I’m new to this, and did a quick search, but didn’t really find the info I’m looking for.
Next week, Thursday, the kid and I are headed to Italy, (Como, then beyond) and I’m trying to figure out the options to plan in advance.
It looks like the two main ways are slightly south, through the Mt. Blanc tunnel or a bit north, through the Simplon.
My questions are:
1. Which is an overall easier route?
2. Having never used a car train before (Simplon route), what’s the procedure? Any suggestions or things to look out for?
3. I’ve heard traffic horror stories for the Mt Blanc tunnel. Will that be the likely case on a Thursday during these school holidays? Any thing to know in advance if I take this route?
It seems, according to Google maps, that the time difference is not too much. So just wondering which is the better choice and if there are other suggestions. We are driving as we will need the car for part of our travels in Italy later.
2. You drive up to the ‘toll booth’ pay your money, get directed to a queue, follow the car ahead of you, stop where indicated. Put hand brake on, shut off engine, close your eyes, wait ..., open your eyes, follow the car in front of you.
That was the Lotschberg tunnel, assume the simplon is similar.
I get you, I had no idea how a car train worked and it was a bit stressful for the 1st time. But don't worry, look at how it works. Just what bowlie said but with images:
There is also an option od Tunnel du Grand-Saint-Bernard, it connects Martigny with Aosta, and you are very fast on Italian highway system. As far as I know it is open 24/7/356.
When the Mont Blanc Tunnel was closed, we were using this one, never had problems in winter.
I've used Mont Blanc as well, it's fine and easy... but compare prices. Mont Blanc can be pricey for a one-way journey, or one return. It works out cheaper if you will drive several times over the next few years.
For Mont Blanc the traffic can be bad at specific times but they can often predict this, their website has a traffic forecast page .
Both options are nice, the train gives you a rest and something different, the journey down the Aosta valley can be scenic with all the castles.
There's also the third option of the Grand St. Bernard tunnel via Martigny but it's more of a drive up and down the mountain to get to it.
Thanks. I was considering it, and still might depending on the time of day and weather conditions. Still, I might wait to do that when my wife joins - my kid loves her reactions on hairpin turns and such. Still, there was a nasty accident yesterday evening near La Cure, and that’s fresh in my mind, and I hate being the slow guy holding others up if there aren’t convenient pull outs on a road I don’t know.
And thanks for the holiday info, I’m planning on avoiding the Friday and Sunday parts.
Tolls. Good point. Any toll advice? In the US/Japan we had Smart Passes in our cars or as in parts of Canada, they somehow photographed your plate and mailed you a bill a week later. In Switzerland the vignette works simple enough. A recent trip in France caught me unaware and luckily the kid had a few Euros that I’d given her months earlier, when my card didn’t work at the machine.
Anywhere on line have a good explanation of Italian tolls?
Also with fueling, like here, pump first, pay after? That was mind blowing after having to pay first always in Japan and the US, where it’s a card system at the pump.
To Italy from Vaud we always go either via geat st-bernard (paid pass), or via Simplon (road pass is free). Since there is difference between prices for pass, toll roads in Italy etc, I check in viamichelin route planner. It gives good cost/time estimate.