Driving from England to Tuscany - where to stop off overnight?
Apr 12th, 2010, 06:04 AM
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Driving from England to Tuscany - where to stop off overnight?
We're planning a holiday in Tuscany and would like to drive from England, through France to Tuscany. We plan be in Calais by 8am and drive for about 12 hours, stopping off somewhere overnight to finish the journey the next day. Can anyone suggest where would be a good place to stay overnight?
Apr 12th, 2010, 06:37 AM
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The ONLY defintion of "good place" on this itinerary is slap next door to a motorway exit.
You need to start off by being very clear where and when in Tuscany you want to be. If you're planning to get to a villa, you've really got to find the hidden lane, get the three miles up to the house and find the keyholder before dusk. Allowing for probs on the Milan Tangenziale and queues for the convoy through the Mont Blanc tunnel, I'd argue that requires being in Italy by nightfall - which in turn means Courmayeur. Enough hotels, and a reasonable number of eateries with a few minutes' walk.
However, French plastic motorway-exit chain hotels are cheaper than the slightly older, family-run, places that are the norm in Italy. There's adequate - just - eating in most Campaniles and the like. If you're confident you'll have time the following day (and don't underestimate time to get through the tunnel), try Annemasse.
Remember that at summer weekends practically every route near Beaune and Lyons can be a nightmare
You need to start off by being very clear where and when in Tuscany you want to be. If you're planning to get to a villa, you've really got to find the hidden lane, get the three miles up to the house and find the keyholder before dusk. Allowing for probs on the Milan Tangenziale and queues for the convoy through the Mont Blanc tunnel, I'd argue that requires being in Italy by nightfall - which in turn means Courmayeur. Enough hotels, and a reasonable number of eateries with a few minutes' walk.
However, French plastic motorway-exit chain hotels are cheaper than the slightly older, family-run, places that are the norm in Italy. There's adequate - just - eating in most Campaniles and the like. If you're confident you'll have time the following day (and don't underestimate time to get through the tunnel), try Annemasse.
Remember that at summer weekends practically every route near Beaune and Lyons can be a nightmare
Apr 12th, 2010, 06:56 AM
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That's really helpful, thank you. We'll be stopping overnight on a Friday so I would hope to be in Italy by then. We're staying in San Gimignano so not too far south in Tuscany and (we have been told) the villa we are staying in is not too remote and easy to find and the owners are on site.
Would you recommend the Mont Blanc tunnel route rather than the E70 to Turin?
Would you recommend the Mont Blanc tunnel route rather than the E70 to Turin?
Apr 12th, 2010, 07:20 AM
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"Mont Blanc tunnel route rather than the E70 to Turin?"
Personally, yes. Turning off the A6 at Macon for Chamonix means you miss the stuff going into Lyons that you've got to put up with if you're heading for the E70. And the Alpine stuff is much more weaving up and down via the Frejus tunnel: not what I'd want at the end of the day - especially if you've left London at 4 am.
Personally, yes. Turning off the A6 at Macon for Chamonix means you miss the stuff going into Lyons that you've got to put up with if you're heading for the E70. And the Alpine stuff is much more weaving up and down via the Frejus tunnel: not what I'd want at the end of the day - especially if you've left London at 4 am.
