Calais to Lake Como route ?
Anyone have any tips on this route please ? would normally do these long treks with an evening crossing and drive through the night but this time we are going to take 3 days so what ideas do we have ? Oh it's the Northern end of Lake Como by the way.
Many thanks in advance.
Comments
-
The quickest way is through Switzerland so you would go Reims, Metz, Strasbourg then Basel. Not sure what the approach road directly to the North of the lake is like but if you approach via Chur you can go Basel - Zurich - Chur. If you approach from the south and drive up the lake (East side) then from Basel it is Lauzanne, Bellinzona, Como, Lecco. I am told that the West side of the lake should be avoided.
You will pay French autoroute tolls and two vignettes for Switzerland.
If you are set on Como then fine but I would just mention that Maggiore is a fabulous lake and very accessible. When you get to Locarno you are there.
0 -
We considered going to same location last year and posted a question about during there via Prutz in Austria. As said you will pay Autoroute tolls and for the Swiss vignette on the route suggested but you could go via Belgium, Germany and Austria then into
Italy via St Moritz which brings you to North of Como. DK has posted re a site there so may have suggestions re the route.We decided to stay in Prutz for 4 days then headed on down to Garda so did not follow the route above past Prutz.
0 -
To Hitch we went to Lake Maggiorie several years ago so thought we'd go a bit further over this time, the route you said was what I had in mind but not sure what way to approach the final destination, as mentioned the West side is supposed to be a no no
but it looks ok on Google Earth but approaching from Lecco seems long winded looking at a map.To Alan not keen on the longer route via Germany as will cost more fuel wise.
0 -
You seem as if you are wanting to make some stops en route. We have made it as far as Locano with 1 stop en route from either Rotterdam or Zeebrugge (can't remember which) and reasonably good travelling times during the day. If you travel via Belgium and Luxembourg you can benefit from free motorways and there are some lovely places in the Ardennes area to stop. Camping Le Chenefleur at Tintigny is in ACSI if you're out of season and in a nice area. Another nice area to stop is in the Alsace wine growing area west of Colmar. You can either go east from Metz or over the Col Du Bonhomme from Nancy (fine for caravans). The campsite at Equisheim is nice as is the town.
From there the obvious route is over the Gotthard motorway. The Swiss vignettes will cost you just over £60 at today's exchange rate, but will cover all your travels in Switzerland and include the tunnels. Can't help with the roads on your final approach to Lake Como though, last time I was in Como was by coach - on a school trip in 1961!
0 -
To Hitch we went to Lake Maggiorie several years ago so thought we'd go a bit further over this time, the route you said was what I had in mind but not sure what way to approach the final destination, as mentioned the West side is supposed to be a no no
but it looks ok on Google Earth but approaching from Lecco seems long winded looking at a map.To Alan not keen on the longer route via Germany as will cost more fuel wise.
Write your comments here...It most probably would be a lot cheaper via Germany and Austria which is the only way I would go due to one toll of 8.80 Euros and cheaper fuel than France and tolls of France and Switzerland are very high indeed the later is 80
Euros as you need one for car and one for caravan. Any large tunnels in France the tolls are very high too.We have been to Garda and Italy a few times and use the Brenner M'Way route with site stops on
here Any help please ask.DianneT
0 -
I agree with Marsker, the Alsace region of France is worth a stop over. The obvious route to Como is through the Gotthard tunnel, any other route is an unnecessary diversion. Hope you enjoy the Como area, its absolutely stunning.
0 -
Unfortunately nobody has really answered the original question! If approaching through Switzerland do you need to go through Lecco or is there a quicker route? Alternatively, via Austria what is the "Northern" apprach like? I am interested as well!
0 -
The northern approach from Austria to the north end of Lake Como is very straightforward. From Landeck in Austria the road follows the Inn valley - the Engadine - via St Moritz to the summit of the Maloja Pass, not a steep climb at all - and you don't need
Swiss vignettes as it is not motorway. The Maloja Pass is assymetrical - a gentle climb on the north side but the descent is steep and winding , though tourist coaches go that way so it is not a life threatening road. It brings you down to Colico at the top
end of lake Como.0 -
The northern approach from Austria to the north end of Lake Como is very straightforward. From Landeck in Austria the road follows the Inn valley - the Engadine - via St Moritz to the summit of the Maloja Pass, not a steep climb at all - and you don't need
Swiss vignettes as it is not motorway. The Maloja Pass is assymetrical - a gentle climb on the north side but the descent is steep and winding , though tourist coaches go that way so it is not a life threatening road. It brings you down to Colico at the top
end of lake Como.So the Majola Pass is ok then, i've not really done any of these haipin type passes with the van before but it's a small van and a VW Passat so should be ok. We are having 2 stopovers so plenty of time to get there so could go the longer way through Germany
and Austria and have never been to those two countries before so interesting stuff. Anyway keep the info coming we are taking it all in.0 -
The route along the western side of Lake Como was narrow and twisty with rocky edges. It is a few years since i travelled that route,( not towing ) but there was lots of places where road improvements were taking place so it may be somewhat better now.
0 -
When we did a tour of the Northern Lakes a few years ago our first stop was Lake Como. We used the Tunnel du Frejus (the Mont Cenis Pass was not open at the time) Its expensive but a fairly direct route. We came up the eastern side of the lake which is a good road but mainly through tunnels as our site, Camping Riva, was at the northern end of the lake. I agree that the western side of the lake is a much narrower road although you do get some fairly large lorries using it.
David
0 -
When we did a tour of the Northern Lakes a few years ago our first stop was Lake Como. We used the Tunnel du Frejus (the Mont Cenis Pass was not open at the time) Its expensive but a fairly direct route. We came up the eastern side of the lake which is a
good road but mainly through tunnels as our site, Camping Riva, was at the northern end of the lake. I agree that the western side of the lake is a much narrower road although you do get some fairly large lorries using it.David
Write your comments here...Camping Riva that is where we are heading by the way. If lorries can use it then should be ok with a van !! I'll drive the west side on Google Earth when i get time.
0 -
Lorries, buses, coaches all seem to go around the narrow roads on the Italian lakes but it takes for ever! Plan on averaging 20 mph.
0 -
Lorries, buses, coaches all seem to go around the narrow roads on the Italian lakes but it takes for ever! Plan on averaging 20 mph.
Write your comments here...Ok thanks, i've had time to have a good look on Google Earth and the Western side from Menaggio looks pretty much ok for towing.
0 -
There is a video on YouTube of a car and caravan driving the Majola Pass. Whilst we did not take the option to drive via Austris we have driven to Como from Lugano and whilst there drove the Western side which was very busy.
Yes it is used by trucks and coaches, lots and lots,and as my wife would confirm from her position of seeming to be constantly under threat of being hit, that was the problem!
0 -
There is a video on YouTube of a car and caravan driving the Majola Pass. Whilst we did not take the option to drive via Austris we have driven to Como from Lugano and whilst there drove the Western side which was very busy.
Yes it is used by trucks and coaches, lots and lots,and as my wife would confirm from her position of seeming to be constantly under threat of being hit, that was the problem!
Thanks for that more food for thought, i'm not scared easily but at the same time it would put a severe dampner on the holiday if we got hit.
Write your comments here...
0 -
Hi as brief as I can point out, we are doing something similiar leaving the 20th April France Italy Perry Como and Spain so if we stick to the advice in this small tent we are sharing we will be Christopher Columbus by the time we leave.Mimi and Bob.
0
