Road trip - South of France - Italian Lakes

[bmwcsl]

Hi guys,

I am planning to head down through france via Reims, then hit Cannes and Monaco and head along the coast, over the mountains and down into Italy then home. Has anyone done a similar trip and does anyone have any recommendation?

Many thanks,

Rohan

[havoc]

I asked a similar question a little while ago (not going as far as you), and if you do a search there are a few other threads with good ideas.

Basically Autoroute to ~ Grenoble, then take the N85 to Nice, then entirely up to you...

[Big E 118]

bmwcsl said:

Hi guys,

I am planning to head down through france via Reims, then hit Cannes and Monaco and head along the coast, over the mountains and down into Italy then home. Has anyone done a similar trip and does anyone have any recommendation?

Many thanks,

Rohan

Do a search (don't seem to be working for me atm) on Lake Garda, there was a thread on here a couple of weeks ago with a route that would cover the Italian Lakes part of your trip.

I have just come back from Garda and can recommend Hotel Regina Adelaide for a night or two if you go that way. Excellent quality family run hotel, great food and a secure car park with CCTV coverage!

Edited by Big E 118 on Friday 28th May 08:45

[bmwcsl]

Brilliant - thanks guys will look for those posts now.

That hotel looks spot on - thanks!

[Shropshiremike]

bmwcsl said:

Hi guys,

I am planning to head down through france via Reims, then hit Cannes and Monaco and head along the coast, over the mountains and down into Italy then home. Has anyone done a similar trip and does anyone have any recommendation?

Many thanks,

Rohan

Have a look in the 'Roads' forum particularly Rohan

[Big E 118]

bmwcsl said:

Brilliant - thanks guys will look for those posts now.

That hotel looks spot on - thanks!

We booked directly with the hotel, got a better rate than what agents quoted us. Would also recommend a room with a roof terrace, had a wonderful view of the lake!

Let me know how your trip goes, we flew down this time but after seeing some of the local roads I fancy a road trip taking in the Italian Lakes and across to South of France. Any tips would be appreciated

[bmwcsl]

Will do - does anyone know a good place to stop off/stay the night on the way from Monaco to the lakes?

[pptom]

South coast of France is just traffic jams from Grasse to well inside Italy if you don't take the Motorway toll roads, be prepared for that.
Try the Tattinger Champagne House tour in Reims for a hour stop off, 10 euro's for a guided wander around the 5th century cellars, packed with millions of pounds worth of champagne bottles, plus a tasting session at the end and tasty guides.
Route Napoleon (N85) is superb, between Grenoble and Grasse, though you may want a few weeks off of hairpins afterwards!
I managed a lap of the Monaco F1 circuit last week.......it took me 45 minutes!!
As for Italy.. I thought it was a bit of a hole until I got to lake Maggiore, didn't really see anywhere worth stoppig at.
And a word of warning, the Italian Police did seem to be actively on the look out for foregn speeders, not that I'd ever do such a thing

[morgrp]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I believe mine are Michelin - Good scale but awkward OS style folding layout

[havoc]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I've got the AA atlas of France, which is spiral-bount and about A4 in size (a little wider) - pretty good detail in it (certainly enough for planning detailed routes), and wasn't too pricey off Amazon.

[dom180]

morgrp said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I believe mine are Michelin - Good scale but awkward OS style folding layout

Michelin are great for France, particularly their local series maps with satelite image backgrounds although I find their Italian maps a little disappointing - for Italy, you can't go wrong with Touring Club Italiano's brilliant 1:200000 maps (available in Waterstones.)

[plg]

Roads around the lakes are narrow, crowded and in dreadful condition from my experience.

The autostrada are pretty good and generous on speed limits.

Loop up and over into Switzerland (don't speed) via the Simplon pass in to the Valais for a nice run, past Sierre and Sion (nice wines).

Or over the St Bernard pass...

[210aero]

strange way of getting to the lakes!

reims - davos - fluelapass - either stelvio/livignio/poschiavo - SS42 in italy to riva del garda