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Hi

Count us in, we have goods to send over but can't afford to transport, we could arrange something to our advantage perhaps?

regards

Eileen and Richard.

Wondering if anyone could recommend a moderately priced hotel in/around Strasbourg for easy departure for E35/Basel-Gotthard pass, please?

I'm driving to Verona at the end of November and have decided on (having driven to Firenze via all possible routes, including Brenner, mont blanc and frejus etc) calias-reims-strasbourg-basel-luzern-milan-verona is my best bet, any comments, open to other suggestions?
please note, I usually perform journey in an unlaiden car during summer months. This time I'm doing it approaching winter in a weighted golf gti!
Is petrol really much cheaper off the motorway/ in Germany. Is switzerland still most expensive? how much is the vignette now?

question questions

thanks

S

[QUOTE=sinjin74]
decided on (having driven to Firenze via all possible routes, including Brenner, mont blanc and frejus etc) calias-reims-strasbourg-basel-luzern-milan-verona is my best bet, any comments, open to other suggestions?

Is petrol really much cheaper off the motorway/ in Germany. Is switzerland still most expensive? how much is the vignette now? [QUOTE]

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To save on french tolls - may I suggest Calais - up into Belgium and on to Luxembourg, then down into France past Metz.

The advantage of this is that you miss the tolls and get the really cheap petrol in Luxembourg - and the distance is only a few miles longer .

From there I usually drive down past Nancy and Epinal [cheap Formula 1 and other hotels] and then on to Mulhouse. The Epinal - Mulhouse bit is the only non dual carriage way bit [but its pretty easy drivin. Then back onto your Basel - Milan route

Vignette is about £20, but one bought in November only lasts to the end of Jan 06.

Petrol in Switzerland was cheaper than anywhere else [except Luxobourg] last time I did this route

[QUOTE=alan haynes][QUOTE=sinjin74]
decided on (having driven to Firenze via all possible routes, including Brenner, mont blanc and frejus etc) calias-reims-strasbourg-basel-luzern-milan-verona is my best bet, any comments, open to other suggestions?

Is petrol really much cheaper off the motorway/ in Germany. Is switzerland still most expensive? how much is the vignette now? [QUOTE]

-------------------------------------

To save on french tolls - may I suggest Calais - up into Belgium and on to Luxembourg, then down into France past Metz.

The advantage of this is that you miss the tolls and get the really cheap petrol in Luxembourg - and the distance is only a few miles longer .

From there I usually drive down past Nancy and Epinal [cheap Formula 1 and other hotels] and then on to Mulhouse. The Epinal - Mulhouse bit is the only non dual carriage way bit [but its pretty easy drivin. Then back onto your Basel - Milan route

Vignette is about £20, but one bought in November only lasts to the end of Jan 06.

Petrol in Switzerland was cheaper than anywhere else [except Luxobourg] last time I did this route[/QUOTE]

did this route way back, now do the route as above post but get off at rhiems and
use the n44 to n4 to nancy.
why do you need an hotel between nancy and epinal, unless you cross at midday.

[QUOTE=giovanni][QUOTE=alan haynes]
why do you need an hotel between nancy and epinal, unless you cross at midday.[/QUOTE]

All depends whether you want to 'blast' your way down as quickly as possible, or take your time on the trip.

When I go to lake Orta [NW of Milan], I always take an evening crossing of the Channel, and stay near Calais - then we can have a leisurely breakfast, set off about 1000hrs and drive to about Mulhouse, where we stay in a Mercure. We get there about 1800hrs, have a shower followed by a leisurely meal in the hotel restaurant [great local dishes] Next morning, again after a leisurely breakfast, we set off about 1000hrs into Switzerland. In Summer we don't do the Tunnel into Italy, but drive over the top [picnic lunch] and arrive at our place at about 1600hrs - refreshed and ready for the holiday.

We have done the trip [from Northampton - 160 miles to Dover - early start at 0500hrs to get round the M25in reasonable time - but it still means you start driving in France at about 1100hrs] with just 1 overnight stop [around Epinal] and arrived stressed out and tired at our place. All that proved to me was that its better to take your time and make it part of the holiday. {coming back - we always do it with just 1 overnight stop - but the hour saving crossing the Channel seems to make it more bearable]

[QUOTE=alan haynes][QUOTE=giovanni]

All depends whether you want to 'blast' your way down as quickly as possible, or take your time on the trip.

