10571 driving Italy to UK November

I will probably be driving from Le Marche to London in November or December.I have no idea which passes /tunnels will be closed. Does anyone know or is there a website which gives the information? Also any advice generally as to routes to avoid that time of the year?

Category
Travel & Holiday Advice

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 10/04/2008 - 09:47

If you come via the Valle d'Aoste - for the Mt Blanc tunnel to France or Great St Bernard tunnel through Switzerland you should have chains on board as a legal requirement (from the 15th October to 15th April).

Not sure of your best bet from Le Marche; some of the more eastern passes may be a better bet, but do a search and you'll find other suggestions.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 10/05/2008 - 04:30

Michelin route planner will route you through the best route for the time of year.
When I drove to Italy in November 2005, Michelin route planner would not route me through Switzerland. I had to break the journey out into to stages to get the route I wanted. Driving through the alps and into north italy in snow, freezing fog etc. made me realise why Michelin didn't want to send me that way

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 10/05/2008 - 07:30

Ultimately you've got to cross the Alps so going through north Italy is inevitable! The weather can be variable though. Last New Year returning from the UK I crossed a dry France, watched the dark clouds over the Alps and kept going. I made it through the Mt Blanc tunnel and on the Italian side it was snowing as the bad weather was, unusually, moving in from the East. Luckily I didn't have too far to go on the motorway - mainly tunnels the bit I did - but already the odd car in difficulty. Glad I didn't do an overnight stop in France.

Last trip back I went both ways via Switzerland/Pontarlier/x-country - which saved on expensive motorway tolls (and burning fuel at motorway speeds) - but I'd be wary of doing the same in winter unles the weather was fine.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 10/05/2008 - 18:05

Thanks for the replies. I'd prefer not to cross the Alps too far to the west as I have to get over to the east side later but other than that I don't really mind which route I take as long as I know in advance (obviously) and don't need chains. I'll check michelin and some of the others.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 10/05/2008 - 19:21

Try looking at the links on this page:
[url=http://www.calabrialiving.com/travel/travelinformation/road.htm]TRAVEL INFORMATION – ROAD[/url]

Hope it helps!:yes:

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 10/08/2008 - 09:47

[quote=Robert;98507]I don't really mind which route I take as long as I know in advance (obviously) and don't need chains. [/quote]

That requirement might also apply to the passes further to the East - I really don't know. Having said that, my (second-hand) Italian car has had snow-chains from new and they've never been used. The odd dodgy moment on days out skiing, but never actually needed (whew..). Still a requirement here to carry them, though

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 10/08/2008 - 10:13

[quote=Robert;98507] and don't need chains. .[/quote]

By law you must carry snow chains in Italy. :wideeyed:

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 10/08/2008 - 12:13

[quote=deborahandricky;98743]By law you must carry snow chains in Italy. :wideeyed:[/quote]

and we all know how keen the Italians are to follow the law.

At that time of year I would use the Switzerland route [Gotthard Tunnel], ................. and if it was shown as 'open', I would use the pass rather than the tunnel [great views].

.