The Alps

[oblio]

Hi

Any of you folks taken your Aston over The Alps? It would be great to hear about some of your experiences as I am planning a trip next summer in the DB9 (N France - Switzerland - N Italy - Austria - Germany - Belgium).

Cheers

Graham

[Mr Beaumont]

Haven't had the chance to take an Aston to the Alps yet. But I would recomend going to Lake Annecy, beautiful scenery and top quality restaurants, and very close to some brilliant roads.

[oblio]

Thanks for that - I'll look into it

Does your PH name refer to 'Friends' by any chance?

Graham

[XXXAngelXXX]

yep Lake Annecy is cool

[clorenzen]

Took my DB9 from London to Rome and back when I first got it. Went a bit like this: Calais-Reims-Stuttgart-Munich- Brenner Tunnel - Stelvio Pass - Lake Garda - Milan - Turin - Portofino - Luca - Tuscanny - Rome. Back via Bolzano and Timmelsjoch which is one of the highest mountain passes in the Alps and then down to the Inntal motorway. Hereafter Chamonix - Dijon and home 3000 miles later and a great run-in for my car. Intend to do the same when I get my V12 Vantage. There is no better way of running in a car like that.

Edited by clorenzen on Sunday 13th September 23:44

[m3ed]

Just done Calais to Lusanne for the night...onto Florence then whilst there did Lucca,Pisa etc
Then on the way back did a night in Geneva then back to Calais.
The Mont Blanc tunnel was awesome..roads in France do not speed...roads in Italy were a joy
Lots of tunnels so made it fun

Can recommend the hotels in Geneva and Lusanne if you would like?

Regards

[bananarob]

Would definately agree on the suggestion of Lake annecy, stunning place and the surrounding roads are superb too, dont think you'll want to speed with some of the views there. Also a fantastic hotel on the lake in a small village called Taloires

[Pugsey]

L'Imperial Palace - in Annecy itself, right on the lake.

Auberge duePere Bise - on the lake in the village of Talloires.

Can recommend both. Particularly the second.

And the roads..............

Edited by Pugsey on Monday 14th September 11:41

[cardigankid]

clorenzen said:

Took my DB9 from London to ....lots of good places, and... home 3000 miles later and a great run-in for my car. Intend to do the same when I get my V12 Vantage. There is no better way of running in a car like that.

You are so right - great for the driver AND the car, and you will reap the benefits for years ahead, assuming you keep the car!

[Stratman1]

Took my N400 for a run a week after I bought it.
UK - Strasbourg
Strasbourg - Tuscany (yes including the tunnels they used in Quantum of Solace!)
Tuscany - Interlaken (superb mountain pass driving)
Interlaken - UK
Highly recommended.

[Mr Beaumont]

oblio said:

Thanks for that - I'll look into it

Does your PH name refer to 'Friends' by any chance?

Graham

Nothing to do with Friends, it is my Surname, to which a lot of my friends call me .
Talloires is a stunning little village on the lake, it is supposedly the: "Most Romantic Village in Europe."

[martinvantage]

Last month I drove to Davos, explored the passes for a day or two then on to Maggiore for more of the same before a blast home in a day. Did Stelvio the wrong way (South to North), ticked it of the list, I preferred Fluella and Julia for driving pleasure. The Italians will love the car, certainly I enjoyed my Vantage Roadster more on that trip than at any time it was in its element. Have fun, but not in France as has already been said - saw several 5 series owners deprived of their Euros.

[cardigankid]

Is using an anti scamera device in France totally out of the question?

[anonymous-user]

cardigankid said:

Is using an anti scamera device in France totally out of the question?

Yes!

[Neil1300R]

Been going to France for the past 8 years to abuse speed limits. Never been stopped, or hassled by the Frog cops.
Tend to not drive too many miles on motorways, could help but still a brilliant country for high speed 'cruising'. Dont speed near big towns / cities, don't speed within 20+ miles of the channel ports as its making it easy for Frog Gendarmerie, and if off the motorways dont speed through the small villages, no one does (apart from mopeds!).
PS Don't blame me if you get stopped and fined though!

[Zod]

martinvantage said:

Last month I drove to Davos, explored the passes for a day or two then on to Maggiore for more of the same before a blast home in a day. Did Stelvio the wrong way (South to North), ticked it of the list, I preferred Fluella and Julia for driving pleasure. The Italians will love the car, certainly I enjoyed my Vantage Roadster more on that trip than at any time it was in its element. Have fun, but not in France as has already been said - saw several 5 series owners deprived of their Euros.

Fluela and Julier are superb. I've done them in M3 and M, but not yet in the DB9.

[oblio]

Fantastic response guys cheers

The outline plan is

1 night - Epernay, France
1 night - Gerardmer, France
2 nights - N Switzerland (help on hotels would be good here - Montreux area any good?)
1 night - Bormio (Stelvio)
1 night - Obergugl, Austria
2 nights - central Germany - undecided where but needs to be a nice town
1 night - Bruge, Belgium - last night to be near the Chunnel

Im happy if anyne knows any good hotels in these areas to drop me a line so I can research them?

Cheers again

[clorenzen]

Try out Vigilius Mountain Resort in Lana, near Merano ( www.vigilius.it ). Only accessable with cable car but there is a secure parking at the buttom of the lift. If you have your wife along this is the treat for a days mountain driving. On the way back to Austria from Italy you can then take the road that leads you over the Timmelsjoch which is the highest Alpine pass and better than Stelvio I think.

Edited by clorenzen on Friday 18th September 16:07

[oblio]

clorenzen said:

Try out Vigilius Mountain Resort in Lana, near Merano ( www.vigilius.it ). Only accessable with cable car but there is a secure parking at the buttom of the lift. If you have your wife along this is the treat for a days mountain driving. On the way back to Austria from Italy you can then take the road that leads you over the Timmelsjoch which is the highest Alpine pass and better than Stelvio I think.

Edited by clorenzen on Friday 18th September 16:07

Nice one - I'll check it out

I had the Timmelsjoch in mind as I drove it in 2005 as well as Stelvio - a great days drive!!

[Mark2008]

I can recommend Luzern... a beautiful place. Also what about Europes largest waterfall at Schaffausen? (I missed it on my last Alps drive as I took a wrong turn, but must go back again). Zurich is a great place also.
Baden Baden in Germany is quite nice (and has a smashing Casino)

Edited by Mark2008 on Friday 18th September 20:19