Commercial trip or on my own

BRD

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I'm contemplating a trip and I'm not sure if to go on a commercial trip to Spain/Portugal in May or in June go solo ferry to Santander and to Genoa and then past the Italian lakes, Switzerland and back to the tunnel, I can take up to14 days for this.

I've never been on a trip before so the solo is a bit scary but also quite appealing.

Any suggestions for a route over the Pyrenees through southern France to Italy would be appreciated, which might help the decision.

Thanks
 
Definitely go on your own, you'll have a fantastic time. You'll probably even meet groups of people on the ferry who are going your way and you'll get great advice/tips for your trip - maybe even tag along with them for a bit? Everyone's friendly and helpful. Look out for GSers.:thumby:
Not sure about a route over the Pyrenees to Italy but I bet there's a thread on here that will tell you a good one.
Get some good maps, try http://www.mapsman.com take a few bulbs/tools, get EU breakdown cover and you are sorted!
I've always fancied Italy but never made it yet, so have a great time.:bounce1
Tim
 
+2 on your own.

I just googled N260 and the first vid up was my mates! Not sure if I was there that year, if I was I was at the back :blast

Pamplona N240 then follow N260 from west to east, cross into France at Puigcerda, Ax les Thermes, Quillan, Carcassone. I'd then look at via Millau and Grenoble into Italy.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xS8zRzNwdGw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
N260... ooh the memories. Great road. Did it on last years trip. Fast, silky tarmac surrounded by epic scenery. Mile after mile...
Going again in June but turning right at Santander not left!
You can tell I'm excited.:bounce1:bounce1:bounce1
 
Going on your own will probably mean that you meet people at stops only.

If you enjoy travelling with other people - and can't coerce friends into joining you.............

Then the group-travel might suit? Who knows - you may meet people you gel with sufficiently, that next year you organise your own trip(s).

Al :thumb
 
My preference is to go on my own, and I'm doing exactly that next Friiday on the evening sailing from Portsmouth. I've planned my hotels in advance, which I prefer doing rather than just turning up in a town and looking around, bought some paper maps which I'll mark up, and then I'm just going to see what I see.

In France you are pretty much always going to be fine with an Ibis or Mercure wherever you are, and just remember you are in a wealthy fiirst word country, with service stations, supermarkets, electronic shops, map shops etc. You can get to have an adventure on the minor roads, getting lost and finding new places when you want, but you are never going to be too far from a Carrrefour or a Leclerc if you need a new cable for your GPS, some sun cream, new underpants etc.

The only time I've even become close to having a bad experience on the contiinent, in terms of "preparedness" was when I was around the Gorge du Verdon on a bank holiday, and hadn't realised just how few petrol stations would be closed.
 
I've done solo, with the misses, small group of mates, large group of mates and a commercial tour. They all have their pros and cons and depending on many factors you may prefer one over the other but only you'll know which one that is.

Whatever you choose to do you'll still be riding your bike and will spend most of the day alone inside your helmet. Which I like. It's also nice to meet up with likeminded people in the evening and over a few beers recount to daring deeds of the day. What I would say is riding with a large group of bikes ridden by people you don't know can be frustrating and down right dangerous at times.

A good tour company should provide detailed route instructions so you can ride at your own pace, they will hopefully have good knowledge of things to see on route and places to eat as well as good quality/quirky accommodation. Generally people on these tours break up into smaller groups of likeminded souls and you will have company all along the route.

Conversely traveling solo you are far more likely to be approached by people. especially if you are naturally outgoing. Many people opt for a tour on their first foray abroad, takes the worry out of planning etc.

Do your homework and I'm sure you'll be thrilled with either option.
 
JohnnyBoxer said:
Go on your own................you'll meet more people

and have a great time
Click to expand...

Not if you're a miserable tw*t like me :D I tagged a weeks touring to the Alps onto the end of a business trip to Germany and, apart from a couple of GSer's at the top of the Stelvio, I barely spoke to anyone all week :tears
 
As already said.. it very much depends on you.

If you are outgoing and meet people easily, going on your own will be awesome... But many such people get 'seperation anxiety' when they leave said new people... (just watch the Not Dead Yet videos to have this expressed multiple times)

If you are very comfortable with yourself and you like to do things by yourself.. you will prefer to travel alone.

If you pick the right tour company, you get to meet new people, and won't have to leave them (forever) every day. Get the wrong tour and you will feel stressed at the pace. (or the opposite)

I prefer to travel with friends.. I don't mind planning and navigating.. (we split up the planning).