When I go to lake Orta [NW of Milan], I always take an evening crossing of the Channel, and stay near Calais - then we can have a leisurely breakfast, set off about 1000hrs and drive to about Mulhouse, where we stay in a Mercure. We get there about 1800hrs, have a shower followed by a leisurely meal in the hotel restaurant [great local dishes] Next morning, again after a leisurely breakfast, we set off about 1000hrs into Switzerland. In Summer we don't do the Tunnel into Italy, but drive over the top [picnic lunch] and arrive at our place at about 1600hrs - refreshed and ready for the holiday.

We have done the trip [from Northampton - 160 miles to Dover - early start at 0500hrs to get round the M25in reasonable time - but it still means you start driving in France at about 1100hrs] with just 1 overnight stop [around Epinal] and arrived stressed out and tired at our place. All that proved to me was that its better to take your time and make it part of the holiday. {coming back - we always do it with just 1 overnight stop - but the hour saving crossing the Channel seems to make it more bearable][/QUOTE]

it does make sense i agree.
like the idea of a picnic "over the top" presume you mean san barnards.
i agree it can be tiring, as we have been leaving at 4 am the last 2 times,
so as to catch the 8 am speed ferry to bolonge, never the less using and paying the french tolls, usually means aosta is reachable for 6 pm,yes tired
but then we have those lovely views from hotel mignon, the restuarant next
door is ok, but it does give us 1 extra day,for our holiday.
only asked as next year we will be towing a caravan,so really rushing is not
an option, also have no idea as to how far i will be able to travel each day.
not being a big fan of france [ just a case of never stopping to look} a non
toll road route appeals to me,and maybe a more scenic one at that.

[QUOTE=giovanni][QUOTE=alan haynes]
.... only asked as next year we will be towing a caravan, so really rushing is not an option, also have no idea as to how far i will be able to travel each day. not being a big fan of France [ just a case of never stopping to look} a non toll road route appeals to me, and maybe a more scenic one at that.[/QUOTE]

Towing will slow you down quite a bit - and I'd have thought you'll need at least one overnight stay.

With a 0400hrs start - I think you'd be lucky to make a 0900hrs-ish sailing [do Speedferries take caravans yet?]. Might be worth travelling down the night before - crossing over and doing an early start from Calais area. Then you might do it in a long day - but to keep the speed up, you'll need to stay on the autoroutes/dual carriage ways

[QUOTE=alan haynes][QUOTE=giovanni]

Towing will slow you down quite a bit - and I'd have thought you'll need at least one overnight stay.

With a 0400hrs start - I think you'd be lucky to make a 0900hrs-ish sailing [do Speedferries take caravans yet?]. Might be worth travelling down the night before - crossing over and doing an early start from Calais area. Then you might do it in a long day - but to keep the speed up, you'll need to stay on the autoroutes/dual carriage ways[/QUOTE]

no will not be able to use speed ferries, for the caravan, used to use there
8am crossing for solo runs £50 return. still remember paying nearly £300
10 years ago, and that was cheap!

i am starting to think i will have to do some sort of late crossing 10pm or later,then get a early start 6.am/7am then next morning and try to clear france if poss. really have no idea, just want to be free to see more of
italy, than i see when stuck in one region. you use the luxenburg route am i
right? i used this in the late 90,s from ostende and also calais, forever in
some kind of road works or heavy traffic[belguim mainly] would assume it
has inproved, but then again basle is still no better 10 years on ...lol

As we drive down from Mid Wales we stay at the Travel Inn Folkestone and get an early shuttle (6am). This year we were in Chamonix by 4pm for o/night stay and then leisurely drive next day for lunch arrival in Lucca. Happy to pay the tolls in France as the motorways are so quick and easy.

Helen :)

Any idea of driving conditions at the of Feb ? I need to go down to Abbruzzo, not sure whether to fligh or drive.

Hi York, depending on how easy to flight is from where you live i would suggest to fly to abruzzo, is cheaper and the alps in feb can be a bit icey...if you like to drive in snow,fog and ice i woud go in a car, :)