Happy Traveller Blog

Archive for the ‘Trip Holidays’ Category

Going on a road trip is becoming an increasingly more mainstream holiday choice as a result of it becoming engrained in popular culture through television programmes such as ‘Top Gear’ and Ewan McGregor’s ‘Long Way Round’.

We therefore take a look at five ‘must see’ destinations for road trippers who are keen to see some breath taking views and experience some of the best road layouts that Europe has to offer:

5. Oberalp Pass – Switzerland
The Oberalp Pass in Switzerland is popular with truck drivers due to its geographic location; linking Central Switzerland to theGraubündenOberland as the name suggests. However, it is the breath taking scenery surrounding it that attracts tourists to the location; providing a stunning view of the Swiss Alps amongst the clouds.

Oberalp Pass- Switzerland

If you are planning a trip to the venue do bear in mind that it is closed off to motorists during the winter months due to the treacherous conditions. It is during this period that it is turned into a winter sports arena; with visitors using it as a ski slope or toboggan run.

4. Grimsel Pass- Switzerland
The spectacular and world famous Grimsel Pass in Switzerland is a stunning mountain road which is located between the Haslital valley and the Rhone River.

Grimsel Pass- Switzerland

It is also one of the steeper routes which can be used to climb to the top of the Alps and it is therefore recommended that you arrange for a European breakdown cover package to be put in place prior to leaving your homeland if you are planning on taking your vehicle up this demanding 2,165 metre high climb.

3. Stelvio Pass- Italy
Never ones to be beaten, on the opposite side of the Alps in Italy is the Stelvio Pass which is 578 metres higher than the Swiss route and spans a total of 15 miles.

Stelvio Pass- Italy

With an even more daunting and challenging layout than the Grimsel Pass, the Stelvio Pass really should never be underestimated by road users and caution is therefore advised.

2. Autobahn- Germany
If you are a speed junky, then there is probably no better driving road in the world than the Autobahn in Germany which was built in the 1920s and spans almost 8,000 miles; making it the fifth longest road in the world.

Autobahn- Germany

However, the Autobahn is most famous for being one of the few roads where there is no blanket speed limit applied. Although 80mph is recommended, the majority of motorists (with a few exceptions such as bus drivers and cars with trailers attached) are allowed to do whatever speed they please. This of course doesn’t apply at junctions and in areas undergoing maintenance; but makes it one of the only roads in the world where you can legally push to find the limit of your cars performance.

One regulation which is enforced is that vehicles which are unable to exceed 60kph (37mph) are not permitted to utilise the road network which is bad news for Reliant Robin owners.

1. Col de Turini- France
The winner has to be the Col De Turini in the South of France which really is a mecca for petrol heads all over the world.

Col de Turini- France

Located just over 30 miles from Monaco; not only does this play host to a stage featured on the Monte Carlo Rally but it was also the scene of a car chase involving James Bond in the 1997 film Goldeneye starring Pierce Brosnan.

The Col de Turini was chosen as the destination for both of these events as a result of its breath-taking scenery and challenging layout which really has to be seen to be believed. However, it is not a place to be cocky; with even the best drivers in the world having succumbed to mistakes on these winding roads.