My fist drive to Italy

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS EURO DRIVING FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
1

If you had the chance to drive to Florence for pleasure rather than profit, which way would you do it■■?

So far my plans involve Norfolk Line Dover to Dunkirk, drive the toll roads/motorways to the Swiss/Italian border for an overnight B&B stay. Then toll roads again down to Florence.

This I know will be boring and not at all the ideal way to start/finish a holiday.

Is anyone out there who does a similar trip regularly able to offer a few hints on how to make the journey a little more interesting/scenic■■?

A wizened old fool at my work used to do the trip regular 15-20 years ago and has been an invaluable source of 15-20 year old information !

2

Theold fools route hasnt changed much over the years... Dont forget that its called Firenze in Italy. Hope you have nice fist drive …? :smiley:

theaa.com/travelwatch/inc/pl … ?unit=true

Travel
(km) and
then to
take total
(km)
0.00 Start out at Dunkirk Ferry Terminal,France Unclassified 0.00
0.29 Follow signs Calais, Dunkerque, Lille Unclassified 0.29
2.83 At roundabout take the 3rd exit onto the N316 N316 3.11
2.28 At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the N316 N316 5.40
0.75 At roundabout take the 3rd exit, then join the A16 motorway (signposted Dunkerque-centre-port Est, Lille, Grande-synthe) A16 6.14
8.51 Leave the A16 at junction 28, then join the A25 motorway (signposted Lille, Ypres, Bergues) A25 14.65
27.42 Aire de St Eloy (Service Area) A25 42.08
44.79 Keep in right hand lanes then continue forward onto the A1 (signposted Valenciennes, Bruxelles, Paris) A1 86.87
1.61 Keep in middle lanes then continue forward onto the A22-E42 (signposted Bruxelles, Valenciennes) A22 88.48
3.24 Keep in left hand lanes then continue forward onto the A27 (signposted Bruxelles, Tournai) A27 91.72
9.83 At France/Belgium Frontier continue forward onto the E42 E42 101.55
45.19 Continue forward onto the E19 (signposted E42 Liège, Mons, Tournai) E19 146.75
4.11 St Ghislain Service Area A7 (Eastbound) E19 150.85
21.44 Hauts-Bois Service Area A7 (Eastbound) E19 172.29
3.20 Continue forward onto the E42 (signposted E42 Liège, Charleroi, La Louvière) E42 175.48
38.06 Spy Service Area (Eastbound) E42 213.54
14.53 Bear right, then join the E411 motorway (signposted E411 Luxembourg, Namur) E411 228.07
43.90 Wanlin Service Area A4 (Southbound) E411 271.97
52.80 Continue forward onto the E25 (signposted Luxembourg) E25 324.78
35.70 Hondelange Service Area A4 (Southbound) E25 360.48
5.47 At Belgium/Luxembourg Frontier continue forward onto the A6 A6 365.94
3.96 Aire de Capellen Service Area A6 (Eastbound) A6 369.90
15.59 Branch right, then keep right to join the A3 motorway (signposted Metz) A3 385.49
4.65 Aire de Berchem (Service Area) (Restaurant) A3 390.15
7.83 At Luxembourg/France Frontier continue forward onto the A31 A31 397.98
35.51 Branch right then take 2nd turning on right, then join the A4 motorway (signposted Metz-Est, Sarrebruck, Strasbourg) A4 433.49
42.32 Aire de Longeville (Service Area) A4 475.81
41.71 Aire de Keskastel (Service Area) A4 517.52
37.00 Aire de Saverne-Monswiller (Service Area) A4 554.52
27.81 Aire de Brumath (Service Area) A4 582.32
14.69 Continue forward onto the A35 (signposted A35 Offenburg, E25 St Dié-colmar, Mulhouse, Strasbourg-autres Quartiers) A35 597.01
3.54 Branch right, then merge onto the N4 (signposted Offenburg, Strasbourg, Lingolsheim) N4 600.55
6.32 Continue forward onto Europabrücke - E52 (signposted Offenburg) E52 606.86
1.87 Continue forward onto the B28 B28 608.74
9.21 Bear right, then join the A5 motorway (signposted A5 Basel, Offenburg) A5 617.95
28.25 Mahlberg Service Area (Restaurant) A5 646.20
30.29 Schauinsland Service Area (Restaurant) A5 676.49
43.33 Bad Bellingen Service Area (Restaurant) A5 719.83
18.36 Weil am Rhein Service Area (Restaurant) A5 738.19
1.29 Continue forward onto the A2 A2 739.48
1.89 Continue forward onto Schwarzwaldtunnel - A2. Entering BASEL A2 741.37
1.42 Bear right, then merge onto Schwarzwaldbrücke (signposted Basel-ost/breite, Birsfelden, Basel-city) Schwarzwaldbrücke 742.80
0.36 Turn right Unclassified 743.16
0.02 Turn right onto Zürcherstrasse - 3 3 743.18
2.02 Turn right onto Elisabethenanlage - 2 2 745.20
0.09 Bear right, then turn right onto Elisabethenstrasse Elisabethenstrasse 745.29
0.13 Arrive at Basel,Switzerland Unclassified 745.42

