Euro Trip May/June 19' France/Italy/Switzerland/France
Discussion
squareflops said:
Good point bud. On that I've been discussing the Switzerland leg and have had a conversation about Swiss not being quite necessary as part of the trip. Mont Blanc could be an alt route and keeps us in France, Switzerland has a charge to enter I believe and I hear there's a zero tolerance policy on any type of shenanigans; not that I'll be honing about too much. Something to think about.
I was looking forward to the Grand St Bernard pass though, maybe we'll do the petit instead!
Swiss Vignette is circa 40 CHF/Swiss Fr, for motorway use, no motorway no charge.I was looking forward to the Grand St Bernard pass though, maybe we'll do the petit instead!
Have a look at the maps you should be able to go via Simplon (swiss motorway 9), or San Gottardo (swiss motorway 2) for just the vignette and a minimal delay in time spent driving towards your final destination, rather than a pass that might be open, or use of the tunnel at (45 euro TMB and 30 euro TGSB) + the associated autoroute/autostrada costs approaching the alpine crossings can very much outweigh going north/north west at Milan with the vignette.
https://www.viamichelin.co.uk
Will help you with your route planning, and will also show you were and how much any tolls are (and if you can avoid any without excessive time in the car).
Good luck.
Cheers Deesee good info.
Untitled by Kaeser Devon, on Flickr
Haven't had the chance to take many pictures of it today, one at the house and one outside the OH flat
Untitled by Kaeser Devon, on Flickr
Untitled by Kaeser Devon, on Flickr
Figured as fun as it would have been to take the rover the bm might be more suited to a 2k mile trip. I love it my first auto too, I must be getting old.
Tempest_5 said:
I trust you will keep us informed of your progress or otherwise as this escapade develops !
I will, here's one Untitled by Kaeser Devon, on FlickrHaven't had the chance to take many pictures of it today, one at the house and one outside the OH flat
Untitled by Kaeser Devon, on FlickrUntitled by Kaeser Devon, on FlickrFigured as fun as it would have been to take the rover the bm might be more suited to a 2k mile trip. I love it
my first auto too, I must be getting old. Well .. haven't really done any yet 
We're planning on sitting down this week and booking a more rounded out itinerary with a view to doing some set excursions etc on certain days, wine tasting etc.
We've booked all the accommodation, namely Santander the afternoon we arrive and leaving early next morning for Marseille, that's a bit of a trek at around 8 hours ish but the subsequent days driving are half that at most. Once in Marseille we've got a nice hotel on the beach booked and are spending 2 days there I think. Then onto Nice via Route Napoleon. Once Nice is done we have one more stay in La Spezia just before we go to Florence. We have a nice farmhouse/apartment place booked surrounded by vineyards with a 28m pool in Toscona.
I'm still not sure how to get to Brittany from, Italy, either over the Alps, Swiss or French or do the Mont Blanc tunnel but I'll be doing more research on that. We'll need to stay somewhere inbetween those two places also but think I'll B&B something closer to the time, will be a bit more interesting if we book on the fly I think
The BMW is behaving itself and booked in for an oil and filter change tomorrow before we leave. I think it'll be a great GT but part of me does wish I was taking my previously owned Boxster as that was glorious.
What's your plans? Be interesting to read!
We're planning on sitting down this week and booking a more rounded out itinerary with a view to doing some set excursions etc on certain days, wine tasting etc.
We've booked all the accommodation, namely Santander the afternoon we arrive and leaving early next morning for Marseille, that's a bit of a trek at around 8 hours ish but the subsequent days driving are half that at most. Once in Marseille we've got a nice hotel on the beach booked and are spending 2 days there I think. Then onto Nice via Route Napoleon. Once Nice is done we have one more stay in La Spezia just before we go to Florence. We have a nice farmhouse/apartment place booked surrounded by vineyards with a 28m pool in Toscona.
I'm still not sure how to get to Brittany from, Italy, either over the Alps, Swiss or French or do the Mont Blanc tunnel but I'll be doing more research on that. We'll need to stay somewhere inbetween those two places also but think I'll B&B something closer to the time, will be a bit more interesting if we book on the fly I think
The BMW is behaving itself and booked in for an oil and filter change tomorrow before we leave. I think it'll be a great GT but part of me does wish I was taking my previously owned Boxster as that was glorious.
What's your plans? Be interesting to read!
squareflops said:
Well .. haven't really done any yet
We're planning on sitting down this week and booking a more rounded out itinerary with a view to doing some set excursions etc on certain days, wine tasting etc.
