Calais to Monte Carlo...?
Discussion
have you got 2 days or 2 weeks?
its about 900 miles, that would take a lot of time by the backroads. assuming you want to do it in 2/3 days - drive on the autoroute to Macon area (day1 - 430miles) then head to grenoble (day2 -300ish), then take the napoleon route over the mountains down to Monaco. When you get there be sure to take a drive along the moyern corniche (cliff top coastal road)
Bennno
Yep
Benno is on the money here.
Another good reason toturn left at Lyon and take to the hills is that the Autoroute traffic south of there (at vacation times at least) is horrendous. I've done the South of France by car 5 times, last year in a Griff, and the Route Napoleon through Gap and Sisteron is just fantastic.
Its also where the Monte Carlo round of the WRC does its stuff so expect some challenging roads!
Oh - don't race the locals BTW. Some years ago I was humbled by an old bloke in a 1985 Renault 5 who went past me with one wheel in the air, smoking a pipe with an unguarded 500 foot drop off the side of the road. Zut!
Have fun
Marco
Benno is on the money here.
Another good reason toturn left at Lyon and take to the hills is that the Autoroute traffic south of there (at vacation times at least) is horrendous. I've done the South of France by car 5 times, last year in a Griff, and the Route Napoleon through Gap and Sisteron is just fantastic.
Its also where the Monte Carlo round of the WRC does its stuff so expect some
Oh - don't race the locals BTW. Some years ago I was humbled by an old bloke in a 1985 Renault 5 who went past me with one wheel in the air, smoking a pipe with an unguarded 500 foot drop off the side of the road. Zut!
Have fun
Marco
Hi Shane
I usually try to do it in one but it is quite hard work in a TVR. Its like driving a very loud frying pan in some weather!
Good areas to stop however are around about the Lyon area as this means you can make the last part of the jouney easily in time for afternoon G&T's by the sea.
Here is a great site for finding hotels in France:
www.francehotelreservation.com/
Have fun - driving a TVR in that area is the closest most of us will ever get to feeling super-rich. All the poor lads in their astons and bentleys didn't get a look in last time I was there!!
Marco
I usually try to do it in one but it is quite hard work in a TVR. Its like driving a very loud frying pan in some weather!
Good areas to stop however are around about the Lyon area as this means you can make the last part of the jouney easily in time for afternoon G&T's by the sea.
Here is a great site for finding hotels in France:
www.francehotelreservation.com/
Have fun - driving a TVR in that area is the closest most of us will ever get to feeling super-rich. All the poor lads in their astons and bentleys didn't get a look in last time I was there!!
Marco
Beaune is a quaint little place to stop and is just north of Lyon - it's actually a small to mid-sized town with quite a few nice little hotels & bars etc ..
We stayed at Hotel Le Cep (check out www.slh.com for nice hotels across Europe) which was quite pleasant.
Otherwise, definitely go with Bennno's suggestions - the Route Napoleon is superb in a quick motor..
And if you wanna large it with the big boys when you get to Monte Carlo, staying in the Metropole Hotel is a must
We stayed at Hotel Le Cep (check out www.slh.com for nice hotels across Europe) which was quite pleasant.
Otherwise, definitely go with Bennno's suggestions - the Route Napoleon is superb in a quick motor..
And if you wanna large it with the big boys when you get to Monte Carlo, staying in the Metropole Hotel is a must
Thanks for the info!
I was planning a larger charity drive to Monaco, but I've run out of time getting it organised this year. Instead I might just do a more chilled drive with a few people if they want to come with. If anyone is interested in joining me in June, please feel free to email me!
Just on another note, how much do you guys spend on petrol and toolbooths for the trip there and back?
Cheers,
Shane
I was planning a larger charity drive to Monaco, but I've run out of time getting it organised this year. Instead I might just do a more chilled drive with a few people if they want to come with. If anyone is interested in joining me in June, please feel free to email me!
