Southampton to Lake Garda

[Andy Rob]

Hi Gsrs,

I am planning our summer vacation and this year wish to travel to Lake Garda with poss stops in Chamonix. Do a little white water rafting etc and then on to Garda for RR in the sun by the lake. Open to suggestions on return trip

We plan to hit French soil aroun 2pm and am looking at only being on the road for 4/5hrs max first day so I could do with any recomends on stops of interest between Le Havre and Cham... as My better arf thinks we should have a relaxed amble to the alps as we have 14 days to get there and back.

So any suggested routes towns events welcome. Any suggested web sites for activities in main two destinations also welcome.

Ta
Andy Rob

 

[Alex B]

Andy

Wife and I did this trip a few years ago except we went from Southampton >> Portsmouth >> Caen >> Orleans >> Bourg en Bresson >> Annecy >> Mont Blanc >> Ivrea >> Turin >> Venice >> Ferrara.

Rule no 1 - pick good quality A roads unless you're in a mad rush in which case go Autoroute (and pay). Take your time. The urge is to rush rush rush. Fight it. See the scenery.

Do what I did. Plan the route as you go. We diverted often into beautiful scenery and did the French Alps where the cows wear bells !! Very Julie Andrews. Get a list of small hotels and pensions and stay there but call up a few days ahead. Bikes are no problem at all in these places - only in the UK !! All the people we ever met (French, Swiss, Italian) were all brilliant.

Good luck.

 

[Madmountainman]

Places to stay en-route.

South of Beaune, nr Couches is a place called Saone et Loire with a very good basic familly run hotel with loads of character and an amazing menu. In the Logis guide it's Des Trois Maures. Also SE of Dijon is Hostellerie Le Saint Antoine in LamarcheSur Saone also very good and boasts an indoor pool, front room i stayed in last year was excellent, and again another amazing meal.

 

[wessie]

There is a Logis de France in Moussy near Epernay

Rooms are basic but en suite.

Restaurant is superb.

Also, a 1km walk away is Chateau Pierry. Not the most impressive chateau but we really enjoyed the tour of the champagne cellars.

Walk, as we were treated to a very generous helping of champagne.

If you want to stay in a nice town then there is an IBIS in the centre of Beaune and Reims.

Both places are lovely.

 

[Andy Rob]

Thanks to all. Stop offs noted and now in the melting pot.. Decisions eh?? these are the ones I like though...

 

[ralphy]

Lake Garda

Andy
Rode all round Lake Garda in the recent Motogiro d'Italia - if you haven't been before you are in for a treat!!! Its really scenic & the locals are very 'bike friendly' - plus, you can stop on a bike where cars cannot; i.e. the gaps in the armco on the edge of the lake road.
Enjoy!!!!!

 

[Shurv]

Annecy is worthy of a stopover, so is Briancon. I can give you details of 2 great hotels in these towns. Also I found a 20+ mile dirt road just inside the Italian border at Sestriere to Sousa, bloody brilliant.Send me a PM and i'll give you the details if interested.

Marcus