Just got back from a 16 day Eurotrip + Stelvio pass
Discussion
On my birthday, at the top of the Stelvio pass last week. #Birthdaygoals
If anyone is interested in it, there's a write out with loads of photo's of the trip here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
If anyone is interested in it, there's a write out with loads of photo's of the trip here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Looks to have been fabulous trip, great job.
I am curious, did you move hotels every night and what sort of hours were you driving each day?
I have been on a bit of a road trip too but I think I would have a rebellious passenger moving every night - we have just done a mix of long days to a destination to stay say 3 nights to have an explore.
I am curious, did you move hotels every night and what sort of hours were you driving each day?
I have been on a bit of a road trip too but I think I would have a rebellious passenger moving every night - we have just done a mix of long days to a destination to stay say 3 nights to have an explore.
What a stunning tip, looks like a great balance of not too much driving with beautiful stop overs. I think I will be following some of those routes next year!
I’ve watched a number of ‘Road trip’ type videos, Pistonheads tours amongst them and whilst they look huge fun, I just wouldn’t want to be driving for that long (especially at some of those speeds). This sort of trip is much more up my street. Thanks for sharing.
I’ve watched a number of ‘Road trip’ type videos, Pistonheads tours amongst them and whilst they look huge fun, I just wouldn’t want to be driving for that long (especially at some of those speeds). This sort of trip is much more up my street. Thanks for sharing.
LemonTart said:
Looks to have been fabulous trip, great job.
I am curious, did you move hotels every night and what sort of hours were you driving each day?
I have been on a bit of a road trip too but I think I would have a rebellious passenger moving every night - we have just done a mix of long days to a destination to stay say 3 nights to have an explore.
We did 2 nights in most and that really helped. For example the drive from Stuttgart to Calais is about 7 hours, but to reims is only 3 and a bit hour, stopped there for 2 nights and it was just so much more relaxing. I am curious, did you move hotels every night and what sort of hours were you driving each day?
I have been on a bit of a road trip too but I think I would have a rebellious passenger moving every night - we have just done a mix of long days to a destination to stay say 3 nights to have an explore.
I posted this in a few places and several people have asked about the route, hotels and travel time, so I thought I might as well add that.
We had 9 hotels in total and stayed for 2 nights in most, and 1 or 3 nights in a few others, that way we didn't spend too much time in the car and you can have a few drinks on arrival in the afternoon as you're not driving the next day.
Most hotels have a checkout of 11:00, but we were often up earlier, had breakfast and then left around 10:00 ish. That way even with the longer drives we'd get to the next hotel around check in time (15:00 in most places) so you'd still have half that day, plus the next day before you have to drive again.
Our first hotel was the "Holiday Inn Express - Folkestone Channel Tunnel", and even though we're only 1.5 hour away from the tunnel, I didn't fancy the Dartford crossing and M25 in the morning so this was a good option. It's cheap and cheerful, has a bar and a few shops nearby. And It means you can take the early train in the morning as the hotel is a 6 minute drive from the tunnel check in booths.
This is what we did on our driving days :
1) Calais to Luxembourg. 260 miles - 3:55 hours, then 2 nights in the "City Hotel".
2) Luxembourg to Baden Baden. 153 mile - 2:55 hour. 2 nights here in "Hotel Merkur".
3) Drive the B500 route to Brienz (Switzerland). 127 mile - 3:20 hour. 1 night in the stunning "Hotel Brienzersee".
4) This was our Alpine driving day. First Brienz Hotel to Grimsel pass. 40 miles – 50 min.
Grimsel + Furka pass to Hospental. 20 mile – 40 min.
Gotthard Pass Tremola (old) to Airolo. 15 miles – 35 min
Nufenen Pass – Airolo back to Gletch, via Ulrichen. 29 miles – 50 min.
Furka pass 2nd time (Gletch to Andermatt Lunch stop, Alp Hitta) 23 mile – 45 min.