Just on another note, how much do you guys spend on petrol and toolbooths for the trip there and back?
Cheers,
Shane
Shane,
We're setting off on a similar trip this weekend in the Chim - London to NW Italy via France & Switzerland. I'll keep a track of what we spend on fuel and tolls, and report back if you like. Going via Besancon, Pontarlier, Montreux and the St Bernard, weather permitting (last time I did that route in mid-April it snowed...). Can recommend the Pontarlier route - very scenic and not too busy.
Alex.
We're setting off on a similar trip this weekend in the Chim - London to NW Italy via France & Switzerland. I'll keep a track of what we spend on fuel and tolls, and report back if you like. Going via Besancon, Pontarlier, Montreux and the St Bernard, weather permitting (last time I did that route in mid-April it snowed...). Can recommend the Pontarlier route - very scenic and not too busy.
Alex.
Shane,
Well, back home safely after covering about 2000 completely glitch-free Tiv miles. As promised here's the stats:
Outward:
Calais to Colombey les Deux Eglises (nr Chaumont/Troyes): Eur32 on tolls, Eur74 on petrol
Switzerland (Vallorbe to St Bernard tunnel): 52sfr petrol, 40 sfr motorway pass, St Bernard Tunnel ticket (return) 38sfr (or 27sfr one way)
Italy (Aosta to Asti) : tolls, Eur10.
Return
...er, pretty much the same as we went back the way we came!
Petrol prices were generally around 1.08 to 1.12 Euro on the French motorways for super unleaded, which was readily available pretty much everywhere. As is Optimax at the Shell stations, though they don't call it that - it's "V-Power" in Italy and costs about 1.23 Eur there against 1.08 for normal 98Octane. Petrol's generally cheaper in Switzerland than elsewhere, about 1.39sfr a litre for 98Octane (55p if my maths is right?).
No motorway tolls in Switzerland as you're supposed to buy a motorway pass instead - about £15 but lasts a year. Not sure how they catch anyone who doesn't comply but knowing the Swiss they'll manage it...
Have you decided which way you'll be going yet? The French motorways are a breeze, but we found they got a bit monotonous after a while so the Langres to Vallorbe stretch was a nice change, great driving road. Masses of tunnels for the Chim, and some rather large mountains, once you get to the motorway round Lake Geneva. If you do go via Italy (and why not now that it's all eurozone), the Tangenziale round Turin's probably best avoided during peak periods (unless you like a challenge) but is otherwise manageable and once you get south of Asti you're into the best wine region in the country, some top restaurants too. From there it's half a day to Monaco via spectacular motorway, bridges and tunnels all the way along the coast. Portofino's not much of a diversion eastward either.
We had an amazing time, so we'll probably do the same again next year but with two overnight stops instead of one. If you need any more info, hotel details etc, email me off-list.
Cheers,
Alex.
(trying to re-adjust after a fortnight without speed cameras...)
Well, back home safely after covering about 2000 completely glitch-free Tiv miles. As promised here's the stats:
Outward:
Calais to Colombey les Deux Eglises (nr Chaumont/Troyes): Eur32 on tolls, Eur74 on petrol
Switzerland (Vallorbe to St Bernard tunnel): 52sfr petrol, 40 sfr motorway pass, St Bernard Tunnel ticket (return) 38sfr (or 27sfr one way)
Italy (Aosta to Asti) : tolls, Eur10.
Return
...er, pretty much the same as we went back the way we came!
Petrol prices were generally around 1.08 to 1.12 Euro on the French motorways for super unleaded, which was readily available pretty much everywhere. As is Optimax at the Shell stations, though they don't call it that - it's "V-Power" in Italy and costs about 1.23 Eur there against 1.08 for normal 98Octane. Petrol's generally cheaper in Switzerland than elsewhere, about 1.39sfr a litre for 98Octane (55p if my maths is right?).
