Italy, Switzerland, France Trip... Any Suggestions?

[yotes65]

Greetings Everyone,

I have found it very Exhilarating reading the many Alp’s Ride Report’s… and the Pictures… OMG! That and watching the “Trippin on Two Wheel’s” segment that they filmed while they were riding the Dolomite’s. I’ve been over to Europe a couple of times on Vacation, but never on a Motorcycle Vacation. I now know that I must Journey to Europe to experience my own Motorcycle Journey!

I have talked to a few friends to see if any would be interested in traveling with me. Needless to say, they all want to go, but very few commitments, except for one friend. We both starting researching & planning our trip. I have a copy of John Hermann’s “Motorcycle Journeys Through the Alps & Beyond” to assist with the planning which has been very helpful.

Unfortunately, I will need to wait until the Summer of 2011 to go over. I must first take a vacation with the Better Half in the Summer of 2010… then off I go on my Trip.

While researching, I always seem to come across the debate of which area is best to ride in Europe. Some say the Alps, some say the Southern roads of France, some say up & down Italy… too many choices.

We are planning on two weeks for the trip with the following breakdown:

One Day Flying
One Day to Pick up Bikes & Travel to First Base Camp
Four Day’s at First Base Camp Exploring the Roads that surround it.
One or Two Day’s Traveling to Second Base Camp.
Four Day’s at Second Base Camp Exploring the Roads that surround it.
(maybe even spending Three Day’s each at Three different Base Camps)
One Day to Travel back to Drop off Bikes.
One Day to Fly Home…

I believe that I will have many trips to Europe to explore via two wheels. However my buddy believes this will be his One & Only trip… With that being said, if you had only one opportunity to experience Europe via Two Wheels, what would you considered to be the Must Ride Road’s/Area’s?  I know it’s a lot to ask & everyone will have their own opinion… I look forward to hearing these opinions. We would like to experience as much as possible without rushing..  

Thank you to everyone in advance for your assistance!

[kendenton]

I may be biased, but the roads around Arabba, Italy and Andermatt, Switzerland were fantastic!  You could easily do 4 days in Arabba (we did), but 3 or 4 days in Andermatt might be too much.

[Orson]

While researching, I always seem to come across the debate of which area is best to ride in Europe. Some say the Alps, some say the Southern roads of France, some say up & down Italy… too many choices.

There's a debate?  

Where do they make Lamborginis?  

Seriously though, here's my condensed version.

Best motorcycling roads- the south of France. Wales is up there, but the weather...meh. I don't enjoy endless switchbacks, so the Alps lost their charm pretty quickly  

Best culture- Italy by a mile. The living is so laid back. Kendenton's trip report sums it up in a nutshell. The Swiss seem grim and humorless. The Italians are just the opposite. Enjoying life, food, family, fast cars & motorcycles  

Best combination of both- Italy. Italian motorcyclists are free to do as they please, and no one raises an eyebrow. Absolute Disneyland on 2 wheels   Remember, the Appenine mountains stretch the entire length of italy  

Most underated destination- The UK. From jaw droppingly scenic countryside & villages to quaint pubs, and some nice roads thrown in (see Wales) A real sleeper. Yah, it does rain a bit, but you just prepare for it, and on a sunny day, it's bliss.

[Orson]

However my buddy believes this will be his One & Only trip… With that being said, if you had only one opportunity to experience Europe via Two Wheels, what would you considered to be the Must Ride Road’s/Area’s?  

It's hard to do with only 2 weeks, but I would try to see something other than just the Alps.

One week in the Alps, followed by:

North: thru the Black Forest, and along the Rhine River

or

South: thru the Italian Lake District to Tuscany, this would eat up a day on the Autostrada, but again, I'd want to see more of Europe than just the Alps.

If that's not feasible, then Kendenton's route would be enuff for a dream of a lifetimg  

2 weeks would be rushing it. 3 weeks mo' bettah  

[yotes65]

Thanks Ken & Orson... I did truly enjoy reading Ken's Alp's Ride Report. It's always a pleasure reading the Ride Reports written by Orson as well. GR's writeup on how easy & less expensive it is to ride on your own instead of with a Tour Group was one of the first reason's I  started thinking about going over.

I agree w/ Orson, I would like to see more then just the Alps. As much as I enjoy the Twisties, I perfer the Long Open Sweepers.

Planning this is going to be a lot of fun... Thanks for the Info!

[Orson]

The "base camp" method is something I should do more of  

Lots of advantages. Not having to find a new hotel every day. Leaving your luggage in the hotel room.

Minuses...your visit would be limited to one or two areas. If it was going to be someone's one and only visit to Europe, I'd want to see as much as possible.

[DangerMoney]

Hey Marty,
If you & your buddy speak the various languages in each country, great.  If not, something you might consider is communicating with the locals. Pretty much right after getting off the plane, you'll have to do it.

We've been to Europe several times and are going back in a few months. Since so many Americans & UK tourists go to Italy, many of the Italians speak English. In Germany, they teach English in school and we found in the cities almost everyone under the age of 35 speaks English.   If you get out in the German countryside, the locals, particularly the old folks, don't speak much English.

From experience I would suggest you add to the places under consideration:
-Northern Italy, particularly the area around Lake Como which borders Switzerland.
-Germany offers the Autobahn which has no speed limit outside the cities. There's also the Nurburgring (Nordschleife) which operates as a public toll road.
-Southern Germany's Black Forest which got me back into motorcycling after long break from it.

