Road trip route - Europe??

[Muncher]

I'm planning to go on a bit of a road trip in my VX220 with my girlfriend from the 25th to 30th April.

The plan would be to get the Eurotunnel over to France and then take in a route comprising about 300 miles per day (which I think is reasonable?) and see how far it takes us over 5/6 days staying in a different hotel en route.

I'd quite like to travel via some of the iconic roads such as Stelvio, also going somewhere quite warm to pick up a tan but there also needs to be some nice places to stop off for the gf.

Other than that, no real preferences, I'm not interested in maxing it on the Autobahn as that's no fun and the 'ring won't be on the itinerary.

What I would really like would be some routes to choose from, maybe something from companies like Detaglio who put a fair bit of effort into picking a good route.

[Stephanie Plum]

Bear in mind that in April if you head towards the Alps very few, if any, of the higher passes will be open.

[Muncher]

Good point, I hadn't considered that.

[chard]

mmmmmmmmmmmm 300 miles a day, no autoroutes, 300 klicks would be more comfortable

[Bonne Route]

Stephanie Plum said:

Bear in mind that in April if you head towards the Alps very few, if any, of the higher passes will be open.

In April I would head for Grenoble to pick up the Route Napoleon all the way to the south coast, then along the Cote d'Azur to Monaco. Then I would enter Italy and head to Lake Como.

I would then drive to Switzerland where, if a pass is closed there is often an alternative - different route/tunnel or car train instead of high pass.

Heading back to Calais I would go via Alsace.

[Muncher]

Bonne Route said:

In April I would head for Grenoble to pick up the Route Napoleon all the way to the south coast, then along the Cote d'Azur to Monaco. Then I would enter Italy and head to Lake Como.

I would then drive to Switzerland where, if a pass is closed there is often an alternative - different route/tunnel or car train instead of high pass.

Heading back to Calais I would go via Alsace.

That's pretty much the route I just plotted except not via Grenoble. Works out at 2,000 miles. We had looked at coming back via a Ferry at Bilbao but that seems to work out pretty expensive.

Roughly in this direction:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&amp...

Edited by Muncher on Tuesday 22 March 23:33

[johnnyreggae]

Muncher said:

I'd quite like to travel via some of the iconic roads such as Stelvio,

Then you'd be a complete fool to be in the area and then not to do the Route Napoleon - google it or search here

[YRRunner]

johnnyreggae said:

Then you'd be a complete fool to be in the area and then not to do the Route Napoleon - google it or search here

I agree with the above post. I would also add that your route down (for the most part) is gonna be really quite boring. I would take a more eastern route after Lyon, definately hit Annecy which is just stunningly beautiful, then pick up the N85 Route Napoleon at Grenoble, down to Grasse (perfume capital of the world) and you're only a short drive away from Cannes. I wouldn't bother picking up the riviera anywhere west of Cannes really (unless you absolutely must see St. Tropez) but avoid the Marseille area like the plague as it's an absolute st hole. Enjoy!

[Muncher]

Here's what I'm currently thinking:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?oe=&hl=en&amp...

I can't quite get it to cover the Route Napoleon but that's the route I will take.

[ianash]

I've driven the route Napoleon twice now. It's an easy drive from Dijon to Cannes or Nice.

[Muncher]

Here's what we have now:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&a...

How does that route look through the alps in terms of being passable at this time of year?

[alfa pint]

The area around Normandy can be lovely at this time of year - lots of good French food, lots of chateaux (Mont St Michel is a bit touristy inside, but everyone should have a picture of their car on the causeway!), lots of lovely lovely lovely quiet D roads. Head up towards Caens for a little personal battlefield tour for the D day landings etc.

A couple of years ago, I took my MG B on honeymoon down from Paris to the Loire valley for a canal boat trip. Some fantastically remote stuff down there too, friendly natives, beautiful countryside, nice food. Sancerre itself is a stunning little town. Fond memories of eating a chef's special tripe sausage in some small out of the way village - he was very concerned that I thought it was normal sausage and tried to explain this in poor English. I tried to explain in poor French that I understood it was tripe and still wanted it. (It came with a lovely cider sauce). The whole cafe full of locals watched me take my first bites to see how I handled it. (It was lovely!).

[hornetrider]

Muncher said:

Here's what we have now:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&a...

How does that route look through the alps in terms of being passable at this time of year?

I've only ever been in the height of summer so can't recommend when the passes will be open. Looking at this route however it seems you will be heading close to Strasbourg. A crying shame if you are there not to head into the Black Forest and do the 500

Outstanding bit of road.

[allgonepetetong]

Muncher said:

That's pretty much the route I just plotted except not via Grenoble. Works out at 2,000 miles. We had looked at coming back via a Ferry at Bilbao but that seems to work out pretty expensive.

Roughly in this direction:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&amp...

Edited by Muncher on Tuesday 22 March 23:33

You can't not head in that direction and not do the Route Napoleon (Grenoble to Monaco), it would be a totally wasted opportunity. It is one of the greatest roads in Europe,

[Bonne Route]

allgonepetetong said:

You can't not head in that direction and not do the Route Napoleon (Grenoble to Monaco), it would be a totally wasted opportunity. It is one of the greatest roads in Europe,

Totally agree!

[Muncher]

Route napoleon is certainly on the agenda, don't worry!

[ILoveLamp]

what, no nurburgring?

Do Nurburgring, then back via Bruges (Belgium)

[tinman0]

Muncher said:

Here's what I'm currently thinking:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?oe=&hl=en&amp...

I can't quite get it to cover the Route Napoleon but that's the route I will take.

Hmm, you like motorways don't you?

If it were me, then I'd head to Montelimar for the first night. 600 miles, long day, but get it done.

Then head right out of Montelimar and head for Gorge du Verdon. I think you can pick up the Napoleon route as well, but lets face it, none of the roads in this area are bad.

Anyway, do the Gorge (remember TG and the RS4 article), and then head south to Menton. This can be a long day, especially coming down from the Maritime Alps into the Monte Carlo/Menton area. So feel free to split it into two.

Next bit from Monte Carlo/Menton is to head up on the Monte Carlo WRC rally stages, which is essentially Col du Torini and that area. You can make a loop as well back to Monte Carlo very easily via Sospel. This is good because you can book two nights at a hotel and dump stuff from the car ready for a day without crap in the car.

Next, head south to Genoa on the tunnel run motorway. 130 tunnels iirc. Then from Genoa, head a bit further round into Italy, and then pick a wiggly road across the Apennines.

The Apennines are severely underrated for driving, yet its where they test Ferraris and Lamborghinis.

Maybe head for Castiglioni dei Pepoli for the night. There is one hotel in the town (maybe 2) and they serve truffels as standard.

From there, you can dump yourself back on the A1 and head north for Calais, although, it is a long way....

[winshent]

If your going thru Switzerland, do you have your vignette sorted..

Apparently you can get it at the border, but means you have to stop and faff around..

Edited by winshent on Monday 18th April 09:33

[Muncher]

winshent said:

If your going thru Switzerland, do you have your vignette sorted..

Apparently you can get it at the border, but means you have to stop and faff around..

Edited by winshent on Monday 18th April 09:33

Thanks, I had no idea about that. Is it possible to buy less than a whole year's worth?

tinman - Thanks, the route has changed a fair bit since then to take into account better driving roads. I think 600 miles in a day would probably be too much and we're not setting off until sunday evening with a 6pm crossing in any case.