We've booked all the accommodation, namely Santander the afternoon we arrive and leaving early next morning for Marseille, that's a bit of a trek at around 8 hours ish but the subsequent days driving are half that at most. Once in Marseille we've got a nice hotel on the beach booked and are spending 2 days there I think. Then onto Nice via Route Napoleon. Once Nice is done we have one more stay in La Spezia just before we go to Florence. We have a nice farmhouse/apartment place booked surrounded by vineyards with a 28m pool in Toscona.
I'm still not sure how to get to Brittany from, Italy, either over the Alps, Swiss or French or do the Mont Blanc tunnel but I'll be doing more research on that. We'll need to stay somewhere inbetween those two places also but think I'll B&B something closer to the time, will be a bit more interesting if we book on the fly I think
The BMW is behaving itself and booked in for an oil and filter change tomorrow before we leave. I think it'll be a great GT but part of me does wish I was taking my previously owned Boxster as that was glorious.
What's your plans? Be interesting to read!
Sounds lovely. Firstly, I'd most certainly choose the 'over the Alps' route as opposed to the Tunnel....We're planning on sitting down this week and booking a more rounded out itinerary with a view to doing some set excursions etc on certain days, wine tasting etc.
We've booked all the accommodation, namely Santander the afternoon we arrive and leaving early next morning for Marseille, that's a bit of a trek at around 8 hours ish but the subsequent days driving are half that at most. Once in Marseille we've got a nice hotel on the beach booked and are spending 2 days there I think. Then onto Nice via Route Napoleon. Once Nice is done we have one more stay in La Spezia just before we go to Florence. We have a nice farmhouse/apartment place booked surrounded by vineyards with a 28m pool in Toscona.
I'm still not sure how to get to Brittany from, Italy, either over the Alps, Swiss or French or do the Mont Blanc tunnel but I'll be doing more research on that. We'll need to stay somewhere inbetween those two places also but think I'll B&B something closer to the time, will be a bit more interesting if we book on the fly I think
The BMW is behaving itself and booked in for an oil and filter change tomorrow before we leave. I think it'll be a great GT but part of me does wish I was taking my previously owned Boxster as that was glorious.
What's your plans? Be interesting to read!
My trip sounds a lot different to yours to be honest, purely a driving holiday, with the main aim to enjoy the car and good roads, stop and take photos and eat some nice food.
Current plan is to drive straight down to Baden-Baden (Black Forest) on Day 1, then through the Black Forest to Zurich on Day 2 where a friend of mine lives and has offered us a place to stay. The following 5 days will include Western Austria and the Tyrol Region, down to the Dolomites, across to Lake Garda and Brescia for the start of the Mille Miglia, then back through Switzerland and home!
Lots of miles, driving every day. Got a few 'activities' we might do like a big suspension bridge and some dry toboggan run but mostly just driveeeee
Yea that does sound the best option although I'm terrified of heights and driving along the edge of a 1000ft cliff with no barrier on the wrong side of the car fills me with sheer horror but I'm sure it'll be fine Sounds like an awesome trip too bud, as you say taking quite a different route but some spectacular destinations and routes there.
We've fleshed out Marseille now; a hop on/off city tour and a visit to Palais Longchamp by metro should be nice. Will plan Nice this evening.
I need to swap over the ferries from the Rover to the BMW and make sure my dormant credit card is working in case of unforeseens.
Sounds like an awesome trip too bud, as you say taking quite a different route but some spectacular destinations and routes there. We've fleshed out Marseille now; a hop on/off city tour and a visit to Palais Longchamp by metro should be nice. Will plan Nice this evening.
I need to swap over the ferries from the Rover to the BMW and make sure my dormant credit card is working in case of unforeseens.
squareflops said:
....and make sure my dormant credit card is working in case of unforeseens.
Contact your CC provider to let them know you're going away and may have unusual transactions on there otherwise they may block it.Happened to me in Malta when trying to place a deposit on a hire car.
GreatGranny said:
Contact your CC provider to let them know you're going away and may have unusual transactions on there otherwise they may block it.
Happened to me in Malta when trying to place a deposit on a hire car.
Good shout Gran, I'm going to the bank this afternoon to sort my business account out so will ask them about this too, see if they can note my account. Happened to me in Malta when trying to place a deposit on a hire car.
Is that a requirement Deesee
I just have my photo licence and PP, hopefully they will satiate the authorities should I get pulled! Looking forward to La Spezia and Cinque Terra now also (as recommended by someone on this thread - thanks again
) It seems we only have one day there though which may have been a little short sighted when originally planning. May mean we have to drop a day in Florence but can't see that being an issue for the proprietor of the guest house were staying in, all paid up just; means we potentially arrive a day later. squareflops said:
Is that a requirement Deesee I just have my photo licence and PP, hopefully they will satiate the authorities should I get pulled!
