Stelvio and the alps

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I am off on a euro trip through France/Monaco/Italy and Switzerland. I have booked all my hotels but I am worried about travelling from lake como through the alps and stelvio to get into Switzerland. The reason is that we are going in early may and it's got me wondering if the passes and other roads are going to be covered in snow an ice

If anyone has done a similar trip over the alps in may, how were the roads or are they still ski resorts.

Cheers

Adam

[Stephanie Plum]

In early May it's likely that all the higher passes will be closed. We've been in late May and had problems - June is safer.

[eyebeebe]

We had bugger all snow in the alps last year and the lower passes were only beginning to open in early May. Normally it is end of May/start of June. This year there is snow by the bucket load, so unless global warming shows up in the next couple of months I would say the chances of any passes being open at the beginning of May are remote.

A more likely route would be from Como into Lugano and then up the A2 to Bellinzona, then hanging a right up towards and through the San Bernadino tunnel. Avoid Gotthard like the plague (the other tunnel option if you go left at Bellinzona).

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Cheers for the replies. Just for reference why is it best to avoid gotthard?