Supercar Organised Tour in Europe
Discussion
This July/August I’m fortunate to have the time, at last, to do a bucket list drive in Switzerland, Austria and/or Italy for 2-3 weeks.
I’ve never done a ‘grand tour’ before and it might be nice to do our first one in something organised by experts, trying one of their cars (a 296 would be epic). It’ll be Mrs Aces_High and me and she’s keen on that approach. If all goes well, next time I’ll take my own car for future trips (very definitely the plan).
Wondered if anyone has any advice or experience of going on organised supercar experienced trips like this (as opposed to hooning around in your own car)? The website options are not cheap so putting 1500 miles on my car and going DIY may still be the way to go, but there’s pros and cons either way.
Many thanks
I’ve never done a ‘grand tour’ before and it might be nice to do our first one in something organised by experts, trying one of their cars (a 296 would be epic). It’ll be Mrs Aces_High and me and she’s keen on that approach. If all goes well, next time I’ll take my own car for future trips (very definitely the plan).
Wondered if anyone has any advice or experience of going on organised supercar experienced trips like this (as opposed to hooning around in your own car)? The website options are not cheap so putting 1500 miles on my car and going DIY may still be the way to go, but there’s pros and cons either way.
Many thanks
Just take your car, last year we did 2 trips -
france - Catalonia - northern Spain - France loop
France - Germany - Austria - Slovenia - Croatia - Italy - France
This year we are doing
Alsace - Germany - Swiss alps - Italy - France (route napoleon)
Northern / central Spain + northern portugual
Easy enough to plan with google maps + bookings.com a 25% of prices of that trip below.
No surprise. 'Two Tour Managers' are expensive.
When you look at costs, break them down, these type of 'managed' trips are very expensive.
Each to their own, might suit some people, I'd just say its great fun and very liberating to do it yourself.
When you look at costs, break them down, these type of 'managed' trips are very expensive.
Each to their own, might suit some people, I'd just say its great fun and very liberating to do it yourself.
Edited by Rick101 on Monday 24th February 11:38
Your first European tour can look very daunting but here's the way I looked at it many years ago.
If I drove my car (whatever it was) for say 750/1000 miles in the UK, would I expect it to have catastrophic failure of any kind? If not, there's little difference about Europe.
Breakdown cover is good for peace of mind.
Take a decent map or two - electronic maps are great but rob you of the fun of exploring and if you have got yourself off the beaten track, log in and Google will get you out.
Set a realistic target mileage every day, particularly if you're the only driver.
If using motorways, toll tags help smooth things out.
I like to have a target hotel booked so I know I've got food and drink at the end of the day but I don't always do that.
Maybe make your first trip a long weekend and stay in France to get acclimatised to driving on the right etc.
Go and enjoy it - you won't regret it.
If I drove my car (whatever it was) for say 750/1000 miles in the UK, would I expect it to have catastrophic failure of any kind? If not, there's little difference about Europe.
Breakdown cover is good for peace of mind.
Take a decent map or two - electronic maps are great but rob you of the fun of exploring and if you have got yourself off the beaten track, log in and Google will get you out.
Set a realistic target mileage every day, particularly if you're the only driver.
If using motorways, toll tags help smooth things out.
I like to have a target hotel booked so I know I've got food and drink at the end of the day but I don't always do that.
Maybe make your first trip a long weekend and stay in France to get acclimatised to driving on the right etc.
Go and enjoy it - you won't regret it.
I would choose the places I really want to go to (can be specific roads or towns) and then link them together with some research on maps as well as suitable hotels.
Organised tours take away flexibility (like I don't want to drive today weather too good / weather too bad, I want to drive that road again etc) plus as pointed out they sound very bloody expensive
Organised tours take away flexibility (like I don't want to drive today weather too good / weather too bad, I want to drive that road again etc) plus as pointed out they sound very bloody expensive
Join the Ferrari owners club (I’m assuming that it’s the Roma you want to take round Europe and not the Disco 
).
I have no experience of the UK owners’ club but where I live, the Ferrari Club organises superb events. They aren’t cheap but there is no way you could DIY the tours for the prices we pay because the hotels are block booked at discounted rates, the organisation is done by event committee volunteers and there is also an element of commercial sponsorship.
This year, we’re off to Bohemia for 10 nights and the cost is £6.2k for two. The accommodation isn’t too shabby with names like Rosewood and Mandarin Oriental on the itinerary, complemented by some niche spa hotels. Food and drink is included.
Last year was similar in price but slightly shorter in duration and took us on a tour of the Dolomites with stays in Austria, Italy and Switzerland.
).I have no experience of the UK owners’ club but where I live, the Ferrari Club organises superb events. They aren’t cheap but there is no way you could DIY the tours for the prices we pay because the hotels are block booked at discounted rates, the organisation is done by event committee volunteers and there is also an element of commercial sponsorship.
This year, we’re off to Bohemia for 10 nights and the cost is £6.2k for two. The accommodation isn’t too shabby with names like Rosewood and Mandarin Oriental on the itinerary, complemented by some niche spa hotels. Food and drink is included.
Last year was similar in price but slightly shorter in duration and took us on a tour of the Dolomites with stays in Austria, Italy and Switzerland.
Edited by ANOpax on Monday 24th February 09:20
Many thanks all, hugely useful suggestions here.
My doubtless flawed thinking was that an organised tour lets me try another Ferrari (helping with hopefully a future choice of 812 v 296), it takes away the hassle of organising my first jaunt and presumably organised by folk who know what they’re doing - plus I’ll then know what does/doesn’t work for when I do it myself next time. At the risk of inviting deserved ridicule, there’s also the concern about putting 1500 miles on the Roma for a trip that might not quite hit the mark. But I know that’s daft because the whole point is it’s a GT, plus planning and research are my friend I guess. And DIY is vastly more flexible and maybe part of the fun too.
