So this years road trip is to Raron in Switzerland.

Option A The direct route is via the autoroute through France 14 Hours and 869 Miles but is likley to cost 55 euro's in toll's

Option B Avoid the toll's and go via Belgium and Germany 16.5 hours and 981 miles ( this is via Mannheim )

Further info travling with wife and Troublsome 2 year old. Passat TDI no roof box bikes ect' so will be as fast as the law / road / conditions allow.

So the question to the collective

Vote A stop being a tight yorkshireman and pay the toll enjoy the easy drive.

Vote B go and play with the fast cars on the Autoban but a couple of extra hours and the Belgium roads ( not the best ).

Is Derv cheeper more epensive Fra / Ger ( I'll put money on that its cheeper GB ).

Thanks

Agriv8

I have driven twice to the Swis Alps...

The first time I drove down the toll motorway to Geneva and across into the mountains..

The second time I took the free route down belgium...Nice scenery.... and cheaper... do it!

stick with the toll roads, a lot safer, better kept roads less chance of breaking wheels on pot holes, no crazy europeans doing 120 in a fiat van etc ..

I got back last week from a small 12 day Euro trip with a friend. We went across on the Dover-Dunkirk ferry (2 hour crossing), stupidly taking a 10:00PM ferry to save money, which we then wasted by stopping at a Motel in Brugge as we were so knackered. Then onto the Nurburgring for a couple of days, stopping at the Zolder circuit on the way. Then down through Germany, stopping at Hockenhiem to watch a bit of racing and check out the little museum (great if you are into old bikes) then down to the Austrian border to visit the Neuschwanstein castle (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang). Then through the Alps (Stelvio pass) into Italy, then Switzerland, France, back to Dunkirk and home.

We avoided all toll roads, they are great if you want to get somewhere fast, but for actually seeing a bit of scenery the non-toll roads are better and you can still keep up a pretty decent speed on most of them. You get to drive through all sorts of small villages/hamlets that you would never see otherwise. The majority of non-toll roads are in pretty good condition as well, the odd one had ropey verges and a few minor pot holes but nothing compared to the crap we drive on over here.

Fuel prices in Switzerland are horrific by the way! I think €1.75/litre was the worst we saw. We managed to get through without filling up, which was a miracle as my friends Civic VTi has a tank the size of an egg-cup, but we managed 42mpg including the Stelvio and a couple of other passes by taking it very steady. Not bad for a 1.6L engine producing 160bhp, and a car loaded up with camping equipment and two fat blokes.

[Edited on 7/8/09 by MikeRJ]

I do this journey quite often, and it would the the French Autoroute every time.

The German roads are MUCH busier, loads of roadworks, and you've got that awful stretch through Belgium with truly horrible road surface AND loads more lorries.

The French motorway will be much quieter (though avoid the French holiday exodus days - Fridays and Saturdays), the food much better, and you can still sit at 90-100mph without much fear of coppers.

Completely no-brainer if you ask me.

I'm about to drive to Croatia in 7 hours time (1,200 miles!!).

I'm going the Belgium, Germany, Austria route which I believe is the faster route.

Be aware the french have rules on what you must carry in the car. I've heard one trick is to pull up brits, wait till they get out of the car and then do them for not having a high viz tabbard on. You must have it in the car and wear it when getting out on a toll road.

(this could be complete rubbish, but its what i've been told by a mate who goes every year on holiday)

nope it true.

last year Going through the first pay both just after euro tunnel all the cars with a britsh no plate were being pulled over and asked to show there vests.

Regards

Agriv8

[Edited on 7/8/09 by Agriv8]

German road are good, but busy. On sunday no lorry's, so better better to drive with higher average.

Belgium road are a pain in the a55.

But with wife and kid, I would opt for French toll roads. Good quality roads. Good average speed, meaning less time in car meaning less trouble with kid and thus wife

French peage all the way - I managed 3 hours with the cruise control set at 140kph without having to switch it off once the other week

Unfortunately, with the pound currently being worth bobbins, diesel is no longer cheaper in the Eurozone than it is in the UK.

Diesel is currently about €1.16, which is pretty much spot on £1 per litre.

Nick

The AA's Website will tell you what equipment you will need to carry or driving on the continent.

Best give it a read.

