Driving to Italy

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Chrisbassett

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3,909
I'm guessing there's some experience on this forum of driving from the UK to Italy. Looking to do a 3 day trip probably through France and Switzerland. Any recommendations for route and / or places to stop off?

We will have the little one with us, hence splitting the journey.

Thanks in advance.
 
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Mr.Cambio

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Will the little one fit in the spyder? I am on the other side, so i cannot help you, but i feel that the route from Calais down to Nice and then coastlane to Genova is the best. Was going to do this last year, but due to job schedule, i only took the plane to Nice.
 
roger102

roger102

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Hi Chris,
Is that 3 days to get to italy? We did the route last year via the tunnel.
The exact route escapes me right now but we didn't hang around in France.
We stopped at friends in Annecy on day 1. Then the next day straight through CH to Orta in Italy, which took longer than expected with the passes, photos etc.
As soon as you involve the passes then the time expands 3 fold so don't rely on the times on the sat navs as these don't factor in tolls, photos, fuel, food or toilet etc.
Generally it's an easy blast through La France and easy running. Just watch out for the speed traps if your that way inclined. It's a nice easy trip.
 
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Chrisbassett

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3,909
Ah, Mr. Cambio, this one is going to be in a German bus (well, Mercedes M-class seems to be the consensus at the moment) with a bunch of other people. I'm having my bit of fun in the Maser in May/June buzzing round the west & south of France. I know my way round that part of the country, but have never driven past Nevers on the east side.

Roger, it will be 3 days total trave, so two overnighters on the way. As we will have a baby or two in the party, we want to take our time. I did some goolgle-mapping and it's probably going to be somewhere around Dijon for the first stop then either in Swiss-land or around the Italian/French border by Monaco for the second.

Any small towns / villages that you know in those places would be nice to hear about. It's not happening til July.

Cheers.
 
Andyk

Andyk

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Chris, whatever you do you will love it....I drove to the Italian GP back in 2001 and then to Tuscany back in 2004......
 
Andyk

Andyk

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We went ti Lake Garda last year Chris and although we fle we hired a Fiat Punto and even that was great fun driving aorund Italy in......I just love it.....
 
Parisien

Parisien

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If going down eastern side of France the delightful culinary regional centre of Beaune is a must.........


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Chrisbassett

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We were at lake Como last year, had a hired Audi A1, the most impractical car when you have a baby seat, they are tiny inside! But driving round the mountains was amazing, and I'd love to go back in the Spyder sometime and play in the miles and miles of tunnels. I'd be spoiled for choice around there, it's either long loud tunnels or winding roads with great views.
 
Parisien

Parisien

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Chris......if you didn't want to accumulate an extra 800 miles you can train it from Holland to Turin or Milan.....no cost saving but an option


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Chrisbassett

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Everyone's pretty much settled on a road trip, and Beaune is definitely a good call. Will look for a hotel & restaurant...may do a stop there both ways as it looks interesting enough.
 
safrane

safrane

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16,896
I did this trip twice over the last few years in the Maserati's.

If its a drivers road you want I would always recomend heading to Grenoble and then take the Route Napoleon, even posted a YouTube vid a few years ago on thet. Then down to the South of France coast, Nice/Cannes.

I also did the route back via Dijon, but it is not a very pretty town unless you stay in the old part.

1) Over night in Paris, then to Grenoble, then the S/Coast
2) Over night to Riems Champagne area [Forum guys stayed at my recomended hotel there and enjoyed it] Then Dijon, then over the Swiss alps to Lake Bellagio
 
roger102

roger102

Junior Member
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747
Hi Chris,
we stayed in Chateau de Gilly on the way back. Nice food etc. There are lots of Chateau's around that area. Some don't serve food all week so read the small print when you book.
On the way down to Annecy we took the autoroute Reims, Troyes, Dijon, Geneva. Then day 2 across into CH through Martigny, Brig and over the top before dropping down into Italia. On the way back via Turin, Lyon and up to Chateau de Gilly. Again auto routes but more picturesque.
 
MasMania

MasMania

Junior Member
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54
Hey Chris - keep us posted what route you decide and how you found it - would be interesting....
 
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