Questions: Road trip to Italy

[InvaderGIR]

And, ironically, every time I've been early for a ferry crossing (either Dover-Calais or Dover-Dunkirk or their reverse journeys), I've been able to board the earlier crossing with no questions asked.

Every time I've used the tunnel I've ended up boarding about 2-2.5 hours early without any issues at all just by picking a time when I roll up to the barrier then hopping on the train if my letter is called (even if it's earlier than the one I picked). I only travel on them early in the morning or in the evening though, don't know if that makes a difference?

I've been late for one too, booking was something like 7am, left my hotel at around 6.30am with over an hour's drive to the tunnel, got on the train around 8am.

As for toll roads in France after my experience with them, I'd absolutely run them again (I have a tag to make life easier). Quiet, smooth(er than UK roads) and worth their cost IMO. I happily cruised at 70 without annoying others on the roads but could also bring it up to 80 if I felt like it (I wasn't in a rush), 130km/h limits are great.

E: Also, RHD car on LHD roads is totally fine. Beam deflectors are fine too, if you install them correctly all you'll do is remove the 'tick' from your beam so have a slightly reduced beam range but nothing as bad as is being described.

Oh and with a lowered car, you'll automatically be put onto the lower deck, which is nice as you don't need to faff about with the ramps.

 

[Luke]

You'll need to pay 30 odd quid for a Swiss Vignette.

Which strikes me as a bargain for so many amazing roads and the spectacular backdrops.

 

[InvaderGIR]

Which strikes me as a bargain for so many amazing roads and the spectacular backdrops.

It is a bargain really, although the downside is it's only valid for a calendar year, so if you buy late in the year you've "wasted" a lot of it. Saying that, I bought one to use on a single day and was happy to pay for it.

Going over this bridge was ace, not to mention the tunnels:

The Alps can be impressive, even from a normal road at times too...

 

[Luke]

I'd pay it again just for driving this!
DSC01718 by Luke V, on Flickr

As for the scenery....
DSC01703 by Luke V, on Flickr

 

[[TW]Fox]

To be fair it's not like Austria is short of that scenery!

Ironically neither of the roads in your photos require you to pay to use them anyway

 

[TacticalFish]

Out of interest, what are you driving there OP?

 

[Luke]

To be fair it's not like Austria is short of that scenery!

Ironically neither of the roads in your photos require you to pay to use them anyway

True, but that just further raises the question - why would you not?

 

[adam cool dude]

Every time I've used the tunnel I've ended up boarding about 2-2.5 hours early without any issues at all just by picking a time when I roll up to the barrier then hopping on the train if my letter is called (even if it's earlier than the one I picked). I only travel on them early in the morning or in the evening though, don't know if that makes a difference?

I've been late for one too, booking was something like 7am, left my hotel at around 6.30am with over an hour's drive to the tunnel, got on the train around 8am.

As for toll roads in France after my experience with them, I'd absolutely run them again (I have a tag to make life easier). Quiet, smooth(er than UK roads) and worth their cost IMO. I happily cruised at 70 without annoying others on the roads but could also bring it up to 80 if I felt like it (I wasn't in a rush), 130km/h limits are great.

E: Also, RHD car on LHD roads is totally fine. Beam deflectors are fine too, if you install them correctly all you'll do is remove the 'tick' from your beam so have a slightly reduced beam range but nothing as bad as is being described.

Oh and with a lowered car, you'll automatically be put onto the lower deck, which is nice as you don't need to faff about with the ramps.

Maybe it was just me and I had those clear beam deflectors on projectors and followed the instructions carefully but driving on the motorway at night at any real speed was a problem as no light was shining onto the right. These were Saab 9-5 Xenons with Osram Xenarcs which on UK roads are bloody fantastic.

 

[Lopéz]

Ironically neither of the roads in your photos require you to pay to use them anyway

I was just about to say the same thing. The vignette is only for the motorway.

 

[InvaderGIR]

I was just about to say the same thing. The vignette is only for the motorway.

Generally to get to the views as per Luke's post you'll need it as you'll likely be going via the motorways etc.

Both of my pics were taken on the Swiss motorways...I assume both yourself and Fox were only talking about Luke's pics of a town and some twisty country roads mind.

For more info on the vignette (for everyone):
https://www.ezv.admin.ch/ezv/en/hom...taxes/motorway-charge-sticker--vignette-.html
https://www.ch.ch/en/swiss-motorway-sticker/

There is a PDF map on the first linked page too, but also linked here:
https://www.ezv.admin.ch/dam/ezv/en...map_of_the_nationalroadssubjecttotaxation.pdf

Maybe it was just me and I had those clear beam deflectors on projectors and followed the instructions carefully but driving on the motorway at night at any real speed was a problem as no light was shining onto the right. These were Saab 9-5 Xenons with Osram Xenarcs which on UK roads are bloody fantastic.

Maybe. I spent a good while setting up my stickers (about 10 mins all in ) and removing the tick but there are no specific instructions for my car's lights so I just made sure I removed the tick and reduced the distance / throw of the light. Done the same multiple times and not been flashed when driving at night or generally in the day with lights on.

 

[Amp34]

Yep, I do this annually, or at least have done for the past two years. Calais to Lyon, which is generic French /European city but actually very nice, then plough on the next day through the Mont Blanc tunnel to Lake Garda. Dead easy drive on the French and Italian roads.

