Driving from Rome to the UK via either Como or aosta?
Discussion
theitalianj0b said:
Which way should i go? via aosta and the mont blanc tunnel into chambrey, bearing in mind it will december?
or go via como into siwterland via gottard pass?
any help please
I've driven both and both have high altitude sections likely to have snow, although will probably be cleared OK.or go via como into siwterland via gottard pass?
any help please
I would say Mont blanc is a shorter, quicker route but the tunnel is really s
tty and you have all the French autoroute tolls to pay on the other side and lots of trucks holding you up whereas St Gottard is a cleaner, nicer tunnel which avoids French tolls but you will have to pay Swiss vignette and then drive like a saint through Switzerland, although you could have a 'speed test' up some German Autobahn.Six of one, half a dozen of the other IMO.
I travel to & from Tuscany quite a lot and now always take the MB tunnel via Val D'Aosta. The Italian tolls now only require 1 stop to pay, which in a RHD car is a big deal also.
Used to take Frejus, but it's slower and costs a lot more on Italian tolls and no difference on French.
Done Bagni Di Lucca to York in 17 hours, which is 1200 miles. I doubt any of the passes will be fully open in December and you need chains or equivalent unless you have winter tyres or a 4x4.
Haven't been through Switzerland and can't drive like a saint even if I have to
One thing to remember, enjoy the coffee in Italy, 'cos the bilge they service on French autoroutes is bloody disgusting!
Used to take Frejus, but it's slower and costs a lot more on Italian tolls and no difference on French.
Done Bagni Di Lucca to York in 17 hours, which is 1200 miles. I doubt any of the passes will be fully open in December and you need chains or equivalent unless you have winter tyres or a 4x4.
Haven't been through Switzerland and can't drive like a saint even if I have to
One thing to remember, enjoy the coffee in Italy, 'cos the bilge they service on French autoroutes is bloody disgusting!
I've done it plenty of times and come to the conclusion that the best route for time, distance and cost is Milano, St Gottardo, Basel, Strasbourg, Luxembourg, Brussels, Calais.
It's a good straight run, they've improved the road around Basel recently and it's generally hassle free. I did Parma - Calais in 11 1/2 hours in the summer in the family wagon.
It's a good straight run, they've improved the road around Basel recently and it's generally hassle free. I did Parma - Calais in 11 1/2 hours in the summer in the family wagon.
It might be different in December, But I chose to go through Switzerland in July. It was terrible, and added about 4-5 hours to my estimated journey time with various delays at numerous pinch points and waiting stationary on the autoroute time & time again for hours on end, for no apparent reason. I had expected to get through the whole country top to bottom in 4 hours, as it's only small, it took us more than twice that. Never again, I took a different route on the return. Done Aosta a few times, no problems.
My french friends says this:-
"In general the route through Aosta valley, Mont Blanc, Geneva and then join the A6 at Macon is the best and safest route. There will be snow en route through the alps but the authorities are very good at keeping roads open for the Skiers. Near Mont Blanc is one of the biggest tourists resort at Chamonix, so I would guess it is very important to keep the traffic moving. You will require to have snow chains fitted during the journey through the alps and the ascent up Mont Blanc will be touch and go with your car. Once you are clear of Mont Blanc is is a lot easier up the A6 to Burgundy.
My suggestion would be to get out of Italy and head along the coast towards Nice, Cannes and then head up towards Aix en Provence, and then Lyon etc... This way you are not effected by snowy roads and steep climbs. It is a longer route but easier on the car. You could stop in France instead of Italy before heading north to colder Burgundy. Normally we do not get much snow until after Christmas, so Burgundy and further north shouldn't present you with many problems.
It's amazing, its only 6 weeks away and at the moment we are having temperatures around 15c+ and no ice or frost but this can change very quickly. "
Know have my heart set on aosta through the tunnel and on wards? what people think?
mad or not?
ford focus, struggles to go uphill? bought myself 2 snow chains? which wheels i dont know? where to stay?
Help
"In general the route through Aosta valley, Mont Blanc, Geneva and then join the A6 at Macon is the best and safest route. There will be snow en route through the alps but the authorities are very good at keeping roads open for the Skiers. Near Mont Blanc is one of the biggest tourists resort at Chamonix, so I would guess it is very important to keep the traffic moving. You will require to have snow chains fitted during the journey through the alps and the ascent up Mont Blanc will be touch and go with your car. Once you are clear of Mont Blanc is is a lot easier up the A6 to Burgundy.
