Euro road trip

[st13phil]

A few tips based on 20+ years of European touring on both two and four wheels virtually every year:

• Pick the time of year to travel carefully. Most of continental Europe has August as a holiday which means that accommodation is often difficult to find and much more expensive than at other times of the year. Roads in some areas (e.g. along the Italian Riviera) can be impossibly busy at this time too
• Get hold of some good paper maps of the areas that you think you're interested in and study them. In my experience, Michelin maps are hard to beat for clarity and detail. Learn to interpret them and you can easily find great roads to drive on. Tip: anything with a green edge is a scenic road
• Decide what sort of split you want between driving and destinations. It's much better to overestimate the driving required and have surplus time on your hands that you can choose to use however you want than to underestimate it and spoil what should be a great trip by constantly driving against the clock
• If you're planning on being in sunny climes in an open top car then wear sun block and a hat
• Use the AA travel guides to get a good overview of the legal requirements for driving in the countries you intend to visit
• Be aware that speed limits are now very strictly enforced in many European countries, and fines can be severe. If you're going to exceed the speed limit make sure you know the modus operandi of the local enforcement agencies (what their vehicles look like, whether or not they use remotely operated traps, etc.) and pick your place carefully. Man up about it if you're caught, and be prepared for what you might think is harsh punishment
• Travel as light as is reasonably practical. A car full of unnecessary cr*p becomes a real source of irritation after a while and you won't have room to bring home something you choose to buy while you're away
• Hills and mountains nearly always provide spectacular motoring. Ski resorts represent rich pickings for great roads and great views
• Don't speed or tailgate in any of the alpine tunnels. You will get nicked

If you want some "off the beaten track" routes in the Alps, I thoroughly recommend Motorcycle Journeys Through the Alps & Beyond by John Hermann.