Gotthard pass (new) to Airolo BP. 20 mile – 36 min.
Stop for drinks, and then Airolo to Bellagio (Lake como). 91 mile - 2:20 hour. Stayed in a AirBnB called "Angelina’s house with lake view" for 3 nights.
5) Bellagio to Sirmione (Lake Garda). 90 mile - 1:50 hour. 2 nights in Hotel Saviola.
6) Sirmione to Bormio. 86 mile - 1:45 hour. 2 nights in the stunning "QC Terme Grand Hotel Bagni Nuovi" hotel.
7) The Stelvio pass, Bormio to Trafoi. 20 mile - 0:55 min, and back up to Santa Maria via Umbrail pass. 19 mile - 0:54 min
Santia Maria to Stuttgart. 236 mile - 4:20 hour. Our longest drive. 2 nights in Hotel Royal.
8) Stuttgart to Reims. 300 mile - 4:00 hour. 2 nights in "Best Western Premier Hotel de la Paix".
9) Reims to Eurotunnel Calais. 172 mile - 2:10 hour
So by having a few hotels along the route and staying for 2 nights it really breaks up the journey and it doesn't feel like you're constantly travelling at all.
All the route were planning just using google maps and Satnav (Tom Tom) apart from the B500, as the Sat nav will try and send you along the main road which is boring, so you just pick a few towns along the B500 and add them to your itinerary. I added 'mummelsee', 'Bad Peterstal Griesbach', 'Schonwald in Schwarzwald', 'Schluchsee' and 'Hochenschwand' and that keeps you on the B500 for the entire route.
When planning the Alpine passes on google maps you might have to change the date sometimes, as when I was planning back in May it wouldn't let me create a route as some of them were still closed due to the snow, so you just change the date to 'travel at' and then it works.
There's a few I haven't done like the St. Bernards and Susten pass, so will look at adding those in next time.
Italy and France had a few toll roads, which were cheap and quite and made for a very relaxing drive. You just rock up at the booth, take a ticket, and at the end booth you pay eithe with cash or card. You can get a prepaid transponder thing but we didn't bother with that.
For Switzerland you need a vignette to use a lot of the roads, you can buy them online (around the € 40, mark) or at the border or any petrol station near a border. We bought ours from a Petrol station in Germany on the way there.
I spend quite a bit of time researching the hotels as well, as we wanted secure parking, breakfast, and to be near all the sights and attractions etc, and we were pleased with all of the hotels. I put the description (of booking.com or their own website) in a document, and this is what it says about all the hotels :
- Holiday Inn Express - Folkestone Channel Tunnel
- City Hotel – Luxembourg
This situation means it is convenient for the free trams & busses to the city centre as
public transport is free in Luxembourg.
- Hotel Merkur - Baden Baden (Germany)
Daily hearty breakfast buffets are provided in Merkur’s Mediterranean-style restaurant, and the Sterntaler restaurant offers dishes from the Baden region and international dishes.
- Hotel Brienzersee – Ringgenberg (Switzerland)
Situated right above Lake Brienz, the Hotel offers superb views from the rooms and from the lakeside terrace, the Brienzersee hotel is only a 5-minute drive away from the centre of Interlaken.
At the reception you will get the Visitors Card Interlaken entitling to free use of public transportation within Interlaken and its surroundings.
- Angelina’s house with lake view – Bellagio, lake Como (Italy)
- Hotel Saviola – Sirmione, lake Garda (Italy)
The Saviola's private beach is equipped with sunbeds and parasols. You can take drinks out in the garden. Hotel Saviola also has a private dock.
- QC Terme Grand Hotel Bagni Nuovi – Bormio (Italy)
It offers over 30 wellness services across the 11,000-square metre wellness area, including outdoor baths, hot tubs, saunas and Turkish bath.
This luxury 5-star hotel is a prime example of Art-Nouveau architecture.
The wellness facilities are both indoors and outdoors, and can be reached directly from your room.