My suggestion would be to get out of Italy and head along the coast towards Nice, Cannes and then head up towards Aix en Provence, and then Lyon etc... This way you are not effected by snowy roads and steep climbs. It is a longer route but easier on the car. You could stop in France instead of Italy before heading north to colder Burgundy. Normally we do not get much snow until after Christmas, so Burgundy and further north shouldn't present you with many problems.
It's amazing, its only 6 weeks away and at the moment we are having temperatures around 15c+ and no ice or frost but this can change very quickly. "
Know have my heart set on aosta through the tunnel and on wards? what people think?
mad or not?
ford focus, struggles to go uphill? bought myself 2 snow chains? which wheels i dont know? where to stay?
Help
The road up to Mont Blanc on both sides is a decent road, it needs to be due to all the HGV traffic that uses it.
Whilst you should have snowchains, both by law and for practical/safety reasons, I doubt you will have to use them unless you happen to be driving through a snowstorm, as these roads are kept clear.
IIRC the St Gothard alternative is often stop/go on the motorway in CH due to the restrictions on HGVs using the second lane, this is particularly bad in the summer.
It's been a few years since I drove either but I have used both many times and also the St Bernard pass/tunnel into CH at the height of winter/Ski-season and I have never actually needed to fit the chains.
Whilst you should have snowchains, both by law and for practical/safety reasons, I doubt you will have to use them unless you happen to be driving through a snowstorm, as these roads are kept clear.
IIRC the St Gothard alternative is often stop/go on the motorway in CH due to the restrictions on HGVs using the second lane, this is particularly bad in the summer.
It's been a few years since I drove either but I have used both many times and also the St Bernard pass/tunnel into CH at the height of winter/Ski-season and I have never actually needed to fit the chains.
A Focus should be fine.
The route in Aosta to MTB is no problem, but the other side is steep and has many hairpins, so needs some caution. As said should be ok as well managed roads.
Mid France can also be very bad as I have experienced a lot of snow/ice and cars/cans/trucks don't have chains and regularly fall off the road in snow.
Never done the coast road and the whole autoroute du soleil though.
The route in Aosta to MTB is no problem, but the other side is steep and has many hairpins, so needs some caution. As said should be ok as well managed roads.
Mid France can also be very bad as I have experienced a lot of snow/ice and cars/cans/trucks don't have chains and regularly fall off the road in snow.
Never done the coast road and the whole autoroute du soleil though.
StuB said:
Never done the coast road and the whole autoroute du soleil though.
'tis a bloody long way and although it should be snow-free the only time I know of anyone getting stuck in the snow on a UK-Italy run was on that route - Many years ago My parents & Sisters were coming to Italy that way specifically to avoid any snow and they were held up for hours in both S. France and Italy, it was particularly bad around Genova. I stopped doing France several years ago.Kept getting stopped.Nearly took the car the last time.
Much cheaper and picturesque through Swizerland,a teeny bit of France,Luxembourg for Diesel at £1 per Litre and Belgium to Dunquerque for cheapest ferry.Buy the Vignette on ebay and sell it to the skiers in the winter.
We stop at Como for a last Coffee and stock up on food as once out of Italia,the motorway food is terrible.
We use the wifi at the services at Haut Konigsomething or other to book the ferry as you know by then how long it will take to the ferry.
We buy a few Loaves warm bread at this fantastic back street bakery in Como,bit of Prosciuto,Salamia and Olives and some of the few hundred kilos of contraband we always seem to bring back from Sicilia and we eat well all the way home.
Much cheaper and picturesque through Swizerland,a teeny bit of France,Luxembourg for Diesel at £1 per Litre and Belgium to Dunquerque for cheapest ferry.Buy the Vignette on ebay and sell it to the skiers in the winter.
We stop at Como for a last Coffee and stock up on food as once out of Italia,the motorway food is terrible.
We use the wifi at the services at Haut Konigsomething or other to book the ferry as you know by then how long it will take to the ferry.
We buy a few Loaves warm bread at this fantastic back street bakery in Como,bit of Prosciuto,Salamia and Olives and some of the few hundred kilos of contraband we always seem to bring back from Sicilia and we eat well all the way home.
catso said:
It's been a few years since I drove either but I have used both many times and also the St Bernard pass/tunnel into CH at the height of winter/Ski-season and I have never actually needed to fit the chains.
That's the route I use now, Mulhouse/Basil and then up to Reims on the A-roads (no tolls) - there's a small section of autoroute up to Calais but that's it.Gassing Station | Italy | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff