Monte Carlo or Bust...

[Parisien]

Here we go......

1) Marcos
2) Lozcb
3) Paul L
4) Safrane
5) Enzo
6) Parisien....2nd or 3rd weeks of April...3rd being best....either weekend, as am taking a longer break via the UK, flexible on route.
7) Dem
8) Grinzzz
9) Newton
10)Pibbow
11) Miles.
12)GTDan
13)Mr. Cambio/ Nikos

 

[lozcb]

Here we go...... good showing sofar

1) Marcos
2) Lozcb Martini man me , any time any place any where
3) Paul L
4) Safrane
5) Enzo
6) Parisien....2nd or 3rd weeks of April...3rd being best....either weekend, as am taking a longer break via the UK, flexible on route.
7) Dem
8) Grinzzz
9) Newton
10)Pibbow
11) Miles.
12)GTDan
13)Mr. Cambio/ Nikos


Warmest regards

 

[safrane]

1) Marcos
2) Lozcb Martini man me , any time any place any where
3) Paul L
4) Safrane; avoid bank holidays
5) Enzo
6) Parisien....2nd or 3rd weeks of April...3rd being best....either weekend, as am taking a longer break via the UK, flexible on route.
7) Dem
8) Grinzzz
9) Newton
10)Pibbow
11) Miles.
12)GTDan
13)Mr. Cambio/ Nikos


Warmest regards[/QUOTE]

 

[Parisien]

Nikos......you didn't put your preference in.....

Guys.....have you a preferred route....Loz/Peter?


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[marcos]

Good plan - I will make my new year schedule at work tomorrow and see when my possible dates are and then fill in. But much like Peter, the trip was planned to avoid Bank Holidays or larger holidays and be very early spring, first outing of the year.

Preference would be to go from Portsmouth overnight to Caen and eliminate the autoroutes of northern France from Calais, ending up starting the day at 6am in lower Normandy. This is roughly what's in my head...

Thursday night: 10:45pm ferry from Portsmouth.
Friday Day 1: Caen via Le Mans, doing the Mulsanne and Hunaudieres straights and end the day in Beaune which is a stunning place to be. 400miles, but a whole day to do it as we get off the boat at 6am, ground is covered very quickly.
Saturday Day 2: Beaune, Grenoble and onto the Route Napoleon to Monte Carlo, 371miles. Saturday night in Casino Square!
Sunday Day 3: Monte Carlo to Millau to see the Viaduct 293miles along the Riviera. Won't be a massively fast drive along the coast so that's probably far enough.
Monday Day 4: Millau to Caen - 518miles, a long day but doable with 3-4 stops and sticking to toll roads. Latest fast boat.

This means people only have to take 2 days off work and is pretty efficient. I think the above route is probably a 'driver's' route, if we're bringing the other halves then those are big distances for a bored passenger. Were people thinking of making it a longer trip and having sightseeing time in the towns? Would need to add a day through France at either end plus a day in Monaco if that's the case, it gets much more expensive that way with time off work too.

Opinions?

 

[Parisien]

Lewis, thanks for that overview, will probably get over for a service the day before .......happy to spend another night or two in the South of France ..or on meandering back up through France...as am carrying over leave specially need to make it worthwhile..............will no doubt do most of it until I get up to the Paris region.....then stay a few more days and go back via Cherbourg to Rosslare


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[lozcb]

Unless we can get some super prices re the pompy ferry i fear that i'll probably meet you guys somewhere in lower Normandy , Coming from MK either ferry is ideal and i see no reason to pay £350-£400 for an 8hr ferry ride when i can go via Dover / Folkestone for £50 return or less , its just a me thing and a no Brainer to me so happy to meet you guys further down , i may well leave a little earlier and grab a day or two fishing at La Butte, but date wise as stated happy to go with the general consensus


regards loz

 

[Mr.Cambio]

Here it goes:

1) Marcos
2) Lozcb Martini man me , any time any place any where
3) Paul L
4) Safrane; avoid bank holidays
5) Enzo
6) Parisien....2nd or 3rd weeks of April...3rd being best....either weekend, as am taking a longer break via the UK, flexible on route.
7) Dem
8) Grinzzz
9) Newton
10)Pibbow
11) Miles.
12)GTDan
13)Mr. Cambio/ Nikos I prefer Sat 7/4/2012, also 14/4/2012. The first date is your Easter, the second is our Easter( orthodox). As i'm coming from Greece, i'd like two nights in Monaco, if they don't ask 800 pounds for each night at the hotel. On the route back, i was thinking of Como, Stelvio Pass, Venice or Saint Moritz. If anyone wants another day of touring in eastern direction, we can discuss in private.

 

[Parisien]

£50 big ones Loz....you won the lottery or summit.........??!! Now £38........thats more like it.....

Directferries.co.uk

Cross the channel in 2012 for just £19 each way

If you’re planning a trip to the continent next year then take advantage of our exclusive early booking offer and pay just £19 each way when you travel from Dover to Dunkirk by car with up to 4 passengers.

Travel Monday to Thursday in both directions between 5th January 2012 and 13th December 2012 to get this discounted price.

Book by 6th December to avoid missing out!




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[lozcb]

£50 big ones Loz....you won the lottery or summit.........??!! Now £38........thats more like it.....

Directferries.co.uk

Cross the channel in 2012 for just £19 each way

If you’re planning a trip to the continent next year then take advantage of our exclusive early booking offer and pay just £19 each way when you travel from Dover to Dunkirk by car with up to 4 passengers.