But, I generally hate traveling for multiple days by myself.. I don't meet people all that easily. I have been lucky with paid tours so far...

Al...
 
I far prefer to travel alone. Doing this I can start in the morning when I want to, stop for breakfast when I like, stop to take photos without seeking permission from others and so on. I have ridden and driven a few times with others and hated it. Usually they are too slow and sometimes the exact opposite. I really don't like ditherers either or those who won't keep up. So to avoid aggrevation, I prefer my own company. I have no need to 'recount daring deeds' and am happy to write my daily journal of the trip (in some cases), have a meal and a bottle of wine, and watch the World go by. In 2006 I rode solo across the US from coast to coast and back in three months (17,000 miles) and loved the freedom of choice I had and the emptiness of the roads which allowed me to contemplate.

Going back to the subject of this thread, get a large paper map and spread it out on the dining room table. Mark those places you'd like to visit then join them up with a thick line. Do some research (Lonely Planet, Insight Guides, and so on). As for the Pyrenees I did the route in reverse ie from Barcelona north to Andorra (don't bother with Andorra) then head along the ridges of the mountain range to Sort, Col du Aspin and the Col du Tourmalet, some of this route is part of the Tour de France route towards San Sebastian and Bilbao.

Nothing to be scared of. It's just riding a motorbike after all but far, far better than here as the scenery is gobsmackingly incredible and the traffic is far, far lighter in general.
 
I appreciate the input, it all helps.

I'm really undecided on this but I do quite like like the idea of a solo trip, especially as I can't find a commercial trip that totally fits the bill, although the not knowing the rules of the road, language, type of places to stay etc is more than a bit scary - then again it is supposed to be an adventure!!
 
I know this is a bit leftfield but if you want an Adventure , have a look at these trips . They are run by a Mate of mine in India . Life changing , relatively smallish groups and the camaraderie you will feel on the trip will blow your mind . I've been to the Himalaya 's 7 times and it will blow any Europe trip into the weeds

http://www.adventurepeople.in/
 
Paul Rochdale said:
I far prefer to travel alone. Doing this I can start in the morning when I want to, stop for breakfast when I like, stop to take photos without seeking permission from others and so on. I have ridden and driven a few times with others and hated it. Usually they are too slow and sometimes the exact opposite. I really don't like ditherers either or those who won't keep up. So to avoid aggrevation, I prefer my own company. I have no need to 'recount daring deeds' and am happy to write my daily journal of the trip (in some cases), have a meal and a bottle of wine, and watch the World go by. In 2006 I rode solo across the US from coast to coast and back in three months (17,000 miles) and loved the freedom of choice I had and the emptiness of the roads which allowed me to contemplate.

Going back to the subject of this thread, get a large paper map and spread it out on the dining room table. Mark those places you'd like to visit then join them up with a thick line. Do some research (Lonely Planet, Insight Guides, and so on). As for the Pyrenees I did the route in reverse ie from Barcelona north to Andorra (don't bother with Andorra) then head along the ridges of the mountain range to Sort, Col du Aspin and the Col du Tourmalet, some of this route is part of the Tour de France route towards San Sebastian and Bilbao.

Nothing to be scared of. It's just riding a motorbike after all but far, far better than here as the scenery is gobsmackingly incredible and the traffic is far, far lighter in general.
Click to expand...


all very true, and i love riding on my own.

unfortunately i hate eating alone and miss having a few people to get pissed with and share the days experiences.

so i go with a group but generally ride on my own :thumb2
 
"I've been to the Himalaya 's 7 times and it will blow any Europe trip into the weeds"

Yes, it does look stunning but at those prices it should be. I love the Pyrenees, the Alps and the Dolomites, and all are (almost) on our doorstep.

I am currently reading a superb book TOUCHING THE WORLD by Cathy Birchall and Bernard Smith. Bernard rose their R100RT around the World and Cathy was his blind pillion passenger. Whilst they loved the friendliness of the Indian people, they hated the country finding the condition of the 'roads' and the driving behaviour of the people appalling.

Another interesting book I borrowed from our library is GREAT MOTORCYCLE JOURNEYS OF THE WORLD by Colette Coleman. Well illustrated with brief thumbnails of suggested routes in many countries.
 
cookie said:
all very true, and i love riding on my own.

unfortunately i hate eating alone and miss having a few people to get pissed with and share the days experiences.

so i go with a group but generally ride on my own :thumb2
Click to expand...

We know:D

:thumb
 
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