  • Section time 7:34, Total time 7:34 - -
    0.00 Start out at Basel,Switzerland Unclassified 745.42
    0.45 Bear right onto Sankt Alban-Graben Sankt Alban-Graben 745.88
    0.22 Turn right onto Dufourstrasse Dufourstrasse 746.09
    0.35 Continue forward onto Aeschenplatz Aeschenplatz 746.44
    0.04 Turn left onto Aeschenplatz - 3 3 746.48
    1.55 Turn right Unclassified 748.03
    0.14 Bear left, then join the A2 toll motorway (signposted Luzern Bern Zürich, Delémont, Dreispitz Freilager) A2 748.17
    7.94 PRATTELN SERVICE AREA A2 756.11
    22.24 BELCHENTUNNEL A2 778.35
    8.82 Bear right onto the A1 (signposted E35 Gotthard, A1 Luzern, A2 Zürich, Rothrist) A1 787.17
    7.69 Bear right, then join the A2 toll motorway (signposted E35 Gotthard, A2 Luzern, Reiden) A2 794.85
    75.72 Seelisberg Tunnel A2 870.57
    10.10 Gotthard Raststätte (Services) A2 880.68
    2.45 ERSTFELD SERVICE AREA A2 883.13
    34.98 St Gotthard Tunnel A2 918.11
    7.03 SAN GOTTARDO SERVICE AREA A2 925.14
    52.78 BELLINZONA SERVICE AREA A2 977.92
    47.09 COLDRERIO SERVICE AREA A2 1025.01
    4.85 At Switzerland/Italy Frontier continue forward onto the A9 (signposted E35 Milano, A2 Lugano, Rivera) A9 1029.87
    15.08 Area Servizio Lario-Ovest (Service Area) A9 1044.95
    16.41 Bear left onto the A8 (signposted Milano, Linate Aeroporto) A8 1061.35
    3.27 Area Servizio Villoresi-Ovest (Service Area) A8 1064.63
    1.20 Branch right onto the tangenziale ovest (A50) (signposted Torino, Genova, Bologna, Linate) and through toll booths A50 1065.83
    1.16 Area Servizio Rho-Ovest (Service Area) A50 1067.00
    2.28 Keep in left-hand lanes and continue forward (signposted A1 Bologna) A50 1069.28
    9.41 Area Servizio Muggiano-Ovest (Service Area) A50 1078.69
    6.65 Area Servizio Assago-Ovest (Service Area) A50 1085.34
    0.70 Continue forward (signposted Bologna) A50 1086.03
    8.71 Area Servizio S. Giuliano-Ovest (Service Area) A50 1094.74
    2.86 Continue forward onto the A1 (signposted Bologna) A1 1097.61
    8.39 Area Servizio San Zenone-Ovest (A1) A1 1106.00
    29.62 Area Servizio Somaglia-Ovest (Service Area) A1 1135.62
    29.11 Area Servizio Arda-Ovest (Service Area) A1 1164.72
    40.25 Area Servizio San Martino-Ovest (Service Area) A1 1204.98
    11.79 Continue forward onto Autostrada Del Sole - A1. Entering CAPRARA A1 1216.77
    10.43 Continue forward onto Autostrada Del Sole - A1. Entering SESSO A1 1227.20
    21.13 Area Servizio Secchia-Ovest (Service Area) A1 1248.33
    41.51 Area Servizio Cantagallo-Ovest (Service Area) A1 1289.84
    45.04 Area Servizio Roncobilaccio-Ovest (Service Area) A1 1334.88
    11.26 Area Servizio Aglio-Ovest (Service Area) A1 1346.14
    24.57 Bear right, then keep left to merge onto the A11 (signposted Firenze-nord, aeroporto) A11 1370.71
    3.77 Area Servizio Peretola-Sud (Service Area) A11 1374.48
    3.02 Continue forward onto Via Zoroastro Da Peretola Via Zoroastro Da Peretola 1377.49
    0.02 Continue forward onto Viale Zoroastro Da Peretola Viale Zoroastro Da Peretola 1377.51
    0.33 Continue forward onto Viale Degli Astronauti Viale Degli Astronauti 1377.85
    0.15 Continue forward onto Viale Alessandro Guidoni Viale Alessandro Guidoni 1378.00
    0.37 Continue forward onto Viale Alessandro Guidoni. Entering Firenze Viale Alessandro Guidoni 1378.36
    1.83 Turn right onto Via Enrico Forlanini Via Enrico Forlanini 1380.20
    0.54 At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto Via Di Novoli Via Di Novoli 1380.74
    0.13 Continue forward onto Ponte Di San Donato Ponte Di San Donato 1380.86
    0.05 Turn left onto Viale Francesco Redi Viale Francesco Redi 1380.91
    1.47 Turn right onto Viale Belfiore Viale Belfiore 1382.38
    0.05 Turn left onto Via Guido Monaco Via Guido Monaco 1382.43
    0.29 Turn left onto Viale Fratelli Rosselli Viale Fratelli Rosselli 1382.72
    0.20 Turn left onto Viale Filippo Strozzi Viale Filippo Strozzi 1382.92
    0.65 Arrive at Firenze,Italy Unclassified 1383.57
  • Section time 6:31, Total time 14:05 - -