The rooms have a panoramic view of the valley or mountains. All offer free WiFi. Some suites are set in an annex, and include private parking.
- Hotel Royal – Stuttgart (Germany)
The bright rooms at Hotel Royal are decorated in neutral colours, and come with a TV and a bottle of mineral water. A hairdryer and Aloe vera toiletries are provided in the en suite bathroom.
- Best Western Premier Hotel de la Paix – Reims (France)
After relaxing on the sun terrace or working out in the fitness centre, guests can eat in the onsite restaurant. A continental breakfast is served daily at the property. As well as being eco-friendly, the hotel also has a bar with a private terrace.
Any more questions feel free to ask
Medic-one said:
On my birthday, at the top of the Stelvio pass last week. #Birthdaygoals
If anyone is interested in it, there's a write out with loads of photo's of the trip here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Surely that's one for the bad parking thread ? If anyone is interested in it, there's a write out with loads of photo's of the trip here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
It's a wonderful part of the world isn't it. Congrats on your birthday run
Medic-one said:
LemonTart said:
Looks to have been fabulous trip, great job.
I am curious, did you move hotels every night and what sort of hours were you driving each day?
I have been on a bit of a road trip too but I think I would have a rebellious passenger moving every night - we have just done a mix of long days to a destination to stay say 3 nights to have an explore.
We did 2 nights in most and that really helped. For example the drive from Stuttgart to Calais is about 7 hours, but to reims is only 3 and a bit hour, stopped there for 2 nights and it was just so much more relaxing. I am curious, did you move hotels every night and what sort of hours were you driving each day?
I have been on a bit of a road trip too but I think I would have a rebellious passenger moving every night - we have just done a mix of long days to a destination to stay say 3 nights to have an explore.
I posted this in a few places and several people have asked about the route, hotels and travel time, so I thought I might as well add that.
We had 9 hotels in total and stayed for 2 nights in most, and 1 or 3 nights in a few others, that way we didn't spend too much time in the car and you can have a few drinks on arrival in the afternoon as you're not driving the next day.
Most hotels have a checkout of 11:00, but we were often up earlier, had breakfast and then left around 10:00 ish. That way even with the longer drives we'd get to the next hotel around check in time (15:00 in most places) so you'd still have half that day, plus the next day before you have to drive again.
Our first hotel was the "Holiday Inn Express - Folkestone Channel Tunnel", and even though we're only 1.5 hour away from the tunnel, I didn't fancy the Dartford crossing and M25 in the morning so this was a good option. It's cheap and cheerful, has a bar and a few shops nearby. And It means you can take the early train in the morning as the hotel is a 6 minute drive from the tunnel check in booths.
This is what we did on our driving days :
1) Calais to Luxembourg. 260 miles - 3:55 hours, then 2 nights in the "City Hotel".
2) Luxembourg to Baden Baden. 153 mile - 2:55 hour. 2 nights here in "Hotel Merkur".
3) Drive the B500 route to Brienz (Switzerland). 127 mile - 3:20 hour. 1 night in the stunning "Hotel Brienzersee".
4) This was our Alpine driving day. First Brienz Hotel to Grimsel pass. 40 miles – 50 min.
Grimsel + Furka pass to Hospental. 20 mile – 40 min.
Gotthard Pass Tremola (old) to Airolo. 15 miles – 35 min
Nufenen Pass – Airolo back to Gletch, via Ulrichen. 29 miles – 50 min.
Furka pass 2nd time (Gletch to Andermatt Lunch stop, Alp Hitta) 23 mile – 45 min.
Gotthard pass (new) to Airolo BP. 20 mile – 36 min.
Stop for drinks, and then Airolo to Bellagio (Lake como). 91 mile - 2:20 hour. Stayed in a AirBnB called "Angelina’s house with lake view" for 3 nights.
5) Bellagio to Sirmione (Lake Garda). 90 mile - 1:50 hour. 2 nights in Hotel Saviola.
