stop off ideas please?

Dont know why but visions of Kathy Bates and Jack Nicholson in snow clad retreats come to mind. Good luck.

It might help if you give a bit more detail [from where - to where - time you're setting off - about what time you want to stop etc..]

Hi, We will look out for Kathy Bates and/or Jack Nicholson Ram !! (Thanks for the warning !) Re more detail............ alan h.............it's a 'special occasion' !!! We are leaving (early morning start - 8 am-ish) on the 5th Dec from the Macerata area to arrive in Starnberg for the night of the 6th December (). Christmas and New Year around that area (already booked) and we will be doing the return journey on the day (early morning start) of the 7th Jan. (therefore stopover somewhere on the night of the 7th). So, ideally............ we would like to stop off at sort of early afternoon/daylight (2/3pm ish?) and would like somewhere not too far off the beaten track for the night of the 5th Dec and similar for the night of the 7th Jan. Obviously the weather could well play a big part ! grazie, S

S Garda would seem a good half way point with a good range of hotels. Try choosing a hotel from Alistair Sawday and dinner at Casa degli Spiriti which is near Torri del Benaco. Fab. C

Hi Sibillini, (I love your mountains by the way !) Yes I think Garda would bea good halfway option (weather permitting !). I'll check out your suggestions and it sounds like a sensible way to go. We have 'done' Garda and (all of the lakes) quite a lot but not in the Dec/Jan timeframe so you have provoked a few thoughts. I suppose I was also thinking of maybe entering Austria for the stop on the way there ? Possibly what I was looking for was something off the beaten track that may be a 'hidden' gem (yes ram............maybe Kathy Bates/Jack Nicholson comes to mind)...... In terms of timings, I was thinking of getting to within a two/three hour drive to Starnberg, and maybe something similar on the way back; sort of breaking the back of the journey, resting somewhere 'nice' and then a little 2/3 hr trip to destination. Thanks again, enjoy the heat (!) S

If you go to google maps and do the 'get directions' thing, it comes up with distance and estimated timings - if no alternatives are suggested you could work back 2-3 hours from your destination, see what is around and do a lucky dip! At least with the internet it is easy to find out about towns and villages and see if anything takes your fancy. Have a great trip!