Day stops on route to Italy

[falcom]

Hello all from a forum newbie. We (me, wife and 5 yr old) will be driving to Venice area at the end of June for our holidays. We will be crossing the channel tunnel on the way out, and the Zeebrugge to Hull ferry on the way back. I'm thinking to use the S.Gottardo tunnel out, and maybe the Frejus back if it fits in with plans to meet friends in Turin. We have quite a relaxed schedule, with 4 nights for journey out and 4 on way back, so we can have at least one 2 night stop in a nice location each way.

Question is, where are any recommended stopovers that don't require a big detour? Probably more in favour of small or medium size towns, rather than big cities, nice scenery, that sort of thing..... Any ideas are welcome, or even alternative route ideas!

thanks,
Mark

[adriatica]

i often stopped in the Jura area of france...its reachable from the coast in the day and allows you to take a days drive to your destination... fast motorways in france via lille get you down south quickly and i use to get off the motorway around bescancon and head inland... getting a hotel near the lakes or rivers for a couple of nights... you can then drop down into Switzerland easily enough and over to Italy without too much fuss...

in the Jura there are many good regional foods... good accomodation...and tons of things to do... and its a good place to stretch your legs for a day after a long drive.... there is a place i liked ... a sort of Husky reserve ...where you can visit... the animals all live in a sort of virtual wild state... and are used for sledge racing... the lakes i have already mentioned... and also plenty of caves... nice sometimes on a hot day to wander down below ground...

[Flyingpigs]

The Gotthart pass rather than the tunnel is a lovely route and a good place to stop for a picnic lunch and walk. However, as you only plan to be in Switzerland one way you may feel it is wasting the vignette not to use the tunnel! We have never managed to avoid getting onto a motorway in Switzerland so have always had to buy a vignette (it lasts a year).

Another route is via Austra and the Brenner. It is longer but a good route and it is easy to avoid the motorways and therefore the tolls. The pass itself is very easy but you have to be careful not to be funnelled onto the bridge which costs extra over and above the standard motorway toll badge. There are many guesthouses in pretty locations throughout Austria - but it may be too close to your destination.

[Monique]

Originally Posted by Flyingpigs

The Gotthart pass rather than the tunnel is a lovely route and a good place to stop for a picnic lunch and walk.

I am trying to convince Mr Mon that we should consider the Gotthart pass when we come down next week but he’s reluctant. Is it really as ‘’scary’’ as everyone makes out

[Flyingpigs]

Not scary at all - been on much worse on 'normal' roads. If you have time do it. Also, sometimes the queues for the tunnel are horrific - keep on the inside lane and you can bypass these and take the turnoff for the pass.

[alan h]

The Gotthard pass is well worth doing. It is not a difficult drive, unless you are either towing or in an old VW camper van. It is a wee bit steep at first [from the Swiss side], but the views from the top are amazing. For a flavour of the views see:-

http://www.gotthardtunnel.eu/images/gotthard-pass.jpg and http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3093/...b1d4299239.jpg

Allow an hour for the pass [plenty of time to stop at the top then]

Also - the Swiss motorway vignette costs £27 You can buy online at Switzerland Travel Centre.co.uk | Swiss Travel Passes. This is easier than at the border The vignette is valid for a calendar year, plus the December before and the January afterwards.

,

[adriatica]

agree with flyingpigs as well on the austria route... the brenner pass gets you down to that side of Italy without having to traverse some of the major italian traffic blocks,,,

i also used to branch off the southern Germany area...rather than take the motorway via munich... head down towards the fern pass and or take the achansee turning off after munich... the lake is pretty...good hotels and you then pass down to innsbruck and then up the brener...
the other route is to go down past the fairy tale castle of Neuschwanstein ... king Ludwig's place ...

in fact its a pretty limitless choice as the road down via salzburg...say stopping there would take you out near venice... and there are some pretty spectacular lakes to visit around salzburg... one where the famous austrian had his hide out and tours are via electric boat to preserve the cleanliness and tranquility...

all these plans generally make me envious ... i get itchy feet... whatever way you choose theres a wealth to do and see either before in or just after the alps ....

[Monique]

Originally Posted by Flyingpigs

Not scary at all - been on much worse on 'normal' roads. If you have time do it. Also, sometimes the queues for the tunnel are horrific - keep on the inside lane and you can bypass these and take the turnoff for the pass.

Originally Posted by alan h

The Gotthard pass is well worth doing. It is not a difficult drive, unless you are either towing or in an old VW camper van. It is a wee bit steep at first [from the Swiss side], but the views from the top are amazing. For a flavour of the views see:-

http://www.gotthardtunnel.eu/images/gotthard-pass.jpg and http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3093/...b1d4299239.jpg

Allow an hour for the pass [plenty of time to stop at the top then]

Also - the Swiss motorway vignette costs £27 You can buy online at Switzerland Travel Centre.co.uk | Swiss Travel Passes. This is easier than at the border The vignette is valid for a calendar year, plus the December before and the January afterwards. ,

Thanks very much. Now I just have to convince Mr. Mon that I will not drive the same speed on the pass as when I drive through Germany! Mind you, I’m not that keen to drive through the pass, much rather check out the scenery but I won’t tell him that

Almost the same price here 29.20 Euros not that I have ever paid full price. I’m not suggesting that you check popular auction sites just after the skiing season has finished when there are plenty to buy for less than half the price.

Don’t forget that if you travel through Austria you also need an Austrian vignette which you can buy at petrol stations near the border. If you don't have one then the fine can be quite high (from 400 Euros to 4000 Euros) if you are caught that is. I understand that they are now using ‘hidden’ cameras to check whether motorists have a valid vignette. There are also toll charges for several stretches on the Austrian motorways e.g. Brenner Pass is about €8.00.

[Noble]

[quote=Flyingpigs;120560]The Gotthart pass rather than the tunnel is a lovely route and a good place to stop for a picnic lunch and walk. However, as you only plan to be in Switzerland one way you may feel it is wasting the vignette not to use the tunnel! We have never managed to avoid getting onto a motorway in Switzerland so have always had to buy a vignette (it lasts a year).

My brother in law has arrived here from UK with his 3 bikes in the Fiat Doblo. He said he could not use the Gotthart Pass due to snow, so check before you take this route, even in early June snow may be a problem.

As an aside, he stops and cycles each day to enjoy the scenery and then goes back for his car, (which he sleeps in, often at trucker stops which he says are excellent!!). He's in his mid 50's and thinks it makes a great trip to Italy, it takes all sorts.

[Neil T]

Another vote for the San Gotthard Pass.
Not scary at all.
Steep Road from the North, but two lanes all the way.
"Hairpins" not difficult at all.

As to Route, as discussed on other threads, route through Belgium is as quick as France with no tolls, cheaper petrol, then via Luxembourg, Metz, Colmar (worth a stop here for a couple of nights. spend a day in the town, then a day on the wine route), San Gotthard, como etc.