Euro Cruising for Virgins

[billz]

I have noticed more and more people saying they would like to go to Europe in there Zeds. So i have created this thread so that fellow zedders who have been to Europe can input Roads/Routes,Hotels/Places to stay and things/places to visit. The roads we have travelled throughout Europe put our roads to shame. Also for Advice to zedders planning on doing one in the future.
When to Go
The best time of year to go is between June untill October. Try to avoid August as the roads can be extremely busy due to the Europeans taking there holidays within this month
Things you need are
UK Plates or Sticker
Headlight Deflectors
2x Triangles
2x Yellow Safety Vests
Swiss Vignette (for Motorway driving)
Spare Bulbs and Fuses
Spare Wheel or Inflatable Spray
Dashcam To capture every moment
Camera for all those photos
French Traffic Advice as of 2015
http://about-france.com/travel.htm#laws
Italian Traffic Advice
http://www.italia.it/en/useful-info/rules-to-drive-in-italy.html
Spanish Travel Advice
http://www.rac.co.uk/travel/driving-abroad/countries/spain
Routes to travel
Alps Area
Grand Ballon France (between Epinal and Mulhouse)
This is an excellent driving road and stunning scenery and you can sometimes see the Birdmen in the sky
Sustenpasse Switzerland
This is one of the famous passes in Switzerland, there is a plato, cafe and toilets at the top. Even in August there can be Snow but not on the roads. This is one of a triangle of passes at the end of the Susten where it joins the Grimselpasse you can head to Gindlwald where you can visit the South side of the Eiger Mountain.
Grimselpasse Switzerland
Another of the triangle this runs from the Sustenpasse daon to the Furkapasse where you can carry on down to the southern Alps or take to head over towards Como area
Furkapasse Switzerland
This is one of my favourite Passes heading over towards Andermatt, plenty of bends and sweeping corners with stunning scenery. Or you can go down towards the Grand St. Bernard pass from Martigni to Aosta Napoleon took an army over it in the winter and the opening scene in the Italian job lovely and it leads to the petite St Bernard pass. We took our time and stopped often,had a coffee and enjoyed the views, Marmots ,cyclists and bendy roads,it's not far to,col du Madelene lovely col du telegraph and the mighty col du Galibier
Julierpasse Switzerland
This another of my favourite roads this runs down from Chur passes St Moritz down to what is known as the Silverplanna. At the top there is plato with a little cafe and toilets and the views are stunning.
Stelviopasse Switzerland
This is a pass with more U turns than any government on the planet. It is not a very pretty pass but if you are in the area then it is a must do just to say you have done it. At the top there is a little village but beware it gets really busy and is very hard to park. if you are doing the pass coming from Bormio there is a lovely bar/cafe down the other side where you can sit outside and view the pass
The St Bernardino Pass Switzerland Between Chur and Bellinzona
just after the turn for the Splugen passe . There's a lake and a café at the top with plenty of parking
The Col du Turini France, just north of Monaco.
Its a WRC stage and has superb views and super smooth tarmac. Again, there is a restaurant at the top.
A quick tip of you want to see Monaco. Its very expensive to stay within the principality. If you aim to stay in Menton to the East or down towards Nice in the West, its very much cheaper and a cheap train runs from either side straight into Monaco. Of course, you can drive in too and follow most of the F1 course
Pyrenees Area
The road from Tarbes France to Ainsa Spain
This route is full of everything, stunning scenery quaint little villages and excellent roads. This route takes you through the Beilsa Tunnel The difference once you enter the Tunnel on the French side to embarking on the Spanish side is vast. I have known it be 8 degrees on entering and 24 degrees on embarking.
The road from Pau France down to Biescas in Spain.
This again is a stunning road to drive with lovely little villages and nice twisty turny roads
Sitges to Barcelona Spain
If you are ever in this area then doing the coast road from Sitges to Barcelona is a must. Very twisty with wonderful coastal view and some really scary bits thrown in. But it is a great fun road to do.
Javea to Denia Spain
This can be a hairy scary drive over the mountains but both are really nice towns to visit.
Places to Visit
Saint Nazaire France
A nice port town with a lovely bridge. You can also visit the Submarine in the Harbour. On the seafront at St Nazaire there is a monument to 'The Lancastria' a ship sent to rescue the troops around the time of the evacuation of Dunkirk. It was a direct hit from German bombers, my father was on board at the time, along with an estimated 9000 others. News of the sinking was suppressed by Churchill, because the number killed would affect the morale of the country. That hushed up tragedy remains the largest loss of life in Maritime history, even more than the Titanic and the Lusitania combined.
Alongside there is another monument, it is one of the guns of the 'Campbell Town' The destroyer that rammed and blew up the lock gates of the dry dock, rendering it useless and denying it's use to the Germans for the rest of the war
Millau France
Need i say more here you will find the great Millau Viaduct which opened in 2004. There many spots to view be able to view it in all its glory
Cognac France
This is a lovely town where all the famous Brandys are made from Remi Martin to Martell and you will more than likely pass these.
Berck Sur Mer France
This is where we usually stop so we can catch either the tunnel or ferry. It is a sea side town which is just 40 minutes from Calais. Lots of bars and restaurants on the sea front
Limoges France
This is a lovely City boarded on the river La Vienne
Mulhouse France
This is the gateway to the Alps and also houses the Schlupf Museum
Forcola Sondrio Italy
This is where we have started staying for its central location to most of the areas we visit. There is a lovely 3* hotel called La Brace which has the biggest car park i have seen for a Hotel
Sitges Spain
This is a lovely Spanish seaside resort. Mainly known for the Gay population (or it was)
Grindlewald Switzerland
A lovely village with views to the Eiger Mountain. Here you can catch a cable car upto the top
Livigno Italy
A nice village with plenty of bars and shops nestled between the Mountains with a Lake on its edge
Barcelona Spain
This is a city full of culture. Great Gaudi Architecture can be seen everywhere throughout the City including the most famous La Sagrada Família