6) Sirmione to Bormio. 86 mile - 1:45 hour. 2 nights in the stunning "QC Terme Grand Hotel Bagni Nuovi" hotel.
7) The Stelvio pass, Bormio to Trafoi. 20 mile - 0:55 min, and back up to Santa Maria via Umbrail pass. 19 mile - 0:54 min
Santia Maria to Stuttgart. 236 mile - 4:20 hour. Our longest drive. 2 nights in Hotel Royal.
8) Stuttgart to Reims. 300 mile - 4:00 hour. 2 nights in "Best Western Premier Hotel de la Paix".
9) Reims to Eurotunnel Calais. 172 mile - 2:10 hour
So by having a few hotels along the route and staying for 2 nights it really breaks up the journey and it doesn't feel like you're constantly travelling at all.
All the route were planning just using google maps and Satnav (Tom Tom) apart from the B500, as the Sat nav will try and send you along the main road which is boring, so you just pick a few towns along the B500 and add them to your itinerary. I added 'mummelsee', 'Bad Peterstal Griesbach', 'Schonwald in Schwarzwald', 'Schluchsee' and 'Hochenschwand' and that keeps you on the B500 for the entire route.
When planning the Alpine passes on google maps you might have to change the date sometimes, as when I was planning back in May it wouldn't let me create a route as some of them were still closed due to the snow, so you just change the date to 'travel at' and then it works.
There's a few I haven't done like the St. Bernards and Susten pass, so will look at adding those in next time.
Italy and France had a few toll roads, which were cheap and quite and made for a very relaxing drive. You just rock up at the booth, take a ticket, and at the end booth you pay eithe with cash or card. You can get a prepaid transponder thing but we didn't bother with that.
For Switzerland you need a vignette to use a lot of the roads, you can buy them online (around the € 40, mark) or at the border or any petrol station near a border. We bought ours from a Petrol station in Germany on the way there.
I spend quite a bit of time researching the hotels as well, as we wanted secure parking, breakfast, and to be near all the sights and attractions etc, and we were pleased with all of the hotels. I put the description (of booking.com or their own website) in a document, and this is what it says about all the hotels :
- Holiday Inn Express - Folkestone Channel Tunnel
- City Hotel – Luxembourg
This situation means it is convenient for the free trams & busses to the city centre as
public transport is free in Luxembourg.
- Hotel Merkur - Baden Baden (Germany)
Daily hearty breakfast buffets are provided in Merkur’s Mediterranean-style restaurant, and the Sterntaler restaurant offers dishes from the Baden region and international dishes.
- Hotel Brienzersee – Ringgenberg (Switzerland)
Situated right above Lake Brienz, the Hotel offers superb views from the rooms and from the lakeside terrace, the Brienzersee hotel is only a 5-minute drive away from the centre of Interlaken.
At the reception you will get the Visitors Card Interlaken entitling to free use of public transportation within Interlaken and its surroundings.
- Angelina’s house with lake view – Bellagio, lake Como (Italy)
- Hotel Saviola – Sirmione, lake Garda (Italy)
The Saviola's private beach is equipped with sunbeds and parasols. You can take drinks out in the garden. Hotel Saviola also has a private dock.
- QC Terme Grand Hotel Bagni Nuovi – Bormio (Italy)
It offers over 30 wellness services across the 11,000-square metre wellness area, including outdoor baths, hot tubs, saunas and Turkish bath.
This luxury 5-star hotel is a prime example of Art-Nouveau architecture.
The wellness facilities are both indoors and outdoors, and can be reached directly from your room.
The rooms have a panoramic view of the valley or mountains. All offer free WiFi. Some suites are set in an annex, and include private parking.
- Hotel Royal – Stuttgart (Germany)
The bright rooms at Hotel Royal are decorated in neutral colours, and come with a TV and a bottle of mineral water. A hairdryer and Aloe vera toiletries are provided in the en suite bathroom.
