Driving across Europe

[Barmaid]

It has been suggested that this summer I drive to Italy to meet my OH in a villa somewhere in Tuscany. I love driving, but have never driven abroad. Can anyone offer any tips as to what I should do? I will sort out AA cover and make sure my insurance is OK. Is there anything else I need to think about? I am not sure of the route to take - he has suggested the Mont Blanc tunnel but I don't know what would be most scenic. Are there any books anyone can recommend? Is Sat Nav a good idea? I am thinking the journey will be "my time" so I am planning on doing it over several days either side. So any good tips for reasonable accommodation would help.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[Buenchico]

Hi Barmaid

There's loads of useful information here:
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/ index.html

If I was going to drive to Italy, I'd start by buying a good old-fashioned road atlas of Europe and simply running my finger along what appears to be the shortest route. Then I'd look around that line to identify particular places of interest. Only then would I start to plan a more accurate route. I'd do that with a combination of the road atlas and this excellent website:
http://www.viamichelin.co.uk/viamichelin/gbr/t pl/hme/MaHomePage.htm

I'd want to avoid the horrors of driving around Paris, so I'd head off to the east, possibly via Reims:
http://www.reims-tourism.com/

Then possibly to Lucerne:
http://www.luzern.org/en/welcome.cfm

and perhaps on to Milan:
http://www.ciaomilano.it/e/index.asp

although I'd probably prefer to carry on through to the Riviera di Levante
http://www.initaly.com/regions/liguria/levante .htm
and then take the coastal route to Tuscany.

Chris

[Barmaid]

Thanks Chris!

I did think Reims - mainly because I would like to make a stop there. Driving in Paris fills me with dread (having spent quite a lot of time there when I was younger) so I shall be avoiding that like the plague!

That route sounds lovely - will check it out. Apparently, I have until Sunday to come up with a plan!!!!!!!!!! (no pressure then!)

[Lil O'lady]

Barmaid, this is a long journey for someone who has not driven abroad, and typically of me I'm going to suggest you take a lovely train ride instead so you can enjoy the view and not arrive frazzled, with the prospect looming of having to drive back. You will be driving a long distance and the last leg is mountainous.
You can get a daytime or an overnight train from Paris to Bologna or Florence then a local train to wherever is nearest -Lucca?
http://www.seat61.com/Italy.htm#Florence
The continental trains are lovely, not at all like travelling by train in the UK
If you do not live in the London area, I would recommend getting a cheap flight to somewhere like Pisa and again taking advantage of the excellent rail network to get to your destination.

[Barmaid]

Thanks lil o lady, but I want to drive. I love driving my car (which was made for touring) and the point of this was because I wanted to drive through Europe in it. I normally cover about 3,000 miles when I go away (albeit only in Scotland). This is about 1,000 miles, which I am going to do over the course of about 4 days.

[Playbill]

A stanav is a must for a journey like this, if only to make you aware of speed cameras. I have driven around mainland Europe for years and although enjoy using maps find my tomtom makes things so much safer and easier.
If you are going in peak summer start looking for overnight hotels by late afternoon as they can get full very quickly. The Formula1 chain are very cheap and clean. Etap hotels have better facilities and there are many similar chains throught Europe. Not so sure about Italy though.