Help me plan my Euro-trip of a lifetime, please!
Discussion
Its my 40th this year (sigh) and, as a big celebration, I'm driving down to a villa in Tuscany this July.
I'm intending to take in the 'ring and the Stelvio pass on the way down, and Route Napoleon on the return journey. Question is, how to string it all together?
From the 'ring to Stelvio is probably two days on back roads, and I should probably drive it in the morning to avoid traffic and cyclists and suchlike. So need to find a nearby hotel.
My tentative plan is to drive to the 'ring late afternoon/evening midweek from Blighty, stay local, then drive the 'ring in the morning. Afternoon continue to somewhere in the Black Forest, probably Baden-Baden, and stay there. Next drive through the Black Forest to somewhere close to the Stelvio, and stay local. Next day drive the Stelvio and across to Milan to stay overnight. Final day drive from Milan to Tuscany via Modena and the Ferrari museum.
So - recommendations for routes and hotels much appreciated! I'm not sure where to stay near the Stelvio, and have no knowledge of good roads in the Black Forest and the rest of Southern Germany.
Thanks
I'm intending to take in the 'ring and the Stelvio pass on the way down, and Route Napoleon on the return journey. Question is, how to string it all together?
From the 'ring to Stelvio is probably two days on back roads, and I should probably drive it in the morning to avoid traffic and cyclists and suchlike. So need to find a nearby hotel.
My tentative plan is to drive to the 'ring late afternoon/evening midweek from Blighty, stay local, then drive the 'ring in the morning. Afternoon continue to somewhere in the Black Forest, probably Baden-Baden, and stay there. Next drive through the Black Forest to somewhere close to the Stelvio, and stay local. Next day drive the Stelvio and across to Milan to stay overnight. Final day drive from Milan to Tuscany via Modena and the Ferrari museum.
So - recommendations for routes and hotels much appreciated! I'm not sure where to stay near the Stelvio, and have no knowledge of good roads in the Black Forest and the rest of Southern Germany.
Thanks
Sounds like a fantastic trip!
I have done Euro road trips several times, and Stelvio once, and we stayed at a hotel which is on the top of the Stelvio Pass. If I find the name I'll post - was some years back. This had the advantage that we could drive up the pass in the evening when it had closed to traffic (I beleive they close it at 8pm as it's probably too dangerous to allow traffic up it in the dark). We also took a ski lift up to the ski slopes the next morning which was v picturesque. I think Stelvio is best at start or end of day as if you get caught behind a motorhome you can be stuck for a long time. Top Gear recently voted Davos to Stelvio the best road ever.
I've done a day through the southern Black Forest, quiet and some very nice roads. On a recommendation from someone on PH we drove to the
east of Weil - one in particular is from St Blasien south down to
Tiefenstein then Waldshut - "very picturesque, great twisties". To get
from Weil to St Blasien were a number of good twisting roads.
The classic Swiss passes are picturesque, but generally clogged with tourist traffic, and the Swiss are very anti speeding.
The best roads in Europe imo opinion are in the south of France, inland from the coast. Can pick and choose wonderful Cols all day long to drive. I guess you could try some of these if you were doing the Route de Napoleon. I'm not the biggest fan of the RdN, it can get busy in places with slow hgv's, but some sections are very nice. I prefer the roads off the either side of the RdN - much quieter and some brilliant driving to be had. Most years I've done a Euro trip we've spend one night in Monaco which is a nice treat, some good restaurants, and nice to wander down to the harbour or Casino Square after dinner.
Half the fun of these trips is in the planning and the anticipation, so good luck with it!
I have done Euro road trips several times, and Stelvio once, and we stayed at a hotel which is on the top of the Stelvio Pass. If I find the name I'll post - was some years back. This had the advantage that we could drive up the pass in the evening when it had closed to traffic (I beleive they close it at 8pm as it's probably too dangerous to allow traffic up it in the dark). We also took a ski lift up to the ski slopes the next morning which was v picturesque. I think Stelvio is best at start or end of day as if you get caught behind a motorhome you can be stuck for a long time. Top Gear recently voted Davos to Stelvio the best road ever.
I've done a day through the southern Black Forest, quiet and some very nice roads. On a recommendation from someone on PH we drove to the
east of Weil - one in particular is from St Blasien south down to
Tiefenstein then Waldshut - "very picturesque, great twisties". To get
from Weil to St Blasien were a number of good twisting roads.
The classic Swiss passes are picturesque, but generally clogged with tourist traffic, and the Swiss are very anti speeding.
The best roads in Europe imo opinion are in the south of France, inland from the coast. Can pick and choose wonderful Cols all day long to drive. I guess you could try some of these if you were doing the Route de Napoleon. I'm not the biggest fan of the RdN, it can get busy in places with slow hgv's, but some sections are very nice. I prefer the roads off the either side of the RdN - much quieter and some brilliant driving to be had. Most years I've done a Euro trip we've spend one night in Monaco which is a nice treat, some good restaurants, and nice to wander down to the harbour or Casino Square after dinner.