- Best Western Premier Hotel de la Paix – Reims (France)
After relaxing on the sun terrace or working out in the fitness centre, guests can eat in the onsite restaurant. A continental breakfast is served daily at the property. As well as being eco-friendly, the hotel also has a bar with a private terrace.
Any more questions feel free to ask
Cheers
Ed
We drove across the Stelvio pass yesterday and it was pretty spectacular so can now understand the hype.
We’ve driven from Calais to Garda and now heading back but not using any autoroutes, autobahns, autopistas or any dual carriageways at all and it’s been one of the best European road trips we’ve ever done so far.
We’re spending a couple of days in Austria before heading to Stuttgart and the Porsche museum on Friday and will pop some pictures on this thread if anyones interested.
We’ve driven from Calais to Garda and now heading back but not using any autoroutes, autobahns, autopistas or any dual carriageways at all and it’s been one of the best European road trips we’ve ever done so far.
We’re spending a couple of days in Austria before heading to Stuttgart and the Porsche museum on Friday and will pop some pictures on this thread if anyones interested.
Really nice trip, for me the main way to enjoy these cars, thanks for sharing!
I've done trips on these roads nearly every year and still look forward to them every time. Departing on 5th August myself.
This year I want to run the Glossglockner pass. Currently struggling a bit in terms of balancing getting these early enough to avoid traffic and having a family on tow.
freedman said:
Aha, saw the pH sticker and wondered if you would post about your trip
We had a chat at Calais in the queue
Peridot Cayman R
It was nice chatting to you guys, and being in the same train carriage especially after running in to Porsche owners to chat to everywhere on my trip, including France, Italy and Switzerland. Such a friendly community We had a chat at Calais in the queue
Peridot Cayman R
Medic-one said:
It was nice chatting to you guys, and being in the same train carriage especially after running in to Porsche owners to chat to everywhere on my trip, including France, Italy and Switzerland. Such a friendly community
Ditto Fantastic pics on your other thread, some stunning locations
freedman said:
Ditto
Fantastic pics on your other thread, some stunning locations
Cheers! Also looks like you weren't the only one to spot the PH sticker... Just saw someone post this in the other thread : Fantastic pics on your other thread, some stunning locations
joshcowin said:
How funny 
Medic-one said:
We did 2 nights in most and that really helped. For example the drive from Stuttgart to Calais is about 7 hours, but to reims is only 3 and a bit hour, stopped there for 2 nights and it was just so much more relaxing.
I posted this in a few places and several people have asked about the route, hotels and travel time, so I thought I might as well add that.
We had 9 hotels in total and stayed for 2 nights in most, and 1 or 3 nights in a few others, that way we didn't spend too much time in the car and you can have a few drinks on arrival in the afternoon as you're not driving the next day.
Most hotels have a checkout of 11:00, but we were often up earlier, had breakfast and then left around 10:00 ish. That way even with the longer drives we'd get to the next hotel around check in time (15:00 in most places) so you'd still have half that day, plus the next day before you have to drive again.
Our first hotel was the "Holiday Inn Express - Folkestone Channel Tunnel", and even though we're only 1.5 hour away from the tunnel, I didn't fancy the Dartford crossing and M25 in the morning so this was a good option. It's cheap and cheerful, has a bar and a few shops nearby. And It means you can take the early train in the morning as the hotel is a 6 minute drive from the tunnel check in booths.
This is what we did on our driving days :
1) Calais to Luxembourg. 260 miles - 3:55 hours, then 2 nights in the "City Hotel".
2) Luxembourg to Baden Baden. 153 mile - 2:55 hour. 2 nights here in "Hotel Merkur".
3) Drive the B500 route to Brienz (Switzerland). 127 mile - 3:20 hour. 1 night in the stunning "Hotel Brienzersee".
4) This was our Alpine driving day. First Brienz Hotel to Grimsel pass. 40 miles – 50 min.
Grimsel + Furka pass to Hospental. 20 mile – 40 min.
