First time on a long drive...Advice requested.

[BoeingBoy]

Hello All,

I am planning to drive to Lake Garda in a Bentley Continental GT in the last week of September and return a week later. As it's my first long drive in France ( I briefly visited Nantes a couple of years back but otherwise have not driven in Europe for twenty years) I would appreciate the benefit of your advice.

I have allowed two days en route each way from the tunnel and have so far put this itinerary together.

Day 1. Arrive in Calais early Thursday afternoon and proceed to a hotel just off the A26 at Reques Sur Hem (1 hour)

Day 2. Next day drive to a hotel roughly half way which would put us in South East France (possibly near Epinal or Colmar). Failing that press onto Mulhouse or even Basel areas. (Maximum 8 hours)

Day 3. Drive onwards to our holiday hotel near Salo. Which is on the west side of Lake Garda. (Around 5-6 hours)

Day 4. A week later head up the Stelvio pass and then head back to north west Switzerland. (Maximum 7 hours) Possibly a Movenpick at Egerkingen or a hotel near Basel.

Day 5. Drive back through France to a hotel in Gosnay. (Around 6-7 hours)

Day 6. Drive an hour or so back to Calais for an early afternoon departure back to UK and home.

The French hotels near Calais and the Italian hotel are booked but I need two good hotels for the intermediate stops. As the first hotel is nearer Calais on day one, then an outbound stop near Epinal or Colmar looks the most sensible if I aim for around six to seven hours of driving. That should give me much the same onwards to Italy the next day.

Allowing for the last hotel being a little more south east of Calais then I thought of staying in Switzerland on the way back. But if it's reasonable to head back into the Alsace then I am happy to do that. However as driving the pass will take second place to heading home I am not too worried if we don't fit it in on this holiday.

Could I ask for any advice on hotels that you may know that are convenient for the route and also might have multi language skills as whilst I will do my best, my French (and Italian) skills are likely to bring only shame upon me! I have found a few hotels that look nice on line but they do not get good reviews on Trip Advisor or other review sites.

Also any advice on driving the Bentley in that whilst I don't want to speed (honest!) I am aware that the Gendarmerie are more than likely to single it out as a suitable way to pass some time and practise their English.

All suggestions welcome and your advice is gratefully received.

BB

Edited by BoeingBoy on Monday 25th August 13:36

[Sortie 10]

A bit further south than your intended route, try Le Bon Accueil Hotel in Malbuisson - it has a Michelin star and is phenomenal value, with great hospitality. In the same village at lower price (& non Michelin food - but still very good) is the Hotel Le Lac (and other hotels run by the Chauvin family). All the hotels have websites. If you go to Le Lac, tell Anne that James sent you.
None of the hotels have secure parking, but the village is frequented by lots of motor clubs on tours and I have yet to hear of any problems in 25 years.

Access - autoroute A39/A391 to Poligny then a great drive to Malbuisson. Malbuisson has good access to the Swiss motorway network at Vallorbe - 15 minutes drive. I can recommend a fun route from Reims off autoroute, but as this is O/T PM me if you are interested.

As I say a little off piste, the French would say ca vaut le detour...

[BoeingBoy]

Thanks James,

As you said, sadly a little off route but I have stored the details and will certainly keep it in mind for future trips.

Thank you for your post.

BB

[mikey77]

Epinal is OK. There's a presentable hotel on the way into the town centre (before the river) and, the last time I was there, a Michelin starred restaurant just along the road. Then you get a nice drive through the Vosges next morning.

[julianm]

I`ve bought one of these & I`m looking for a chance to use it! Very prompt service from the company in Harrogate -
https://www.saneftolling.co.uk/

Have a lovely time & be prepared to be amazed by the lane discipline!

[BoeingBoy]

Merci Julian,

It was on my shopping list, along with NF approved breathalysers.

Mikey,

I presume that's the Inter-Hotel Prest'Hôtel or did you mean one of the cheaper ones to the west of the river.

BB

Edited by BoeingBoy on Thursday 28th August 20:46

[trunnie]

Don't bother with the breathalysers - the law has effectively been abandoned here (have a search on the subject on Pistonheads). UK companies are correct in saying that the law is in place, what they fail to mention when selling breathalysers to unsuspecting Brits is that there is no sanction for not respecting the law. There are no doubt a lot of unused breathalysers available on ebay.fr or leboncoin.

[mikey77]

I think that's the one. Taken over by 'Inter' since last time I was through.