No motorway tolls in Switzerland as you're supposed to buy a motorway pass instead - about £15 but lasts a year. Not sure how they catch anyone who doesn't comply but knowing the Swiss they'll manage it...
Have you decided which way you'll be going yet? The French motorways are a breeze, but we found they got a bit monotonous after a while so the Langres to Vallorbe stretch was a nice change, great driving road. Masses of tunnels for the Chim, and some rather large mountains, once you get to the motorway round Lake Geneva. If you do go via Italy (and why not now that it's all eurozone), the Tangenziale round Turin's probably best avoided during peak periods (unless you like a challenge) but is otherwise manageable and once you get south of Asti you're into the best wine region in the country, some top restaurants too. From there it's half a day to Monaco via spectacular motorway, bridges and tunnels all the way along the coast. Portofino's not much of a diversion eastward either.
We had an amazing time, so we'll probably do the same again next year but with two overnight stops instead of one. If you need any more info, hotel details etc, email me off-list.
Cheers,
Alex.
(trying to re-adjust after a fortnight without speed cameras...)
quote:
Planning a similar drive (perhaps) in the middle of June. Can any of you recommend good hotels with safe parking for nice cars to use on the way?
I did 4,000 miles around Europe last September - planned the route on MS MapPoint for mileage and then searched the web for suitable hotels with secure parking and then booked it all online. MapPoint was useful for finding petrol stations in remote areas and suggesting hotels, but I checked the hotels myself to see if they had secure parking.
It also suggested some great roads avoiding the motorways and main routes - spent ages putting in waypoints and detours over mountain passes.........
Try this as site for accomodation, used them a few years ago. Peaceful hotels (they don't allow children), out of the way, great views and food.
www.silencehotel.com
Steve
www.silencehotel.com
Steve
Definately agree with you Marco. I did the Calais, Paris, Macon, Lyon, Grenoble, Orange, St Tropez in my youth and regard it as the best drive of my life. It only rained in Macon for 1 hour at night and then was sunny for the rest of the two weeks. Someday when the kids don't want to holiday with us anymore I will do that road trip again and may include a diversion across the mountain roads into Italy on the way back.
In two days, get to Chamonix - Hotel l'Avre www.hotelarve-chamonix.com (stunning views of Mont Blanc) then through Mont-blanc tunnel down round Turin (watch the traffic) and then down through Cuneo and to the coast at Ventimiglia and across the coast to Monaco.
The mountains from the tunnel and then from Cuneo to coast are FANTASTIC to drive
Did this in June, but we called at Troyes (stopped 1 night) first, then through Dijon and Geneva on to Annecy (stopped 3 nights) on the way down.
The mountains from the tunnel and then from Cuneo to coast are FANTASTIC to drive
Did this in June, but we called at Troyes (stopped 1 night) first, then through Dijon and Geneva on to Annecy (stopped 3 nights) on the way down.
