Dalema

Hi all - soon to embark on ED to Zuffenhausen to pick up my Spyder - super excited!

I really need some help with planning the driving route and where to stay. My wife is coming with me, so this will unfortunately not be a track focused trip - rather an Italian focused trip.

I would love to get input / feedback on:
- Places to stay at our main stopping points: Lake Como, around Stelvio Pass, Tuscany, Parma and maybe Innsbruck
- Roads / passes to drive along our general way
- Have we bitten off too much in the time we have?

Here's what the trip currently looks like:

Day 1 – Leave US to FRA
Day 2 – Arrive FRA, train to Stuttgart
Day 3 – Zuffenhausen pick up 8:30am; tour and lunch
Day 4 – Stuttgart to Stelvio Pass – 5 hr drive
• Where should we stay?
Day 5 – Stelvio Pass to Lake Como – 3 hr drive
• Where should we stay?
Day 6 – Lake Como
Day 7 – Lake Como to Borgo Argenina (Tuscany) – 5 hr drive
Day 8 - Borgo Argenina (Tuscany)
Day 9 - Borgo Argenina (Tuscany)
Day 10 - Borgo Argenina to Parma – 3 hr drive
• Where should we stay - any cool little towns with good food around Parma?
Day 11 – Parma
Day 12 – Parma to Innsbruck – 3 hr drive
• Where should we stay?
• Where might be a better alternative to Innsbruck as a stopping point on the way back to Stuttgart?
Day 13 – Innsbruck to Stuttgart – 3.5 hr drive; drop off car at ZF by 5pm; train to FRA
Day 14 – Leave FRA to US

https://goo.gl/maps/fCnDf2goQv72

TTLATION

Hotel Bella Vista in Trafoi...beautiful location situated @ 1 of the Stelvio pass hairpin turns

Stayed there in June 2104 on my way from Zuffenhausen to Tuscany after picking up my Boxster S

Owned by Gustav Thoni (Italian Olympic gold medalist & World Cup skiing champion)

Very charming & humble person...he even let me park my P-car overnight in the garage where he keeps his tractor.

Dinner was excellent & view from our room looking down the valley @ the glacier was stunning!

Be sure to ask to see his trophy room.

TTLATION

In Lake Como, Villa La Mirabella. Small, family run boutique hotel.Make sure to get a room facing the lake. Underground parking was a bonus for the P-car.
Ferry dock is right there across the road.

Dalema

Thanks for the great suggestions - will look into them all.

juniordrums

Stelio pass will not open until June...

I am in Italy now. We did venice today, Milan tomorrow, then Pisa on our way to a few days near Rome. We will do day trips from Rome, to the Amalfi coast and sienna. We have a cooking class scheduled in Siena...

Dalema

Hmmm - that could be an issue as we will be there late May. Is it a hard and fast June 1 date?

juniordrums

You can find all the info for the passes online. If you are going into italy anyways, there is no major need to go over the alps like that. The views on some other routes are just as good.

My lady had never seen Neuschwanstein, so I took her down there yesterday. We left there late afternoon, and drove over to Innsbruck. Absolutely beautiful town and amazing dinner. This morning we drove down to Venice. That drive thru the souther alps and the Dolomites as phenomenal.

TTLATION

+1 on drive through the Dolomites (Strada del Dolomiti)
My avatar pic was taken there.

Dalema

We will definitely stop in at the Neuschwanstein Castle on the way back. Not sure we will be able to fit in the Dolomites - but would really like to. Maybe we can.

Dalema

Hi all. So some amendments to the trip based on feedback so far - keep it coming.

We will head south via the Gotthard Pass, take a day less in Como and add a stop in Cinque Terra.

Question 1: On our first day of driving, should we stop somewhere around the Gotthard Pass or just push on down to Como in 1 day. If we do the latter, we can get back the day in Como - I'm just a bit concerned it's too far in one day.

Question 2: Does anyone here work at Google and know how fast Google Maps assumes you drive on the Autobahn - hahaha ?

Latest route: https://goo.gl/maps/rDvMUwjvneF2

Day 1 – Leave US to FRA
Day 2 – Arrive FRA, train to Stuttgart
Day 3 – Zuffenhausen pick up 8:30am; tour, lunch and museum
Day 4 – Stuttgart to Grindewald – 4 hr drive
• Where should we stay?
Day 5 – Oberalp Pass / Gotthard Pass to Lugano / Lake Como – 2 hr drive
• Now deciding where to stay.
Day 6 – Lugano / Lake Como to Monterosso al Mare – 4 hr
Day 7 – Monterosso al Mare to Borgo Argenina (Tuscany) – 3.5 hr drive
Day 8 - Borgo Argenina (Tuscany)
Day 9 - Borgo Argenina (Tuscany)
Day 10 - Borgo Argenina to Parma – 3 hr drive
• Where should we stay?
Day 11 – Parma
Day 12 – Parma to Interalpen-Hotel Tyrol – 4.5 hr drive
Day 13 – Interlapen to Stuttgart – 4 hr drive; drop off car at ZF by 5pm; train to FRA
• Via Neuschwanstein Castle
Day 14 – Leave FRA to US

sno_duc

Google driving times in my experience are optimistic, any traffic, road construction, or (the vary rare) accident and your drive time goes up way up.

Take a look at via michelin.
http://www.viamichelin.com/

Dalema

We're heading out today - thanks for all the advice guys!

I'll clean this up / start a new thread - but this is the latest driving route:

https://goo.gl/maps/xG393TnxR6s

One final question - is the best place to change money at the airport, and what type of place (we fly into FRA)?

trebien

Your best option for advantageous rates and lowest fees is almost always to use an ATM withdrawal at any major European bank ATM with your debit/ATM card from the US - it should work fine.

Have a great trip!

skuplist

Yes that's the way to go. ATM's everywhere just like in the US. I never bring more than $300 in cash with me from the states. In addition the ATM's will get you the best exchange rate.

Dalema

Thanks guys. Worked out well. If you do this make sure you call your bank first to let them know you will be travelling.

Trip was exceptional, will do a write up when I dig myself out of work!