Driving to Italy...

[campbell]

See http://driving.drive-alive.co.uk/drivin ... erland.htm:

Autobahn tolls: In Switzerland you pay an annual motorway tax, even if you're only using the motorways for an hour or two. A vehicle sticker, or vignette, must be displayed on the windscreen by all vehicles. Of course, if you don't need to use a motorway you don't need to pay, although it's difficult to cross the country without doing so.

If you don't display a vignette you'll be liable to a fine of CHF100 plus the cost of the vignette. You can buy the stickers in the UK from the Swiss Centre. You can also buy them in Switzerland from customs offices at the frontier or service stations, garages and post offices.

And see this link to actually buy online in advance - http://www.travel-swiss.co.uk/passes-mo ... nette.html

Looks to be around £27 at current exchange rates. Expensive unless you will be using Swiss m-ways a fair bit. My understanding is that you could cross the country without one, providing you don't touch the m-ways at all. Very possible although for some long-distance sections it would be a bit of a drag (see lack of overtaking tolerance, above!).

[Alistair]

Wow - thanks for all the input folks!

This will be a work in progress while we work out where to stay, costs and times etc - but given the all the hints and tips so far this is what I came up with -

Clicky

As always hints and tips appreciated!

[jason]

Nice looking route - although you've clearly not got Robin and my hint about Timmelsjoch One small mod I'd recommend (though it WILL add time) for Trento-Verona detour a little W to travel down the west side of Lake Garda (SS45bis)

Campbell - thanks for the info about where I could have purchased a sticker. I'll know for next time

[campbell]

Campbell - thanks for the info about where I could have purchased a sticker. I'll know for next time

Not that I've ever needed one...yet! Maybe next Feb though...

[robin]

With the way the route is planned you could easily take the mild detour and cross over the timmelsjoch if you get time ... really well worth it. Plenty of hotels in Obergurgl too (it's a ski resort in the winter) so you could consider making a stop there if it works with timing - then you can go over the pass S-N one evening and N-S the next morning

I remember we did it one year in the fog - different kind of thrill - one guy drove it purely on his sat nav Tony made the excellent point that he wouldn't be prepared to drive on any bit of road he couldn't actually see

Cheers,
Robin

[Scotty C]

With the way the route is planned you could easily take the mild detour and cross over the timmelsjoch if you get time ... really well worth it. Plenty of hotels in Obergurgl too (it's a ski resort in the winter) so you could consider making a stop there if it works with timing - then you can go over the pass S-N one evening and N-S the next morning

I remember we did it one year in the fog - different kind of thrill - one guy drove it purely on his sat nav Tony made the excellent point that he wouldn't be prepared to drive on any bit of road he couldn't actually see

Cheers,
Robin

http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&ei=rfCCS ... ac306dd28e

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&res ... a=N&tab=wl



http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936447@N06/4380274198/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11936447@N06/4379519415/

[Skyenet]

This will be a work in progress while we work out where to stay, costs and times etc - but given the all the hints and tips so far this is what I came up with -

D

I am planning a motorbike trip to Europe with Skye in the Summer, so an interesting thread. Down through Germany, into Austria and then down to Stelvio and back up to Switzerland and amble through it before heading back up through France. Probably spend at least two to three weeks on the road.

Plans are coming together and just trying to figure out what we are going to see and where to stay. We did a similar journey in 2005 in my Fiat Punto. Loved the scenery in Switzerland but they certainly did not like to be overtaken, especially by a Fiat Punto. We didn't have a vignette and managed to get around fine without using motorways. The only problem was when we stayed with Richard Gilmour near Geneva and we followed him to some different venues in the area, and just over the border in France. Many were easier to get to using the motorway so we had to try and keep up with him through urban traffic, lights ect on ordinary roads.

Really looking forward to the trip and Skye can't wait. Found that I can save a bit on ferry costs using Tesco vouchers and also on entrance fees to Europa Park which we will try and catch on the way down through Germany.