I just stumbled across some notes I kept from a trip I did to Monte Carlo in May 2000 - we avoided motorways as much as possible! Except for final hundred miles to Calais - was knackered by then. Was a very memorable 'long weekend' trip in a Lotus Elise Anyway, here's some of my notes, for what they're worth -
DAY 1 - Thurs
left London 6.00am
odometer mileage 3359
Channel tunnel 7.15am 3435(odometer reading)
caught 7.51am crossing
Arrived Calais 9.30am local time
Arras 11.15am 3508
Reims 1.45pm 3620
spent time looking and driving round old race circuit
Chalons lunch 3658
left 3.30pm
Dijon 6.15pm 3804
Troyes>Chatillon>Beaune>Chagny>Challone sur Saone 7.15pm
Villefranche (just north of Lyon) 8.40pm 3891
DAY 2 - Fri
Left Villefranche 9.15am 3912
Visited motor museum just north of Lyon till 10.45am 3925
The following was a great bit of road:
Grenoble>Gap>Digne 4135
left Digne 2.45pm
Barenne>Puget Thenies>Nice>Monte Carlo 5.25pm 4244
DAY 3 - Sat
Monte Carlo all day and night
DAY 4 - Sun
Monte Carlo all day
Left Monte Carlo 6.15pm
Headed west along A8 Route de Soleil towards Nimes
Ales petrol 9.20pm
Head up N106 towards Mende - Arrived B&B 10.00pm
DAY 5 - Mon
Left B&B 7.25am 4523
7.40am back on N106
Florac 8.10am 4552
Lozere services
St Flour
Clermont Ferrand 11.00am 4700
Drove the old road race circuit
Left CF 12.15pm 4730
Riom>Montlucon>Bourges 2.40pm
Vierzon>Orleans>Chartres 3.15pm 4949
Dreux>Eureux>Rouen 6.20pm 5050
Drove old road race circuit
Cite Europe 8.30pm
Channel Tunnel Terminal 8.55pm 5195
Regards,
SFV
Anyway, here's some of my notes, for what they're worth - DAY 1 - Thurs
left London 6.00am
odometer mileage 3359
Channel tunnel 7.15am 3435(odometer reading)
caught 7.51am crossing
Arrived Calais 9.30am local time
Arras 11.15am 3508
Reims 1.45pm 3620
spent time looking and driving round old race circuit
Chalons lunch 3658
left 3.30pm
Dijon 6.15pm 3804
Troyes>Chatillon>Beaune>Chagny>Challone sur Saone 7.15pm
Villefranche (just north of Lyon) 8.40pm 3891
DAY 2 - Fri
Left Villefranche 9.15am 3912
Visited motor museum just north of Lyon till 10.45am 3925
The following was a great bit of road:
Grenoble>Gap>Digne 4135
left Digne 2.45pm
Barenne>Puget Thenies>Nice>Monte Carlo 5.25pm 4244
DAY 3 - Sat
Monte Carlo all day and night
DAY 4 - Sun
Monte Carlo all day
Left Monte Carlo 6.15pm
Headed west along A8 Route de Soleil towards Nimes
Ales petrol 9.20pm
Head up N106 towards Mende - Arrived B&B 10.00pm
DAY 5 - Mon
Left B&B 7.25am 4523
7.40am back on N106
Florac 8.10am 4552
Lozere services
St Flour
Clermont Ferrand 11.00am 4700
Drove the old road race circuit
Left CF 12.15pm 4730
Riom>Montlucon>Bourges 2.40pm
Vierzon>Orleans>Chartres 3.15pm 4949
Dreux>Eureux>Rouen 6.20pm 5050
Drove old road race circuit
Cite Europe 8.30pm
Channel Tunnel Terminal 8.55pm 5195
Regards,
SFV
bennno said:
have you got 2 days or 2 weeks?
its about 900 miles, that would take a lot of time by the backroads. assuming you want to do it in 2/3 days - drive on the autoroute to Macon area (day1 - 430miles) then head to grenoble (day2 -300ish), then take the napoleon route over the mountains down to Monaco. When you get there be sure to take a drive along the moyern corniche (cliff top coastal road)
Bennno
Totally agree - the 'Route Napoleon' from Grenoble to Grasse is definitely the best way to go in 2/3 days! The road is fantastic and even has it's own web site!
For an 'interesting' nights stay, try the Hotel de Paris at Digne-les-Bains, parking is secure, it's in the kitchens!
Have a good trip, and if you do go into Switzerland, don't buy a motorway pass - it's not cool! But remember to stop at Zebra crossings - they get VERY upset if you don't!
When you get to Monte Carlo - have your picture taken in Casino Square - ignore the parking restrictions - but remember that unlike the rest of France you do have to stop at Zebra crossings even if the pedestrian is ONLY THINKING about crossing!
Don't park your car out of sight in the South of France! Oh, and take PLENTY of MONEY!!!!
If you don't fancy motorways to Macon, try Alsace - the roads are superb.
>> Edited by qualityscrew on Monday 24th March 22:04
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