European Road Trip: Any road recommendations?

[CraigNicol123]

Hi Everyone

First questions I have is can you electronically change the lights beam direction in a 2011 GTS for right hand side driving? I can do this is my Mercedes but can't seem to find the option in the Maser, may just need to invest in these sticker things at the eurotunnel!

Now on to the interesting stuff.

I have a pretty epic trip planned and have been looking at what roads I should do. Its looking like start to finish it is going to be just short of 4000 miles so I am determined to make the most of it! Below is what Journeys I will be making so any roads you would recommend that can be done on these routes or travelled to without too much of a detour would be great. I am just looking for beautiful roads that can be enjoyed!

Aberdeen, Scotland - Bruge, Belgium (painful drive)

Bruge, Belgium - Lako Como, Italy

Lake Como, Italy - Venice, Italy

Venice, Italy - Modena, Italy

Modena, Italy - Florence Italy

Florence, Italy - Tuscan region, Italy

Tuscan region, Italy - Monaco

Monaco - Calais, France

Calais - Aberdeen


Any general or specific recommendations or input much appreciated!

 

[safrane]

Will be in Italy in the GS as well the first 2 weeks of Sept.

Kent, Grenoble, Monaco, Bolougna, Streasa, Geneva, Etoge, Home for me

 

[CatmanV2]

No you can't change the beams, Craig, but the cut off is so sharp you shouldn't need to

C

 

[Angelus]

Will be in Europe for the first two weeks of September.

Lanark - Silverstone
Silverstone - Riems
Riems - Geneva
Geneva - Monaco
Monaco - Lake Como for five nights and visit Monza and Modena
Lake Como - Innsbruck
Innsbruck - Spa
Spa - Gaydon
Gaydon - Lanark

 

[safrane]

Hmmm...Forum meet???

Planning a factory route whilst I'm in Bolougna

 

[Angelus]

Might be possible, but with both SWMBO's ( wife and teenage daughter ) I might not have much spare time. Sounds good though.

 

[safrane]

In Bologna for the 7-12 Sept and hope to fit a factory trip between then. Also want to make a day and eve in Como again whilst I am staying in Stresa for the following week.

Would be nice to see a Classic 4200 in Sebring Blue again...that was my first and favorite Maser.

 

[alfatwo]

Lake Como in the old banger a couple of years ago....Its lovely down there in September



Dave

 

[safrane]

Oh...That does look lovely.

 

[P R]

How are you crossing the channel? If you are heading to Brugge how about the Hull - Zeebrugge ferry, that will cut down on that first leg drive.
You can use your credit card in the toll booths, which generally cuts down waiting times, though check on your issuers charges.
Swiss motorways are good, you can buy the vignette at the border easily enough, or beforehand on the net.
The Gotthard tunnel is a bottleneck particularly on weekends in August. The pass is a good one though and barely takes longer than the tunnel, but you can get snarled up in the queue for the tunnel as you wait to exit
In Italy motorways are the best bet as the other roads aren't the best

 

[RSM Masser]

Just returned from France - admittedly in the soot sucker Mazda (diesel is £0.80 a litre) the Gendarme where checking vehicle lights at Calais looking for the stickers, with my 1st grade French limitations (mainly rude words) I wouldn't have wanted to chance my arm with a power crazy "cash only- now!" fine from a copper with a 9mm pistol, before I left the port, or trying to explain that my right hand drive car could convert the headlights by means of a switch.
The beams have to be converted day or night, mine has auto lights so come on in poor visibility as well.
The beam converters seem much simplar than I remember from my parents days spending hours cutting out weird shapes on sticky vinyl - mine just needed a 2" diameter circle with a preformed eye shaped cut out - mind you the instructions for fitting location where epic! Hopefully it's the thought that counted

As for the roads in France, personally I avoided motorways and toll roads, mainly because I was in no rush,
The D roads are generally smooth, wide enough to overtake if necessary and take you through some beautiful countryside and little villages that show almost zero signs of human habitation

 

[safrane]

I have a TAG for the french side which I have held for a few years now. I do loan it out to other members with them covering the charges.

