Italy - Driving from Frankfurt to Florence (June 2012)
Apr 7th, 2012, 04:28 AM
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Italy - Driving from Frankfurt to Florence (June 2012)
We will be renting a motorhome in Frankfurt and driving to Florence in late June 2012. Does anyone have suggestions regarding Alpine travel routes? Given the time of year, we expect the mountain passes to be open.
We are both seasoned European travels and have spent extensive time in Germany, Switzerland and Italy (and less time in Austria) but have never actually passed all the way through Switzerland so any advice, tips, suggestions are welcome.
Thanks in advance.
KMacK
We are both seasoned European travels and have spent extensive time in Germany, Switzerland and Italy (and less time in Austria) but have never actually passed all the way through Switzerland so any advice, tips, suggestions are welcome.
Thanks in advance.
KMacK
Apr 7th, 2012, 05:42 AM
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Have you looked into how much it's going to cost you to rent in Germany and drop off in Florence? Also, whether the insurance required for Germany will cover you for Italy (not)? I have no experience with motorhomes, but those are issues for a regular car rental, so I'd be sure to look into them.
Apr 7th, 2012, 06:33 AM
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We aren't dropping off in Florence. We are returning to Frankfurt.
Insurance is included in the rental and our own North American policy will cover any deductible. The companies that rent motorhomes have multi-jurisdictional insurance so crossing borders is not an issue.
We have rented motorhomes in Europe before. It is dirt simple. I recommend it to anyone. We aren't talking about a monster RV - just a small 2-4 person vehicle with kitchen facilities, sleeping space and a small bathroom. Traveling with your accommodations and meals makes things much more liberating as we aren't tied to itineraries or schedules. We go where we want when we want.
The only negative is the price of fuel which might be more painful than last time!
Insurance is included in the rental and our own North American policy will cover any deductible. The companies that rent motorhomes have multi-jurisdictional insurance so crossing borders is not an issue.
We have rented motorhomes in Europe before. It is dirt simple. I recommend it to anyone. We aren't talking about a monster RV - just a small 2-4 person vehicle with kitchen facilities, sleeping space and a small bathroom. Traveling with your accommodations and meals makes things much more liberating as we aren't tied to itineraries or schedules. We go where we want when we want.
The only negative is the price of fuel which might be more painful than last time!
Apr 7th, 2012, 07:28 AM
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<i>The Brenner Pass would seem to be the obvious choice---am I missing something?</i>
It's not in Switzerland.
The Swiss passes to Italy are very steep; depending on your driving experience you may need to take the St. Gotthard tunnel.
It's not in Switzerland.
The Swiss passes to Italy are very steep; depending on your driving experience you may need to take the St. Gotthard tunnel.
Apr 7th, 2012, 08:12 AM
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We have drive extensively in mountains as well as in Europe; however, we haven't driven through mountains in a small motorhome.
The additional rental endorsement we have on our insurance does not cover loss on our policy. It only covers the cost of our deductible in the event of a loss on another rental policy. This is distictly different from our own policy which only covers rentals in only Canada and United States.
There are several passes through the Alps. We are looking at travelling through Switzerland or Austria. We have contemplated the Saint Gotthard Tunnel but were hoping to take advantage of the time of year to avoid the tunnels and take in the scenery. Any comments on the Grimsel Pass?
The additional rental endorsement we have on our insurance does not cover loss on our policy. It only covers the cost of our deductible in the event of a loss on another rental policy. This is distictly different from our own policy which only covers rentals in only Canada and United States.
There are several passes through the Alps. We are looking at travelling through Switzerland or Austria. We have contemplated the Saint Gotthard Tunnel but were hoping to take advantage of the time of year to avoid the tunnels and take in the scenery. Any comments on the Grimsel Pass?
Apr 7th, 2012, 03:43 PM
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The Grimsel Pass will not take you to Italy. Check www.viamichelin.com, ask for the map of Andermatt.
Apr 7th, 2012, 04:05 PM
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>>>The additional rental endorsement we have on our insurance does not cover loss on our policy. It only covers the cost of our deductible in the event of a loss on another rental policy.<<<
I would check this again to make sure Italy isn't excluded. Most credit cards that cover the deductible in Europe exclude Italy and Ireland.
I would check this again to make sure Italy isn't excluded. Most credit cards that cover the deductible in Europe exclude Italy and Ireland.
Apr 7th, 2012, 04:06 PM
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Actually, we were contemplating staying overnight in Grindelwald and then taking the Grimsel Pass to the Furka Pass to the St. Gotthard Pass, if we travelled through Switzerland. I wasn't expecting it to take me directly to Italy.
Unfortunately, I haven't driven the Grimsel Pass.
Unfortunately, I haven't driven the Grimsel Pass.
Apr 7th, 2012, 04:12 PM
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I am not taking any insurance out with my credit card. It is not necessary as there is a full policy on the RV that comes with the rental. My own policy has the deductible coverage for rental loss not covered by my own policy.
In the interest of full disclosure, I am an insurance lawyer. I am quite confident of my insurance coverage.