[Alistair]

This will be a work in progress while we work out where to stay, costs and times etc - but given the all the hints and tips so far this is what I came up with -

D

I am planning a motorbike trip to Europe with Skye in the Summer, so an interesting thread. Down through Germany, into Austria and then down to Stelvio and back up to Switzerland and amble through it before heading back up through France. Probably spend at least two to three weeks on the road.

Plans are coming together and just trying to figure out what we are going to see and where to stay. We did a similar journey in 2005 in my Fiat Punto. Loved the scenery in Switzerland but they certainly did not like to be overtaken, especially by a Fiat Punto. We didn't have a vignette and managed to get around fine without using motorways. The only problem was when we stayed with Richard Gilmour near Geneva and we followed him to some different venues in the area, and just over the border in France. Many were easier to get to using the motorway so we had to try and keep up with him through urban traffic, lights ect on ordinary roads.

Really looking forward to the trip and Skye can't wait. Found that I can save a bit on ferry costs using Tesco vouchers and also on entrance fees to Europa Park which we will try and catch on the way down through Germany.

Not a million miles off our planned route now - but without dipping in to Italy! Sounds like a great adventure on the bike.

[Alistair]

Good shout Jason (and Robin) missed that one

Although I can't get Google Maps to quite do what I want it to route has been revised again (we could cut through past Obergurgl - is it just me that thinks that sounds like a German drain cleaner?) at Haiming if it is possible. This seems to link in a bit better with heading through Stelvio and down the West side of Lake Garda.

Clicky

That would make our stop a bit further on in the journey but should still be workable I think.

[campbell]

Obergurgl was on the original Stelvio 99 route which may be where Robin got inspiration from, but if not then I have the route somewhere, we can take a look at it to see what other nuggets are nearby. Possibly the Passo di Rombo, IIRC, although can't be totally sure.

[Alistair]

Obergurgl was on the original Stelvio 99 route which may be where Robin got inspiration from, but if not then I have the route somewhere, we can take a look at it to see what other nuggets are nearby. Possibly the Passo di Rombo, IIRC, although can't be totally sure.

Passo del Rombo (Good shout from Scotty above) is just south of Obergugl - but I can't get Google Maps to take me through there - it prefers Innsbruck

However if you zoom in on that area of the route above you can see the loop that is cut out the journey to head along Stelvio way.

[jason]

Clicky

That has to be the biggest url ever posted on a forum

W side road on Lake Garda is just very scenic and 'Italian', cutting along the base of the cliffs. Not a blatting road and there'll be some traffic, but worth it IMHO. Quite envious of your trip - be a few years till we return I think.

[robin]

Google maps may think that the road is closed - it's actually a toll road on the Austrian side of the border, and it closes at 20:00 local time I think. But, it's been known to open especially for SE to pass, so I think you'll be OK

Cheers,
Robin

EDIT: P.S. I may be wrong but I think that the Rombo/Timmelsjoch are essentially the same pass from different sides of the border, as it were.

[tut]

Alistair, I have all the Stelvio Route books prepared by Tony Curly for the trips that I did, very detailed and worth a read on their own. They have all the best Passes, so you are welcome to borrow those if they would help.

As Robin says, it is the Rombo on the Italian side and the Timmel on the Austrian. There is the Border control in between that closes at 2000, so if you get there at 2100 and are still determined to get through because all your friends are wining and dining at the Hotel in Obergurgl, then you have to throw caution to the wind. It helps when you are in the company of five German Elises whom you would expect to be experts in the field, but I had to show them how to cross a Border.

I think that must have been 2002 Robin when I was the only S_E'er on it, though there was a repeat performance in 2004 with you.

tut

[Gourlay83]

Reading through this post and have to say these trips sound fantastic, Some epic roads. I will have to start looking into a road trip for the summer.

If I could only get outside of Aberdeen without assistance.

Alan