For more travel information

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About your route

This recommended route is designed as a guide to help you get to your destination safely and easily. We consider this to be the quickest and easiest (but not necessarily the shortest) route, based on average off-peak driving conditions.

If you find an error or omission, please let us know so we can correct it for future users.

Always use your mobile phone safely — park legally before dialling or checking text messages. You must not use this route in a way that interferes with your control of your vehicle, or otherwise endangers your safety or the safety of others.

No representation is made or guarantee given as to the content or usability of these directions. TheAA.com and its suppliers assume no responsibility for any loss or delay resulting from use of these directions.

Please read our Traffic and Travel Terms and Conditions.

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3

Try useing the SITE . viamichelin.co.uk/viamicheli … mePage.htm

to plan your route , IF you have the time try going this way

Dunkirk (F)–Gent (B)–Brussels(B)–Luxemburg(L)—Metz (F)—Basel useing
the crossing at the frenchside— when you go through Switzerland and have time try going over the GÖTHARD instead of through the tunnel it a experience
and well worth the trip ( I HAVE DONE IT WITH THE LORRY), and then head for chiasso / como bordercrossing, When carrying onafter your B&Bmake sure that YOU wait until about 0900-1000hrs so that you donot get caught out
by the heavy no,s of vehicles at MILAN, then head for --Parma–Modena–Bolagna–Prato–Firenze/florence,
Do not forget ,to carry the following inthe car First Aid box, Hi-Viz VESTS;
Warning Triangle, vehicle docs, your personal papers, Greencard FOR THE CAR, this will save problems if you have a mishap, International accident form
you can get this from your insureance company,

