European Road Trip - Lake Como

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Lazydonkey
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Post by Lazydonkey » Sun Jan 05, 2014 6:56 pm

As dom says Pagani is amazing and well worth the visit. We did Ferrari too and it was good, especially if you have lunch at the restaurant on site.

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jason
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Re: European Road Trip - Lake Como

Post by jason » Mon Jan 06, 2014 3:03 am

If wanting to plot fine driving routes, choosing the best/unmissable passes, I highly recommend John Hermann's 'Motorcycle Journeys Through the Alps' book (several editions nowadays IIRC).  

I'd recommend Freytag & Berndt's Alpenlander map (indexes all the passes) too.

Found them superb travel companions for 2 Caterham, and 1 Elise, 3000+ mile Alpine camping blats...  And for persuing over with cold beer in the evenings too ;)
Fluoxetine wrote:Merano (via the Rombo pass)
A most excellent choice, Timmelsjoch is a wonderful gateway to Italy from Tirol  :thumbsup 

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Fluoxetine
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Re: European Road Trip - Lake Como

Post by Fluoxetine » Mon Jan 06, 2014 9:44 am

Some top tips so far - Thanks :)

I guess a few might be interested in this sort of trip - I've been contemplating such a holiday for ages, but it looks like 2014 will finally be the year when I get the opportunity to make it happen.

Thanks squid - Hadn't heard of the Autozug (like motor rail?), but for the dates I'm looking at it'd cost upwards of €500, and the miNi is surprising capable & comfortable on the M Way at speed. Will check out Varenno, though :thumbsup

As for supercar valley - I need to keep the trip SWMBO friendly; the missus isn't a great passenger when 'making progress', so a couple of passes may be her limit as far as petrolhead antics are concerned. We'll probably visit the Porker museum in Stuttgart, but while in the Como area she wants a day trip to Milan rather than Maranello :wink:

I see a new edition of the John Hermann book came out in November, so just ordered that now for some bedtime reading - I suppose I can always drop her off at Villa d'Este for a day's pampering, and gain enough brownie points to go out hooning on my own... :P

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douglasgdmw
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Re: European Road Trip - Lake Como

Post by douglasgdmw » Mon Jan 06, 2014 10:15 am

Had a look at my old emails and we stayed in the following places:

Stuggart (right next to the Mecredes Museum): Hilton Garden Inn, Mercedesstrasse 75, Stuttgart, BW, Germany, 70372

Bormio (Close to the Stelvio Pass): http://www.agriturismobormio.it/en/ It can also be found under http://www.booking.com/Agriturismo-Rini
This Ariturismo completely made our trip as it surpassed our expectations and allowed us to explore the passes.


Although not close to the lakes when we have been in Milan area we have always stayed in the following Agriturismo: http://www.sawdays.co.uk/special-places ... asa-clelia. I would recommend you have a look at Sawdays as their accomodation has always been top notch and we have never been dissapointed.

We also used the Motorail as it gave us an additional nights holiday. When we took the Evora it kind of paid for itself when you take into account: petrol, tyres and depreciation. So once you take into other factors it can sometime break even and its a lot more relaxing way to end the holiday. We used the AutoZug as although you have other options in France or Netherlands these were the only motorail that had showers in the cabins (hardly a power shower though!!).

As I mentioned in the earlier thread I would recommend Mielenwerk as you can have a meal in one of the pubs/restaurants while you have a browse through the cars.
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jason
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Re: European Road Trip - Lake Como

Post by jason » Tue Jan 14, 2014 1:42 am

Fluoxetine wrote:I see a new edition of the John Hermann book came out in November, so just ordered that now for some bedtime reading - I suppose I can always drop her off at Villa d'Este for a day's pampering, and gain enough brownie points to go out hooning on my own... :P
:thumbsup

Just looked on Amazon, and wondering why the previous editions (like mine) are advertised new/used for mahoosive premiums!? I would hope/presume the latest versions still have the originals' content :?

