CiderBoy

The bad news today is that my boss has vetoed any holiday around Easter which has vetoed our planned trip to Ireland.

However the good news is that the boss has allowed me 3.5 weeks off in the summer so we can do trip around Europe in the S!



We are planning to drive to Tuscany, crossing the Alps in both directions. I've seen loads of great pictures from other people who have done this, so if any one has any suggestions please let me know! Note that we did the Simplon Pass last year and would like to do different routes this time around.

Also if any one has got any suggestions for places to stay in Tuscany, that would be great too.

Cheers

Nick

NNervous_R

I've done several parts of Switzerland & once in from Italy. It really depends on your overall routing. One good site to recommend a good look at is:

http://www.alpineroads.com/

Biker oriented, but has an excellent reference for lots of Alpine routes.

Mr_Mojo

We drove around Europe last year for 3 1/2 weeks too and stayed in Tuscany for a week.

We stayed near an old hilltop walled town called Monteriggioni which is about 10 miles north of Siena and 35 miles from Florence. A beautiful part of Italy.

neil955

go via the Vogue mountains - prettier than the French Alps. then head down to Southern Germany to the Spa towns eg Bad Tolz, where it really is lovely. from there cross over to the Austraian Alps and go to GrossGlockner -Austria's highest pass and 27miles of bends! There are even hotel up there and a huuuuge glacier. from there head to Bormio, Italy taking in the Stevlio pass.
as mentioned above, check out www.alpineroads.com

When in the Summer? these roads will be busy in School holiday season... We normally go in Sept, so the roads are empty, still good weather, and accomodation easy to find en-spec. All over the Alps there are B&B's catering to drivers - just look for the bike sign outside, especially when in Germany/Austria/Italy. You will find cheap good acoomdation, excellent food and great company.

CiderBoy

Thanks the the URL! That site looks really useful.

We are going 26th August to 18th July, so it will be in the school holiday season.

Hopefully will can pick some routes where the traffic won't be too bad. We went in the holiday season last year and, with the missus acting as over taking instructor, it was ok.

chilled

I did
Chamonix - Col de\la Forclaz, Col Grand St Bernard, Petite St Bernard, Col De L'Iseran
http://www.alpineroads.com/savoie.php

Briancon, Col D'Isoard, Col Du Vars, Col De La Bonette (highest pass in Europe)
http://www.alpineroads.com/maritimes.php

That's a really good site, I didn;t know of it, but it's got some good stuff on it.

AquilaEagle

Do Rue de Napolean and Stelvio Pass