I will add to this over the next few weeks

 

[TR4man]

Breathalysers for France?

 

[billz]

I did hear these were not going to be a requirement. But i could be wrong maybe one of the French members could confirm this

 

[hard top]

Drive on the right........

 

[miller1098]

Great write up,I've got to add if you have a chance the Grand St. Bernard pass from Martigni toAosta Napoleon took an army over it in the winter and the opening scene in the Italian job lovely and it leads to the petite stBernard pass. We took our time and stopped often,had a coffee and enjoyed the views, Marmots ,cyclists and bendy roads,it's not far to,col du Madelene lovely col du telegraph and the mighty col du Galibier .

 

[Grumps]

Really good right up Bill. It is daunting for those going first time. We've only done France in the past and never in the Zed. Really looking forward to it. I would advise anyone who hasn't done a European trip to go for it. Even if you try France only first time it's a fantastic experience. We have virtually ruled out the "cattle grid, plane and drain" type holidays in favour of these sorts of trips. Bill!

 

[jonco]

I did hear these were not going to be a requirement. But i could be wrong maybe one of the French members could confirm this

I'm not French billz but is covered in this link along with a couple of other things you could add to your list in future
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/compulsory_equipment.html

Good idea and write -up

 

[billz]

I have just read up on it and to clear things up. It is a law that is not a law as it does not carry any penalty if you dont carry them, even though they state it is obligatory since April 2013
http://about-france.com/travel.htm#laws

 

[Nifty Fifty]

Never done anything like this and is certainly on my bucket list to do
When planning one of these trips roughly how many miles do you cover in a day??

My only problem is to convince the other half to do it, its hard enough to even take a ride out in the Z with her (not that bothers me) let alone do one these, it's something that has never interested her!
My plan is to keep on about it for her say go alone!

So I will be watching this with interest so I can plan my own solo trip..lol

 

[billz]

Nifty It entirely depends on what you want from the trip. We have done 200 miles and also 500 miles in a day. You have to bare in mind that the roads abroad are a lot quieter than over here unless around the towns and cities. We try to do a day with 5hrs driving giving enough time to stop off and see what we like. We would sooner do these sort of holidays than have 2 weeks in say the Maldives. You get to see so much more and are not constrained whatsoever. You stop when you want, go where you want and if you are not happy with where you decided to visit you just move on.