Half the fun of these trips is in the planning and the anticipation, so good luck with it!
If you get a chance, definitely do the Furka Pass! I got to really spank my car down there on the Furball and loved every last second of it, was my favourite road of the week.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furkapass
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furkapass
peter_964rs said:
Next day drive the Stelvio and across to Milan to stay overnight
IMO I'd push on and avoid Milan - it's not a terribly nice city and the drive from the passes is less than 2 hours. Personally, I'd head to Bologna to stay overnight - much nicer place to stay and only 1.5 hours max from Milan.Also, if you fancy a bit of a challenge when on the A1 heading south turn right on the A15 after Parma - it's flat until Fornovo and then it becomes possibly the best motorway in europe if you like heights and challenging corners at high speed.
sleep envy said:
peter_964rs said:
Next day drive the Stelvio and across to Milan to stay overnight
IMO I'd push on and avoid Milan - it's not a terribly nice city and the drive from the passes is less than 2 hours. Personally, I'd head to Bologna to stay overnight - much nicer place to stay and only 1.5 hours max from Milan.Also, if you fancy a bit of a challenge when on the A1 heading south turn right on the A15 after Parma - it's flat until Fornovo and then it becomes possibly the best motorway in europe if you like heights and challenging corners at high speed.
The hotel at the top of the Stelvio might be ambitious. But so evocative....
jaik said:
If you get a chance, definitely do the Furka Pass! I got to really spank my car down there on the Furball and loved every last second of it, was my favourite road of the week.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furkapass
Ditto from Staples2Naples2005. And the passes either side... To stop in laybies and look down on glaciers is unreal as well.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furkapass
St Gotthard Pass is interesting, as not only is the treeline noticeable but the Pass traverses the watershed of Northern and Southern Europe (as you head north, rain falling on your left eventually reaches the River Po while rain falling on your right eventually reaches the River Rhine) - plus the northern side is very well engineered with tunnels and bridges which are breathtakingly different to driving in the UK. Great fun!
And when I was in the viewing area's shop on the southern side of the Pass (back in September 2005), the sound system was playing Corner Shop's "Brimful of asher"!!! Not necessarily a recommendation for the St Gotthard Pass, mind
- but the view from this viewing area is to die for 
.sleep envy said:
Also, if you fancy a bit of a challenge when on the A1 heading south turn right on the A15 after Parma - it's flat until Fornovo and then it becomes possibly the best motorway in europe if you like heights and challenging corners at high speed.
Hmm, might detour off the A1 to take that one in and rejoin at Firenze then if it's good? Am off down to Rome in a couple of months. 
bologna!check out some of the roads in the Hahn region of Germany. the late Joerund Seim's website has some routes/maps. www.joerundseim.com
Last year we did Calais - St Gervais - loads of passes - Bormio (Stelvio) - Livigno - Lake Garda - Modena (Visited Ferrari, Lambo, Pagani Zonda) - Florence - Monte Carlo - Calais via Route Napolean.
My Review http://forums.seloc.org/viewthread.php?tid=124709&...
Sorry you may need to register it was superb if you want any help send me an email.
My Review http://forums.seloc.org/viewthread.php?tid=124709&...
Sorry you may need to register it was superb if you want any help send me an email.
fergus said:
bologna!check out some of the roads in the Hahn region of Germany. the late Joerund Seim's website has some routes/maps. www.joerundseim.com
On checking the maps I realise that Bologna is a bit far to the east and I wouldn't go further past Milan than, say, Parma. Which is good for ham and cheese of course....
peter_964rs said:
Anyone have any ideas re: the Black forest? Just Google Earting it, it looks promising.
Freiburg's nice but probably slightly out of your way. The Deutsche Alpenstrasse starts at the bottom of the Black Forest and heads east towards where you want to be - picturesque road.theboyfold said:
I'll be keeping an eye on this thread with interest, we are planning a Euro trip in May.
London -> Dijon -> Monaco -> South of Alps -> Stelvio -> Davos - Maybe the ring -> Home
Just so overwhelmed with the amount of info going around though :S
Here's one I did last year, taking in the above.London -> Dijon -> Monaco -> South of Alps -> Stelvio -> Davos - Maybe the ring -> Home
Just so overwhelmed with the amount of info going around though :S
http://www.honda-euro-tour.hondas-on-track.com/200...
Forgot to say ... it was fantastic!
Edited by Catz on Thursday 31st January 01:37
Catz said:
theboyfold said:
I'll be keeping an eye on this thread with interest, we are planning a Euro trip in May.
London -> Dijon -> Monaco -> South of Alps -> Stelvio -> Davos - Maybe the ring -> Home
Just so overwhelmed with the amount of info going around though :S
Here's one I did last year, taking in the above.London -> Dijon -> Monaco -> South of Alps -> Stelvio -> Davos - Maybe the ring -> Home
Just so overwhelmed with the amount of info going around though :S
http://www.honda-euro-tour.hondas-on-track.com/200...
Forgot to say ... it was fantastic!
Edited by Catz on Thursday 31st January 01:37
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