Drive from Paris to Italy and back to Paris in 18 days (cost, Rome)

[Amanda Drabble]

Hello my husband and I have rented a car in Paris on the 28th December 2017 for 18 days so that we can travel to Italy and back to Paris. We would like tips, ideas, pointers? any places to stay on the way? anything really.

[MrRational]

Follow your nose and bring the AmEx
Have fun

[Amanda Drabble]

logical, until the Amex bill arrives, we would like to keep the unexpected for the actual trip, and not the bill but fun is guaranteed, thank you.

[Katnan]

I suggest driving through the Mont Blanc tunnel. You don't know what kind of weather youll be getting in the mountains at that time of year. The Valle d'Aosta is a lovely area and i highly recommend visiting Cogne/Gran Paradiso National Park.

[Amanda Drabble]

thanks, I had a quick look, so best to stick to that route then during Dec-Jan, so we can come through the tunnel and head Monaco way keep to the coast to Rome, around Italy up the other coast to Venice, and back through the tunnel from Milan back to Paris-comfortably in 18 days?

[Katnan]

I would go south from Paris toward Monaco and then into Italy. You'd only need to go through the tunnel on the way back to Paris from northern Italy.

[Dd714]

You can drive but unless you are focusing on the rural parts or the drive itself a vehicle will just be a hindrance in the metropolitan areas. Trains may work much better, or airfare which may not be that expensive. Are you planning to spend any extensive time in Paris or, lets say, Rome? You don't want a vehicle in those cities.

[Jaggy001]

Originally Posted by Amanda Drabble

thanks, I had a quick look, so best to stick to that route then during Dec-Jan, so we can come through the tunnel and head Monaco way keep to the coast to Rome, around Italy up the other coast to Venice, and back through the tunnel from Milan back to Paris-comfortably in 18 days?

The problem with all the tunnels is that the access roads are quite high up and, in winter, can get snow. The only low risk route is straight down to Lyon and then down the Rhone Valley and around the Cote d'Azur. For the return, and if you want to use one of the tunnels, I would prefer the Gotthard tunnel through Switzerland as the access altitude is a little lower than for the Mont Blanc. You can then come up through Switzerland and either directly into France or via Germany to Strasbourg.

There is plenty to see on the Rhone Valley route .... Dijon and the Burgundy region, Lyon, Avignon and the Chateauneuf du Pape area and, of course the Cote d'Azur itself which will be much less crowded at that time of year.

European highways are pretty good although many are toll roads and they can be quite expensive.

[Nn2036]

You can go to the Southern France to the Cote dazure. Then to Italy visiting Portofino and the Cinque terre. Optional trip to Tuscany. Then up to Milan and lake Como. Crossing to Switzerland visiting Lucern and Basel. Back to France visiting Alsace and then Paris.

[Jezer]

Check if snow chains are required for the journey. I think that they are mandatory in certain areas.

Amex cards aren't as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard.

Covering the distances you are. the toll roads are a good way to cover the ground quickly.

Keeping to sensible steady speeds on the Autoroute improves fuel efficiency and offsets the cost of tolls.