 

[Jack Ratt]

I've never driven on the continent but it's on my "to do" list. I bought my old Merc with intention of doing a Euro trip when I retire, but who says I can't do it in the Zed too

I do a lot of miles in my day to day job and when we go away on holiday we walk everywhere once we get to the hotel.

I'm not sure my wife would get even half her kit in the Zed for a Euro cruise, but then may be she could drive the Merc and I'll pilot the Zed

I'd love to do it, yeah I'll mull it over

 

[billz]

Kim was the same. We used to go on hols with 22kg luggage and she still had to put stuff in my case. Now she has just learnt to cut back on things like not taking 15 pairs of shoes for 2 weeks

 

[Jack Ratt]

Kim was the same. We used to go on hols with 22kg luggage and she still had to put stuff in my case. Now she has just learnt to cut back on things like not taking 15 pairs of shoes for 2 weeks

...... and the fXXX do they need to take curling tongs and chuffing straighteners ..... I mean, who's ever heard of curly straight hair

 

[billz]

Not to mention everything in the bathroom cupboard,Then they bring back 50% of what they took unworn, never to be seen again
You will be surprised what you can pack in the back of the zed though. We split it evenly she gets the boot i get the glovebox

 

[Nifty Fifty]

Nifty It entirely depends on what you want from the trip. We have done 200 miles and also 500 miles in a day. You have to bare in mind that the roads abroad are a lot quieter than over here unless around the towns and cities. We try to do a day with 5hrs driving giving enough time to stop off and see what we like. We would sooner do these sort of holidays than have 2 weeks in say the Maldives. You get to see so much more and are not constrained whatsoever. You stop when you want, go where you want and if you are not happy with where you decided to visit you just move on.

That's the problem my other half is never spontaneous, everything has to be planned, booked, logged, checked in, written down, double booked and checked again and then ensured the dog is looked after as he always comes first! So now you can see I'd love to do it alone!!

 

[Nifty Fifty]

That's the problem my other half is never spontaneous, everything has to be planned, booked, logged, checked in, written down, double booked and checked again and then ensured the dog is looked after as he always comes first! So now you can see I'd love to do it alone!!

Oh I did forget to mention, I do love her to bits and I couldn't live with out her really

 

[jonco]

Oh I did forget to mention, I do love her to bits and I couldn't live with out her really

Quick change of comment - has she just read your previous post

 

[miller1098]

That's the problem my other half is never spontaneous, everything has to be planned, booked, logged, checked in, written down, double booked and checked again and then ensured the dog is looked after as he always comes first! So now you can see I'd love to do it alone!!

Last time we went all we booked was the tunnel.it was a great trip all you have to do is pick some places you would like to see and keep going until you run out of time.We always started looking for a hotel about4or5.00 in the afternoon unless we were heading to a big town,in September there was always availability

 

[TR4man]

I have just read up on it and to clear things up. It is a law that is not a law as it does not carry any penalty if you dont carry them, even though they state it is obligatory since April 2013
http://about-france.com/travel.htm#laws

I know what you are saying Bill, but individual breathalysers are around £5 and I'd prefer to be safe than sorry.

I've not taken the Zed abroad, but have driven both my Triumphs around France, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and Holland and in each country driving is a much more pleasurable experience than here. It is how I imagine it was in the UK many years ago. Whilst my wife has come with me on several occasions, she prefers the sun and a beach side holiday, so often my son has been my passenger and we have really enjoyed ourselves (memories that will stay with me forever) so don't be put off if your wives are not too keen.

 

[oldcarman]

We prebooked very few places and if we made a wrong turn just kept going to see what was along the way. Never having been there before it was always easy to find something of interest to us. We survived 4 trips of at least 28 days and up to six weeks and never got lost because we didn't have set plans!! Try it, you'll love it. JIM