Thinking of doing a driving trek to Italy in April, what better country to visit then Italy. Im interested to hear of people who have done this, and if im bypassing France, how long would it take me to do the journey to the Italian border from Calais, and is it possible to do in one day?? I have previously done from Calais to Amsterdam which took half a day.

Quite possible although i went through France as was going to Chamonix on the French side on the Tunnel, on the first ferry over, and was only about 6pm when we got there.

It rather depends which bit of the Italian border you want to get to, Calais to Lugano is just over 600 miles.

If you really want to avoid France, then its Calais into Belgium into Germany into Switzerland into Italy. That route is probably 150 Miles longer than the obvious Reims, Metz, Basel route. That's assuming you want to go Milan/Monza. If I did that, personally I'd take the time to do the Gotthard pass rather than the tunnel and I'd stop off in Mulhouse and see the French national motor museum/Schlumpf collection at the very least.

If you do Turin its really silly to avoid France, that's about 660 miles taking the French route. You'd cross into Italy at the Mont Blanc. Doing it keeping out of France will be well over 800.

Done it on the banger rally last year, totally agree with direct above post.

Could do it in a day but it is very boring. Would split into two personally

Yep, done Mount Blanc via Chamonix[picturesque area] then to Genoa. Remember, if you go via Switzaland, they will confiscate your Sat Nav or your Radar detector. This got done to a friend of mine who went from Hull, Holland, Germany, and Switzaland.

Andy.

sumplug said:

Yep, done Mount Blanc via Chamonix[picturesque area] then to Genoa. Remember, if you go via Switzaland, they will confiscate your Sat Nav or your Radar detector. This got done to a friend of mine who went from Hull, Holland, Germany, and Switzaland.

Andy.

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why sat nav?

I guess becaus you could have speed camera locations

mountainmachine said:

why sat nav?

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I can only imagine for Speed camera detection etc as some sat navs have this.

Basically if you speed in Switzerland you are done for

I have done from French side of the mont blanc tunnel up to Calais in a day no problem

Yep, Swiss are anti car, and any detection device found including sat nav is taken and smashed.

Andy.

Also done Northern Italy to Calais in One Day, and caught the 9pm ferry.

Andy.

Im thinking of doing London to Milan in 24 hours via the points of Reims, Dijon and as far south as Lyon before making a through track through Chamonix, is that possible, and I would rather stay driving in France then do the Benelux, Germany or Swiss route. Interesting fact about the sat nav being conviscated in Switzerland, as this is my main method of finding the route, is there any other country that does this.

badkilla said:

is there any other country that does this.

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Italy are ****s as well!! Like Switzerland but more violent if needs be should anything occur

Travelled from tuscany to calais in a day, although we stopped short for a motel as the Eurotunnel was booked for the morning. The best route has been described many times Montblanc tunnel, passed Geneva on the French side up pased Reims if you use the motorway tolls it's pretty clear and you can average 85mph easy with the higher speed limits of 130kmh. Avoid Switzerland if you want a quick trip as the whole country was one long roadwork.

AppleSei said:

Italy are ****s as well!! Like Switzerland but more violent if needs be should anything occur

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Be careful on the Autostradas in Italy. They check your toll ticket time entry on exit, and sometimes will fine you if they think you have been speeding. And the french Police, target none french car with their unmarked police cars. On the spot fines are rampant in northern france. And watch out for thiefs bumping your car, and then mugging you or stealing things whilst you talk with the "driver".
But the best bit is the scenery, totally beautiful !!!

Andy.

Sat Nav isn't illegal in Switzerland, camera detection devices and GPS based camera warning devices are illegal however. They're even trying to make radio program warnings and internet sites with camera locations illegal.

Consequently Camera position POI warnings are a No No

Pete