Drive with you lights on in daytime , keep to speed limits as the fines will cost you more than the holiday, IN Italy when they ““FLASH”” their lights it does not mean you can come in it means GET OUT OF THE WAY I AM NOT STOPPING and is wildly used on the roads inITALY;
YOU will need to get ““VINGETTE”” FOR switzerland AND it is sold on the border and lasts ayear ,sorry no other isavalible,
Right I hope that you can use some of the info and o course some one else will hopefully also put their ideas down here for you to read and think about,
Have a nice trip and enjoy yourself,

4

Its more or less what I tried to tell you but that site got tantrums…

5

harry:
Theold fools route hasnt changed much over the years... Dont forget that its called Firenze in Italy. Hope you have nice fist drive …? :smiley:

theaa.com/travelwatch/inc/pl … ?unit=true

Travel
(km) and
then to
take total
(km)
0.00 Start out at Dunkirk Ferry Terminal,France Unclassified 0.00
0.29 Follow signs Calais, Dunkerque, Lille Unclassified 0.29
2.83 At roundabout take the 3rd exit onto the N316 N316 3.11
2.28 At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the N316 N316 5.40
0.75 At roundabout take the 3rd exit, then join the A16 motorway (signposted Dunkerque-centre-port Est, Lille, Grande-synthe) A16 6.14
8.51 Leave the A16 at junction 28, then join the A25 motorway (signposted Lille, Ypres, Bergues) A25 14.65
27.42 Aire de St Eloy (Service Area) A25 42.08
44.79 Keep in right hand lanes then continue forward onto the A1 (signposted Valenciennes, Bruxelles, Paris) A1 86.87
1.61 Keep in middle lanes then continue forward onto the A22-E42 (signposted Bruxelles, Valenciennes) A22 88.48
3.24 Keep in left hand lanes then continue forward onto the A27 (signposted Bruxelles, Tournai) A27 91.72
9.83 At France/Belgium Frontier continue forward onto the E42 E42 101.55
45.19 Continue forward onto the E19 (signposted E42 Liège, Mons, Tournai) E19 146.75
4.11 St Ghislain Service Area A7 (Eastbound) E19 150.85
21.44 Hauts-Bois Service Area A7 (Eastbound) E19 172.29
3.20 Continue forward onto the E42 (signposted E42 Liège, Charleroi, La Louvière) E42 175.48
38.06 Spy Service Area (Eastbound) E42 213.54
14.53 Bear right, then join the E411 motorway (signposted E411 Luxembourg, Namur) E411 228.07
43.90 Wanlin Service Area A4 (Southbound) E411 271.97
52.80 Continue forward onto the E25 (signposted Luxembourg) E25 324.78
35.70 Hondelange Service Area A4 (Southbound) E25 360.48
5.47 At Belgium/Luxembourg Frontier continue forward onto the A6 A6 365.94
3.96 Aire de Capellen Service Area A6 (Eastbound) A6 369.90
15.59 Branch right, then keep right to join the A3 motorway (signposted Metz) A3 385.49
4.65 Aire de Berchem (Service Area) (Restaurant) A3 390.15
7.83 At Luxembourg/France Frontier continue forward onto the A31 A31 397.98
35.51 Branch right then take 2nd turning on right, then join the A4 motorway (signposted Metz-Est, Sarrebruck, Strasbourg) A4 433.49
42.32 Aire de Longeville (Service Area) A4 475.81
41.71 Aire de Keskastel (Service Area) A4 517.52
37.00 Aire de Saverne-Monswiller (Service Area) A4 554.52
27.81 Aire de Brumath (Service Area) A4 582.32
14.69 Continue forward onto the A35 (signposted A35 Offenburg, E25 St Dié-colmar, Mulhouse, Strasbourg-autres Quartiers) A35 597.01
3.54 Branch right, then merge onto the N4 (signposted Offenburg, Strasbourg, Lingolsheim) N4 600.55
6.32 Continue forward onto Europabrücke - E52 (signposted Offenburg) E52 606.86
1.87 Continue forward onto the B28 B28 608.74
9.21 Bear right, then join the A5 motorway (signposted A5 Basel, Offenburg) A5 617.95
28.25 Mahlberg Service Area (Restaurant) A5 646.20
30.29 Schauinsland Service Area (Restaurant) A5 676.49
43.33 Bad Bellingen Service Area (Restaurant) A5 719.83
18.36 Weil am Rhein Service Area (Restaurant) A5 738.19
1.29 Continue forward onto the A2 A2 739.48
1.89 Continue forward onto Schwarzwaldtunnel - A2. Entering BASEL A2 741.37
1.42 Bear right, then merge onto Schwarzwaldbrücke (signposted Basel-ost/breite, Birsfelden, Basel-city) Schwarzwaldbrücke 742.80
0.36 Turn right Unclassified 743.16
0.02 Turn right onto Zürcherstrasse - 3 3 743.18
2.02 Turn right onto Elisabethenanlage - 2 2 745.20
0.09 Bear right, then turn right onto Elisabethenstrasse Elisabethenstrasse 745.29
0.13 Arrive at Basel,Switzerland Unclassified 745.42

