European Road Trip

[Awry]

Hi guys!

I'm getting my new GTI next week and in June I'm planning on going on a long vacation. I've just begun plotting the trip and I would be very grateful for any suggestions to my route, what to see and where to stop. I've built the route so I can drive the same roads as Top Gear did on their Stelvio Pass episode. If I've missed something please correct me.

These are mandatory as I've booked hotels:
- VW factory in Wolfsburg
- BMW in Munchen
- Drive the Top Gear Stelvio Pass route
- See Paris. This one is a must according to my GF and a fair trade since I get to see cars.

Everything else I can be flexible about. I'm also unsure which way I should go. If I am to drive exactly the same route as TG I'll have to drive the other way around compared to the link below.

My original plan was to drive from Paris to Newcastle then take the ferry back to Norway but sadly there is no ferry anymore so the route is incomplete and stops at Amsterdam.

Sorry about the long link.
http://maps.google.no/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Stavanger&daddr=Kristiansand+to:Hirtshals+to:Wolfsburg+to:Munchen+to:Davos+to:Bormio+to:Passo+Stelvio+to:Stelvio+to:Milano+to:Monaco+to:Marseille,+Bouches-du-Rh%C3%B4ne,+Provence-Alpes-C%C3%B4te+d'Azur,+Frankrike+to:Bordeaux+to:Brest+to:Caen+to:Paris+to:Amsterdam&hl=no&geocode=Fci5gwMdNGBXACkL19wqPzU6RjHxLeIqliObKQ%3BFbc3dwMdTAt6ACmVHubANgI4RjGQJrMoJncBBA%3BFdq5bgMdXveXAClNjvxQSchIRjGp5AEmapCaEw%3BFbzkHwMd1JCkACmx5ldHQpKvRzHQOqyUbawlBA%3BFXaL3gIdGrOwACnZX4yj-XWeRzF9mLF9SrgMAQ%3BFZ4tygIdNxmWACnbey7fEKGERzEALRlAiP8ABA%3BFRYKxQIdTlueACn3AV40WwWDRzFQ7GYuAngGBA%3BFTwExgId_nKfACnjophogOiCRzGgEXoOiAkHDw%3BFf8IxwIdDvCgACnpYk4gRRyDRzHANZEVhwkHBA%3BFYm4tQIdLTOMACk9o6HLTMGGRzGQGnttVt4wpg%3BFZqTmwIdaRxxACkxhT97b8LNEjH8nMQ6THj3dA%3BFUyrlAIdshtSACkzU9pEQ7_JEjEgApf9pRkIBA%3BFfgprAIdcDX3_ymBylH36CdVDTGJejl7A4ZjeQ%3BFcxh4gIdC4m7_ymTW5LZ4bsWSDGrMJwXWINIxg%3BFZt_7gIdsoD6_ykzyQRMvUIKSDFZCNAwn3SlPQ%3BFVt-6QIdi98jACkPt-IGH27mRzFglIxow4ILBA%3BFSkpHwMdN6FKAClN_N7pjwnGRzGQdB6NWt4ABA&mra=ls&sll=52.268157,5.053711&sspn=19.259084,33.706055&ie=UTF8&ll=51.069017,3.867188&spn=19.765687,33.706055&z=5

[FamilyDub]

Sounds like a great wee break...

It's not strictly VAG-related, but I've heard the Ducati factory experience is amazing, plus if it was me passing, I'd want to stop at Maranello... 

Other routes to consider:-
Col de Torini?
Route de Napoleon?
Cat and Fiddle (on your way to Newcastle)?

[FroGTI]

I can certainly vouch for the Col de Turini. It's just a short drive north from Monaco. We drove up there in a Citroën C3 Diesel automatic hire car last October , but the views were so magnificent we really weren't worried about the car. I have lots of photos, but here's one of the view we had during lunch

I personally think Paris is way overrated and frankly a dump that's best avoided, but my wife disagrees...

[VWKev]

I'm jealous. 

sounds great, have fun.

[Awry]

Thanks for the tips. I'll reroute to Maranello. As for Ducati I'll have to pass. I have to try an keep the km at a decent amount.

Col de Turini have been added and I'm trying to fit in Route de Napoleon as well.

Maranello - Col de Turini - Route de Napoleon
http://maps.google.no/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Maranello&daddr=Milano+to:Sospel+to:Piaon+to:Moulinet+to:La+Bollene-Vesubie+to:Avenue+du+G%C3%A9n%C3%A9ral+de+Gaulle%2FD19+to:Nice+to:Antibes+to:Golfe+Juan+to:Cannes+to:Grasse+to:Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey,+De+maritime+Alpene,+Provence-Alpes-C%C3%B4te+d'Azur,+Frankrike+to:Castellane+to:Digne+to:Sisteron+to:1+Place+Bonthoux,+05000+Gap,+France+(Gap)+to:Corps+to:La+Mure+to:Grenoble&geocode=%3BFYm4tQIdLTOMACk9o6HLTMGGRzGQGnttVt4wpg%3BFQuGnQIdFKNxACllpmd2ZZXNEjG-fUTyJUo-fw%3BFRXbnQId6iJxACnDMjG9Sb7NEjEBQTr8phkIJg%3BFeeAngIdmB5xACmpalGDwL3NEjGQmpf9pRkIBA%3BFXY6nwId6dxvACnP61jka7vNEjGhIj4tnlBHFQ%3BFXwCnQIdOn9uAA%3BFYPcmgId2t9uACkxLYVqENDNEjFwmpf9pRkIBA%3BFTL9mAId6KdsACmpkVqeRdXNEjGwn5f9pRkIBA%3BFSDOmAIdW_FrAClT9U01HIDOEjGgKal5qBkICg%3BFa6ImAId7fhqACn__wxTgIHOEjEgnpf9pRkIBA%3BFTstmgIdG6VpACn77Vg5_iXMEjEtLviMmCd3EQ%3BFaDImgIdin5oACnfmmmIYSTMEjEvaYab8sTLyg%3BFWUQnQIdSFxjACnnJTsx8QvMEjGQtZf9pRkIBA%3BFX7GoAIdthVfACkLJb3tR4XLEjEAtJf9pRkIBA%3BFSJlogIdB7FaACnZxd5vT6bLEjGgrJf9pRkIBA%3BFR3upwIdALZcACHAN7J2QefmWCkFoZnlckDLEjEg3XhTRMroQw%3BFS7hqwIdRcFaACn5btdY4zLLEjFQe77kKqsIBA%3BFSc0rQIdJk9YACnrB47Xin6KRzFQc77kKqsIBA%3BFSScsQIdMnVXAClvvonWi_SKRzGYU5luzRCMYQ&hl=no&mra=ls&via=6&sll=44.793531,9.733887&sspn=5.566632,8.426514&ie=UTF8&ll=44.488668,8.217773&spn=2.797987,4.213257&z=8

