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I've done it many times now - every year since 1999.
3 drivers is better than 2. Swop drivers every 2-3 hours.
Tunnel is far better than ferry.
Leave Fri afternoon. Kip in northern France & complete the drive early next morning. Couple of quick stops & a longer one for lunch (30mins). Arrive fresh(ish) about 6-8pm.
Use the toll roads.
Use Sanef tag - works really well.
Lots of useful info here. Tagged for reference.
I've had a speeding fine sent on by hire car company from a camera in Austria. So had the double whammy of a €30 fine and a €30 admin fee from hire company.
These sneaky Austrians place cameras just after the change of speed limit signs. So actually brake rather than just taking your foot off the gas and letting the car slow by coasting. Annoyingly I wasn't speeding before the speed limit dropped (just before the entrance to a tunnel).
Best advice (which was given to me by a transfer van operator who'd been doing it all summer of years):
the last hour of driving is the worst - you'll be tired and trying to navigate off the toll roads - so be aware and stop for break/coffee BEFORE doing the last stretch. SatNav can be invaluable for reducing stress levels!
Hi folks,
Thanks for all the very useful comments on this topic.
A couple of you asked where I'm heading to, I'm heading for Bourg St. Maurice so should be ok in avoiding the Robbing Swiss buggers!
There will be two of us, we have sat nav, During the journey the bikes will be inside the van where possible (except when sleeping)to reduce fuel consumption.
We are staying with friends so time of arrival isn't really an issue.
I look forward to any other replies, tips or advice.
Thanks a lot 🙂
SatNav can be invaluable for reducing stress levels!
On the flipside if it shows the remaining journey time it can be soul destroying. The first 6 hours always crawl past, the last 2 fly by!
miketbrown - MemberBest advice (which was given to me by a transfer van operator who'd been doing it all summer of years):
the last hour of driving is the worst - you'll be tired and trying to navigate off the toll roads - so be aware and stop for break/coffee BEFORE doing the last stretch. SatNav can be invaluable for reducing stress levels!
Dam straight, it's almost cruel, hours and hours and hours of flat, boring, fields whilst you're at your most fresh (yes, yes they're pretty for the first 5 hours but then it starts to grate a bit) as you're starting to really feel it, you get massive hills, so massive you might have to drop a gear, or two - something I've not had to do in the UK for decades, and then finally when you're really tired, mental tight and twisty Alpine roads with concrete barriers and you're on the wrong side of the car relative to the road so your usual special awareness is all to crap.
Hi, we have done this trip several times in our camper, we too are Midlands based.
Leave home around 7pm, miss the M25 traffic on the way to the chunnel, get a midnight crossing. Once in Calais, follow the signs for Cite Europe (Calais shopping centre near chunnel) and follow the little motorhome signs to the car park with no height barriers.
You can then park here overnight for free (and safely! as it is next to the police station) - BE WARNED of staying in aires on motorways close to Calais - there have been lots of thefts and robberies from people staying in motorhomes!
Get up early next morning, drive straight to alps, get there in time for tea 🙂 and not too knackered as you haven't driven through the night and lost sleep.
Hope this helps & have fun.