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Fluoxetine
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Re: European Road Trip - Lake Como

Post by Fluoxetine » Fri Aug 08, 2014 7:28 am

7 months has passed fairly quickly - We're off on this trip a week today! :mrgreen:

Not sure how much car stuff I can inflict on SWMBO, but plan to visit the Porsche museum as they have a Le Mans exhibition on and I want to drool over the 917's / 962's... :thumbsup

(We're off from Como to Milan for a day to see Da Vinci's Last Supper / do some shopping, so she'll have her revenge there :wink: )

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philthy
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Re: European Road Trip - Lake Como

Post by philthy » Fri Aug 08, 2014 7:37 am

I just did a similar trip last month, Glasgow to Alps then Lake como down to san marino, back up to lake garda then into switzerland and home!

I can highly recommend the Sustenpass in switzerland, approx 1 hr from lake como. If I can help in anyway just give me a shout!
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Re: European Road Trip - Lake Como

Post by twisted2fit » Fri Aug 08, 2014 10:12 am

Drove all the way to tuscany via the stelvio. Stelvio was rubbish because it was raining:-( I'd go via the stelvio but don't make it ur reason for going. I took the evora and it was spectacular when it didn't break down:-) the trip sorted out all the niggles (under warranty) :-)

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Dominic
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Re: European Road Trip - Lake Como

Post by Dominic » Fri Aug 08, 2014 11:54 am

So Ross, I'm sure SWMBO would be happy with this advice;

Dominic wrote:As per other's comments, I can't recommend a trip to supercar valley enough! If you are staying at the lakes, it's well worth making the journey (a couple of hours). Pagani was the highlight for us, (advance booking essential). Some pics from out trip;

http://www.scottishelises.com/phpbb/vie ... =9&t=31449

It will be busy with tourists at the lakes at that time, but still a great part of the world to visit. We stayed near the south end of Lake Garda. Gave us a good base to explore the mountains as well as other trips (Verona, Venice, Supercar tours) :thumbsup

Get it booked!!! :thumbsup :blackeye
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Fluoxetine
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Re: European Road Trip - Lake Como

Post by Fluoxetine » Fri Aug 08, 2014 12:41 pm

:mrgreen:

Cheers guys - Stelvio isn't the reason for going, but we'll be setting off from Merano (Having done the Timmelsjoch pass from Innsbruck the day before), so it makes sense to go that way enroute to Como. (We're staying next to Villa d'Este in Cernobbio).

Will see whether a supercar valley trip is possible - It's 2.5 hrs each way, which wouldn't bother me, but might be a bit much to ask of SWMBO, given that the 4 days in Como are supposed to be the 'relaxing' part of the holiday... :blackeye

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Re: European Road Trip - Lake Como

Post by twisted2fit » Fri Aug 08, 2014 1:08 pm

A visit to Lake Orta is a must:-) I found the roads around lake como scary as they are so narrow:-( there's a church over looking lake orta perched on a hill... about a 1 hour drive but totally worth it:-)

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Dominic
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Re: European Road Trip - Lake Como

Post by Dominic » Fri Aug 08, 2014 2:02 pm

Fluoxetine wrote::mrgreen:

Cheers guys - Stelvio isn't the reason for going, but we'll be setting off from Merano (Having done the Timmelsjoch pass from Innsbruck the day before), so it makes sense to go that way enroute to Como. (We're staying next to Villa d'Este in Cernobbio).

Will see whether a supercar valley trip is possible - It's 2.5 hrs each way, which wouldn't bother me, but might be a bit much to ask of SWMBO, given that the 4 days in Como are supposed to be the 'relaxing' part of the holiday... :blackeye
Fairy muff! Pagani is the highlight of the three, but is a pre-book only affair! :thumbsup
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douglasgdmw
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Re: European Road Trip - Lake Como

Post by douglasgdmw » Fri Aug 08, 2014 6:01 pm

Dominic wrote: Fairy muff! Pagani is the highlight of the three, but is a pre-book only affair! :thumbsup
Enjoyed the Pagani factory and would recommend the little restaurant just up the road where all the factory workers go to eat. Had the surreal experience of everyone swarming around the Evora at the restaurant with lots of "Bella Bella". These guys were producing Zondas and still appreciated a humble Evora in comparison !!!
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Fluoxetine
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Re: European Road Trip - Lake Como

Post by Fluoxetine » Tue Aug 19, 2014 9:11 pm

Been great fun so far - although Timmelsjoch was a bit murky around the top this afternoon...(!)

Image

:mrgreen:

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