  • Section time 7:34, Total time 7:34 - -
    0.00 Start out at Basel,Switzerland Unclassified 745.42
    0.45 Bear right onto Sankt Alban-Graben Sankt Alban-Graben 745.88
    0.22 Turn right onto Dufourstrasse Dufourstrasse 746.09
    0.35 Continue forward onto Aeschenplatz Aeschenplatz 746.44
    0.04 Turn left onto Aeschenplatz - 3 3 746.48
    1.55 Turn right Unclassified 748.03
    0.14 Bear left, then join the A2 toll motorway (signposted Luzern Bern Zürich, Delémont, Dreispitz Freilager) A2 748.17
    7.94 PRATTELN SERVICE AREA A2 756.11
    22.24 BELCHENTUNNEL A2 778.35
    8.82 Bear right onto the A1 (signposted E35 Gotthard, A1 Luzern, A2 Zürich, Rothrist) A1 787.17
    7.69 Bear right, then join the A2 toll motorway (signposted E35 Gotthard, A2 Luzern, Reiden) A2 794.85
    75.72 Seelisberg Tunnel A2 870.57
    10.10 Gotthard Raststätte (Services) A2 880.68
    2.45 ERSTFELD SERVICE AREA A2 883.13
    34.98 St Gotthard Tunnel A2 918.11
    7.03 SAN GOTTARDO SERVICE AREA A2 925.14
    52.78 BELLINZONA SERVICE AREA A2 977.92
    47.09 COLDRERIO SERVICE AREA A2 1025.01
    4.85 At Switzerland/Italy Frontier continue forward onto the A9 (signposted E35 Milano, A2 Lugano, Rivera) A9 1029.87
    15.08 Area Servizio Lario-Ovest (Service Area) A9 1044.95
    16.41 Bear left onto the A8 (signposted Milano, Linate Aeroporto) A8 1061.35
    3.27 Area Servizio Villoresi-Ovest (Service Area) A8 1064.63
    1.20 Branch right onto the tangenziale ovest (A50) (signposted Torino, Genova, Bologna, Linate) and through toll booths A50 1065.83
    1.16 Area Servizio Rho-Ovest (Service Area) A50 1067.00
    2.28 Keep in left-hand lanes and continue forward (signposted A1 Bologna) A50 1069.28
    9.41 Area Servizio Muggiano-Ovest (Service Area) A50 1078.69
    6.65 Area Servizio Assago-Ovest (Service Area) A50 1085.34
    0.70 Continue forward (signposted Bologna) A50 1086.03
    8.71 Area Servizio S. Giuliano-Ovest (Service Area) A50 1094.74
    2.86 Continue forward onto the A1 (signposted Bologna) A1 1097.61
    8.39 Area Servizio San Zenone-Ovest (A1) A1 1106.00
    29.62 Area Servizio Somaglia-Ovest (Service Area) A1 1135.62
    29.11 Area Servizio Arda-Ovest (Service Area) A1 1164.72
    40.25 Area Servizio San Martino-Ovest (Service Area) A1 1204.98
    11.79 Continue forward onto Autostrada Del Sole - A1. Entering CAPRARA A1 1216.77
    10.43 Continue forward onto Autostrada Del Sole - A1. Entering SESSO A1 1227.20
    21.13 Area Servizio Secchia-Ovest (Service Area) A1 1248.33
    41.51 Area Servizio Cantagallo-Ovest (Service Area) A1 1289.84
    45.04 Area Servizio Roncobilaccio-Ovest (Service Area) A1 1334.88
    11.26 Area Servizio Aglio-Ovest (Service Area) A1 1346.14
    24.57 Bear right, then keep left to merge onto the A11 (signposted Firenze-nord, aeroporto) A11 1370.71
    3.77 Area Servizio Peretola-Sud (Service Area) A11 1374.48
    3.02 Continue forward onto Via Zoroastro Da Peretola Via Zoroastro Da Peretola 1377.49
    0.02 Continue forward onto Viale Zoroastro Da Peretola Viale Zoroastro Da Peretola 1377.51
    0.33 Continue forward onto Viale Degli Astronauti Viale Degli Astronauti 1377.85
    0.15 Continue forward onto Viale Alessandro Guidoni Viale Alessandro Guidoni 1378.00
    0.37 Continue forward onto Viale Alessandro Guidoni. Entering Firenze Viale Alessandro Guidoni 1378.36
    1.83 Turn right onto Via Enrico Forlanini Via Enrico Forlanini 1380.20
    0.54 At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto Via Di Novoli Via Di Novoli 1380.74
    0.13 Continue forward onto Ponte Di San Donato Ponte Di San Donato 1380.86
    0.05 Turn left onto Viale Francesco Redi Viale Francesco Redi 1380.91
    1.47 Turn right onto Viale Belfiore Viale Belfiore 1382.38
    0.05 Turn left onto Via Guido Monaco Via Guido Monaco 1382.43
    0.29 Turn left onto Viale Fratelli Rosselli Viale Fratelli Rosselli 1382.72
    0.20 Turn left onto Viale Filippo Strozzi Viale Filippo Strozzi 1382.92
    0.65 Arrive at Firenze,Italy Unclassified 1383.57
  • Section time 6:31, Total time 14:05 - -

