Stelvio Pass help

[spankyban]

Evening all,

For those that have traveled to the Bormio/Stelvio Pass what is the preferred route?

Home for me is close to Birmingham, is it Euro tunnel or Ferry?, If Euro tunnel then it's off at Calais then through France or into Germany as quick as poss. If ferry is it to Belgium or Germany.

i'm not on a time limit for the trip (i have 6 days) after the most considered hassle free route.

Going on my own in a mk5 Golf, yes to enjoy the drive, but also for the views as the Stelvio is busy so cannot really be driving fast there, there is the Davos - Stelvio route for that.

Any advice is welcome.

Dan

[zed4]

I would say the Grimselpass is a better road than Stelvio, but both are good. Perhaps you could o one on the way down and the other on the way back.

I did Dover to Dunkirk, went to Belgium for the F1 and then Italy for Monza F1. Did Stelvio on the way down via Germany and Austria, Grimselpass on the way back through France.

[zed4]

This was my route http://goo.gl/maps/2ohQo

[spankyban]

Thanks!

That must have been some trip! when was your trip? i'm thinking June time which should be clear for most of the passes there (obviously check webcams.

Did you get any vinginette (sp) devices for tolls or not?

[zed4]

spankyban said:

Thanks!

That must have been some trip! when was your trip? i'm thinking June time which should be clear for most of the passes there (obviously check webcams.

Did you get any vinginette (sp) devices for tolls or not?

August/September, in time for the races. Was awesome. Mix of hotels and camping, in a VX220!

We got a vignette for the few miles we did in Austria, but didn't bother in Switzerland!

[chevronb37]

zed4 said:

I would say the Grimselpass is a better road than Stelvio, but both are good. Perhaps you could o one on the way down and the other on the way back.

I did Dover to Dunkirk, went to Belgium for the F1 and then Italy for Monza F1. Did Stelvio on the way down via Germany and Austria, Grimselpass on the way back through France.

I did the same with my dad last September. It was an epic trip!

I whole-heartedly recommend doing the Swiss passes rather than Stelvio. We did St Gotthard/Furka/Grimsel in a day and they were staggering. Much better to drive than Stelvio.

If you're interested I wrote a detailed account of our trip with plenty of photos: www.motorcardiaries.co.uk

[davejones81]

Go to the Stelvio, it's stunning! It certainly isn't the best driver's road in that area but when stood at the top looking down, it's something you won't regret doing!

[spankyban]

Thanks again for help people.

I'm only really doing the stelvio to say i've been there, its a busy, busy road so wont be making much steam/headway.

I'm open to options, really i'm looking the most straight forward route to the area, euro tunnel - France or Ferry - Germany?

[Bartz1]

I did this last November with a mate, like you for a chance to do the Stelvio. We did calais to the Nurburgring, 1st nights stop (with one lap of a very wet and greasy circuit..), then we made our way to Glorenza, 2nd (about 8K from Stelvio) and did the Umbrail pass up to Stelvio the next day. Unfortunately the Stelvio pass was closed due to snow but just getting there was fantastic. After this we travelled over to Monza for 2 nights and a couple of sessions lapping the circuit.
After this we had the long haul up to Reims for the last night with a visit to the old pits and grandstands. In all 6 days of motoring fun and something I'll be doing again this year, hopefully in September for a better chance of doing the Stelvio pass.

[Stuart J]

Friend did it for charity, O2 to Stelvio & back, 27 hours

This was his charity page http://www.justgiving.com/27hours

I will send you his mail address & you can ask questions if you want

[spankyban]

Stuart,

Thanks!

[VerySideways]

To add to what's already been said, Stelvio's okay but it's really just a tick box.

If you've got 6 days then you really should make the effort to visit what i call the "figure of eight".
If you do the Furka pass one way and the train the other way, and do the St Gotthard and Nufenen as the bottom loop and Susten and Grimsel as the top loop you'll have a FANTASTIC day

If you decide you want to stay in the area i can recommend a couple of hotels, one in Andermatt and one just the other side of Furka.

Enjoy

[Hark]

For me Stelvio was one of the best passes.

BUT

We went in May and the otherside was closed. So on the way up I overtook three cars in total (and 2 cyclists) and saw no other cars until I got to the top.

I'll never do it again, as it'll never be as good as that.

[Maryben]

Going in August so I'm expecting it to be busy. Staying in Bormio after two days in the Alsace area of France, then over Stelvio to near Imst in Austria and back to the Hook of Holland ferry via Speyer in Germany hear Hockenheim.

[spankyban]

Maryben said:

Going in August so I'm expecting it to be busy. Staying in Bormio after two days in the Alsace area of France, then over Stelvio to near Imst in Austria and back to the Hook of Holland ferry via Speyer in Germany hear Hockenheim.

Whats your pref route out Eurotunnel? ferry? I'm swayed on Ferry.

[Maryben]

spankyban said:

Maryben said:

Going in August so I'm expecting it to be busy. Staying in Bormio after two days in the Alsace area of France, then over Stelvio to near Imst in Austria and back to the Hook of Holland ferry via Speyer in Germany hear Hockenheim.

Whats your pref route out Eurotunnel? ferry? I'm swayed on Ferry.

We are in East Anglia so travelling Harwich to Hook of Holland ferry overnight. Through Holland, Belguim and Luxembourg and into France via Metz and Nancy to hotel near Colmar. This route avoids the French toll roads from Calais (and the M25 and Dartford Tunnel). Then through Switzterland via Zurich to Bormio just over the Italian border.