London to Roma

[lloydy]

We have decided to be brave this summer!
Our thinking is to go basically France, Switzerland, then Italy. The things we want to do for sure is; one of the passes from Switzerland to italy (maybe st bernards) In Italy we would like to visit Venice, Piza and Rome. I would also like to get down to Pompeii or Herculaneum.
On the way we are thinking one stop in France and one in Switzerland, then spend a decent amount of time in Italy, before driving back.
Now this is our first time doing this sort of thing, i'm going to get one of those Aire books. Is there any websites, or map books, or even some collective knowledge from 8090 on some nice scenic routes through france and switzerland.
and any good campsites around the places i've mentioned in Italy would be great.
Thanks, Lloyd

[ninja.turtle007]

From our visit to France using All the Aires make sure your sat nav accepts coordinates! The Garmin piece of crap we were using didn't. It was a huge problem for us.

[AdrianC]

The things we want to do for sure is; one of the passes from Switzerland to italy (maybe st bernards)

Don't have to go through Switzerland for some good Alpine passes, of course - there's some belters from France.

Have a look at our blog, see what might overlap - We've done Pisa, Pompeii and Herculaneum on this trip, but not Rome or Venice.

[jed the spread]

Pompeii is awesome.

jed

[syncrosimon]

We were going to do England to Toulouse, Toulouse overnight ferry to Corsica, ferry to Sardinia (45mins), ferry to Sicily, then drive the west coast of Italy home. We decided that 3 weeks which is the max I can take of would not do justice to that trip. The ferrys came to about 800 euros, but the mileage to Vesuvius works out at 1300, so a really relaxing way of getting there, and taking in three really exceptional Mediterranean islands.

I have thought about that trip for a couple of years and cant think of a better one.

[Ian Hulley]

As Jed say's Pompeii is fantastic ... try to go early before the hordes of Nips get there though. If you're in the area you must check out the Amalfi Coast ... it's stunning.

Avoid Naples Use public transport ... Mussolini still rules the Italian train network and it works in with the SITA buses (National Express kind of thing) Keep cash and valuables under lock and key and watch your pockets I put my hand in my pocket in Naples train station and found another hand already in it

Ian

[AdrianC]

Avoid Naples

We really enjoyed Naples...

[Ian Hulley]

Adrian, perhaps you were the lucky 1% of people who don't get robbed there ...

[lloydy]

Will have a look at your blog Adrian... (have had a little look, amazing thing your doing there!)
I'm hoping to do maybe 2 days/3 nights near Rome And then hopefully about 5 days on one site that is near Pompeii and Herculaneum, will try for somewhere coastal and do day trips to the two cities.
Cheers for the warning about Naples, will bear that in mind. Rome should be the only large city we visit, with maybe Venice if we get time (i don't reckon it will smell that good in August!)
What are the best map books to get? I want to get France, Italy and switzerland, I've heard michelin are meant to be the best?
I'm also now going to order the Aires book. is it best to get one for each country? As i've seen one that's meant to cover europe, but don't know if this will be as in depth?
Cheers

[AdrianC]

And then hopefully about 5 days on one site that is near Pompeii and Herculaneum, will try for somewhere coastal and do day trips to the two cities.

We stayed at a couple of nice sites just south of Pompeii - one at Vico Equense, just at the start of the Amalfi peninsula, one in a tiny village at the very tip. Both in the ACSI off-season discount book (the second one's new in this year).

What are the best map books to get? I want to get France, Italy and switzerland, I've heard michelin are meant to be the best?

IMHO, definitely! Apart from anything else, they highlight picturesque roads with a green border.

[lloydy]

Thanks for that, really appreciated. They look in a ideal place as a base to explore, dont think i'll be able to drag myself away from the sea though

[lloydy]

is this the type of map i should be getting? looks to be the one with scenic routes
http://www.dash4it.co.uk/store/go/natio ... atlas/7003" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[AdrianC]

is this the type of map i should be getting? looks to be the one with scenic routes
http://www.dash4it.co.uk/store/go/natio ... atlas/7003" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Aye, that looks like them. Not all are 1:200k, and the Italian one's not as clear as the French. Don't be alarmed when you look at the Italian one and can't see much in the way of road numbers. There aren't any on the roadsigns, either...

[lloydy]

Things are starting to shape up now, after i've finished taxi'ing the kids around this evening i'm booking ferries
we are getting the ferry on the 12th august, going to stop at two places on the drive across France. Hopefully one night in the national park near Commercy and the next night in the national near Belfort.
from there, we will drive through Switzerland over the St Bernard pass and stay the night near Aosta, Italy. Then a BIG drive down to outskirts of Rome, where we will stay at this campsite in Bracciano http://www.porticciolo.it/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for four nights.
Then onto the Almalfi Coast, and stay at this site http://www.villaggionettuno.it/english/reservations.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for four nights.
We'll then have the drive home with a few overnight stops on the way. We've got 17 days in all, 8 on the two campsites in Italy, the rest will be Aires and similar spots.
Have ordered the Aires books for france and italy, so i'm looking forward to picking some nice spots

[Ian Hulley]

Then onto the Almalfi Coast,

You MUST take a SITA bus along the coast from Sorrento to Salerno (don't get off in Salerno and just ride the next bus back ), it's one of life's MUST do things, don't drive it yourself in your van or you will miss the scenery. Get the window seat passenger side from Sorrento and driver's side back Take time to spend a day in Amalfi itself and drive up to Scala and Ravello ... we stayed there in 87 B.C. and it is beautiful.

Ian