Road trips 2019

Jonnysnapzzz

Jonnysnapzzz

Zorg Guru (I)
British Zeds
Joined
Jul 10, 2018
Points
85
Location
Nottingham
Model of Z
Z3 2.8
Hi All,

After a reevaluation of my life i now find myself single and looking to start ticking off the bucket list.
This year i plan to do what i always wanted to do and spend a few summer weeks in The Alps. As a keen skier i have always loved the high mountains and i think this year is my year to take my Z3 to this neck of the woods and enjoy some fresh air
I would like some advice on routes from anyone that has done similar. I am thinking Geneva to Nice along the Grande Alps route but open to suggestions.

However i have a few fears:

  1. How comfy will i find the z3 for 2 weeks on the road. Right now i feel tired after a day behind the wheel due to the real driving experience the car offers Will the long auto routes do my head in? Thry arnt the quietest.
  2. Do i really need to worry about reliability? what checks would you make to ensure a foreign trip goes smoothly?Car has 85k on it.
Has anyone done the french auto/motorail thing? car on train?

im ready to go but nervous a bit
 
Hi mate. Did a 2000 mile round trip from Cumbria to Switzerland for work. No real issues with comfort issues if you stretch your legs every 3 hours. The Autoroutes are easy going as not so congested as our motorways as they are toll roads. Standard checks as per any car for a long trip, nothing special. Their's a few on here that can expand more on driving in the Alps. Enjoy.
 
Not done any of that myself, but could I suggest to make sure you have good insurance, and recovery or breakdown cover just in case, and check on what other stuff you must carry in the car. Not sure which countries have what rules, but triangles, yellow vest, and things like that not sure if some don’t require you to carry your own breathalyser. I’m am sure there are those on here that will correct me if I’m wrong.
 
We have drove to the Alps and Pyrenees on numerous occasions. 3x in a Z3 and about 5/6 times in the Z4
The driving did not bother me too much apart from our first couple of trips as we did the Tolls. (learnt my lesson now)
We always use the Tunnel as it only takes 40 mins, usually stay down Ashford and catch an early crossing then drive to Epinal via Reims (to visit the old race track)
Then we head over the Grand Ballon into Switzerland and take in the Sustenpass and Grimselpass and stay in Ulrichen Hotel Astoria for 2 nights as it gives you a day to visit Grindelwald (the Eiger) lovely town and also drive along Lake Brianze also gives the oppertunity to visit Andermatt taking in the Furkapass (James Bond) and the Nuffenenpass.
Then we head over to the Livigno area taking in all sorts off passes, Julierpass, Malojapass, Silvaplanna,Stelviopass, Splugenpass and gives the opportunity to visit St Moritz. Lots to see and loads more passes to do. Can even visit Austria and do loads off passes but you have to pay on each one. Lots to see to stop you getting tired.
Lovely hotel in Forcola called La Brace.
 
Main thing is to make sure you have a good service before you go and have decent brake down cover. You will need 2x Triangles (1 front 1 rear) a Hi vis vest for each person in the vehicle, spare bulbs and fuses. These are must haves as per European Law
Vignette for driving on Motorways in Switzerland
 
I have been to the Alps for the last 5 years, I find the Z3 the most comfortable car I have ever had. Here is a good list of things to know:
https://www.theaa.com/european-breakdown-cover/driving-in-europe.
As far as the car is concerned, make sure it is fully serviced, it is a good idea to overhaul the cooling system if this has not been done before. Make sure you have a Swiss motorway vignette:
https://switzerlandtravelcentre.co.uk/excursion/motorway-vignette-switzerland/
For travelling through France a Sanef toll tag is good for getting through the toll booths.

My car has 133,000 miles and I am off to Italy again in June.
 
We did the euro cruise set up on here in 2016. Down to the tunnel, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany (just) visit to Spa race circuit and back home. Had a fantastic time, we have also travelled to France with the caravan and just love driving abroad. I think if you've had a rough time of late it would be just the tonic. You don't even need to plan to much ahead, there are hotels of all budgets frequently so you'd never struggle for a bed for the night.
 
Done several trips in the Z3 over the past few years with some other forum members, Holland to France to Switzerland to Austria and back, and another arranged this year to Italy via France and Switzerland, Z3 was faultless and comfortable. Also done France several times. Just give the old girl a darn good check over and a service and enjoy.. (dont forget European Break down cover Just in case :whistle:)

If you want any Satnav routes for Switzerland, Austria or France taking in the mountain passes just shout, happy to share, also @Mint @billz may well be worth chatting with, their Zeds practically live on the continent :D
 
many thanks for all the responses guys, feeling better about it already.
I would like to take the tunnel then head on down to Geneva if anyone has a good route? I know the easiest is the auto routes but would rather not pay the tolls
 
If you want a route from Calais to Geneva I have one that will take in the Grand Ballon, France, the Grimsel Pass and Furka Passes in Switzerland then onto Geneva, its 739 miles and 13hrs (not including stops) I have hotel details en route, its partly the route we took in 2016 and 2017 to Obergoms Switzerland, I've just extended it to Geneva. I would suggest Calais to Epinal (5 hours) and stop then Epinal to Obergoms (5 hours) and stop then onto Geneva (3 hours) or any variation of driving length and hotel stops you like. Its a mixture of Motorways and extremely scenic.

Regards
Niall
 
Nodzed said:
If you want a route from Calais to Geneva I have one that will take in the Grand Ballon, France, the Grimsel Pass and Furka Passes in Switzerland then onto Geneva, its 739 miles and 13hrs (not including stops) I have hotel details en route, its partly the route we took in 2016 and 2017 to Obergoms Switzerland, I've just extended it to Geneva. I would suggest Calais to Epinal (5 hours) and stop then Epinal to Obergoms (5 hours) and stop then onto Geneva (3 hours) or any variation of driving length and hotel stops you like. Its a mixture of Motorways and extremely scenic.

Regards
Niall
Click to expand...

This is a very good route including some great passes and the Grand Ballon. There is quite a bit of it on here, it has been on the forum before but this saves searching.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdsyUeRKspc&t=98s
 
Have not been to Geneva area but some good routes around Bourg saint maurice, Tignes and Aosta
 
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