Another thing that helps with the locals is learning the basic phrases  in the local language: good morning, good evening, please, thank you, goodbye. Even if you mispronounce it, they see you're making an effort and appreciate it. We do this and have never been treated badly anywhere in Europe.

HTH.
Bill

[yotes65]

Hey Marty,
If you & your buddy speak the various languages in each country, great.  If not, something you might consider is communicating with the locals. Pretty much right after getting off the plane, you'll have to do it.

...

Another thing that helps with the locals is learning the basic phrases  in the local language: good morning, good evening, please, thank you, goodbye. Even if you mispronounce it, they see you're making an effort and appreciate it. We do this and have never been treated badly anywhere in Europe.

HTH.
Bill

Hey Bill,

I agree, knowing some of the basic phrases in the local language is vital... it went a long way on my previous visits to France & Italy.

Planning this trip is going to be the hardest part... ok, not so much the planning as it would be the waiting to go as I'm planning it...  

[Mr Sunshine]

I may be biased, but the roads around Arabba, Italy and Andermatt, Switzerland were fantastic!  You could easily do 4 days in Arabba (we did), but 3 or 4 days in Andermatt might be too much.

+1 here.  Wish I had the bike for 2 weeks when I went last year.

[notarian]

I agree with everyone's suggestions. Each would be a fantastic trip. This is what I wrote a few years ago

"Make a beeline to Andermatt, Switzerland and stay for 3 days. Take 2 days riding to the Dolomites and Arabba, Italy. Make that your base for at least 4 days.

Having a base lets you take the bags off, reset the suspension and play without the hassle of daily loading and unloading. Some of the major Dolomite roads can get very busy, but generally it is before 9am and from 4-6pm. 10 – 3 is just simply ‘Play Time’.

There are plenty of accommodations in Andermatt. A good one is the small, family run Gafthaus Sternen and just over the bridge on the main street. Owned by David Shani and has the best restaurant in town. 35 Euros including breakfast.

In Arabba, check out the 4 star Hotel Evaldo. They have built an underground garage specifically for motorbikes, have a free power washer and a 5 star dinner included in the cost of the room. I’m not one for ‘salad bars’ (if I wanted to fix my own meal, I’d stay home), but Evaldo has one of the best salad selections I’ve ever encountered. It’s 100 euro’s per night (£65) and well worth it. Oh, the chef does eggs any style for breakfast (an Alp rarity)."

I still agree with that statement, but have just returned from an 8 week ride that included Corsica, Sardinia, Lazio, Tuscany, Lake Como and the French Alps, so will add a bit about it. You might decide to take Orson's recommendation and tour south.

First off, most Yanks (I'm a Yank too, so no offence intended) fly into Zurich or Munich to collect the rental BMW. Check out Milan for renting a Ducati Multistrada as an alternative. Especially if you decide to ride the Dolomites, Swiss Alps and the French Alps or the South. The return journey to drop it off would be a doddle and not as far.

Consider - scenario

Fly into Zurich - straight to Andermatt for 3 days.
2 days to Arabba (recommend Andermatt to Splugen Pass, Passo di Mordortirolo, Passo di Gavia, Passo di Stelvio to Merano, up through Jaufen Pass, Wurz Joch and onto Passo Campolongo and Arabba- you will not be disappointed).
Arabba for 4 days.

From Arabba you can wander south to Riva di Garda and then through the Italian lake district and it is stunning, then back up through the Swiss Alps to Zurich.

If you wanted to ride south of the Alps or the French Alps as well, fly into Milan and collect a bike there.

Beeline to Arraba travelling up through Riva and the Dolomites.
Again, 3-4 days in Arraba.
Same 2 day ride to Andermatt as above.
Andermatt for 3 days
If the Alps are your bag and time doesn't allow for Tuscany or especially Corsica (personal preference), try the French Alps (Andermatt to Chamonix, Petit St. Bernard, Comet de Roselend, Col de Pre, Col de I'Iseran - winding your way along Napolean's Route and the high Cols)
A final sprint on the Autostada to Torino and onto Milan.

Everyone seems to do 2 weeks and this is great, but 3 weeks is even better. You guys have 2 years to plan and get it together. Save a bit more, beg for another week off work and then you're laughing. Another week opens opportunities to ride and see things it would cost another entire holiday to do so.

Riding south of the Alps
Tuscany is well documented with Orson's reports and he's spot on as I've just been there. He's right too, it's a full day on the autostrada to get there.

But then so is Corsica (3/4 day from Andermatt to Savona or Genova and a 4 hour ferry ride - every adventure should include at least one ferry if possible). I found it an amazing mountain island to ride with brilliant places to stay, little traffic, very good to excellent roads and superb food.

Whatever you decide, it will be brilliant. Herman's book is invaluable as is a Kummerly & Fry Alpine Roads map.

Cheers,

Note

[Daniel Kalal]

a note.  It's a pretty small place, so don't to too wrapped up in where you'll be staying each night.  I'd keep things flexible and just play it by ear.  There are plenty of places to stay, no matter where you are.

Here, the whole of Switzerland tucks into a corner of Kansas.

[yotes65]

Thanks Note & Daniel! The more I read, the more i want to spend 3 weeks, if not more, for this vacation.

Here, the whole of Switzerland tucks into a corner of Kansas.

How did you ever return to Kansas after riding over in Europe?  

I had a hard enough time return to Arizona after each of my European Vacation's. It looks like we are going to Spain in March. The Misses won't have anything to do with renting a bike to travel between Cites... nor will she travel alone via Train so I can go by Motorbike...