Driving to Italy

[wokkadriver]

Hi All,

I am driving to Italy on honeymoon later this year, and would like some tips on car prep etc - the boring stuff I need to sort out like bulbs, triangle, that sort of thing...

All The Best!

[selwonk]

In France you will need a high-vis vest per driver and passenger and this will have to be in the cabin. You also need spare bulbs, warning triangle etc. Depending on your route the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have details by country:

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/...

[wokkadriver]

Thanks chap!

[selwonk]

No problem. I'm 40 next May and we're planning to go to Florence to see my wife's great aunt along with the outlaws. My F-i-L has wanted to drive to Italy for years, so I've been looking at doing this in 2012.

[selwonk]

By the way, this site is great for European trips:

http://www.viamichelin.com/

[StuB]

A brave pill in Italy may also be required as they're loonies. Dont forget a GB somewhere and beam benders for your low beam. Also you will need to have your documents with you.

[andrew]

drive on the right
hth

[jwo]

We did this on our honey moon. Stayed in Davis overnight then to bormio and then stelvio pass (via umbrial(?)) pass on route to Florence... Absolutely brilliant!!! Italian motorways are good 'fun' if you have your wits about you!

[NLB]

No brave pills required, really - the Italians are at least as good drivers as us bunch of surly northern types (watch out for passing Belgians though - they're all crazy..). Normal European trip items - suitable insurance, documents, hi-vis vests, bulb kits, fire extinguishers etc - are all that is required. That, and the time to admire some fabulous roads and scenery, and to eat good food of course. Just do it, and have fun!

[gtidriver]

I carry a small box in the boot that has a spare phone charger a couple of bottles of water, a set of jump leads, a tow rope, some spanners, some screw drivers, a tyre inflator,a torch and a few bulbs. If you have a radar detector leave it at home as le pig hates them and will fine you massively and possably make you reverse over it. As said keep the hi-viz in the cabin as even in the boot le pig will fine you.take loads of screen wash and enjoy,

[wokkadriver]

andrew said:

drive on the right
hth

I suppose I'm only supposed to blow the bloody doors off as well?

[AREA]

Possibly the most enjoyable drive of my life was driving down to Tuscany last year. Italian motorways are enjoyably fast though they do tend to tailgate v. close - being RH drive gives you a definite advantage as you can see down between outside and inner lanes. Off motorways tend to have calmed down significantly over the past few years. Police are getting far stricter on speeding and drink driving.

Watch out through France: Le Plod are increasingly intolerant of Brits and the penalties for infringement seem to include restoration of the Bastille and subsequent incarceration. I escaped by the skin of my teeth when police speed trap decided to pull over the other Brit we'd bumped into (not physically) at services near Dijon and were keeping each other company as we 'made progress' back north. Don't know what happened to him, but I suspect that a defence of "don't you treat the number on the roadsign as MPH rather than KPH and then multiply by the Euro-£ exchange rate?" probably didn't save him. Take a look at the punishments that they apply for various levels of excess and you'll never abuse France again.

Passing between France and Italy is one of life's motoring and scenic adventures. Even the Mont Blanc tunnel with its speed and 'keep your distance' restrictions is an experience although the queue to get in can be bad.

Once you've driven to Italy and back you'll wonder why anyone ever puts themselves through the tedium and punishment of airports and hirecars.

[fridaypassion]

Drove to Garda a couple of years ago here's a write up that contains a bit of practicle advice too

http://www.lovepetrol.com/content/255-euro-road-tr...

[AnotherClarkey]

I find the French autoroutes are much better than German autobahns, which are often massively overrated. Driving in Italy is fine, much lower levels of stress and aggression than in the UK.

Don't believe anyone who tells you that the Italian police turn a blind eye to speeding, nothing could be further from the truth.

You will have a great time, driving across Europe is one of the great pleasures in life.

[wokkadriver]

fridaypassion said:

Drove to Garda a couple of years ago here's a write up that contains a bit of practicle advice too

http://www.lovepetrol.com/content/255-euro-road-tr...

A great review - cheers for the link!