Car Travel to Umbria

08/12/2013 - 08:06

Travelling from Reims to Parrano, Umbria.  Can anyone advise the best, shortest & cheapest route with minimal use of toll roads through France etc, accepting that we will use the autostrade through Italy. Thanks.

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My Suggestion. Rheims to Chalons en Champagne [the only bit of toll road]Challons. to St Dizier - normal road [not dual carriageway, but with overtaking lanes at times]St Diziere to Nancy - dual carriagewayNancy to Colmar - dual carriageway, then normal road, but with overtaking lanes in placesColmar to Mulhouse then turn left into Germany - dual carriagewayDown German autobahn towards Basel - pick up Swiss Motorway Carnet at Bad Bellingen servicesBefore reacing Basel, take turn to Lorrach, and on into Switzerland - avoids Basel [possible traffic delays at Border] - dual carriage way throughoutTake Swiss motorway to Lucerne and on to Gotthard Tunnel [or Gotthard Pass], and on into Italy and autostrada Easy route to take- done it many times

In reply to by alan h

Given that the vehicle will be driven by pensioners(!!) and there is no rush, how long should they give themselves to do this journey comfortably?  Recommendations as to where to stop overnight would be welcome too....

Well ......................... Its about 760 miles, so assuming a two night trip [250ish miles per day, a leisurely trip] Night 1 – overnight near Colmar  - we stayed at   very nice place.  Alternatively, Mulhouse has plenty of hotels - we use the Accor websiteNight 2 – overnight in the area around/south of Milan – not an area I’ve stayed in, [we are North of Milan, in the Lake Orta area],  but the web should throw up plenty of options. I would avoid stopping overnight in Switzerland, it can be expensive [but the petrol is cheaper than France, and a lot cheaper than Italy - especially if you get off the Swiss motorway to fill up]

Finding Hotels .....................The Drive Alive website has a map     that shows the location of Hotels, plus details etc. It could be worth looking at to get some idea of what is availble, and where.[Website has lots of other info as well]

Yes. I have just checked those Alan thanks...  I have ordered one anyway as this car will be driven back & forth every year by whatever route!  Think it is unlikely for this trip, but you never know!Thanks again for the advice and prompt response.