it has more toll roads etc
i land in calais at 6.00am this sunday so the roads should be pretty clear and i wont be hanging around
1) Calais,through Belgium down through Luxembourg, into Germany down past Stuttgart into Austria. Most Direct route, mostly motorway, although alot of interchanges (easy to miss at 100mph) but 4 borders to go through which could be slow? but maybe less toll roads...
2) Calais down to near Strasbourg, into Germany down past Stuttgart in to Austria. This route has less borders and aware of the speed limits etc, but it has more toll roads etc
i land in calais at 6.00am this sunday so the roads should be pretty clear and i wont be hanging around
I have driven there a few times, I recommand the German route (Option 1), the fact that there is no speed limit does reduce considerably journey time if you take the right Autobahn at the right times. The fact that it is free without Tolls is also a plus.
Once you get to the Arlberg pass, it is recommanded to check ahead road condition, as it can be a handful without chains or snow tyres, but I went up twice without any problem in the winter with standard tyres, however it is best not to attempt it if the road has not been cleared, as you may get stuck.
>> Edited by Gulliver911 on Tuesday 7th March 11:01
Once you get to the Arlberg pass, it is recommanded to check ahead road condition, as it can be a handful without chains or snow tyres, but I went up twice without any problem in the winter with standard tyres, however it is best not to attempt it if the road has not been cleared, as you may get stuck.
>> Edited by Gulliver911 on Tuesday 7th March 11:01
thanks for that, what were the border crossings like? i have never been through them but have heard horror stories of waiting at the borders?
also what is plod like in belgium and luxembourg? i believe the speed limit is 70mph?
at the mo the road into arlberg is clear, how long did it take you by the way, were you taking it easy or did you have your toe down?
andy
also what is plod like in belgium and luxembourg? i believe the speed limit is 70mph?
at the mo the road into arlberg is clear, how long did it take you by the way, were you taking it easy or did you have your toe down?
andy
Borders ?
I the last 6 years of driving in Europe I never had or seen a single problems at borders,
and have been mostly just waved through. What horror story have you heard ? One hear a lot of anti-Europe rant, but there are benefits, and border crossing within the EU is a breeze nowadays.
The exception being Switzerland where indeed I have been stopped twice in teh last year, but they are not a EU member.
Belgium is no more no less strict than the UK with regards to speed limits, with the exception that you are more or less imune to fixed cameras with a UK plate.
As for Luxemburg, blink and you are through, I mean, it is only a few miles wide....
andyleeds said:
well route 1 it is then.... are all the german motorways unlimited as i believe some of them are like ours?
The Autobahns do have speed limits in many places - connecting roads, sections of curves etc.
Be aware of those because the police WILL stop you and fine you if you ignore the speed limit signs in these sections if they're around. They also use alot of unmarked cars with video to show you what you've been doing
andyleeds said:
as long as they are marked that will be fine....
They are clearly marked, 100km limit when there's a slip road joining or exiting or a section with a number of exits. 120km/h or 130km/h when the road gets a bit twisty (relatively). The signs are white disc with red circle and the number in the middle. The speed limit restriction ends when you see the same number but with a grey circle and a grey diagonal line through it. That indicates an unlimited section although remember in an accident situation that insurance companies might not pay out if they can prove you've been going above 130km/h
Borders in Europe?. Since some years ago all EU memberstate borders have been eliminated following the Schengen Accord so the most you will see of them is where they used to be so no waiting at all but in some cases you have to reduce speed. I have done this trip many times - last time last August. I almost suggest that you take the route down on the french side as far as possible before you cross over into Germany towards Stuttgart. The reason is that the German Autobahn north of Stuttgart and up into the Ruhr District is very busy and also almost 75% of it has a 130km/h speed restriction. After Stuttgart its a blast down to the border to Austria (Fussen) but if you plan to drive throughout the day it might just be quicker and a whole lot less stressfull going on the french toll motorways as they are generally empty. Avoid the ring-road around Brussels as the plague. Next after the M25 it is the biggest parking lot in Europe. And I agree with a previous post about road conditions. Around St Anton it has snowed heavily during the last week and going without wintertyres is dangerous and in Austria illegal. For the last bit through the Arlberg Pass you probably need chains.
