Preparation for long road trip

Seafrance - would never use them again. Twice they have left me stranded in France through strikes.

P&O everytime for me. Decent boats and waiter brekkie in Langans restaurant makes the journey quick and pleasant.

Train- too expensive and like cattle, quick though.

Norfolkline - good & cheap but boats too infrequent should you miss yours.
 
Agree with much of what people have said - I do like the Norfolk Line crossings they're dirt cheap and comfortable enough for a short crossing (there's even free WiFi!). Every penny you save on the crossing you can spend in extra petrol as you high tail it across open French country side :thumbsup:

The tunnel is nice if you're in a rush, but I do like having a couple of hours break on the ferry, especially if you've driven from the north! :)
 
Thanks for all the comments and suggestions!

Lots of advice and plenty to think about. Just had a bombshell though :-( I plan to go for 3 weeks in early september, however my brother has just announced his stag do in mid September... so It looks like I will have to miss the stag do... never mind, I'm sure it will be worth it!

Got my Falkens sorted last week too! managed to get FK452's (x4) fitted, balanced etc for less than £380! which I am pleased with. Place called Malvern Tyres in Stafford if anyone was interested. They matched the prices that Camskill were offering, and then charge £10 per corner for fitting. I should be getting them fitted this week.

Just had two fronts replaced with Falkens on my VW TDI at the same place, they seemed happy for me to stay and chat so I was able to see if any miss treatment of the wheels was going on. (Once I had my alloys scuffed at one place).
 
As an alternative to Geneva( Switzerland is chuffin expensive) try Annecy,it's on a lovely alpine lake and the old town is stunning,especially at night where there are loads of great places to eat and people watch. I know a decent and cheap hotel with an underground car park within a 10 min walk of the old town.
Next ,you have to drive the route Napoleon (N85) down to Nice.Its the best driving road in Europe,If you are driving from Annecy I can give you a really good route ( done it on my bike many times)
When you get to Monaco, go north and look up the Col du Turini,its a stage on the Monte Carlo WRC rally, smooth, grippy tarmac but the biggest giggle getting to the summit.
We found St Tropez a bit of a dump tbh, but we had to see for ourselves.I'm slightly envious of your trip,I'd love to be doing the same myself this summer,but spending cash like water on my Dakar Rep BMW bike,so maybe next year!!

have a good trip :D
 
Mr big

Are you a frequent visitor to Woolaston BMW?

I have lunch there every now and again and see a chap on a Dakar rep sometimes
 
Yes, I must admit I am not too bothered about St Tropez. I have heard its not that great. But Unfortunately my better half has it in her mind that she wants to go. The road trip will have to be a bit of a compromise, I think initially she wanted to fly down and stay down on the south coast of France. I however saw it as an opportunity to take the Z and do some decent driving!

Yeah, I have already done a bit of research and the Napoleon route did come up, as did La Route des Grandes Alpes.

I will check out Annecy on the Internet, I was initially thinking of stopping in a place called Evian (on the French side of Lake Geneva), and then taking a dayn trip into Geneva itself. Apparently the roads are better and the views better on the Swiss side of Lake Geneva?

Col du Turini sounds like a must!

Cheers
 
They featured the Col de Turini on the Top Gear episode where they went in search of Europe's best driving road and ended up on the Stelvio Pass, so you should be able to find that on YouTube.

I did the Stelvio a couple of years ago and doing it again this year - it is pretty awesome.

Plan on doing the Col de Turini as well this year, and we'll be in Nice from 22nd to 24th August so if anyone else is down there then let's arrange a mini-meet!
 
Lance, I don't go to Wollaston BMWthat often,but I did go in this week and spend £ 300 on a few parts ands nuts n bolts for my Dakar rep.It's not me you've seen down there,it may be the guy who builds complete ones , he's down there all the time.I'm hoping that my bike will be finished in the next 6 - 8 weeks,engine in this weekend,then gearbox,then finish the wiring,then some more fabrication to the tank,then make the seat,then get the Marlboro paint job on the tank,then MOT,dyno and hopefully that'll be it.rekon I'll have done £15k by the time it's finished!!! :o You may see my Z around, black with no plate S11URV,wave if you see me!!!
 
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