Tuscany and mountain passes
Discussion
I'm in the early stages of planning my tour for next year, and hope for some suggestions from others who have done similar.
I will start at Santander, cross to Tuscany ( what is best route for scenic roads, not necessarily quickest route/ hotel 4/5 star en route)
Best route through France? Coast rd or Corniche
In Tuscany, what is best route to include Luca, Siena, and mostly Hill top , small villages, ie not Florence, Pisa etc
Route home to include many of the mountain passes
Not averse to buying a tour if such a thing is possible, but not an accompanied one
I will start at Santander, cross to Tuscany ( what is best route for scenic roads, not necessarily quickest route/ hotel 4/5 star en route)
Best route through France? Coast rd or Corniche
In Tuscany, what is best route to include Luca, Siena, and mostly Hill top , small villages, ie not Florence, Pisa etc
Route home to include many of the mountain passes
Not averse to buying a tour if such a thing is possible, but not an accompanied one
I drove from Calais to Lucca a couple of years ago. We went via Reims, Luzerne, some Swiss passes (like Furkapass etc), Reggio Emilia and Modena.
Without a doubt, the single best road of the whole four days was the SS12 from Modena to Lucca. It takes you via the ski resort of Abetone and it is driving bliss.
It would be bit of a detour for you if you want to head south from Lucca but, IMHO, it would definitely be worth it. I would head north on the SS12 and add in an extra stop around Modena and Maranello. I understand that they also build cars around there...
Other than that, I would avoid the coast roads in France. Especially around the Cote d'Azur. Nothing but traffic. But rejoin the motorway at the Italian border. Nobody quite does a coastal motorway like the Italians. Narrow lanes, twisty turns and just tunnel, viaduct, tunnel, viaduct, tunnel etc etc.
Without a doubt, the single best road of the whole four days was the SS12 from Modena to Lucca. It takes you via the ski resort of Abetone and it is driving bliss.
It would be bit of a detour for you if you want to head south from Lucca but, IMHO, it would definitely be worth it. I would head north on the SS12 and add in an extra stop around Modena and Maranello. I understand that they also build cars around there...
Other than that, I would avoid the coast roads in France. Especially around the Cote d'Azur. Nothing but traffic. But rejoin the motorway at the Italian border. Nobody quite does a coastal motorway like the Italians. Narrow lanes, twisty turns and just tunnel, viaduct, tunnel, viaduct, tunnel etc etc.
We went down to Santander and then looked to do around 250 miles a day - or a tankful of fuel 
First night was at a fabulous hotel near Biarritz called Chateay de Brindos. Beautiful setting and fabulous food. We used motorway but you could take a four hour trip via the Pyrennes which would undoubtedly be great
We wanted to go to the Millau Viaduct so decided to stop at a small hotel near Carcassone called Hotel La Bastide St Martin. Fairly basic but run by nice people. They do not do evening meals but there is a wonderful restaurant about 300 yards away at Chateau Martin where we had one of the best meals of our trip.
Next night after seeing the Millau Bridge was at La Buissonniere near Uzes. Set up in the hills it was a great hotel, again with fabulous food. Our stay was accompanied by the most fabulous lightening show that lasted a good 8 hours!
The next day we drove through the Gorges de Verdon and then took Route Napoleon down to Hotel Metropole in Monaco. Lovely hotel and well looked after. Some great cars on show but ours stood up well to the competition. Think I saw 10 other Astons in the short time we were there.
A bit of a boring route to Livorno on the motorway but taking the coast road would just have taken too long. The hotel in Livorno was the NH Grand Hotel Palazzo. OK hotel but think they had a problem the day we were there. The water from the taps was brown and sandy. Also met up with 11 other Astons in Livorno.
We visited Pisa and Lucca the next day and then stayed for three nights at Monsignor della Casa at Borgo San Lorenzo. Fabulous place, great staff and food was excellent. Visited the Tuscan cities with the best IMO being San Gimignono which we would both love to go back and spend more time. Places like Pisa are far too touristy for us.
From Tuscany we went up to Lake Iseo and stayed at another fabulous hotel with views to die for. We stopped at the Mille Miglia Museum on the way. Interesting place to spend an hour or so with a good restaurant. The hotel was up in the mountains and a great run up to it but watch out for speed cameras on the way up. Hotel I Due Roccoli has stunning views and once again great food.
