maplesbc

I'd welcome suggestions about this, as I'm getting scared about traffic congestion at that time of year. I'll be traveling with three teens, and we can overnight somewhere along the route. We are perfectly willing to miss the coast and take an inland route if this will make the drive easier (though -- just to make it interesting-- one son is prone to carsickness.) The only "must" is a stop at Figueres. Advice would be much appreciated!

maplesbc

TTT - seems kind of rude to post "To The Top", but that's what my Fodor's email suggested!

Maybe this drive across south of France seems such a bad idea, no one wants to answer? ;-)

This is part of a longer, complicated trip (-main goal is to visit family/close friends, but it's so hard to get to Europe w/ 3 kids, we just have to travel around as well). We've done similar trips 4 and 8 years ago, with Renault car-lease, which has taken us some wonderful places, mainly in Italy.

Visiting Barcelona this year is a bit crazy, but the city looks so wonderful...

So we'll pay the price of a long car drive; and any advice about a route from Barcelona to Venice (with one overnight) would really be appreciated!

LoveItaly

Hello maplesbc, Italian friends that live in the Region of Veneto which Venice is part of have driven from their home to Barcelona with an overnight "somewhere" along the way. They had done this drive more then once in August so I would think if you are not feeling rushed would wouldn't have a problem. I am sorry I don't remember where they stayed overnight but if I talk to her I will ask her. Uhm, if your son starts feeling carsick try having him sit in the front seat as that often really helps. At least it did for me when I was a kid, lol.

bobthenavigator

I have 2 comments, now that I know you have a leased car. I would take the coast road and stop in Menton on the border as your overnite. The next day you will have more than 100 tunnels along the coast to Genoa. Not a big deal unless it is to your son.

zeppole

Are you going in August? Or let's put it this way: If you are going in summer, don't make this drive on a weekend.

I assume you're starting somewhere in France, yes? If the only "must" is Figueres, why not just go to Figueres?

Where are you staying in Barcelona? Are you thinking of driving your car to your hotel?

Traffic in and out of Barcelona can be heavy any time of year.

You certainly DON'T want to take the coast road out of Barcelona, including for reasons of car sickness. Head straight to Figueras on the toll road, and stay on the toll road past Perpignan.

I think you are going to need more than one overnight spot. I can't imagine you want to drive at night.

Bob is a big fan of Menton. I think it's just so-so. I'd rather stay at Villefranche sul Mer or Bordighera myself. Or Eze. But in my mind, even that is going pretty far in a single day, especially if you are making a stop in Figueras.

I would stop somewhere between Montpellier and Marseilles the first night. Second night I would stop around La Spezia.

It's a good idea to have with you the red Michelin guides for lodgings in both France and Italy.

maplesbc

Thanks so much, all. First, the carsickness: it's better as he gets older, so hopefully will not be too bad and he gets to claim the front seat ;-) Also a friend has highly recommended a special kind of those wrist-band things; she says it's the only one that's worked for her, so I'm getting one just in case.

LoveItaly: it would be great if you could check with your friend who's done this drive in August several times. We'll be at the very tail end of July (30-31, which thankfully is not a weekend).

Bobthenavigator: so you think the coast road would be ok?? Are there parts to avoid? A friend spooked me by saying it could take 4 hours to get from St. Tropez to [somewhere very near].

Zeppole: for Barcelona, I've just now booked a studio at Barcelona Guest House, which I read about on these Forums ;-) I've asked the person for suggestions where to park -- as in, outside the city!

I'll check out the suggestions for where to stay overnight. I'm been looking at the site for the Dali museum in Figueres and it looks so interesting, I'm sure we'll have to stay a couple of hours, so that will affect how far we can go that day.