Travel Monday to Thursday in both directions between 5th January 2012 and 13th December 2012 to get this discounted price.

Book by 6th December to avoid missing out!




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£50 was just an outside bet Frank , usually around there somewhere

 

[Parisien]

£50 was just an outside bet Frank , usually around there somewhere

When you see what they charge this side to cross the North Channel Loz...its criminal....but if I book early etc can nail it down to £49.99....


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[safrane]

Sadly may have to do this in the 'Volvo'...oh the shame of it!...or maybe even the Golf...now that would be fun trying to keep up guys ;o)

 

[lozcb]

Sadly may have to do this in the 'Volvo'...oh the shame of it!...or maybe even the Golf...now that would be fun trying to keep up guys ;o)

Nonsense Peter your amongst good friends mate ,I dont really give a toss what you drive so long as your come , flashy motor doesn't necessarily guarantee good company , so i 'd rather you come in something than not at all



regards loz

 

[marcos]

Unless we can get some super prices re the pompy ferry i fear that i'll probably meet you guys somewhere in lower Normandy , Coming from MK either ferry is ideal and i see no reason to pay £350-£400 for an 8hr ferry ride when i can go via Dover / Folkestone for £50 return or less , its just a me thing and a no Brainer to me so happy to meet you guys further down , i may well leave a little earlier and grab a day or two fishing at La Butte, but date wise as stated happy to go with the general consensus
regards loz

I hadn't even looked at the Calais - Beaune route... turns out that if we skip Le Mans it's a 365mile drive going via Reims, so it's actually shorter! Consider that the new plan then!

 

[2b1ask1]

Here it goes:

1) Marcos
2) Lozcb Martini man me , any time any place any where
3) Paul L
4) Safrane; avoid bank holidays
5) Enzo
6) Parisien....2nd or 3rd weeks of April...3rd being best....either weekend, as am taking a longer break via the UK, flexible on route.
7) Dem
8) Grinzzz
9) Newton 3rd week of April is best option here I think, prefer the Calais option or even better the Eurotunnel (Jeanette is likely to be co.pillot and gets easily seasick!)
10)Pibbow
11) Miles.
12)GTDan
13)Mr. Cambio/ Nikos I prefer Sat 7/4/2012, also 14/4/2012. The first date is your Easter, the second is our Easter( orthodox). As i'm coming from Greece, i'd like two nights in Monaco, if they don't ask 800 pounds for each night at the hotel. On the route back, i was thinking of Como, Stelvio Pass, Venice or Saint Moritz. If anyone wants another day of touring in eastern direction, we can discuss in private.


6th & 9th April are the Easter B'holidays so I'm guessing the weekends either side are prime for family holidays... Though it should be mostly peoiple comming back if we went out on 13th following Lewis's schedule amended to Calais.

Could I suggest we do the Milau on the run down so we can do the passes on the way back up when we could have Nikos in tow and will all be a bit more tuned in to convoy driving and Frank would have an easy run for Paris?

Also let's get some time around Milau as the gorges around there are just stunning driving and I'd want to go over the bridge a couple of times and see it from the valley floor, both sides....

 

[Parisien]

Sounds good too Newton....just need early notice so I can book.....flexible enough really


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[marcos]

Could I suggest we do the Milau on the run down so we can do the passes on the way back up when we could have Nikos in tow and will all be a bit more tuned in to convoy driving and Frank would have an easy run for Paris?

Newton, I planned the Millau to Calais run on the way home because it looks really dull! Anything on that route to spice it up? Just seems to be crossing the flat part of central France? Time around Millau and gorges sounds great, an area I know nothing about so happy for some miles through there. Maybe takE an extra day for that?

And Nikos seems to be going into Italy and the Wwstern passes anyway rather than driving with us? That would make it an 8-10 day holiday, which I'm not sure everyone will want to take the time to do, that's not for me right now. Original plan calls for a surgical strike to Monte Carlo, in and out. However, if several groups go several routes over several days, meeting in Monte Carlo on the Saturday night - that works for me!

 

[Parisien]

The return leg sounds more like a dash for freedom Lewis, am flexible as regards exact routes etc.....plus having an alternative, but the basic raison d'etre of a scenic route, some passes, M/C...to Cannes and on down to St Tropez, about a 3 hr drive...plus stops, can then tailor the needs to 1/2 or two groups going back up, am sure there are lots to visit, just depends on time and preferences.


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[lozcb]

Newton, I planned the Millau to Calais run on the way home because it looks really dull! Anything on that route to spice it up? Just seems to be crossing the flat part of central France? Time around Millau and gorges sounds great, an area I know nothing about so happy for some miles through there. Maybe takE an extra day for that?

And Nikos seems to be going into Italy and the Wwstern passes anyway rather than driving with us? That would make it an 8-10 day holiday, which I'm not sure everyone will want to take the time to do, that's not for me right now. Original plan calls for a surgical strike to Monte Carlo, in and out. However, if several groups go several routes over several days, meeting in Monte Carlo on the Saturday night - that works for me!

( surgical strike ) God you sound like a Gynacologist there Lewis, but i know what you mean and agree that with just a 3/4 days we must be careful not to try and cramp too much in , im looking for plenty of tuxedo time with a pocket full of chips


regards loz

 

[Parisien]

Nice little over view with info........

http://www.francetravelguide.com/five-ideas-for-france-road-trips-this-summer.html


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