After all the city visits now the fun started on the way up to Luzern and we did the St Gottard, Furka and Grimsel passes. Great day and keep an eye out for "James Bond Strasse" on the Furka pass. The hotel in Luzrn was the Art Deco Hotel Motana. Set up high above the City fantastic views and food again. Great hotel.
Heading for home now and we headed off to the Schulmpf Museum which has a wonderful history of motoring. On the way up to our next hotel we had a great run over the Col du Ballon d'Alsace which was used as a Tour stage last year. Empty roads and great fun! Stayed at the best hotel of the lot this evening being Chateau d'Adomenil in Luneville where we enjoyed the most wonderful, delicate tasting menu cooked by their Michelin starred Chef. Just fantastic.
Back to motorway driving and heading for the Eurotunnel via a last night stop at Auberge des Moissons in Matougues.
2,500 miles, a bit of damage on the front of the car when we came across someones discarded rear parcel shelf that the car sucked in like a cow catcher but otherwise the car really enjoyed herself doing what she was made for. The roof was only up for around 100 miles of the trip.
If your trip is in anyway near as good as ours you will have a blast!
First night was at a fabulous hotel near Biarritz called Chateay de Brindos. Beautiful setting and fabulous food. We used motorway but you could take a four hour trip via the Pyrennes which would undoubtedly be great
We wanted to go to the Millau Viaduct so decided to stop at a small hotel near Carcassone called Hotel La Bastide St Martin. Fairly basic but run by nice people. They do not do evening meals but there is a wonderful restaurant about 300 yards away at Chateau Martin where we had one of the best meals of our trip.
Next night after seeing the Millau Bridge was at La Buissonniere near Uzes. Set up in the hills it was a great hotel, again with fabulous food. Our stay was accompanied by the most fabulous lightening show that lasted a good 8 hours!
The next day we drove through the Gorges de Verdon and then took Route Napoleon down to Hotel Metropole in Monaco. Lovely hotel and well looked after. Some great cars on show but ours stood up well to the competition. Think I saw 10 other Astons in the short time we were there.
A bit of a boring route to Livorno on the motorway but taking the coast road would just have taken too long. The hotel in Livorno was the NH Grand Hotel Palazzo. OK hotel but think they had a problem the day we were there. The water from the taps was brown and sandy. Also met up with 11 other Astons in Livorno.
We visited Pisa and Lucca the next day and then stayed for three nights at Monsignor della Casa at Borgo San Lorenzo. Fabulous place, great staff and food was excellent. Visited the Tuscan cities with the best IMO being San Gimignono which we would both love to go back and spend more time. Places like Pisa are far too touristy for us.
From Tuscany we went up to Lake Iseo and stayed at another fabulous hotel with views to die for. We stopped at the Mille Miglia Museum on the way. Interesting place to spend an hour or so with a good restaurant. The hotel was up in the mountains and a great run up to it but watch out for speed cameras on the way up. Hotel I Due Roccoli has stunning views and once again great food.
After all the city visits now the fun started on the way up to Luzern and we did the St Gottard, Furka and Grimsel passes. Great day and keep an eye out for "James Bond Strasse" on the Furka pass. The hotel in Luzrn was the Art Deco Hotel Motana. Set up high above the City fantastic views and food again. Great hotel.
Heading for home now and we headed off to the Schulmpf Museum which has a wonderful history of motoring. On the way up to our next hotel we had a great run over the Col du Ballon d'Alsace which was used as a Tour stage last year. Empty roads and great fun! Stayed at the best hotel of the lot this evening being Chateau d'Adomenil in Luneville where we enjoyed the most wonderful, delicate tasting menu cooked by their Michelin starred Chef. Just fantastic.
Back to motorway driving and heading for the Eurotunnel via a last night stop at Auberge des Moissons in Matougues.
2,500 miles, a bit of damage on the front of the car when we came across someones discarded rear parcel shelf that the car sucked in like a cow catcher but otherwise the car really enjoyed herself doing what she was made for. The roof was only up for around 100 miles of the trip.
If your trip is in anyway near as good as ours you will have a blast!
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