It's tempting to take two nights for the drive but I know it's better to have that extra day in Venice; my kids have been before and are looking forward to it. I've got some Donna Leon books they can read on the way ;-)

zeppole

The Italian Michelin red guide with you so when you change your mind en route, you can find a decent place to stay.

zeppole

maples,

I was just looking at your response again, and while I can't answer for Bob, I'm pretty sure he must be suggesting you take the southern highway, not the seaside coast road.

It is close to 900km from Barcelona to Venezia. If you are parking outside the city, and museum-stopping in Figueras, you can't add meandering along the inlets of the seaside near St. Tropez. You need to stay on major roads, and even then it will be grim traffic-wise around Nice and Monaco.


Like I said, take the red Michelin guides in case you find it getting dark and you're nowhere near Menton or Italy.

LoveItaly

Hi maplesbc, she just got back from a trip. I will try to call her tomorrow morning..that 9 hour time difference you know, lol.

Reading a book while in the car..that never worked for me growing up when I got car sick. Just a thought...

Michael

You will want to use the autoroute as much as possible. Count on $300+ for the travel costs (excluding meals and hotels). Use viaMichelin.com for an itinerary, but specify an intermediate stop. Otherwise the suggestion will be to take a ferry from Barcelona to Genoa.

uhoh_busted

Have you tried putting your desires into Mappy? It was really useful to use when we did our big 35-day driving tour of France and Spain.

I just lost a bigger reply when I Googled Mappy but we DID make the drive from Barcelona to Nice (with meandering stops, inclulding Figueres, along the way -- it was October by then).

We stopped in Barcelona for six days midway through our trip, and left the car parked at the long-term parking lot at the airport. It was the best deal price wise and meant we didn't have to deal with traffic or parking in Barcelona...where you shouldn't need a car.

To make time and cover distances, the toll roads are your best choice. The coast road is simply gorgeous from Figueres to Collioure, but not for the carsick-prone. We thought it was more stunning than the Amalfi Coast, actually. However, to make it to Venice with one stop, you should probably try for Genoa or thereabouts.

Someday you can go back sans the offspring and visit the rest!

Echoing someone else, the tolls are pricier than we're used to in North America. But when time is important, it is worth it.

zeppole

If the costs, excluding, are $300 plus, you should consider taking the overnight car ferry from Barcelona to Genova -- although how is your carsickness teen with water travel?

The ferry leaves Barcelona around 9pm and gets into Genova around 3:30pm. Cost, including car and a cabin that sleeps 4, is probably about 250 Euros -- and you save the cost of a hotel bill for 4 people, not to mention the wear and tear of driving.

maplesbc

Yes, we'll definitely use the toll roads/major roads and yes, would love to do this drive with more time and at another phase of life! (Better than the Amalfi Coast??)

-I've been using viamichelin, and like how it estimates costs as well as giving the route. I'll have a look at Mappy now...

-Thanks for the tip about the airport parking; apparently we're staying very near a bus-stop for bus to/from the airport.

- I'll look into the red Michelin, thanks for all these tips.

(And I agree, no reading *in * the car. Actually I'm a big fan of audiobooks, for long drives.)

zeppole

The ferry company is Grandi Navi Veloci.

bobthenavigator

Sorry, I do not mean the old coast road---that is VERY slow. I mean the autostrada along the coast.

maplesbc

Ferry-- interesting idea! I can fantasize a whole other trip, just reading where the ferry goes. I think we're committed to the Figueres visit, though, so will probably do the overland, and aim for somewhere in that Montpellier to Marseilles area for overnight. (Speaking of ferries: eventually on this trip we'll be taking the ferry Bari-Corfu, overnight.)

Bobthenavigator: I was indeed picturing in my mind the old coast road, as I've only been in that area decades ago, during first Europe trip (backpacks, vw van) and that must've been the road we drove. So you think the autostrada will be bearable, for traffic? A friend had recommended going inland near Orange... (I think she must have had some nightmarish traffic experience once-upon-a-time, on the coast; it was her reaction that got me worried.)

Thanks again!