In the interest of full disclosure, I am an insurance lawyer. I am quite confident of my insurance coverage.
Apr 7th, 2012, 04:14 PM
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You need to check carefully on the insurance - that whay you have covers Italy (I would be amaxed if it did) with the company yuo are renting from. They maynot permit you to visit Italy unless yuo buy additional insurance to cover it. When yuo rent a vehicle in europe you're supposed tell them if you are taking it to other countries to make sure you are covered. (There are some countries they won;t let you drive in - even if you are bringing it back - and some they charge higher rental or additional insurance for.)
NOTE: If you take it into a country not approved and there is an accident the insurance is invalid (even from American credit cards) and you would have to pay all costs out of pocket.
NOTE: If you take it into a country not approved and there is an accident the insurance is invalid (even from American credit cards) and you would have to pay all costs out of pocket.
Apr 7th, 2012, 04:35 PM
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From the policy explanation associated with the rental of our motor home:
"The included "third-party" liability coverage — i.e. "international green card" insurance — provides unlimited cover relative to bodily injury, up to EUR100,000,000 relative to property and economic loss (EUR1,530,000 thereof relative to economic loss only), and up to EUR1,500,000 relative to damage caused by inexcusable gross negligence. The included collision-damage deductible/excess is EUR1800 per occurrence. (The collision deductible can be effectively reduced via the optional insurance addendum presented at bottom of this page and during our online order process.) The included fire/vandalism/theft-of-vehicle deductible is EUR1800 per occurrence. Generally the deductible relative to breakage of the windows is only EUR500, and relative to natural disasters it is only EUR380. Morever, the insurance does not cover: damage to the high part of the vehicle (i.e. roof, alcove, and all portions higher than 2.5 meters off the ground), tires, radio/CD player, personal effects, interior damage, and frost damage. Damage to vehicle occupants is not covered; i.e. personal accident insurance is not included and it is not made available.
For security and insurance reasons, the vehicle may only be used for journeys within the countries of the European Union, as well as Switzerland and Norway. Any journeys to other countries are subject to prior written approval from the vendor. In any case, the respective countries must be stated on the valid international insurance card. The European Union consists of: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom."
Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Italy are expressly included in coverage. I should note that the policy goes on to restrict coverage in Ukraine during the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship and places conditions on travel to Poland for the same event.
"The included "third-party" liability coverage — i.e. "international green card" insurance — provides unlimited cover relative to bodily injury, up to EUR100,000,000 relative to property and economic loss (EUR1,530,000 thereof relative to economic loss only), and up to EUR1,500,000 relative to damage caused by inexcusable gross negligence. The included collision-damage deductible/excess is EUR1800 per occurrence. (The collision deductible can be effectively reduced via the optional insurance addendum presented at bottom of this page and during our online order process.) The included fire/vandalism/theft-of-vehicle deductible is EUR1800 per occurrence. Generally the deductible relative to breakage of the windows is only EUR500, and relative to natural disasters it is only EUR380. Morever, the insurance does not cover: damage to the high part of the vehicle (i.e. roof, alcove, and all portions higher than 2.5 meters off the ground), tires, radio/CD player, personal effects, interior damage, and frost damage. Damage to vehicle occupants is not covered; i.e. personal accident insurance is not included and it is not made available.
For security and insurance reasons, the vehicle may only be used for journeys within the countries of the European Union, as well as Switzerland and Norway. Any journeys to other countries are subject to prior written approval from the vendor. In any case, the respective countries must be stated on the valid international insurance card. The European Union consists of: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom."
Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Italy are expressly included in coverage. I should note that the policy goes on to restrict coverage in Ukraine during the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship and places conditions on travel to Poland for the same event.
Apr 7th, 2012, 04:38 PM
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I don't know, as I have never driven a camper. I think that you have to have a basic trust in the braking power of the motor, the condition of the brakes and your own ability to drive such a vehicle; after all, big tour buses do go over similar roads.
Apr 7th, 2012, 04:46 PM
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Thanks Michael. Fair comment about the buses. I hadn't thought of that. My husband has tractor/bus qualifications on his license so he will definitely be the driver!
Our plan is to tackle that portion of the trip very early in the morning (ie. not long after first light) with the hope of avoiding the heavier traffic. That is, if we go that way.... we are still in the data collection phase for this portion of our trip so any further comments or suggestions about travel through the Alpine passes would be appreciated.
Our plan is to tackle that portion of the trip very early in the morning (ie. not long after first light) with the hope of avoiding the heavier traffic. That is, if we go that way.... we are still in the data collection phase for this portion of our trip so any further comments or suggestions about travel through the Alpine passes would be appreciated.
Apr 8th, 2012, 07:10 PM
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There is a great pass starting in Landeck Germany (east of Innsbruck) and traveling via Nauders, Meran, Bolzen. i plan private car and motorcycle trips and have done this route 3 times. It would work fine for a RV and very scenic. Also great castle after Nauders into Italy before Meran with Europes greatest collection of medieval armour. Check www.viamichelin.com for great interactive travel map routes online.
