Hi All Am travelling down to Italy this weekend and arriving at Dunkirk port. Can anyone advise me on whether it is best to go up through Belgium or to take the route via Lille?
Thanks Alan That sounds pretty good, like the idea of avoiding Basle, as I've heard it's a slow border for some reason?. Have already bought my swiss vignette, thanks to reading advice on here! We are stopping fairly cheaply in an etap in Luzern, booked it a while ago approx 100 chf. I suspect the real expense will kick in when we try and find somewhere to eat out!
Thanks Coseperlacasa. That sounds like a good route. However, we have an overnight stop booked in Luzern, so we are a bit tied in to going down via Luxembourg, back into france etc? My main worry is the roadworks on the Dunkirk to Lille road and if they are still as bad as last year? Also I've heard Basel is often best avoided , possibly by slipping into Germany?
You are of course correct, it is saturday 31st July that we travel back! I think I'm going to invest in a good satnav, the sort that gives you up to the minute traffic warnings and only detour from the Gotthard if I really have to!
Thanks for all your reassuring words, I've done some driving on the continent before mainly around Normandy, but this will be the longest drive by far. My main worry on the St Gotthard is the terrible tales I've read on the traffic, particularly in the summer? I'm fairly hopeful on the trip down as we have arranged an overnight in Luzern, which means we can get an early start on the sunday morning. Coming back is more of a worry, as we will be travelling on a saturday and would expect to hit the tunnel about mid to late afternoon (august 1st)!! I have read about the alternative of the San Bernadino, but I'm wondering if that would put hours onto the journey, which might mean better just to risk the Gotthard? We have friends who live in Zurich, unfortunately they're back in England that weekend, so a bad trip means we could be well and truly frazzled by the time we get to our return stop over in Strasbourg!
Thanks for your welcomes, I had a bit of trouble finding out how to post, the text box was missing which was odd? Anyway, I do seem able to reply to others posts so that's a start! I'm about to make my first trip to italy this summer with my family, though I am a confirmed lover of italian food and wine!# I have decided to drive, for several reasons, not least because both my wife and I hate flying! Anyway, I'm sure I will write more about that at a later date, but I must admit I'm having sleepless nights over it already, and have great concerns over the Gotthard tunnel! We'll be heading for Assissi, but it seems so far, although my Italian friend Mario regularly drives non stop to south of Rimini with two drivers and thinks I'm worrying for no reason! We shall see!
Hi to all, Apologies as it will take me a while to get used to the board and where and how to post messages! Have been 'lurking' around for several weeks and found it very interesting browsing the various topics. Will come back soon.
Comments posted
Thanks Alan That sounds pretty good, like the idea of avoiding Basle, as I've heard it's a slow border for some reason?. Have already bought my swiss vignette, thanks to reading advice on here! We are stopping fairly cheaply in an etap in Luzern, booked it a while ago approx 100 chf. I suspect the real expense will kick in when we try and find somewhere to eat out!
Thanks Coseperlacasa. That sounds like a good route. However, we have an overnight stop booked in Luzern, so we are a bit tied in to going down via Luxembourg, back into france etc? My main worry is the roadworks on the Dunkirk to Lille road and if they are still as bad as last year? Also I've heard Basel is often best avoided , possibly by slipping into Germany?
You are of course correct, it is saturday 31st July that we travel back! I think I'm going to invest in a good satnav, the sort that gives you up to the minute traffic warnings and only detour from the Gotthard if I really have to!
Thanks for all your reassuring words, I've done some driving on the continent before mainly around Normandy, but this will be the longest drive by far. My main worry on the St Gotthard is the terrible tales I've read on the traffic, particularly in the summer? I'm fairly hopeful on the trip down as we have arranged an overnight in Luzern, which means we can get an early start on the sunday morning. Coming back is more of a worry, as we will be travelling on a saturday and would expect to hit the tunnel about mid to late afternoon (august 1st)!! I have read about the alternative of the San Bernadino, but I'm wondering if that would put hours onto the journey, which might mean better just to risk the Gotthard? We have friends who live in Zurich, unfortunately they're back in England that weekend, so a bad trip means we could be well and truly frazzled by the time we get to our return stop over in Strasbourg!
Thanks for your welcomes, I had a bit of trouble finding out how to post, the text box was missing which was odd? Anyway, I do seem able to reply to others posts so that's a start! I'm about to make my first trip to italy this summer with my family, though I am a confirmed lover of italian food and wine!# I have decided to drive, for several reasons, not least because both my wife and I hate flying! Anyway, I'm sure I will write more about that at a later date, but I must admit I'm having sleepless nights over it already, and have great concerns over the Gotthard tunnel! We'll be heading for Assissi, but it seems so far, although my Italian friend Mario regularly drives non stop to south of Rimini with two drivers and thinks I'm worrying for no reason! We shall see!
Hi to all, Apologies as it will take me a while to get used to the board and where and how to post messages! Have been 'lurking' around for several weeks and found it very interesting browsing the various topics. Will come back soon.