For more travel information

For the best maps, see our range of AA Travel Books and Maps.

About your route

This recommended route is designed as a guide to help you get to your destination safely and easily. We consider this to be the quickest and easiest (but not necessarily the shortest) route, based on average off-peak driving conditions.

If you find an error or omission, please let us know so we can correct it for future users.

Always use your mobile phone safely — park legally before dialling or checking text messages. You must not use this route in a way that interferes with your control of your vehicle, or otherwise endangers your safety or the safety of others.

No representation is made or guarantee given as to the content or usability of these directions. TheAA.com and its suppliers assume no responsibility for any loss or delay resulting from use of these directions.

Please read our Traffic and Travel Terms and Conditions.

Other products & services
Breakdown cover in Europe
Get travel insurance
Related information
Route planner
Routes in Ireland
Advertise your company here
Business routes & maps

Thanks but . . . I worked out how to use a routeplanner aged 8 3/4. What I’m looking for is beyond that, I wish to share someone’s personal experience, I don’t wish to get it right second visit.

6

brit pete:
Try useing the SITE . viamichelin.co.uk/viamicheli … mePage.htm

to plan your route , IF you have the time try going this way

Dunkirk (F)–Gent (B)–Brussels(B)–Luxemburg(L)—Metz (F)—Basel useing
the crossing at the frenchside— when you go through Switzerland and have time try going over the GÖTHARD instead of through the tunnel it a experience
and well worth the trip ( I HAVE DONE IT WITH THE LORRY),

I will, thanks.

brit pete:
and then head for chiasso / como bordercrossing, When carrying onafter your B&Bmake sure that YOU wait until about 0900-1000hrs so that you donot get caught out
by the heavy no,s of vehicles at MILAN, then head for --Parma–Modena–Bolagna–Prato–Firenze/florence,

Are there currently any particularly ‘dodgy’ sections within Italy? The wizened old fool mentioned that all Ities are thieving [zb] and not to believe that the Mafia is an invention of Hollywood.

