Hi, I am planning our caravan holiday for the summer and we are looking to travel through Switzerland, into Northern Italy and then through the Mont Blanc tunnel to Chamonix. I would like to know if the mountain roads (main routes) are ok for towing and any good campsites en route? Hope someone can offer any advice / suggestions!
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We would go toll free on good roads from Calais or Dunkirk via Luxembourg, Metz, Nancy, Colmar and Mulhouse ( all those are good stopovers) to the Swiss border at Basel. Then you buy vignettes (permits) to allow to use Swiss motorways and St Gotthard tunnel into Italy.
Coming back will be more expensive as the toll price for the Mont Blanc tunnel is high, and that feeds you on to French toll roads for much of the way back, unless you choose to divert off them.
There are no mountain passes on those routes, but you might well want to try some of those solo when you are in the Alpine area.
Thanks Berriow, I was thinking about visiting the Alsace so your suggestions fit in. Where do we buy the vignettes? Also, is the route from Aosta to the Mt Blanc tunnel caravan-friendly?
Finally, any suggestions for decent sites?
Cheers!
WE have been to Interlaken and the Jungfrau area twice, we travelled from Dunkirk and had an overnight stop at Eguisheim then about 5 hours next day onto Interlaken stopping at the border point to get our vignettes we stayed at Camping Manor farm on the outskirts of Interlaken which is lakeside and easy to explore this beautiful region by train, we loved the place and want to explore more of the country and go across into the Italian lakes, hope this helps. J x
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Quote: Originally posted by Mart on 15/1/2014Thanks Berriow, I was thinking about visiting the Alsace so your suggestions fit in. Where do we buy the vignettes? Also, is the route from Aosta to the Mt Blanc tunnel caravan-friendly?
Finally, any suggestions for decent sites?
Cheers!
Good morning Mart
Swiss vignettes (one for car and one for caravan) can be bought in advance on line, or on arrival at the frontier post.
Aosta to Mont Blanc tunnel is a motorway so no gradients beyond the capability of HGV's and touring caravans
Lots of site reviews here on campsite search - some of them mine, but lots of others too.
We drove into Switzerland from Germany (gotta love that free autobahn) and our satnav took us around all of the toll roads. We were still able to reach our destinations quickly and without too many problems.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Personally, I would avoid the German autobahns - we got stuck in so many road works and traffic jams. I was really disappointed as I thought the Germans were so 'car' friendly and would have great routes. I would rather pay the tolls and get down quickly without getting held up.