If we wanted to drive from Paris to Tuscany
Aug 16th, 2007, 09:08 AM
#1
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If we wanted to drive from Paris to Tuscany
We are still batting around many different ideas for an Oct '08 vacation. We want to go back to Paris (3rd time) and to Tuscany (5th time to Italy). We are thinking about a week in Paris then taking a few days to drive to maybe Siena and staying 1-2 weeks.
(Just go stay with me on this one for a bit)
1. How long would you plan for a leisurely drive from A to B?
2. Is there a route your would recommend, either for the scenery or to avoid something unpleasant?
3. Should we have snow concerns at that time of year?
Again, we're thinking of lots of different things and may end up flying from A to B but we have to rule this out first. Many thanks in advance for your sage advice.
(Just go stay with me on this one for a bit)
1. How long would you plan for a leisurely drive from A to B?
2. Is there a route your would recommend, either for the scenery or to avoid something unpleasant?
3. Should we have snow concerns at that time of year?
Again, we're thinking of lots of different things and may end up flying from A to B but we have to rule this out first. Many thanks in advance for your sage advice.
Aug 16th, 2007, 09:39 AM
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I've driven every segment of the freeway from Paris to Siena (via Provence & Cote d'Azur), but never all at once, and I think it would be very foolish to do so. Most of it is not a particulary scenic drive until you get to Provence. From Nice to Pisa, you go through the Genoa "tunnels" which are a nightmare to drive.
If you have several weeks to make this trip, it might be worthwhile to stop in Burgundy, Provence, Cote d'Azur, Cinque Terre, Florence - but in a "few days" you'll spend most of those days doing some hard driving (the loop around Lyon can be a nightmare certain times of the day). An alternate route through the Alps (Lyon to Chambery to Torino) would be shorter, but to really appreciate the Alps you'll need to get off the freeway a bit. We've never visited the Alps in October
You'll also incur a drop-off charge if you rent a car in one country & return in another.
Fly
Stu Dudley
If you have several weeks to make this trip, it might be worthwhile to stop in Burgundy, Provence, Cote d'Azur, Cinque Terre, Florence - but in a "few days" you'll spend most of those days doing some hard driving (the loop around Lyon can be a nightmare certain times of the day). An alternate route through the Alps (Lyon to Chambery to Torino) would be shorter, but to really appreciate the Alps you'll need to get off the freeway a bit. We've never visited the Alps in October
You'll also incur a drop-off charge if you rent a car in one country & return in another.
Fly
Stu Dudley
Aug 16th, 2007, 12:18 PM
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You could drive Paris to Geneva, then to Italy via Chamonix and the Mont Blanc tunnel and spend a day or two in Aoste.
Then Milan/Firenze.
You are unlikely to encounter snow in Chamonix/Aoste in October.
Then Milan/Firenze.
You are unlikely to encounter snow in Chamonix/Aoste in October.
Aug 16th, 2007, 01:07 PM
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<If we wanted to drive from Paris to Tuscany...
I'd say not to bother.
>...a few days to drive ...
Take the TGVest to Strasbourg, then follow the www.viamichelin.com Discovery Route from Strasbourg to Siena via Lindau.
Enjoy your visit.
I'd say not to bother.
>...a few days to drive ...
Take the TGVest to Strasbourg, then follow the www.viamichelin.com Discovery Route from Strasbourg to Siena via Lindau.
Enjoy your visit.
Aug 16th, 2007, 01:27 PM
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Again, that's why I asked. I never meant for you to think anything was in stone and I certainly don't want to take the foolish route.
I think we will follow the thought of a train/car combo like Paris to Geneva, then to Italy via Chamonix and the Mont Blanc tunnel and spend a day or two in Aoste as Pvoyageuse suggested.
Any other thoughts, feel free....
I think we will follow the thought of a train/car combo like Paris to Geneva, then to Italy via Chamonix and the Mont Blanc tunnel and spend a day or two in Aoste as Pvoyageuse suggested.
Any other thoughts, feel free....
Aug 16th, 2007, 02:08 PM
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We will have at least a full week in Tuscany if not more, just depending on how we make the journey there. We have toured Tuscany before by car but wanted to go back and see cities we've not seen before.
Aug 16th, 2007, 02:19 PM
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I've done this drive only once and in reverse. 1st day we went from Siena to Portofino for the night. 2nd day we went to Cap Ferrat and spent 2 nights. 3rd day we went to Condrieu (sp) just south of Lyon and spent the night. 4th day we arrived in Paris.
When we were driving we were just hauling along without much thought of scenery. And never drove any further than we felt like, tho we did set the above stops as goals and attained them.
The reason we made this drive was to return a friend's car to Paris for him, a very nice Porsche! I don't think would want to be in car that long if ever asked to repeat!
When we were driving we were just hauling along without much thought of scenery. And never drove any further than we felt like, tho we did set the above stops as goals and attained them.
The reason we made this drive was to return a friend's car to Paris for him, a very nice Porsche! I don't think would want to be in car that long if ever asked to repeat!
Aug 16th, 2007, 02:26 PM
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We had a week in france and we wanted to drive to the south of france beginning in Paris.
By the end of the week we got as far as the Dordogne region and that we it.
It seems like a lot of your time will be spent driving on the road.
By the end of the week we got as far as the Dordogne region and that we it.
It seems like a lot of your time will be spent driving on the road.
Aug 16th, 2007, 02:28 PM
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We drove from Paris to Rome last summer and loved it! My husband enjoys driving, though, and we spread it over about 20 days.
After about a week in Paris, we drove south and spent a night in Beaune.
Then we drove to Nice and spent 3 or 4 nights there.
Then we drove from Nice to Florence. We rather enjoyed the tunnels and bridges, as well as the Corniche roads in France. We stayed a couple of nights in Florence, 3 in Montalcino, and then headed to Rome.
Here's a link to my trip report if you're interested.
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34832782
happy planning!
dina
After about a week in Paris, we drove south and spent a night in Beaune.
Then we drove to Nice and spent 3 or 4 nights there.
Then we drove from Nice to Florence. We rather enjoyed the tunnels and bridges, as well as the Corniche roads in France. We stayed a couple of nights in Florence, 3 in Montalcino, and then headed to Rome.
Here's a link to my trip report if you're interested.
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34832782
happy planning!
dina
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