I've got 5 cars holding 20 friends and I want to give them all directions in an information pack as I'm paranoid that a car or 2 will go astray!

If your gang is going to Europe, try www.viamichelin.com. Good luck (sounds as if you'll need it).

I prefer www.mappy.com - I think their driving times are more realistic than Michelin's. But for directions, either works well.

You should supplement the directions from the websites with a good map (all the drivers should have the same map). I don't know where you are driving, but the highway driving in Italy is very easy and well market (and the toll booths take credit cards!). City driving, espcially the bigger cities, is another story.

Just a thought, how about those walkie talkies that people use for skiing (with a decent range). Just to communicate with one another if need be.

Walkie talkies purchased in the USA interfere with the emergency police/fire/rescue signals in Italy. I know people do this, but I wouldn't.

It's ok, we've all already got mobiles that work throughout Europe, so we should at least be able to talk to the lost and confused.

We're driving from Ancona Airport to a little Castle just beyond Gubbio in Umbria - I've driven the route a couple of times before, but know how it can be confusing for the unitiated.

I'm photocopying the relevant pages from my Italy road map, but figured a writtem route might also help - paranoia!

Thanks for all your help.

Hi kate,

You are not paranoid.

Nuts maybe, but realistic.

We prefer viamichelin to mappy--I guess it depends on your driving style.