The starting point for this trip was the basic premise that we wanted to drive to the mountain passes in and around the Swiss Alps. Seemed like a simple goal.
A bit of research later and the route began to take shape – channel tunnel, across France by the quickest route, top of the Black Forest, down to the Swiss border near Basel, a big car museum in France, Lake Lucerne, then two days and 600km to traverse 9 mountain passes in Switzerland, Austria and Italy, a glacier, another mountain pass, before a quick stop in Lichenstein, a stop at Lake Constance, then onto Stuggart to the Porsche factory for a tour, then further into Germany before heading back to the tunnel via Belgium.
The route was then broken up into sensible chunks, a couple of rest days added, and accommodation booked. Then detailed routes were planned. Big spreadsheet time.
Routes were planned with Google Maps using route waypoints first, then using the Michelin Via planner which helps with cost of tolls and fuel to get an idea of what we’d expect to pay and where.
Then onto what we’d need to take. With 7 countries, each with different requirements in terms of equipment, and the time of year we realised winter tyres were needed – when there’s snow on the ground or it’s less than 7 degrees Celsius you have no real choice.
Finally emissions stickers and motorway vignettes. I could find no single source of information covering all countries, so had to do a lot of research to check I had ordered what I needed. In total, I needed 7 different physical stickers and electronic permits. They ranged from country-wide to city-specific. Crazy. Though I’m still not sure I have them all!