Gotthard Pass Tremola (old) to Airolo. 15 miles – 35 min
Nufenen Pass – Airolo back to Gletch, via Ulrichen. 29 miles – 50 min.
Furka pass 2nd time (Gletch to Andermatt Lunch stop, Alp Hitta) 23 mile – 45 min.
Gotthard pass (new) to Airolo BP. 20 mile – 36 min.
Stop for drinks, and then Airolo to Bellagio (Lake como). 91 mile - 2:20 hour. Stayed in a AirBnB called "Angelina’s house with lake view" for 3 nights.
5) Bellagio to Sirmione (Lake Garda). 90 mile - 1:50 hour. 2 nights in Hotel Saviola.
6) Sirmione to Bormio. 86 mile - 1:45 hour. 2 nights in the stunning "QC Terme Grand Hotel Bagni Nuovi" hotel.
7) The Stelvio pass, Bormio to Trafoi. 20 mile - 0:55 min, and back up to Santa Maria via Umbrail pass. 19 mile - 0:54 min
Santia Maria to Stuttgart. 236 mile - 4:20 hour. Our longest drive. 2 nights in Hotel Royal.
8) Stuttgart to Reims. 300 mile - 4:00 hour. 2 nights in "Best Western Premier Hotel de la Paix".
9) Reims to Eurotunnel Calais. 172 mile - 2:10 hour
So by having a few hotels along the route and staying for 2 nights it really breaks up the journey and it doesn't feel like you're constantly travelling at all.
All the route were planning just using google maps and Satnav (Tom Tom) apart from the B500, as the Sat nav will try and send you along the main road which is boring, so you just pick a few towns along the B500 and add them to your itinerary. I added 'mummelsee', 'Bad Peterstal Griesbach', 'Schonwald in Schwarzwald', 'Schluchsee' and 'Hochenschwand' and that keeps you on the B500 for the entire route.
When planning the Alpine passes on google maps you might have to change the date sometimes, as when I was planning back in May it wouldn't let me create a route as some of them were still closed due to the snow, so you just change the date to 'travel at' and then it works.
There's a few I haven't done like the St. Bernards and Susten pass, so will look at adding those in next time.
Italy and France had a few toll roads, which were cheap and quite and made for a very relaxing drive. You just rock up at the booth, take a ticket, and at the end booth you pay eithe with cash or card. You can get a prepaid transponder thing but we didn't bother with that.
For Switzerland you need a vignette to use a lot of the roads, you can buy them online (around the € 40, mark) or at the border or any petrol station near a border. We bought ours from a Petrol station in Germany on the way there.
I spend quite a bit of time researching the hotels as well, as we wanted secure parking, breakfast, and to be near all the sights and attractions etc, and we were pleased with all of the hotels. I put the description (of booking.com or their own website) in a document, and this is what it says about all the hotels :
This situation means it is convenient for the free trams & busses to the city centre as
public transport is free in Luxembourg.
Daily hearty breakfast buffets are provided in Merkur’s Mediterranean-style restaurant, and the Sterntaler restaurant offers dishes from the Baden region and international dishes.
Situated right above Lake Brienz, the Hotel offers superb views from the rooms and from the lakeside terrace, the Brienzersee hotel is only a 5-minute drive away from the centre of Interlaken.
At the reception you will get the Visitors Card Interlaken entitling to free use of public transportation within Interlaken and its surroundings.
The Saviola's private beach is equipped with sunbeds and parasols. You can take drinks out in the garden. Hotel Saviola also has a private dock.
It offers over 30 wellness services across the 11,000-square metre wellness area, including outdoor baths, hot tubs, saunas and Turkish bath.
This luxury 5-star hotel is a prime example of Art-Nouveau architecture.
The wellness facilities are both indoors and outdoors, and can be reached directly from your room.
The rooms have a panoramic view of the valley or mountains. All offer free WiFi. Some suites are set in an annex, and include private parking.
The bright rooms at Hotel Royal are decorated in neutral colours, and come with a TV and a bottle of mineral water. A hairdryer and Aloe vera toiletries are provided in the en suite bathroom.