Consider the Euro tunnel over the ferry. The ferry just adds the complexity and pressure of time. You can arrive at the Euro tunnel upwards of 2 hours either side of your scheduled crossing time, and get straight on a train with no extra cost. You don't have that luxury with the ferry

Yes you do. Most ferries will offer the same, although obviously it depends on how full they are and you may have to pay a little extra to get the more flexible ticket.

For example P&O http://www.poferries.com/en/dover-calais/travelling-with-us/ticket-types

And even with the cheapest you may well get on early if you get there early and they have space.

Edit: and DFDS allow you on one sailing before or after on their economy ticket. And again you may be able to get on before that if you turn up early and they have space.

That said now that you pretty much can't go out on deck on any of the ferries it defeats any object of pereference. Just go with the cheapest option.

 

[Django x2]

Yes you do. Most ferries will offer the same, although obviously it depends on how full they are and you may have to pay a little extra to get the more flexible ticket.

For example P&O http://www.poferries.com/en/dover-calais/travelling-with-us/ticket-types

And even with the cheapest you may well get on early if you get there early and they have space.

Edit: and DFDS allow you on one sailing before or after on their economy ticket. And again you may be able to get on before that if you turn up early and they have space.

That said now that you pretty much can't go out on deck on any of the ferries it defeats any object of pereference. Just go with the cheapest option.

That may well be true, and I'm glad it is, but they don't cross every 30 minutes and take 30minutes. That's the most painful experience.....

 

[Conscript]

That may well be true, and I'm glad it is, but they don't cross every 30 minutes and take 30minutes. That's the most painful experience.....

When you're spending the whole day driving hundreds of miles, the slower ferry crossing is less of a concern though. Whenever I've driven to the south of France, I've taken the ferry because it's generally quite a lot cheaper and adding an hour to a 10 hour drive isn't that bad...and I like to stretch my legs on deck, get some breakfast etc.

I'd take the train if I was spending only a day or two on the continent, or driving a shorter distance, and wanted to maximise my time there, but for the OP and a trip of that length, I don't think the ferry is a bad shout.

That said now that you pretty much can't go out on deck on any of the ferries it defeats any object of pereference. Just go with the cheapest option.

Oh, really? Since when?

 

[Amp34]

That may well be true, and I'm glad it is, but they don't cross every 30 minutes and take 30minutes. That's the most painful experience.....

I'm not disputing that, just pointing out that your last paragraph is wrong. The Chunnel and ferries offer the same early/later service.

Oh, really? Since when?

Went over a couple of summers ago and the only deck space was a tiny bit right at the back. Perhaps we were unlucky with the ferry but all the ones we saw when crossing were the same. P&O IIRC (Dover to Calais).

You used to be able to walk all round the ship and stand at the sides and front on multiple decks.

 

[adam cool dude]

When you're spending the whole day driving hundreds of miles, the slower ferry crossing is less of a concern though. Whenever I've driven to the south of France, I've taken the ferry because it's generally quite a lot cheaper and adding an hour to a 10 hour drive isn't that bad...and I like to stretch my legs on deck, get some breakfast etc.

I'd take the train if I was spending only a day or two on the continent, or driving a shorter distance, and wanted to maximise my time there, but for the OP and a trip of that length, I don't think the ferry is a bad shout.

The thing is it is not a 10 hour drive but a 17 hour one. Having done 18 hours non stop I can tell you wandering about on the ferry is the last thing you want to be doing.

 

[Conscript]

The thing is it is not a 10 hour drive but a 17 hour one. Having done 18 hours non stop I can tell you wandering about on the ferry is the last thing you want to be doing.

You're kind of missing my point. It's about the time you're willing to lose while on the ferry. If you're making a long drive anyway, then it's easier to justify the slower and cheaper crossing, if you haven't got a tight deadline to adhere to.

If you were driving 18 hours non stop, then I'm guessing you did have a deadline and your arrival time was obviously a major factor. So yes, the ferry isn't an option over the much quicker train, because you don't want to spend time sitting around when you could be at the wheel.

But I doubt the majority of people doing drives which take 18 hours are planning to do them non stop anyway. The OP has only mentioned a very rough itinerary, and says it's a road trip, so why not take the ferry and the opportunity for a break from the wheel if he isn't in a huge rush?

 

[Phemo]

I'm in agreement really. Whenever I'm doing a day or 1 night trip then I'll always use the Eurotunnel because it's almost always only £60 for a return that way and it's worth it for how quick it is, especially given the limited time available.

If I'm going somewhere for more than a few days then I just use the ferry because I'm not that bothered about the extra time on the crossing...plus the ferry is usually cheaper in this instance.

Changing the same day return or next day return to even a 3 day trip takes the Eurotunnel's price from £60 to £140+ which is quite a bit more than the ferry in my experience. With that said though, other things can affect the price because the Eurotunnel charge is per car, whereas the ferry charge is for car and per amount of passengers.

 

[geekman]

I tend to do London to Nice in one day and even then the ferry can be good. If you plan it right you can use it to take a break and have something to eat in a quiet, comfortable environment rather than stopping at a horrible service station for the same thing.

 

[snips86x]

Oh man, so much to read through lol! Thanks for the feedback

Out of interest, what are you driving there OP?

My TTS Convertable

On another note, I'm after compulsory items to take for the journey. So far, I have:

• Hi-Vis Vest/Jacket
• Breathalyser
• Spare Bulbs (sides/indicators)
• Warning Triangle (car has one already)
• First Aid Kit (car came with one)

Anything else which should be considered?

 

[snips86x]

Well I found this handy page from the AA

https://www.theaa.com/~/media/the-aa/pdf/touring-tips/compulsory-equipment.pdf?la=en