Have a great trip.
Have a great trip.
have you been to st anton before? bloody great place to ski and have a good time.
the road over the border and from munich can get clogged easily and try not to travel at weekends!
make sure you have the radio on for local weather and trsffic info.
make sure you stop off at the MOOSERWIRT on the Blue number one run home to the village as it is the most awesome apres ski ever!
skiing down in the dark after 6 pints is quite amusing as well!!
the road over the border and from munich can get clogged easily and try not to travel at weekends!
make sure you have the radio on for local weather and trsffic info.
make sure you stop off at the MOOSERWIRT on the Blue number one run home to the village as it is the most awesome apres ski ever!
skiing down in the dark after 6 pints is quite amusing as well!!
have been there once before, will be guiding this year; am taking the bandits for the powder and the atomics for the piste, four pairs of skis on the rack! hope that they don't act like a wing, as would then be flying to st anton....
some people are going by plane etc, so we are planning on having a top gear test...911 vs mark warner, i have got 1 1/2 hour headstart as they have cabs oraganised either end rather than public transport.....
so looks like france, germany, austria...
have got 17's on the car, what's the story on chains? i know i can get them if i need to when i get there, but do any fit? i think that there is only issues ifyou have 18's on?
some people are going by plane etc, so we are planning on having a top gear test...911 vs mark warner, i have got 1 1/2 hour headstart as they have cabs oraganised either end rather than public transport.....
so looks like france, germany, austria...
have got 17's on the car, what's the story on chains? i know i can get them if i need to when i get there, but do any fit? i think that there is only issues ifyou have 18's on?
andyleeds said:
some people are going by plane etc, so we are planning on having a top gear test...911 vs mark warner, i have got 1 1/2 hour headstart as they have cabs oraganised either end rather than public transport.....
If they're going into Innsbruck you probably won't as its a great little airport (and Mark Warner normally do).
Still, you will have a more pleasant and luxurious journey...
St Anton, great place. Wish I had the sense to drive there.
Skiing brill and the mooservert (spelling) is great. Do try the hospice arms(again spelling?) (great food, even better wine list)although I dislocated my thumb after a thorougjly enjoyable lunch, washed down with a nice Chablis!
Also the health club/swimming pool is worth a visit. Out door heated pool over looking the mountains. Awesome.
Would love to take the 911 there. Maybe next year!
Skiing brill and the mooservert (spelling) is great. Do try the hospice arms(again spelling?) (great food, even better wine list)although I dislocated my thumb after a thorougjly enjoyable lunch, washed down with a nice Chablis!
Also the health club/swimming pool is worth a visit. Out door heated pool over looking the mountains. Awesome.
Would love to take the 911 there. Maybe next year!
andyleeds said:
have been there once before, will be guiding this year; am taking the bandits for the powder and the atomics for the piste, four pairs of skis on the rack! hope that they don't act like a wing, as would then be flying to st anton....
some people are going by plane etc, so we are planning on having a top gear test...911 vs mark warner, i have got 1 1/2 hour headstart as they have cabs oraganised either end rather than public transport.....
so looks like france, germany, austria...
have got 17's on the car, what's the story on chains? i know i can get them if i need to when i get there, but do any fit? i think that there is only issues ifyou have 18's on?
When I did it with the Boxster I had 18" wheels, and there was no chain available for them, so I did without, but I knew the road wasn't too bad from phoning ahead on the day.
My Plan B was if the Arlberg pass was too bad, to leave the car down in one of the car parks in St Christoph or lower, and take the shuttle bus up. This would have been a last resort, but the road are usually quite well taken care of and cleared.
Haven't done it with the 911 yet.
Andy - I don't want to sound as a showstopper but to go to the Alps without proper wintertyres is bonkers. Munich has never seen so much snow as this year. Last week they have had more than 2 metres of snow and the whole public transport system was closed. It once took me 3 days to get back to the UK from Klosters with lorries constantly blocking the Autobahn as it started to snow and they simply could not get up the hills. Without wintertyres you are completely lost if it starts to snow and if you have an accident your insurance will not pay out if they find out that you drove on summer tyres. Get 4 steel wheels with some narrower winter tyres which should not cost you more than 200 a corner and you'll have peace of mind.
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