After relaxing on the sun terrace or working out in the fitness centre, guests can eat in the onsite restaurant. A continental breakfast is served daily at the property. As well as being eco-friendly, the hotel also has a bar with a private terrace.
Any more questions feel free to ask
Great write up and what a great trip. Not going to be able to match or replicate that but we’ve just returned from something similar with a tighter budget and timeframe. I posted this in a few places and several people have asked about the route, hotels and travel time, so I thought I might as well add that.
We had 9 hotels in total and stayed for 2 nights in most, and 1 or 3 nights in a few others, that way we didn't spend too much time in the car and you can have a few drinks on arrival in the afternoon as you're not driving the next day.
Most hotels have a checkout of 11:00, but we were often up earlier, had breakfast and then left around 10:00 ish. That way even with the longer drives we'd get to the next hotel around check in time (15:00 in most places) so you'd still have half that day, plus the next day before you have to drive again.
Our first hotel was the "Holiday Inn Express - Folkestone Channel Tunnel", and even though we're only 1.5 hour away from the tunnel, I didn't fancy the Dartford crossing and M25 in the morning so this was a good option. It's cheap and cheerful, has a bar and a few shops nearby. And It means you can take the early train in the morning as the hotel is a 6 minute drive from the tunnel check in booths.
This is what we did on our driving days :
1) Calais to Luxembourg. 260 miles - 3:55 hours, then 2 nights in the "City Hotel".
2) Luxembourg to Baden Baden. 153 mile - 2:55 hour. 2 nights here in "Hotel Merkur".
3) Drive the B500 route to Brienz (Switzerland). 127 mile - 3:20 hour. 1 night in the stunning "Hotel Brienzersee".
4) This was our Alpine driving day. First Brienz Hotel to Grimsel pass. 40 miles – 50 min.
Grimsel + Furka pass to Hospental. 20 mile – 40 min.
Gotthard Pass Tremola (old) to Airolo. 15 miles – 35 min
Nufenen Pass – Airolo back to Gletch, via Ulrichen. 29 miles – 50 min.
Furka pass 2nd time (Gletch to Andermatt Lunch stop, Alp Hitta) 23 mile – 45 min.
Gotthard pass (new) to Airolo BP. 20 mile – 36 min.
Stop for drinks, and then Airolo to Bellagio (Lake como). 91 mile - 2:20 hour. Stayed in a AirBnB called "Angelina’s house with lake view" for 3 nights.
5) Bellagio to Sirmione (Lake Garda). 90 mile - 1:50 hour. 2 nights in Hotel Saviola.
6) Sirmione to Bormio. 86 mile - 1:45 hour. 2 nights in the stunning "QC Terme Grand Hotel Bagni Nuovi" hotel.
7) The Stelvio pass, Bormio to Trafoi. 20 mile - 0:55 min, and back up to Santa Maria via Umbrail pass. 19 mile - 0:54 min
Santia Maria to Stuttgart. 236 mile - 4:20 hour. Our longest drive. 2 nights in Hotel Royal.
8) Stuttgart to Reims. 300 mile - 4:00 hour. 2 nights in "Best Western Premier Hotel de la Paix".
9) Reims to Eurotunnel Calais. 172 mile - 2:10 hour
So by having a few hotels along the route and staying for 2 nights it really breaks up the journey and it doesn't feel like you're constantly travelling at all.
All the route were planning just using google maps and Satnav (Tom Tom) apart from the B500, as the Sat nav will try and send you along the main road which is boring, so you just pick a few towns along the B500 and add them to your itinerary. I added 'mummelsee', 'Bad Peterstal Griesbach', 'Schonwald in Schwarzwald', 'Schluchsee' and 'Hochenschwand' and that keeps you on the B500 for the entire route.
When planning the Alpine passes on google maps you might have to change the date sometimes, as when I was planning back in May it wouldn't let me create a route as some of them were still closed due to the snow, so you just change the date to 'travel at' and then it works.
