Driving To Italy - Petrol Prices

Great stuff alan h (as always), The website I popped on the forum a few months ago is soon to be updated so may be worth peeps checking out, although the prices seem to be averaged, not specific. http://www.drive-alive.co.uk/fuel_prices_europe.html S  

Hi Alan Long time no speak - first time posting on 'new' forum. I am driving down for the first time to Lunigianna/Garfagnana this summer and getting conflicting advice on the best route (down through France clipping Geneve then Monte Blanc or Switzerland and the Gotthard Tunnel). Any advice would be appreciated in terms of time, cost and scenery probably in that order as will have the kids in the car. From what I can gather it would be cheaper to stay overnight on the France only route but costs incurred for Monte Blanc both ways - as opposed to free Gotthard but cost to drive in Switzerland and expensive hotel. Not sure about tolls etc. and obvioulsy re-fill costs come into it. Sorry if this subject has been done to death in the past but your help would be apprecaited

From where you live - 3 hrs to Dover [£1.50] across Dartford Bridge Dover - Dunkirk [Norfolk Line] cheaper than Dover - Calais [and no greater distance to Italy] Belgium - Luxembourg - France [Metz, Nancy, Mulhouse]  - Germany [on to Basle Bye Pass route] - Switzerland [Lucerne, St Gotthard Tunnel/Pas] and on into Italy No motorway charges except for Switzerland vignette [Approx £30] until Italy Good roads [All dual carriage way/motorway except for a stretch from near Epinal to Mulhouse [but great views and a pleasant break fro motorways]] Petrol - see previous posts, but definitely fill up in Luxembourg - prices on motorway is same as off it in Luxembourg - big petrol stations as you enter and leave the country Scenery is pretty good throughout, especially Switzerland Accommodation - worth spending extra to make the trip enjoyable - Novotel has 'kids go free offer', so aren't as expensive as they seem - especially if you book well in advance and get the free breakfasts.  However there are plenty of cheaper places to stay as well [see the Accor website for some possibilities] Where to stay? - obviously depends on when you start the trip, and how long you want it to take - but I'd suggest that 300 to 350 miles a day is a reasonable max [equates to about 6 to 7 hrs driving]  There is something to be said for doing an early evening Channel crossing and stopping near Dunkirk the first night, then around  Mulhouse for the second and Italy for the third [avoiding Swiss hotels]   Hope this starts to help

We've just come back from a short trip. Normally do France, stopping in Chamonix but this time did Colmar, Switzerland, San Gottardo. The traffic in Basel was truly awful both ways. Cheapest diesel we found was 1.34 euro in rural tuscany and Switzerland and most expensive we bought was 1.45 on French motorway so a bit cheaper than home.

    Thanks very much for the updated info everyone  We are driving down at the end of May…seems we have the most expensive petrol in Europe @ €1.63 per litre 

Fuel in Belgium is cheaper than France (if you find you can't make it to Luxembourg). Diesel is more expensive than petrol in Switzerland, about the same proportion as UK. Basel doesn't have any hold-ups if you travel mid-week. Nor does Gotthard. Terry

Thanks to all especially Alan, sounds like that route cuts out a great deal of tolls. However I forgot to mention that I am already booked up on the euro tunnel rightly or wrongly so will be in Calais - is it worth cutting up into Belgium from there and following that route or would this change things in your opinion. Definitely wanted to do it with one stopover only (was originally thinking Viry in France near Geneve or Lucern on the Gotthard route). Will also have a play with the viamichelin thanks sprostoni

" ....will be in Calais - is it worth cutting up into Belgium from there and following that route or would this change things in your opinion ...?." Definitely worth popping up into Belgium - just take the coast autoroute up to Dunquerque and turn left towards Lille and Belgium - the extra distance is minimal

I always go via tunnel to Belgium too.

Is there a route map that you can factor in the time and date of travel to help avoid jams at Basel and St G tunnel? Am planning on catching early evening DFDS ferry to Dunkirk then drive through most of the night with 2 x drivers (usually catch a couple of hours sleep in the car) going the usual belgium/ luxembourg/basel route to arrive at Lake Garda early to mid afternoon.  So just figuring out the best place to pull over in Switzerland for some rest but don't want to get caught at the St G tunnel on a Friday morning

there are many route planners available on the Internet - and many of these give a time travelled at each 'point' on the route chosen, [as via michelin does] What I particularly like about via michelin is the fact you can amend the rout on the map with a right hand click as  many times as you like - So you just put in [say] Dunkirk to Garda and then change bits [like the Basle Bye Pass bit] and it automatically reconfigures the route and the timings

Living just south of Glasgow we leave about 7pm and drive to catch the Dover ferry about 2am, catch a quick nap on the ferry and get up to 85 mph on the French autoroute stopping for the tolls and some breakfast then lunch.  Can get to Switzerland by midday easily and through St Gotthard tunnel and arrive in Lakes in the afternoon.  Tiring but a great drive.  I have two young kids who have done this every year since they were about 2 almost.