brit pete:
Do not forget ,to carry the following inthe car First Aid box, Hi-Viz VESTS;
Warning Triangle, vehicle docs, your personal papers, Greencard FOR THE CAR, this will save problems if you have a mishap, International accident form
you can get this from your insureance company,

Drive with you lights on in daytime , keep to speed limits as the fines will cost you more than the holiday, IN Italy when they ““FLASH”” their lights it does not mean you can come in it means GET OUT OF THE WAY I AM NOT STOPPING and is wildly used on the roads inITALY;
YOU will need to get ““VINGETTE”” FOR switzerland AND it is sold on the border and lasts ayear ,sorry no other isavalible,
Right I hope that you can use some of the info and o course some one else will hopefully also put their ideas down here for you to read and think about,
Have a nice trip and enjoy yourself,

The missus is looking forward to the driving bit almost as much as Firenze itself, but then she’s just a passenger as usuall !

Many thanks for your advice.

7

Every trip is a new adventure…Dont be so picky. I could send you Via Madrid & down Ventimillia then across . But time and money suggests the shortest way. Get in the saddle & fire er up. & ring me when you are empty I got a load of strawberries for you from Salerno to Berlin. When you have done that nip down to Hannover & load mustard for Athens…Any probs give me a ring. You are booked Brindisi to Patras for next Tuesday latest. Or Belgium to Porto reload Barna for Milan… Thats what I got used to… Be carefull it doesn`t happen to you… :smiley:

8

Harry, if you read the first post Chas made I think he is doing it for pleasure, i.e. not in a truck, rather than for work so shortest and quickest doesn’t necessarily apply.

9

Or ,Basel, Porto, Lisbon. Reload Porto for Hamburg. Reload Copenhagen for Basel… :laughing: This was normal years ago…

10

Chas:
Are there currently any particularly ‘dodgy’ sections within Italy? The wizened old fool mentioned that all Ities are thieving [zb] and not to believe that the Mafia is an invention of Hollywood.

Most of the stories from days of old are just that stories. Italy isn’t any worse than any other country, as regards truck crime Belgium is far worse than Italy for instance.

As for the Mafia, old Italian hands did love a good mafia story. :wink: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:

11

Coffeeholic As for mafia depends what you are loaded with. I drove tvs from Milan to anywhere. DeRooy had at least 1 truck a month hijacked with tvs in Italy. One driver stopped at a Pavasi and was approached by 2 guys holding a map. He opened the door to give them directions. Under the map the guy was holding a .45 automatic. They knew he had tvs . They asked for the paperwork. Found out that they were B+W ,made a few phone calls & couldn`t shift them. Let the driver go . A few miles down the road he was forced to stop by the same 2 guys. They had found a buyer. Truck hijacked. Driver released unharmed. Truck to weeks later turns up at the usual scrap yard in Milan .

12

Chas Take my route & drive slow… Its still a nice drive…

13

Where ever you stop make surethat you take your important documents with you ,just in case some thing does happen and you can then prove who you are and also have money to get home, Do NOT LEAVE ANY thing on show in your car, OH yes do notbuy any of those so called pirate items or dvd players ,
or digital cameras that you will be offered in Italy eitheronthe motorway stops by so called traders selling out of a car , or when you are in a tourist spot,
IT is a offence in ITALY to buy such items and the fines are rather high, If you have TIME visit PISA ,and Venidig , they are worth a visit ,try getting some
good guide books from a goodbook shop at home and look through these together and pick out spots that you think are worth a visit,If you have time on the way back and wish to spend a few days in Germany ,I recomend a visit to the Black-Forest area of Germany it is quite good and also you will find here the largest collection of cuckoo-clocks in a musem,they also sell wonderful wood carvings as well, If you are also thinking of getting the winecellar refilled
then take the a lok in the wine shops here as well, You will also find Italy good for bargins in this department as well,
Okay lets see if some one else will post here as well as coffeholic and harry,

