Honey Tour in Europe help wanted.

[minitechnique]

Dear all,

I am getting married on September 22nd 2012, we are having an Italian Job theme wedding.

Then on the Sunday we will be heading to Royal Tunbridge Wells, then catching a ferry from Dover to Calais on the Monday.

We then have around 12 days in Europe.

I was planning to drive to Reims spend 2 days there the we would like to visit Geneva, Turin staying at the old Fiat building, Monaco, Cannes, Le Mans.

It will our 1st adventure into Europe and I am looking for some routes to follow please.

Also any hotels or advice, etc you can recommend.

Hope you can help please.

Mark & Sarah.

[Simon776]

For the Reims > Geneva leg I would suggest going via Ballon d'Alsace and the Route des Cretes - this was regular Monte concentration run and Tour Auto territory in the 1960's.

[paul1275s]

Sounds very similar to my Honeymoon last year.... We did the Riviera via the viaduct at Milau, Cannes, Monaco, Pisa, Rome, then back up via Maranello and Turin, staying at the Lingotto Hotel...

Visit the circuit at Reims then I'd advise staying in Epernay, Mercier and Moet are both based there and I can recommend the tours of both. Buy some Champagne for the rest of your tour at one of the smaller Champagne houses on the road between Reims and Epernay.
The Lingotto Hotel is ace, we 'played the Honeymoon card' as we checked in and got upgraded to an enormous room looking over the Alps. If you ask at reception they will give you the key to access the roof and you can wander around the former test track at your leisure.
I can recommend Maranello as a great place to visit although it may be a bit too far for you, the Galleria Ferrari is worth seeing, you can stand next to the fence at the Fiorano test track and watch F1 cars and generally enjoy the atmosphere of the town as you see Ferraris being blatted around everywhere!
We stayed at The Columbus in Monaco for a couple of nights, great hotel but not cheap (no accommodation in Monaco is cheap!) an alternative is to stay nearby, we also stayed at Villefranche Sur Mer which is about 15 minutes drive away from Monaco or about the same on the train. Villefranche is a very nice French seaside resort with great quayside restaurants, we stayed at the Hotel de la Darse which was great value and overlooked the Harbour.
Try and get up to the mountain village of Eze above Monaco, very picturesque and there is a firm that does Ferrari hire there, expensive but good fun and they let you give it some beans.
Cannes is good fun, great for people watching and counting Lambos, but again very expensive... We spent a couple of nights at the Radisson here.
Head back up to Le Mans via the Viaduct at Milau if you can, there is a good visitor centre there and cafe.
Le Mans is awesome, drive the circuit, visit the Museum, the city is nice in the area of the Cathedral.
Buy as much wine/cheese/olive oil as you can in Italy, it's loads cheaper than France...

[mk1coopers]

When I saw the title I thought you were off to find a Wife not take one with you

[Pete]

Are you actually honeymooning in a Mini ?? I'll fess up, I did !

Well it's the only car I had that worked at the time. We got married in 1995 and we went all around France in my freshly built (running in !) Tweed Grey Mk1 S, taking in Le Mans 24Hrs on the way (the timing was a complete coincidence honest !). Fitting all the kit (we camped for the most part) in a Mini was a challenge (but you don't need that many clothes on honeymoon ! ) but the whole thing was an absolute blast. I'll post a pic (of the car !!) when I get a minute.

[minitechnique]

Thanks to everyone for there replies so far, we cant wait to get on some roads in Europe.

I have to remember

"They drive on the wrong side of the road"

I have a fresh 1293cc to put in my mini and an Italian Job make over in the pipe line.

Other choice of cars

We have a nice mk1 mx5 but you can't beat a Mini for Fun.

Been looking at GARVIN satnav's

Mark & Sarah.

[minitechnique]

I think I need to get a big map and plot some routes, had a look a some of the places, I love England, often visit lakes as its only hours drive, but Europe looks amazing.

Going to have to do the Col de Turini.

[tomkidd]

We stayed on a campsite in Sospel when we went to watch the F1 in Monaco, the road up to the camp site had featured on Top Gear when they were looking for the best roads in the world and it was awesome. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Buco16wWyFA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sospel

It then turns into the Col de Turini

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08yrGi-40y0

[steve1071]

The Turini is well worth a visit. Cracking restaurants in Mougins Village as well, the missus will be well impressed!

[guru_1071]

Italian Job theme wedding eh?

[minitechnique]

Great looking coach.... mm!!! sure there a wheel missing somewhere. Bet you had fun getting the mini in.

We have a coach at Minitechnique full of subframes there great for storage.

[minitechnique]

Got hold of a nice big fold out map today:

This is the route I am looking at following over 14 days.

Start:
Sun 23rd Sept
Warrington
Royal Tunbridge Wells
Calis
Reims (Racing Circuit)
Geneva
Turin (Italian Job Locations)
Monte Carlo (Racing Circuit)
Cannes
Marseille
Montpelier
Milau (Viaduct)
Ales
Valance
Vienne (BMC AUTO MINI)
Bourges
Le Mans (Racing Circuit)
Dieppe
Newheaven
Brighton (Historic lanes and Palace)
Warrington.

Lots to sort out now Hotels, routes, a good satnav and maps.

Any ideas on route, places to visit, places to avoid etc please let me know.


Checked my insurance and breakdown cover all sorted.

Spares package ????

1. Head Gasket Set
2. Water Pump
3. Fan Belt
4. oil, water, etc
5. Plugs, leads, cap
6. 2x spare tyres
7.

Road Tax, Tolls, anything else you need in Europe???

[Pandora]

anything else you need in Europe???

I trhink you need a hazard triangle, a first aid kit and a high-vis vest for each occupant

Oh, and paint your headlamps yellow. you don't HAVE to anymore, but it makes the car look ace!, oh, and insulating tape beam deflectors (makes night driving fun!)

[minitechnique]

Just checked on AA website.

Its says:

REFLECTIVE JACKETS & WARNING TRIANGLES IN FRANCE

The French Road Safety Department has confirmed that:

From 1st October 2008 all drivers in France, including drivers of vehicles registered outside of France, must have one warning triangle and one reflective jacket in their vehicle.

This regulation, which we understand does not apply to two and three wheeled vehicles, will be enforced with on-the-spot fines of between €90 and €135.

Also:
Headlamp beam converter kits

Switzerland: Warning triangle must be kept within easy reach (not in the boot).

GB Sticker

[Pete]

Don't forget to pack the skin tight speedos, mandatory in France !