Driving from Cherbourg to Lake Garda through the Alps
Jan 15th, 2014, 04:14 AM
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Driving from Cherbourg to Lake Garda through the Alps
Hi
We are going to France in mid-August and hoping to drive from Cherbourg to Lake Garda in Italy and to cross the Alps possibly in Geneva with a 17, 15, 12 & 8yr old.
I have very little research done on this trip and would love if someone could suggest a good route that may have interesting things along the way for teenagers. We are hoping to complete the route in 3-4 days.
We are going to France in mid-August and hoping to drive from Cherbourg to Lake Garda in Italy and to cross the Alps possibly in Geneva with a 17, 15, 12 & 8yr old.
I have very little research done on this trip and would love if someone could suggest a good route that may have interesting things along the way for teenagers. We are hoping to complete the route in 3-4 days.
Jan 15th, 2014, 05:29 AM
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Consider going thru Chamonix France - one of the primo Alpine resorts in Europe and something anyone especially kids that age will love - take the thrilling aerial gondola to Pt Bronner - anyway thrilling aerial cable cars, toy-like mountain trains, glaciers you easily walk to, etc - spend a few days here and then drive thru the Mont Blanc Tunnel to Italy
and on via Milan to Lake Garda - kids there may like Garda Land, a theme park.
and on via Milan to Lake Garda - kids there may like Garda Land, a theme park.
Jan 15th, 2014, 06:57 AM
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Are you renting a car for this trip perhaps picking a car in France and dropping it off in Italy? If this is the case, before going further, and if you haven't done so, test book an appropriate car for this leg see what you are against and look at accommodation situations.
You are three things making it harder than a typical poster you see here.
1. You are traveling during peak family vacation season. Accommodations at holiday destinations will be tight especially with the size of your family.
2. You will need a much large car than a typical car rented by a couple. Cars than can carry more than 4 people with luggage come with a breathtaking rental price tag.
3. Dropping off a car in different country further adds to the price tag.
You are three things making it harder than a typical poster you see here.
1. You are traveling during peak family vacation season. Accommodations at holiday destinations will be tight especially with the size of your family.
2. You will need a much large car than a typical car rented by a couple. Cars than can carry more than 4 people with luggage come with a breathtaking rental price tag.
3. Dropping off a car in different country further adds to the price tag.
Jan 15th, 2014, 10:31 AM
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dunican - are you driving your own car from the U K or renting - like Greg says can make a big difference in drop-off charges.
another route would be to go via Switzerland - popping into the fantastic Jungfrau Region just over half way and then taking the Simplon Tunnel (put your car on the train thru the tunnel or drive up and over the Simplon Pass - which if you have time is fantastic - see images up top:
https://www.google.com/search?q=simp...=1600&bih=1074
Napoleon and his army traversed this route long ago!
another route would be to go via Switzerland - popping into the fantastic Jungfrau Region just over half way and then taking the Simplon Tunnel (put your car on the train thru the tunnel or drive up and over the Simplon Pass - which if you have time is fantastic - see images up top:
https://www.google.com/search?q=simp...=1600&bih=1074
Napoleon and his army traversed this route long ago!
Jan 15th, 2014, 10:41 AM
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I'm with PalenQ!
I think the Bernese Oberland is one of the most beautiful places on earth!
The Simplon tunnel, I have done while "driving" from Zermatt to Santa Margherita Ligure (I couldn't figure out why GPS kept sending me to a train station parking lot!!! Then I found out to get to Italy I had to drive onto the train. Pitch black tunnel while you sit in your car).
I think the Bernese Oberland is one of the most beautiful places on earth!
The Simplon tunnel, I have done while "driving" from Zermatt to Santa Margherita Ligure (I couldn't figure out why GPS kept sending me to a train station parking lot!!! Then I found out to get to Italy I had to drive onto the train. Pitch black tunnel while you sit in your car).
Jan 15th, 2014, 10:48 AM
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There is the new Lotschberg Tunnel now right after the going north way thru the Simplon Tunnel - you emerge in Visp and corss the Rhone Valley and then go into a new longer tunnel to emerge at Fruitigen, near Spiez where you go off the autoroute to reach Interlaken - much faster but now you see little going north to south of the famous Swiss Alps - you can of course drive the old route up and over the Lotschberg Pass and put your car on a tunnel there too but that route is infinitely more scenic than the dark tunnel route.
The new Lotsdchberg Base Tunnel opened a few years ago and you also put your car on the train - no road tunnels on either route and there is not way yet to drive over the Lotschberg Pass, as there is up and over the Simplon Pass.
The new Lotsdchberg Base Tunnel opened a few years ago and you also put your car on the train - no road tunnels on either route and there is not way yet to drive over the Lotschberg Pass, as there is up and over the Simplon Pass.
Jan 16th, 2014, 02:17 AM
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Hi Everyone
Thank you so much for all your very promt replies and with such detail. We are taking our own car as renting a 7 seater is very expensive on the continent. We've only done one holiday without a car and found it terribly stressful trying to move 6 people and a buggy with taxi's. I've been told that tolls are very expensive along this route can anybody enlighten me on that. We were going to take the scooters rather than the bikes so as to keep the weight in the car to a minimum, Will we be compromising our trip not having the bikes? Again thanks for all your posts.
Thank you so much for all your very promt replies and with such detail. We are taking our own car as renting a 7 seater is very expensive on the continent. We've only done one holiday without a car and found it terribly stressful trying to move 6 people and a buggy with taxi's. I've been told that tolls are very expensive along this route can anybody enlighten me on that. We were going to take the scooters rather than the bikes so as to keep the weight in the car to a minimum, Will we be compromising our trip not having the bikes? Again thanks for all your posts.