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harry:
Coffeeholic As for mafia depends what you are loaded with. I drove tvs from Milan to anywhere. DeRooy had at least 1 truck a month hijacked with tvs in Italy. One driver stopped at a Pavasi and was approached by 2 guys holding a map. He opened the door to give them directions. Under the map the guy was holding a .45 automatic. They knew he had tvs . They asked for the paperwork. Found out that they were B+W ,made a few phone calls & couldn`t shift them. Let the driver go . A few miles down the road he was forced to stop by the same 2 guys. They had found a buyer. Truck hijacked. Driver released unharmed. Truck to weeks later turns up at the usual scrap yard in Milan .

harry, I don’t doubt that there were incidents but just not as many as the stories make out. Also every little incident tended to get linked to ‘The Mafia’ because it made for a better story. The fact is for many years Italy has not been at the top of the league when it comes to truck crime in European countries, but it still has that reputation from years ago. Which is why the insurance companies still get away with screwing you on the premiums for Italy.

In 17 years of going to Italy with high value and/or thief attractive loads, some very high value indeed, I never had a single problem. But then again with a thief attractive load on such as TV’s I wouldn’t be opening the door to anyone, with a map or anything else, or heading off down the road after an incident to give them a second chance. :wink: :smiley: :smiley:

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It was probably just a fairy story then . Just like all the other DeRooy & swinging beef hijackings in Italy…? Swiss owner drivers when they got into finance probs. would get a load to Italy just to get relieved of the truck… :laughing:
But UK lads would just set light to them on the side of the Autostrada…ME boys used to push them over mountains in Turkey & claim the insurance. In the old days the insurance companies only required a photo of the smashed up truck & they would pay out. The lads would take different snaps of the same truck but just change the plates & claim . The Insurance people caught on &insisted that every write-off was brought back to UK for inspection. That gave low loaders steady work… ( All fairy stories…)

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Have just found this site which may be a help to you , it has information sites which explain certain rules and points about the countrys shown and is worth haveing a look,
http://www.driving.drive-alive.co.uk

When you are in Luxemburg ;try and get off the motorway and take a look in the city for a place to have a meal as this will be worth the time if how ever you wish to stay onthe main route stop at the ARAL station which is just before the FRENCH----- LUXEMBURG. border and this has a decent
kitchen, also fill the car up when in luxemburg.

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I agree with filling up in Lux’ Pete, but for a good meal, at junc 27 of the E411 (Brussels to Lux’) there is a really good routier called the Relais St Colombier (or something like that). Either there or find a nice café in Lux’ city. Although European motorway services are far better than British ones (in general), they are still motorway services and decent local eateries are so much better, as a general rule.

Chas, the old fools route would be a good pleasurable drive and very scenic. We will have little up to date info on the older national road routes because we don’t generally use them any more. For one thing the toll roads are so much quicker, we can do Calais to Milan in under two days driving using them. Another reason is that, when the toll roads were opened, weight limits were put in place at crucial points on the nationals, so they have become impractical for fast transits.

If you’ve got a decent European road map, you could use the route planning sites to get the general directions for the quickest route. Then use your Euro map to plan a roughly parallel route using the nationals. For eg. the quick route from Calais to the Mont Blanc or Frejus Tunnels would pass close to or through Lille, St Quentin, Reims, Troyes, Chalon sur Marne, Dijon, Macon. The main nationals that the truckers used to use runs more or less parallel and usualy off to the west… Only having used some of those nationals myself and only once at that, I can’t remember the way points off the top of my head and I don’t have my Euro map handy to check, its in my wagon which is in Germany at the mo’. I’ll have a look at Autoroute tomorrow for you if you need it.

There’s another advantage to running parallel to the motorways. If you find yourself running late or you want cheap accommodation quickly for some reason, you can get onto the motorway easily to make up time and most service areas have a motel from one of the big chains on them. For France, the Michelin map is about the best, it has symbols for all the important items at a services marked on it, like fuel, restaurant, motel (or not), café, shop etc.

The motorways in France and Germany in particular have a lot of info’ signs that tell you about local points of interest. You could run down on the motorways and turn off to investigate anything which took your families interest.