Driving to Italy: Rotterdam -Milan-Garda and back. Ideas...
Discussion
Hi All,
I'm in need of some advice from the PH collective. After years of trying I've finally managed to convince the O/H that a driving holiday to Italy, over the Alps, would be a great idea. As many a PH'er will realize, during 5 years of persuasion, I've probably managed to over-promise - so it best be good or i could be doing it single in 2014.
Ferry and Garda sections are already booked for late June 2013. Here is the basic plan:
1)Rotterdam to somwehere near Strazbourg - probably the black forest.
2)Straz to Milan
3)Couple of nights in Milan
4)Milan to Lake Garda for a week
5) Garda back home (with one overnight stop on the way).
I think on the way back we want to come via Germany and probably have a night in Munich.
Basically, I need good a good route down to Milan and then a nice one back home again, which must be:
a) Scenic
b) but not too slow
c) No more than 6.5/7hrs in one stretch (I think this is the outside time limit before upset occurs).
Anyone done it? I'm not taking the touring as my father is letting me take his MX5, which i'm hoping will be great over the alps.
Interested in good places to stay on the way there and back. Also don't mind coming back a different route than Munich, it just seemed to break up the journey well. - on the last day we get extra time driving as don't have to be at the ferry until 6ish.
I did a similar trip years ago to Nice with a friend, we decided to try and 'find' accommodation en-route and its fair to say it was a bit of a disaster. Also did some pretty huge miles (Dijon to York on the last day) - all the kind of things i want to avoid this time.
Thanks
Phil
I'm in need of some advice from the PH collective. After years of trying I've finally managed to convince the O/H that a driving holiday to Italy, over the Alps, would be a great idea. As many a PH'er will realize, during 5 years of persuasion, I've probably managed to over-promise - so it best be good or i could be doing it single in 2014.
Ferry and Garda sections are already booked for late June 2013. Here is the basic plan:
1)Rotterdam to somwehere near Strazbourg - probably the black forest.
2)Straz to Milan
3)Couple of nights in Milan
4)Milan to Lake Garda for a week
5) Garda back home (with one overnight stop on the way).
I think on the way back we want to come via Germany and probably have a night in Munich.
Basically, I need good a good route down to Milan and then a nice one back home again, which must be:
a) Scenic
b) but not too slow
c) No more than 6.5/7hrs in one stretch (I think this is the outside time limit before upset occurs).
Anyone done it? I'm not taking the touring as my father is letting me take his MX5, which i'm hoping will be great over the alps.
Interested in good places to stay on the way there and back. Also don't mind coming back a different route than Munich, it just seemed to break up the journey well. - on the last day we get extra time driving as don't have to be at the ferry until 6ish.
I did a similar trip years ago to Nice with a friend, we decided to try and 'find' accommodation en-route and its fair to say it was a bit of a disaster. Also did some pretty huge miles (Dijon to York on the last day) - all the kind of things i want to avoid this time.
Thanks
Phil
Done the trip down to Lake Garda many times but always from Calais.
I always went straight through Belgium and Germany (often with a detour across country to Spa and the Ring) into Switzerland at Basel than down into Italy through the Gottard tunnel - nice compromise between speed and scenery
Lake Garda is one of my favourite places in the world - an early morning / late night blast through the many tunnels on the west side (where the opening scenes of Quantum of Solace were filmed) is a must and I personally much prefer the southern end of the lake, particularly Pescheria and Sirmione.
If you're into model cars there are a couple of great shops in Malcesine on the East side of the lake
I always went straight through Belgium and Germany (often with a detour across country to Spa and the Ring) into Switzerland at Basel than down into Italy through the Gottard tunnel - nice compromise between speed and scenery
Lake Garda is one of my favourite places in the world - an early morning / late night blast through the many tunnels on the west side (where the opening scenes of Quantum of Solace were filmed) is a must and I personally much prefer the southern end of the lake, particularly Pescheria and Sirmione.
If you're into model cars there are a couple of great shops in Malcesine on the East side of the lake
I've started a thread in the roads section for people to share their euro road trip write ups. Hopefully should give you a few ideas.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=...
Driving the black Forrest is a must, best roads of my trip. Plenty of passes to choose from to get down to Garda, Grimsel, Furka, Stelvio etc.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=...
Driving the black Forrest is a must, best roads of my trip. Plenty of passes to choose from to get down to Garda, Grimsel, Furka, Stelvio etc.
All of the lake is great - just that I prefer Pescheria and Sirmione - all personal preference
I have always gone down through Basel and then motorway straight to the Gottard (sometimes gone over the top if time allowed) - the motorway is fast and the scenery is spectacular - I have always treated the journey as part of the holiday and always enjoyed it, a good map will give you the option of turning over the motorway but to be honest I rarely found the need to
I have always gone down through Basel and then motorway straight to the Gottard (sometimes gone over the top if time allowed) - the motorway is fast and the scenery is spectacular - I have always treated the journey as part of the holiday and always enjoyed it, a good map will give you the option of turning over the motorway but to be honest I rarely found the need to
Lake garda and sirmione in particular, are about my favourite places on earth. Best ice cream ever in sirmione- just up on the left from the main square when you stand with your back to the lake. Not sure how that is relevant, but there you are. You can also take a trip to maranello from there, there are some amazing roads around.
Dusty964 said:
Lake garda and sirmione in particular, are about my favourite places on earth. Best ice cream ever in sirmione- just up on the left from the main square when you stand with your back to the lake. Not sure how that is relevant, but there you are. You can also take a trip to maranello from there, there are some amazing roads around.
The ice cream parlour a bit further up on the left is even better - the place that does both ice cream and frozen yoghurtSuperb little eatery in Sirmione as well, eaten there many many times but can't remember its name, about halfway up the main street on the left, lots of boats on shelves - superb food and quite cheap
Another place well worth visiting is the home of the Italian poet d'Annuzio - bizzare is not the word, never been to a house that has the front part of a warhip embedded in the hillside
Another place well worth visiting is the home of the Italian poet d'Annuzio - bizzare is not the word, never been to a house that has the front part of a warhip embedded in the hillside
Halfway along main square on the right when facing the lake- small restaurant which serves the biggest cocktail ever which contains about a kilo of strawberries and will get you hammered, despite tasting like a soft drink. With the hangover at critical levels, you will need darker sunglasses. You can obtain these right on the square.
When you return home, you will realise sirmione is the most expensive place on earth to buy sunglasses.
Ref the other post- all the food was good, but the place you mention was great, as was the veal in the place by the castle, down some stairs onto the waterfront.
When you return home, you will realise sirmione is the most expensive place on earth to buy sunglasses.
Ref the other post- all the food was good, but the place you mention was great, as was the veal in the place by the castle, down some stairs onto the waterfront.
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