Did like the FOC suggestion though, will definitely consider this - only just got the Roma so a bit green behind the ears.
And no, the Disco is even more mileage sensitive than the Ferrari, it’s the garage queen 😜
My doubtless flawed thinking was that an organised tour lets me try another Ferrari (helping with hopefully a future choice of 812 v 296), it takes away the hassle of organising my first jaunt and presumably organised by folk who know what they’re doing - plus I’ll then know what does/doesn’t work for when I do it myself next time. At the risk of inviting deserved ridicule, there’s also the concern about putting 1500 miles on the Roma for a trip that might not quite hit the mark. But I know that’s daft because the whole point is it’s a GT, plus planning and research are my friend I guess. And DIY is vastly more flexible and maybe part of the fun too.
Did like the FOC suggestion though, will definitely consider this - only just got the Roma so a bit green behind the ears.
And no, the Disco is even more mileage sensitive than the Ferrari, it’s the garage queen 😜
I think the FOC overseas tour this year is to Spain 2nd half May
Ferrari themselves also offer very expensive long weekends https://www.ferrari.com/en-EN/auto/ferrari-tour
Ferrari themselves also offer very expensive long weekends https://www.ferrari.com/en-EN/auto/ferrari-tour
Edited by johnnyreggae on Monday 24th February 13:03
Aces_High said:
Many thanks all, hugely useful suggestions here.
My doubtless flawed thinking was that an organised tour lets me try another Ferrari (helping with hopefully a future choice of 812 v 296), it takes away the hassle of organising my first jaunt and presumably organised by folk who know what they’re doing - plus I’ll then know what does/doesn’t work for when I do it myself next time. At the risk of inviting deserved ridicule, there’s also the concern about putting 1500 miles on the Roma for a trip that might not quite hit the mark. But I know that’s daft because the whole point is it’s a GT, plus planning and research are my friend I guess. And DIY is vastly more flexible and maybe part of the fun too.
Did like the FOC suggestion though, will definitely consider this - only just got the Roma so a bit green behind the ears.
And no, the Disco is even more mileage sensitive than the Ferrari, it’s the garage queen ??
This might hit the mark...My doubtless flawed thinking was that an organised tour lets me try another Ferrari (helping with hopefully a future choice of 812 v 296), it takes away the hassle of organising my first jaunt and presumably organised by folk who know what they’re doing - plus I’ll then know what does/doesn’t work for when I do it myself next time. At the risk of inviting deserved ridicule, there’s also the concern about putting 1500 miles on the Roma for a trip that might not quite hit the mark. But I know that’s daft because the whole point is it’s a GT, plus planning and research are my friend I guess. And DIY is vastly more flexible and maybe part of the fun too.
Did like the FOC suggestion though, will definitely consider this - only just got the Roma so a bit green behind the ears.
And no, the Disco is even more mileage sensitive than the Ferrari, it’s the garage queen ??
https://twgsportscars.com/
Tom Gould used to work at Dick Lovett Swindon (he's a top bloke, I bought my 599 from him) and he now has his own company. The tours allow you to drive the cars you are referring to. Looks like a dream holiday to me!
I love planning European road trips. i do it for regular trips with my mates and even when I'm not attending. I always try and secure interesting hotels that are a destination in themselves, I check the whole route making sure its suitable for the cars proposed.
It take hours and hours to do properly, but is very rewarding when you hear people say "wow we are staying in a castle", that stretch of road was awesome" etc
It take hours and hours to do properly, but is very rewarding when you hear people say "wow we are staying in a castle", that stretch of road was awesome" etc
Have contacted the suggestions - thank you!
And if it doesn’t work out, I definitely hear you on the benefits of doing it myself.
Next step is to sift through the “Stelvio/Grossglockner/Furka Pass etc is a must and it’s great’ recommendations versus ‘It’s so overrated and full of bikers and small turning circles don’t bother’ etc. Ah well, the Roads forum is a goldmine!
And if it doesn’t work out, I definitely hear you on the benefits of doing it myself.
Next step is to sift through the “Stelvio/Grossglockner/Furka Pass etc is a must and it’s great’ recommendations versus ‘It’s so overrated and full of bikers and small turning circles don’t bother’ etc. Ah well, the Roads forum is a goldmine!
blueg33 said:
I love planning European road trips. i do it for regular trips with my mates and even when I'm not attending. I always try and secure interesting hotels that are a destination in themselves, I check the whole route making sure its suitable for the cars proposed.
It take hours and hours to do properly, but is very rewarding when you hear people say "wow we are staying in a castle", that stretch of road was awesome" etc
If you have any of these trips documented in an easy way to share the I’d love to have a look. I’m always looking for new & interesting destinations for road trips. It take hours and hours to do properly, but is very rewarding when you hear people say "wow we are staying in a castle", that stretch of road was awesome" etc
DeuceDeuce said:
blueg33 said:
I love planning European road trips. i do it for regular trips with my mates and even when I'm not attending. I always try and secure interesting hotels that are a destination in themselves, I check the whole route making sure its suitable for the cars proposed.
It take hours and hours to do properly, but is very rewarding when you hear people say "wow we are staying in a castle", that stretch of road was awesome" etc
If you have any of these trips documented in an easy way to share the I’d love to have a look. I’m always looking for new & interesting destinations for road trips. It take hours and hours to do properly, but is very rewarding when you hear people say "wow we are staying in a castle", that stretch of road was awesome" etc
I'll see what I can find and post. I posted one route before the trip and someone from PH messaged me and said he had booked the same hotels on the same days. We met up on the ferry and they are now amongst our best friends
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