Warning trianlges
A set of spare Bulbs (Get a kit in a box)
and several other things I cant remember.

Also Speed trap detectors are mostly illegal to have or use.

They all have similar rules about what you must carry in the car - spare bulbs, warning traiangle, 1st aid kit etc - check on AA or RAC sites or something similar.

From experience (of doing a similar journey, and living in Germany some time ago) I'd go via France. Tolls yes, but pleasant roads, plentiful 'aires' along the autoroute - they are better (of course) than brit service areas and range from simple picnic stop laybys (but well off the road) through small fuel stops with cafes to full sized service areas.

However, we also made it a couple of days each way with stops in small villages (but I prefer small French villages to German ones I guess)

Thanks Peeps looks like France gets the vote. The joinging instructions show the Germany route but I think france is going to be better.

Passat is in for a service and check over and clutch today/ tomorow.

Just got to get rac cover sorted load up and Pi55 off.

ATB

Agriv8

A spare bulb kit is not a legal requirement in any European country except Spain and Croatia. However, you can get an on the spot fine for a defective lamp, so worth the few quid they cost.

put your hi vis over the back of one of the front seats so its very visable from out side the car, that way you'll avoid being stopped by Gendames trying to catch you out.

One warning about France - it's VERY hard to find a petrol station off the autoroutes, with most off them attached to supermarkets. These are fine during opening hours as you can pay by cash, but UK credit/debit cards are often refused on the pumps when trying to fill up out of hours.

Yes, that card thing is odd - they went chip-and-pin earlier than us and cards of 'etrangers' had to be signed. Now we have C&P, they still get foreigners to sign and, as mentioned, often don't accept foreign cards in automated pumps.

Oh - and double check your insurance for Switzerland. I had a long and fruitless conversation with some moron from my previous insurance company (now the ex-company due to this and other useless service) about foreign cover. It revolved around cover being included for EU countries but me pointing out that Switzerland is not in the EU, and her saying green card not needed for EU, and on, and on.

...and you need 'vignettes' (permits) to use motorways in Switzerland and Austria.


http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/europe/

[Edited on 10/8/09 by geoff shep]

quote:

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Originally posted by geoff shep
...and you need 'vignettes' (permits) to use motorways in Switzerland and Austria.


http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/europe/

[Edited on 10/8/09 by geoff shep]

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Cheers Peeps.

My vest is with Driving licences ( card and Paper ) passports and E111's and other associated papers. I will check Travel insurance just to be sure (pocket behind drivers seat )

Re car insurance they said Green card is on way after stating the contries I would be travelling through and to so should be ok there.

First aid kit, warning triangle and bulb kit in boot ready and waiting including GB sticker.

Car serviced and clutch replaced

bugger Just remeber beam convertors !

regards

Agriv8

Beam convertors are NOT compulsary just for a holiday! Unlike the ferry companies would have us to believe.

I live here, have an english registered car and have never fitted convertors.

You never see them on lorries, do you?

quote:

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Originally posted by designer
You never see them on lorries, do you?

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Triangle must be within easy reach of the driver - in the boot is ok as long as it's instantly accessible (e.g. look at the cars who have them clipped to the inside of the boot lid).

There must be sufficient vests for the number of occupants, and they have to be immediately to hand inside the passenger compartment (mine were in the door pockets).

quote:

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Originally posted by Agriv8
Cheers Peeps.

My vest is with Driving licences ( card and Paper ) passports and E111's and other associated papers. I will check Travel insurance just to be sure (pocket behind drivers seat )

Re car insurance they said Green card is on way after stating the contries I would be travelling through and to so should be ok there.

First aid kit, warning triangle and bulb kit in boot ready and waiting including GB sticker.

Car serviced and clutch replaced

bugger Just remeber beam convertors !

regards

Agriv8

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I agree but on a piont of contension ( and I aint going to try it on with the jandamerie

The hi vis is to be worn by any person exiting the vehicle so as long as 1 person gets out with the jacket on to gets the others hi vis's from the boot and ensure that other passengers are wearing there's you should be OK.

Though as stated there will be one for each occupant in the seat pockets.

quote:

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Originally posted by designer
Beam convertors are NOT compulsary just for a holiday! Unlike the ferry companies would have us to believe.

I live here, have an english registered car and have never fitted convertors.

You never see them on lorries, do you?

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