The Grand Tour .......

[GP801]

Totally agree with you re Umbria. I would add Orvieto to your list. Easily done in an afternoon. The duomo is absolutely stunning. The trouble with Italy is that there are just too many great places to visit.

 

[st13phil]

I quite agree. Going to Italy for a Brit is a bit like coming to the UK for an American: the density of "must see" places is much higher than in our home country.

Thanks for reminding me about Orvieto, too

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Do not leave out the Mileau Bridge on the A75? from Montpellier to Paris!
Regards
John

One of the reasons for making the trip - I have a thing for bridges! Fits well with the return run from Cannes to Monaco.

Would be good to hammer the Stelvio Passmin there somewhere too.

 

[Bryan Allman]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys - some really great detail there (st13phil) - keep them coming !!

The plan is to be away for about three weeks - which is typical of our touring holidays. During that time we would do about 3000 miles in the US - probably a bit less in Europe - and we tend to do a fairly high speed run to get to the area of choice to start and then take it day by day. The benefit of the US is that you can always get a Days Inn or similar reservation for the following night at wherever you decide to go - no doubt that will be impossible in Italy in late Spring ...... ;-)

The last time I blasted down to the area was for a shoot in Lucca - stayed there for 5 days and loved it but working all the time, so this time hoping to get some time to actually take it all in.

Piza I might miss but Florence and Venice are must haves for Madam along with Como. As to the passes, all those that have been suggested so far are now on the list for planning purposes

The only issue now is which car to take, mine (W211 E55) or hers (M3 Convertible) .......

 

[st4]

Tough choice on cars, I'd err on the M3 purely as you get get the roof down and the weather is nice over there and its still a damned comfortable car. I did a big European tour with my mate, and an open top would have made it more special.

The year after you can go back in the Mercedes.

 

[GP801]

Hotels in Italy are having a bad time. Italian visitors have dried up with the economic problems. You will find somewhere at short notice but take a laptop and use the internet. Chains like travelodge or campanile just dont exist apart from 1 or 2. Most small hotels are family run. In Firenze we have used the Brunellecschi. Right in the centre but in a quiet pedestrianised area. Parking is dreadful and expensive in Firenze. If heading south make a short detour off the A1 motorway to The Mall at Regello. Top designer oulet - Prada, Dior, Gucci, Armani, Hilfiger and many others at incredible discounted prices. The Mall
In Rome the hotel Farnese Rome Hotel Farnese Rome | Official Site | Rome charme hotel | Rome luxury hotel historic center has free on site parking. A real bonus. Its also within walking distance of the major sights and has good bus/metro links.

 

[jaymanek]

Has to be the W211, you are doing a lot of miles and the M3 just wont be as comfortable.

 

[st13phil]

The only issue now is which car to take, mine (W211 E55) or hers (M3 Convertible) .......

Hmmm... not an easy choice, but if you're intending to spend lots of time on mountain passes then I think I'd be inclined to go for the M3 from a size / agility standpoint. The pose factor around the lakes is higher, too The journey there and back will clearly be much less comfortable though which could take the shine off the trip somewhat.

If you do decide on the M3 make sure you take plenty of sunblock. It may be cooler at the top of the passes, but if the sun's shining there's lots of UV.

 

[GP801]

Its a long way. The Merc everytime. The reason I keep the 124 in Italy is because its just so relaxed and comfortable over long distances. I cover just under 1000miles in 1 day when going there or back.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

The Dazzler's first European road trip is finally about to roll!!

My ideal road trip was intended to be a 3 week affair, taking in most mid and southern European countries (!!), but most importantly timed to coincide with the Mille Miglia and Monaco GP, but sadly taking children out of school isn't really an option so it's time for a Plan B.

For a couple of weeks now I've been browsing hotels in Northern Italy and Lake Garda seemed to be an ideal base for the places on our list - Brescia on the door step, Milan in the West, Venice in the East, and Modena is the South. I was thinking of Summer or maybe 2014, however a chance enquiry changed things.

Finding nice-ish accommodation which would accommodate all four Dazzlers in a single suite was proving elusive - either not possible or silly expensive. I found a nice hotel which seemed just right, in most respects, and having emailed them they're happy for us to have the children in the same room as us.

Even more incredibly Mrs D and I agreed if they have a room on our preferred dates over Easter then we'd book. And they have! So we have!!