Need to decide where to stop for the night; Not keen on Switzerland prices, especially as two rooms or a triple so its France (Mulhouse area) or carry on through the Gotthard and get to a hotel nr Lugano but just into Italy. Some say it will be worth pushing on and get to Italy while still light, others say its is too far. Just didnt want to get to Mulhouse and be kicking around with time to spare. Would appreciate your thoughts (getting Eurotunnel at around 6am)

"Need to decide where to stop for the night; Not keen on Switzerland prices, especially as two rooms or a triple so its France (Mulhouse area) or carry on through the Gotthard and get to a hotel nr Lugano but just into Italy. Some say it will be worth pushing on and get to Italy while still light, others say its is too far. Just didnt want to get to Mulhouse and be kicking around with time to spare. Would appreciate your thoughts (getting Eurotunnel at around 6am)"   Mulhouse seems the better option, rather than blasting on through Switzerland - if you go to the Accor website there are plenty of options around Mulhouse

"if you are through tunnel by 6am you will be at Mulhouse by lunchtime about 7hrs drive , its about 4hrs from Mulhouse to get through switzerland with no major hold ups" I think he said he gets to the tunnel about 6am - so allow for getting out the other end at [worst case, but include time difference] 8am - So Mulhouse about 3pm, or 4pm depending on stops and traffic  I wouldn't then go another 4 hrs - you'd be so knac**red you'd need half a week of your time in Italy to recover  [and that's assuming you start from Dover - if you've driven down any distance to Dover the tiredness gets worse]

I think nils satis is correct in his comments as it depends on the individual on how he copes with the drive down, and also what awaits them at the other end. I can quite happily drive from Dover to Tuscany in a day with frequent stops for refreshments etc, as I know when I get to the end I have my own bed and it doesn't matter what time I get there, after a good sleep will be fit again. The problem I have is gauging the return journey to ensure you get to the terminal at Calais on time for your booked transport.

Got back from Puglia last week.  Left Alberobello at 5pm Friday  and arrived at Dunkirk at 3pm saturday (using 2 drivers and plenty of stops) and returned over  60mpg so we must have kept the speed down! Thanks to Alan H for suggesting the Mulhouse/Nancy/Metz stretch to avoid tolls - lovely road and we came off the motorway after Mulhouse at about 6.30am and after passing all those wonderful looking boulangeries we finally gave in and stopped at one for a highly calorific breakfast.  The road is also quite fast and scenic. Thanks also for the Lorrach - Basel bypass tip - worked a treat on the way down and is quicker during the day. Only error was that entering Luxembourg the first service station was packed, should have figured there was a reason - the second service station just before you leave Lux and go into Belgium was closed due to road repairs.

I have a 'petrol prices' app on my iPhone which gives prices in the local area.  Not sure if it will work away but will give it a go next month.

" ......  entering Luxembourg the first service station was packed, should have figured there was a reason - the second service station just before you leave Lux and go into Belgium was closed ........" Petrol prices are fixed in Luxembourg - so you don't have to stick to the motorway services The LuxembourgUK site states "Please note that the price of petrol (/gasoline if you prefer) is the same across the country, as it is fixed by government decree, and hence there's no difference in cost whether you get your fuel at a tiny petrol station in the middle of nowhere, or on the motorway. ". "

Thanks all, I guess it depends on the individual - I will have to weigh up being poentially shattered against slight frustration at stopping mid afternoon when a good few hours of daylight left. One more thing to consider would be the tunnel traffic - Friday late afternoon/eve Vs Saturday morning; neither sound too promising thinking about it - any experience of this out there?

To clarify, I meant the Gotthard tunnel traffic on a Friday eve Vs Saturday morning in August - one better or both as bad?

If you're going to be in daylight, use the pass instead of the tunnel. May cost you an hour, but worth it.

"If you're going to be in daylight, use the pass instead of the tunnel. May cost you an hour, but worth it." Its well worth 'going over the top' - and if traffic is bad you can get off the motorway well before the tunnel/pass and parallel it on local roads