Not yet but if brexit happens while your away you will/may need it. 5.50£ from the post office, take your driving licence and a passport photo. I just have my photo licence and PP, hopefully they will satiate the authorities should I get pulled! I’m not taking any chances.
Make sure you have cash when you travel, it’s vital in some restaurants/cafes and petrol stations, as some don’t take “foreign” cards (esp the auto ones).
Don’t forget your V5 copy of insurance and high viz etc..
squareflops said:
I think we'll be OK either way, it would be a very efficient government to implement and enforce IDPs as brexit is hatching.
General comment - not directed at Squareflops.EU authorities currently require the IDP for a number of countries, adding the UK to that list of countries at some point in the future and communicating to the frontline that UK drivers now need to produce an IDP won’t take a great deal of effort and communication.
The above, combined with the lightning speed that a provincial law enforcement officer / bureaucrat is able to adopt additional red tape and enforce anything that will drive a local or an on-the-spot-fine means I wouldn’t underestimate how ‘important’ the (largely pointless) IDP will be to some countries / people.
Generally the production of this sort of (pointless) documentation arises when you are already on the back foot e.g., had a prang, caught speeding or some other traffic violation. Not having the right documents might undermine an already compromised position.
I only make this post because I rushed out to get my IDP for a recent trip to the Alps (when we about to crash out of the EU end of March / mid-April) and I had to visit multiple Post Offices and waste time getting one! So now everyone has to get one as far as I’m concerned!!!!! <joking>
I've just gone UK>France>Belgium>Germany>Austria>Italy>Switzerland>Germany>Belgium>France>UK.
I took V5, Greencard (Insurance issued it for free), didn't bother with the IDP.
Snowed in Austria which was a but of a pain as I was running all year round tyres. Had to buy a 10 day Vignette for Austria and had to buy a Vignette for Switzerland only option they had was a year long one.
I took V5, Greencard (Insurance issued it for free), didn't bother with the IDP.
Snowed in Austria which was a but of a pain as I was running all year round tyres. Had to buy a 10 day Vignette for Austria and had to buy a Vignette for Switzerland only option they had was a year long one.
If I was you I would avoid Switzerland at all costs. As others have said they have zero tolerance on all motoring offences even some you may be not aware off. They are also the rudest people you can possibly meet. We recently drove through as a result of most of the usual passes we use being shut in April. We used the Gotthard tunnel and there was over a hour and a half que. we arrived nearly at the tunnel and needed a comfort break so turned off into a village and went to a bar for a coffee and comfort break. We went to rejoin the motorway and the police would not let us get back on. They said we had to go back down the motorway for 10 km and rejoin the que again. We explained we had been for a coffee in their awful village but to no avail so we had to spend another hour and a half in the que again. This sums the Swiss up as really nasty horrible people. We spoke to a French couple when we finally arrived at our hotel and the French have a simular view of the Swiss. His daughter was fined 1200 euros for following him less than 100 metres through a road tunnel. How many tourists are aware of this rule? Not only do the police cars have the usual speed cameras they also have devices for checking distances. I know many Pistonhead people avoid the country at all costs and I have to agree it is a place I will always avoid in future.
martisracing said:
If I was you I would avoid Switzerland at all costs. As others have said they have zero tolerance on all motoring offences even some you may be not aware off. They are also the rudest people you can possibly meet. We recently drove through as a result of most of the usual passes we use being shut in April. We used the Gotthard tunnel and there was over a hour and a half que. we arrived nearly at the tunnel and needed a comfort break so turned off into a village and went to a bar for a coffee and comfort break. We went to rejoin the motorway and the police would not let us get back on. They said we had to go back down the motorway for 10 km and rejoin the que again. We explained we had been for a coffee in their awful village but to no avail so we had to spend another hour and a half in the que again. This sums the Swiss up as really nasty horrible people. We spoke to a French couple when we finally arrived at our hotel and the French have a simular view of the Swiss. His daughter was fined 1200 euros for following him less than 100 metres through a road tunnel. How many tourists are aware of this rule? Not only do the police cars have the usual speed cameras they also have devices for checking distances. I know many Pistonhead people avoid the country at all costs and I have to agree it is a place I will always avoid in future.
Just as a contrast, we just got back from a Euro trip on Sunday. Part of the trip was driving down through the Black Forest into Switzerland to Zurich. Then from Zurich a snake through the Alps to Livigno in Italy. We then drove back in and out of Switzerland as part of a route up to Reschen.Not a spot of bother. We were respectful to speed limits most of the time, crept over here and there. Most the people we met were extremely friendly, country is clean, lots of nice cars! Eye wateringly expensive but thats well known.
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