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

We plan to get a channel crossing late morning on Friday, and meander our way to Lake Garda to arrive mid morning on Tuesday.

Thoughts include a Eurodisney stop-off, or heading straight down to Monaco or Nice for a few days, or maybe taking a steady scenic route through France, or my wild card is to whiz across to Afalterbach to meet a couple of engine builders! Maybe take in Milau or Stelvio. What's most important is that we have a family friendly way of getting down to Garda over the course of three or four days.

Suggestions welcome! Which route, where to visit, where to stay?

 

[st13phil]

Stelvio will be shut at Easter. The snow generally doesn't clear until May - so that's one off your list I'm afraid

 

[DITTRICH]

Stelvio will be shut at Easter. The snow generally doesn't clear until May - so that's one off your list I'm afraid

Not only stelvio - many of the higher passes in Switzerland may be closed, significantly increasing driving time and cost. I don't think COMAND knows when the passes are shut!

 

[gaz_l]

We plan to get a channel crossing late morning on Friday, and meander our way to Lake Garda to arrive mid morning on Tuesday.

Thoughts include a Eurodisney stop-off, or heading straight down to Monaco or Nice for a few days, or maybe taking a steady scenic route through France, or my wild card is to whiz across to Afalterbach to meet a couple of engine builders! Maybe take in Milau or Stelvio. What's most important is that we have a family friendly way of getting down to Garda over the course of three or four days.

Suggestions welcome! Which route, where to visit, where to stay?

Well, seeing as you asked, this would be my suggestion

Friday: I take it you're travelling down to the coast in the morning, so won't want to go too far once on the other side. How about Bruges as a first stop off? Only about 90 minutes from Calais, and a beautiful city. I've stayed in Martin's Hotel, right in the old town, so great for a leisurely wander.

Saturday: how about a drive to the little known town of Nuerburg? It's about 3.5 to 4 hours. Perhaps you might like to drop the wife and kids off at a hotel in nearby Koblenz beforehand - they could go and see the confluence of the Rhine and Mosel rivers, right in the middle of the city. I've seen that and it's very exciting..

Sunday: After your visit to Nuerburg you might feel a little overwhelmed, so perhaps only a short drive today to Stuttgart or thereabouts.. some 2.5 hours south. There's a little town called Affalterbach nearby.

Monday: A short visit to Affalterbach in the morning, perhaps? Can't think why but I've heard it's worth a visit. Then perhaps a 3 hour drive south to the town of Mulhouse on the French side of the the border. A pretty medieval town which I'm sure the family will love. Coincidentally - quelle surprise! - it is also home to the Schlumpf collection, a museum containing some of the finest car exhibits to be seen in Europe!

Tuesday: Drive south to Lake Garda. About 5 hours from Mulhouse, but does require transit through Switzerland - don't forget to buy your vignette..

Cheers,

Gaz

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Gaz. I'm liking your style!!

I exchanged emails with AMG overnight - excellent service by the way - but unfortunately they're closed on Easter Sunday and Monday

Stelvio is indeed closed, although the roads around Bormio appear to be open. If we go up into the mountains then we'll probably need to buy some Winter tyres which would sit in the garage until next Winter. I have the wheels ready and waiting but I'd prefer not to have aging rubber.

 

[SL300-24]

Please post up some pictures of Rossi's Pizza place it is supposed to be a really cool place.

 

[gaz_l]

And with apologies to the OP:-

Sorry to stray off-topic Bryan, we were in Rimini in October. If you get that far, I can recommend Hotel Card. Small but comfortable, private parking too if needed. 5 minute walk to the town centre. Nice hotel.

Cheers

Gaz

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Lonely Planet Travel Guides just purchased for the Italian Lakes and the Cote d'Azur - bit of a result as it's BOGOF for Valentines day!

If you read this after Valentines day, then promo code barclays30 gives you 30% discount thanks to Barclays (bank).

 

[jeffwebb]

Try to do the affalterbach visit if you can. Just on our way back from there via the Nurburgring and then down through Paris and back to Spain. Even the wife was interested by the guides enthusiasm and knowledge. Place is more like a laboratory than a engine plant. They even put up the appropriate flag of your country. Regards, Jeff.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Cheers Jeff. I'm sure we'll get there at some point, sounds like a great opportunity.