Holidays are something we all enjoy and look forward to throughout the year. But if you’re bored of staying in expensive resorts or hunting for new and interesting places to stay, then why not consider planning a road trip instead?
The French Riviera attracts a range of tourists every year – especially those who like to flash their cash. But one little known fact about this popular area of France is that it’s a great place to start a road trip around France, Switzerland and Italy.
Planning
All holidays require a certain amount of planning but road trips even more so. For one thing, you need to plan your itinerary and where you’re going to stay along the way. It’s worth not being over-ambitious with your itinerary and only doing manageable distances ensuring that you still have plenty of time to take in the sights along the way.
Bring puzzles and games for the kids. A trip around Europe is an excellent family holiday and a great way for you to spend time together. To avoid the kids getting bored in the back of the car, make sure you pick up some entertaining printable puzzle games before you set off. There are also a great range of apps available to keep them entertained en route.
It’s also a good idea to budget seeing as fuel is going to cost you a fair amount but you should also account for food and drink as well as emergency funds (in case you get lost).
Take a GPS with you just in case. While you should consider your road trip an adventure, no one wants to waste vast amounts of time being lost.
The Route
This circular route will take you on mountainous roads through the French Rhone-Alps, the crystal clear lakes of Switzerland and Lake Como in Italy. The lap around Alps will provide you with some of those most gorgeous views in Europe and offers a diverse range of roads to travel.
For a smoother, faster journey, it might be worth opting for the AutoRoute heading out of the French Riviera to quickly get on your way. Alternatively, there are a range of other, more scenic routes to take through mountain villages. The first destination is the French town of Embrun – home to two national parks as well as a range of impressive mountain passes.
You’ll then continue you north to find yourself gazing out onto the stunning landscapes of Samoens, close to the French/Swiss border. You’ll then cross the border into Geneva, Switzerland where you’ll need to decide on where your holiday will take you next.
More active holidaymakers might like to visit Interlaken, whereas the more laidback holiday maker might like to take in the sites at the beautiful city of Lucerne.
Italy is the next destination where you’ll head, going south across the border to the stunning Lake Como, where you’ll admire the multimillion-dollar villas that run alongside the lake. Lake Como is the perfect place to take a relaxing break and indulge in the fine Italian cuisine before heading on to Turin – a much larger more cosmopolitan city.
In Italy tolls are levied on the majority of motorways. Payment is made either in cash or via debit/credit cards from Visa, Eurocard and MasterCard.
“Only one in four petrol stations are open 24 hours a day on Sundays and public holidays. On roads in built-up areas, parking is only allowed on the right-hand side if there is two-way traffic. On one-way streets, you can park on either side providing a space of at least 10ft is left”, says Mike Callaghan a Head of Argus Car Hire.
Once you’re done seeing the famous landmarks such as the Shroud of Turin, you’re on your way back to the French Riviera.
(Photos by © Brandon Elijah Scott / Eye & Pen)
Planning
All holidays require a certain amount of planning but road trips even more so. For one thing, you need to plan your itinerary and where you’re going to stay along the way. It’s worth not being over-ambitious with your itinerary and only doing manageable distances ensuring that you still have plenty of time to take in the sights along the way.
Bring puzzles and games for the kids. A trip around Europe is an excellent family holiday and a great way for you to spend time together. To avoid the kids getting bored in the back of the car, make sure you pick up some entertaining printable puzzle games before you set off. There are also a great range of apps available to keep them entertained en route.
It’s also a good idea to budget seeing as fuel is going to cost you a fair amount but you should also account for food and drink as well as emergency funds (in case you get lost).
Take a GPS with you just in case. While you should consider your road trip an adventure, no one wants to waste vast amounts of time being lost.
The Route
This circular route will take you on mountainous roads through the French Rhone-Alps, the crystal clear lakes of Switzerland and Lake Como in Italy. The lap around Alps will provide you with some of those most gorgeous views in Europe and offers a diverse range of roads to travel.
For a smoother, faster journey, it might be worth opting for the AutoRoute heading out of the French Riviera to quickly get on your way. Alternatively, there are a range of other, more scenic routes to take through mountain villages. The first destination is the French town of Embrun – home to two national parks as well as a range of impressive mountain passes.
You’ll then continue you north to find yourself gazing out onto the stunning landscapes of Samoens, close to the French/Swiss border. You’ll then cross the border into Geneva, Switzerland where you’ll need to decide on where your holiday will take you next.
More active holidaymakers might like to visit Interlaken, whereas the more laidback holiday maker might like to take in the sites at the beautiful city of Lucerne.
Italy is the next destination where you’ll head, going south across the border to the stunning Lake Como, where you’ll admire the multimillion-dollar villas that run alongside the lake. Lake Como is the perfect place to take a relaxing break and indulge in the fine Italian cuisine before heading on to Turin – a much larger more cosmopolitan city.
In Italy tolls are levied on the majority of motorways. Payment is made either in cash or via debit/credit cards from Visa, Eurocard and MasterCard.
“Only one in four petrol stations are open 24 hours a day on Sundays and public holidays. On roads in built-up areas, parking is only allowed on the right-hand side if there is two-way traffic. On one-way streets, you can park on either side providing a space of at least 10ft is left”, says Mike Callaghan a Head of Argus Car Hire.
Once you’re done seeing the famous landmarks such as the Shroud of Turin, you’re on your way back to the French Riviera.
(Photos by © Brandon Elijah Scott / Eye & Pen)
(This post was written in collaboration with Argus Car Hire)
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