Planning a trip to Monaco via Switzerland and Italy

[donciuz]

Hi.
Me and my Mrs are planning a trip in our t25 westy just after Christmas. So France, Switzerland, Italy (with a stop in Milan to visit a friend) and Monaco. Any tips as this is just our second European trip, first being Norway? Toll roads or non toll roads? Any tips on crossing the Alps in winter? Winter tyres all round already on the bus. Maybe some places of interest or must sees on the way?

Thanks

[lloydy]

A lot of the passes will be shut,so you'll have to use the tunnels (Gotthard most likely)
A nice aire in Strasbourg, if you go that way. Spend the evening in petite France and see notre dam. Into Germany and through the black forest, straight into Switzerland and through the gotthard tunnel into italy. We did that route summer just gone, but in reverse.
Really nice sights on that route, and plenty of places to stop and spend the night

[oorwullie]

if you have 4 nice new proper winter tyres you should be ok. at the moment it's pissing down here and the forcast is pretty warm for the next week, but do check the weather forecast as things can change VERY rapidly here in the winter.


the simplon is open at the moment and is a nice introductory pass for beginners.

tunnels are SCARY........

[lloydy]

tunnels are SCARY........

I'm not the only one then

[donciuz]

Thanks for replies.
All packed and ready to go. We are off early tomorrow morning.

[oorwullie]

simplon is now closed, as are all the other main north/south passes .................

serious avalanche warnings everywhere and a lot of fresh snow expected in the mountains.

ye should be ok if ye stick to the low lying autoroutes and hopefully don't get involved in any tunnel events.

bon route.


http://www.srf.ch/player/video?id=79d9a ... 2e71147c19" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[donciuz]

What a wonderfull trip it was! Switzerland is just amazing! We actually used the simplon pass and it was open on the 31st. We've been high and low, mainly off the main motorways. Visited Basel, Bern, Interlaken, Brig, Riederalp, Simplon. Loved every moment of it. Will be definately comming back on summer. Then there was Milan, Genoa, Monte Carlo... With their ups and downs but each different and interesting.

Now the downside of the trip - France. Got ripped off in every way. The van was broken into twice! One time they managed to steal a handbag with all the electronics, laptop, phone chargers etc. After that my wife couldn't fall asleep in the van anymore so we drove back to England straight away. From the outskirts of Monaco to London in one go. So then there were the toll roads. Well over a hundred euros for the roads!!! Half years worth of road tax in Britain.

[California Dreamin]

Really sorry to hear of your breakin's...we have toured all around Europe the last 5 summers and thankfully never had an issue... but have always taken sensible precautions.
'86' California...didn't think that was possible?

Martin

[donciuz]

'86' California...didn't think that was possible?

There's may be a mixup on the papers. The interior is definitely California.