We plan on driving through the Dolomites in early May. After a stay in Venice we have another two nights to stay in Lake Garda area (or other suggested area) before heading north through the Dolomites into Austria and into Germany towards Frankfurt. We are allowing another three travel days for the drive, seeing what we can along the way. Since it is the shoulder season in the Dolomites, I welcome comments about this approach. (Note: 3-4 hours stretches in the car do not bother us, and, we have already driven through Germany/Slovenia/Austria - so would like to try this approach if it is a wise one.) Thanks in advance for your comments.

Hi,
Our recent trip report concerning the Dolomites/Austria/Bavaria may be of interest to you.

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34893886

Paul

ttt

Thanks Paul, anyone else got any good advice for my situation?

We have been to Bolzano on several different trips and really enjoy the area. Lots of cool shops too.

http://www.bolzano-bozen.it/emozioni-e.htm

A warning, rather than a suggestion: perhaps still snow in May in Dolomiti. You have to know about your choice when to drive and which car and tires you have.

Vincenzo

Hi again,
You may find these websites helpful...

www.val-gardena.com

www.seiser-alm.it

www.altabadia.com

www.dolomiti.org/dengl/welcome.html

We can highly recommend a stay in La Villa, Val Badia at:

www.montanara.it

Paul

I forgot to mention, we drove through the Dolomites the last week of April/first week of May in 2004 and encountered no problems. Every year is different though.

Paul

Thank you all for your replies. We will check the weather before we head up toward the Dolomites. Paul, your trip report, etc has been very useful. Thanks again.

If you are going in late May, be warned that the 2008 Giro d'Italia will be in the Dolomites from May 23rd to the 26th. That will mean significant crowding on the roads and, on the race days, closures of the roads on which the races will be run.

You might want to find the routes on the web and be certain to steer clear of the race unless you want to watch.

See http://www.steephill.tv/giro-d-italia/

One thing that you should also be aware of when driving in the Dolomites or any other "twisty" roads. Motorcyclists. They were everywhere the last time we drove through there -- hundreds of them. And they can scare the H*ll out of you when you are going around a sharp turn and come face to face with them!!

terri58blue...
The Dolomites are truly spectacular and well worth the trip.
To add to bettyk,
The tour buses also. They can come very close. You just need to use a little more caution than usual.

Paul

Paul, the Dolomites are definitely worth the trip. I was just surprised by all the motorcycles. We didn't see that many tour buses, however. Our trip was also in May, altho it was later in the month.

Hey Bettyk,
We went to the Dolomites in Oct. 03, Apr. '05 and Oct. '06. Just suprised how the buses even make it around the hairpin bends sometimes. Once, a bus coming at us came so close I'm sure I could have touched it if I put my hand out the window.

Paul

If you have ever wacthed the Giro stages in the Dolomites, you will know there are some very narrow roads!