Best route over Alps to Italy (1 Viewer)

Zoophoo

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Dear all,

I have 25 days off to drive from Calais to Italy and back. As its our first continental trip I would be grateful for any route tips, campsites to stay/avoid and advice on road tolls, and most scenic routes over the Alps.

Thanks all

Zoophoo.
 

Ridgeway

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Any ideas on where you want to cross or where your target is in Italy ?

All passes are currently open and unless you're taking some really off-piste route then you should be able to manage them all. Simplon is nice and not difficult and keep in mind that if you're not used to mountain passes then take an easy one. Side winds, passing traffic, twisty roads and weather do present some challenges but something like Simplon would be a nice one where you can picnic on top and then drop down to Majorie on the other side.

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Zoophoo

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Any ideas on where you want to cross or where your target is in Italy ?

All passes are currently open and unless you're taking some really off-piste route then you should be able to manage them all. Simplon is nice and not difficult and keep in mind that if you're not used to mountain passes then take an easy one. Side winds, passing traffic, twisty roads and weather do present some challenges but something like Simplon would be a nice one where you can picnic on top and then drop down to Majorie on the other side.

No real idea at the moment, looking at the map we want to go everywherehttp://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/images/smilies/bigGrin.gif
 

Snowbird

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Mt Cenis is a nice run but whichever one you decide remember the rule that you give way to anything coming up the hill on the hairpins. Have a good trip.
 
Aug 27, 2009
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A couple of years ago returning from Italy we pinpointed two towns on each side of the Alpes and set our old Tom Tom to find the shortest route. Not for the faint hearted but very interesting.:Eeek:

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Down through Germany is easy driving and no tolls, head for Garmish and the Innsbruck. If you stick to the A roads you will not need a Gobox or vingnette. We went through the Brenner Pass, nice drive not too many bends and not too much traffic. You can then enter Italy and meander down to Lake Garda if you are able to resist staying in The Dolomites. Hope you have a good trip we had 8 weeks early in the year and enjoyed most of it. Italian drivers are pigs and Italy is expensive.

spongy
 

Jaws

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There are more passes than you can shake a stick at !
Depends on how adventurous you are, but one thing is certain, avoid going via Switzerland.

Go via Austria.. much nicer people, much nicer camp sites if you decide to stop, and less than a quarter the price of the vignette !

I would personally suggest the Reschen Pass.. Nice easy drive in a motorhome

But if your van is quite short ( as in standard panel van ) and you want some real adventure, go over Timmelsjoch pass..

Stop at the top, and walk on the remains of a glacier.. walk over the other side of the road and look DOWN on any rain clouds that are raining on the folk below !!

Scotties and us have both done it a couple of times but never in the motorhome.. always in cars and bikes
 
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Route to Italy

We went via Annecy and over Little St Bernard Pass - very scenic. Steer clear of Mount Blanc tunnel, it is very expensive! Diesel is very expensive in Italy, depending on your destination a better route would be Germany and Austria:Doh:

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BobT

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My advice is the exact opposite of Jaws! If your van is over 3.5 tons you will be obliged to buy a Go Box. The minimum this can cost you is about £75! The officials accept no excuses or reasons for a mistake and they have all been personally trained by Austria's most famous son.
In the end the argument between Austria or Switzerland as a route to Italy is down to personal experience.
Have a good holiday.

Bob
 

estcres

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Route to Italy

We went to Jesselo de Lido, Just East of Venice in 2010 however we travelled down through France and then east cross Northern Italy.

We stayed for 8 days near Venice and a further 5 days at Lake Garda.

Travelled from Dunkerk to St. Florentine between Troye and Auxairre (2 nights stay) then South to Les Abritts (3 night stay) then through the Frejus Tunnel into Italy and East to Venice. Returned virtually the same route except went to Paris before Dunkirk.

Some long runs, hence the 2 & 3 night breaks, but worth it when we arrived. was forced by SWMBO to drink Italian Wine and Eat Italian Ice Cream on the Beach at 36 degrees C?

Have a good time
 
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My advice is the exact opposite of Jaws! If your van is over 3.5 tons you will be obliged to buy a Go Box. The minimum this can cost you is about £75! The officials accept no excuses or reasons for a mistake and they have all been personally trained by Austria's most famous son.
In the end the argument between Austria or Switzerland as a route to Italy is down to personal experience.
Have a good holiday.

Bob
But do you need a Go-Box or vignette in Austria if you avoid motorways?
Is this possible?

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