There's a few I haven't done like the St. Bernards and Susten pass, so will look at adding those in next time.
Italy and France had a few toll roads, which were cheap and quite and made for a very relaxing drive. You just rock up at the booth, take a ticket, and at the end booth you pay eithe with cash or card. You can get a prepaid transponder thing but we didn't bother with that.
For Switzerland you need a vignette to use a lot of the roads, you can buy them online (around the € 40, mark) or at the border or any petrol station near a border. We bought ours from a Petrol station in Germany on the way there.
I spend quite a bit of time researching the hotels as well, as we wanted secure parking, breakfast, and to be near all the sights and attractions etc, and we were pleased with all of the hotels. I put the description (of booking.com or their own website) in a document, and this is what it says about all the hotels :
- Holiday Inn Express - Folkestone Channel Tunnel
- City Hotel – Luxembourg
This situation means it is convenient for the free trams & busses to the city centre as
public transport is free in Luxembourg.
- Hotel Merkur - Baden Baden (Germany)
Daily hearty breakfast buffets are provided in Merkur’s Mediterranean-style restaurant, and the Sterntaler restaurant offers dishes from the Baden region and international dishes.
- Hotel Brienzersee – Ringgenberg (Switzerland)
Situated right above Lake Brienz, the Hotel offers superb views from the rooms and from the lakeside terrace, the Brienzersee hotel is only a 5-minute drive away from the centre of Interlaken.
At the reception you will get the Visitors Card Interlaken entitling to free use of public transportation within Interlaken and its surroundings.
- Angelina’s house with lake view – Bellagio, lake Como (Italy)
- Hotel Saviola – Sirmione, lake Garda (Italy)
The Saviola's private beach is equipped with sunbeds and parasols. You can take drinks out in the garden. Hotel Saviola also has a private dock.
- QC Terme Grand Hotel Bagni Nuovi – Bormio (Italy)
It offers over 30 wellness services across the 11,000-square metre wellness area, including outdoor baths, hot tubs, saunas and Turkish bath.
This luxury 5-star hotel is a prime example of Art-Nouveau architecture.
The wellness facilities are both indoors and outdoors, and can be reached directly from your room.
The rooms have a panoramic view of the valley or mountains. All offer free WiFi. Some suites are set in an annex, and include private parking.
- Hotel Royal – Stuttgart (Germany)
The bright rooms at Hotel Royal are decorated in neutral colours, and come with a TV and a bottle of mineral water. A hairdryer and Aloe vera toiletries are provided in the en suite bathroom.
- Best Western Premier Hotel de la Paix – Reims (France)
After relaxing on the sun terrace or working out in the fitness centre, guests can eat in the onsite restaurant. A continental breakfast is served daily at the property. As well as being eco-friendly, the hotel also has a bar with a private terrace.
Any more questions feel free to ask
Our first leg was essentially straight down Nice via Route Napoleon for a week in a villa but our return leg was a little more exciting.
Wife and kids along too and we could only manage one night at each stopover.
Cernobbio on Lake Como Saturday
Furkha pass on Sunday
Stuttgart Monday
Reims Tuesday
In laws stayed at the BW in Reims. We were across the road in the Holiday Inn.
Can’t fault any of the hotels. Had an amazing time.
One night each was just not enough though. 2 nights minimum to fully enjoy it.
Edited by as7920 on Wednesday 20th July 19:32
Edited by as7920 on Wednesday 20th July 19:33
Its not a Porsche but thought i'd share this if you haven't seen it. The Stelvio Pass was opened for one day only for the Top Gear team - they had it all to themselves.
FIRST DRIVE: Lamborghini Countach - £2.2m Reborn Supercar Tested On The Stelvio Pass | Top Gear
The car is pretty special
FIRST DRIVE: Lamborghini Countach - £2.2m Reborn Supercar Tested On The Stelvio Pass | Top Gear
The car is pretty special
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