They are hiwever easy to get on line as they bave an office in Harrogate. Let me kniw if you want the details as referal gets you £5.00 credit.

 

[TridentTested]

Just returned from France - admittedly in the soot sucker Mazda (diesel is £0.80 a litre) the Gendarme where checking vehicle lights at Calais looking for the stickers,

Thanks for the tip off.

I have Eurotunnel booked on Thursday. I must remember to put black insulation tape on the headlights. It does sweet FA but should keep the Gendarmerie away.

 

[Contigo]

Doubt they will stop you for it just make sure you have the bulb kit, breathalysers (not mandatory) and the Hi Vis and you should be fine. I'd be more worried about them ridding you of your hard earned Euro's

 

[RSM Masser]

Thanks for the tip off.

I have Eurotunnel booked on Thursday. I must remember to put black insulation tape on the headlights. It does sweet FA but should keep the Gendarmerie away.

I wouldn't use insulation tape - it will probably wash off - the beam converters are only a few £ from Halfraud or fleabay - Operation stack in progress at the moment so use the M2 not M20 (its shut, or at least part of it is)
On Saturday I clocked 8 miles of lorries, allowing 100 feet per lorry that's close to 500 - with more arriving, each ferry only takes about 80 - 100 lorries.......

 

[TridentTested]

I wouldn't use insulation tape - it will probably wash off - the beam converters are only a few £ from Halfraud or fleabay - Operation stack in progress at the moment so use the M2 not M20 (its shut, or at least part of it is)
On Saturday I clocked 8 miles of lorries, allowing 100 feet per lorry that's close to 500 - with more arriving, each ferry only takes about 80 - 100 lorries.......

I've used insulation tape for thirty years without problem.

As it happened I forgot to take it with me and ended up paying through the nose for pointless beam deflectors at the terminal. Then Les Flicks didn't have the decency to be there to admire them.

No problems getting to Folkestone, I followed @LeShuttle on Twitter and decided on A2>M2>A260>M20 which worked like a dream - no traffic anywhere. But as for life in the terminal, that's another story: three hour wait. Hmmn.

 

[Cogsy]

I've used insulation tape for thirty years without problem.

As it happened I forgot to take it with me and ended up paying through the nose for pointless beam deflectors at the terminal. Then Les Flicks didn't have the decency to be there to admire them.

No problems getting to Folkestone, I followed @LeShuttle on Twitter and decided on A2>M2>A260>M20 which worked like a dream - no traffic anywhere. But as for life in the terminal, that's another story: three hour wait. Hmmn.

I travelled down to Reims on Friday. Booked the Flexi + ticket. Straight to the front of the queue on outbound and return trips with breakfast/lunch included. Best £100 ever spent.

 

[conaero]

Just to remind you all, we are still planning to do the Italian Passes run in Autumn 2016.

It will be akin to the Centenary trip but a cut down 7 day version, taking in France and Northern Italy, its passes and Lakes.

We would like to stay in the same hotel in Bormio one night too...2 days down, 2 days back and 3 days in the lakes and passes sort of affair.

Personally I would like to tie it in with staying in Verona again and going to a performance at the Colosseum.

 

[conaero]

Mike just sent me this, looks great and its on the road down to Venice:

https://video-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/h...=6a381ca5cb47ba8d127ab35910f98ad1&oe=55B7BA04

 

[Contigo]

Just to remind you all, we are still planning to do the Italian Passes run in Autumn 2016.

It will be akin to the Centenary trip but a cut down 7 day version, taking in France and Northern Italy, its passes and Lakes.

We would like to stay in the same hotel in Bormio one night too...2 days down, 2 days back and 3 days in the lakes and passes sort of affair.

Personally I would like to tie it in with staying in Verona again and going to a performance at the Colosseum.

To be honest after all the reading about those two lads in GrossGlockner last week it has put me off driving any passes for the near future! Mad story!