[FamilyDub]

Sounds amazing, I was planning a Euro bash as well, not quite in the same scope as this, though!

Re: Maranello, there was a feature in 'Performance Car' shortly before it went bust, about the factory and it looked totally amazing. More akin to a laboratory, not a car factory.

The museum also has loads of old cars. They are customer cars, though, so what you might see can vary from day-to-day.

[hutch924]

why dont you change the route so that you can visit the nurburgring? you will see loads of nice cars there and if you fancy it go on the track for a few laps

here is the modified map to take in the nurburgring

http://maps.google.no/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Stavanger&daddr=Kristiansand+to:Hirtshals+to:Wolfsburg+to:Munchen+to:Davos+to:Bormio+to:Passo+Stelvio+to:Stelvio+to:Milano+to:Monaco+to:Marseille,+Bouches-du-Rh%C3%B4ne,+Provence-Alpes-C%C3%B4te+d%27Azur,+Frankrike+to:Bordeaux+to:Brest+to:Caen+to:Paris+to:Amsterdam&hl=no&geocode=Fci5gwMdNGBXACkL19wqPzU6RjHxLeIqliObKQ%3BFbc3dwMdTAt6ACmVHubANgI4RjGQJrMoJncBBA%3BFdq5bgMdXveXAClNjvxQSchIRjGp5AEmapCaEw%3BFbzkHwMd1JCkACmx5ldHQpKvRzHQOqyUbawlBA%3BFXaL3gIdGrOwACnZX4yj-XWeRzF9mLF9SrgMAQ%3BFZ4tygIdNxmWACnbey7fEKGERzEALRlAiP8ABA%3BFRYKxQIdTlueACn3AV40WwWDRzFQ7GYuAngGBA%3BFTwExgId_nKfACnjophogOiCRzGgEXoOiAkHDw%3BFf8IxwIdDvCgACnpYk4gRRyDRzHANZEVhwkHBA%3BFYm4tQIdLTOMACk9o6HLTMGGRzGQGnttVt4wpg%3BFZqTmwIdaRxxACkxhT97b8LNEjH8nMQ6THj3dA%3BFUyrlAIdshtSACkzU9pEQ7_JEjEgApf9pRkIBA%3BFfgprAIdcDX3_ymBylH36CdVDTGJejl7A4ZjeQ%3BFcxh4gIdC4m7_ymTW5LZ4bsWSDGrMJwXWINIxg%3BFZt_7gIdsoD6_ykzyQRMvUIKSDFZCNAwn3SlPQ%3BFVt-6QIdi98jACkPt-IGH27mRzFglIxow4ILBA%3BFSkpHwMdN6FKAClN_N7pjwnGRzGQdB6NWt4ABA&mra=ls&sll=52.268157,5.053711&sspn=19.259084,33.706055&ie=UTF8&ll=51.069017,3.867188&spn=19.765687,33.706055&z=5

[FroGTI]

Quite an impressive schedule you've got there, but IMHO (and assuming you're traveling clockwise) once you've reached Marseille, the rest is going to seem a bit lame. Western France is relatively uninspiring. If it were me, I'd stay longer in the Alps and the South East and then just head straight back home, via Paris if you really insist on seeing it.

[Awry]

Quite an impressive schedule you've got there, but IMHO (and assuming you're traveling clockwise) once you've reached Marseille, the rest is going to seem a bit lame. Western France is relatively uninspiring. If it were me, I'd stay longer in the Alps and the South East and then just head straight back home, via Paris if you really insist on seeing it.

My GF wants to see Paris so I have no choice. Thanks for the tip. I see you live in France so I assume you know. I have more then enough to see without western France and if it's not a must it'll probably be better to spend time on the other parts and maybe stay a bit longer in Italy and dip a bit further south there instead of western France.

[FroGTI]

My GF wants to see Paris so I have no choice. Thanks for the tip. I see you live in France so I assume you know. I have more then enough to see without western France and if it's not a must it'll probably be better to spend time on the other parts and maybe stay a bit longer in Italy and dip a bit further south there instead of western France.

I have lived over here for 25 years Definitely prioritize the first half of your trip (Germany, Switzerland, Italy & S.E. France as far round as Marseille). The scenery is amongst the best in Europe. After that, I think the west of France will seem rather ordinary. Everybody wants to see Paris, but I really don't rate it compared to, say, London or some of the big cities in the US. It's dirty, the people are weird and the traffic is a nightmare (not that I'm trying to put you off... )