France / Austria / Swiss Alps area 2024 ?

[Alan PBTD]

Looking at a 8 / 10 day break on the Harley next summer as we've done enough of Ireland and the UK recent years and we like France a lot. Just like the idea of heading up into the mountains as it all looks very nice. On the waywill be Ypres and that Guédelon Castle but apart from that open to idea's. Don't really mind not doing all the usual ''biker'' mountain passes etc and would like to visit some more unusual places - as apposed to the normal tourist stuff. Harley are Morzine again but it's telephone numbers so that's out.

And obviously keeping an eye on the hotel costs, less we spend there more days away..

Idea's please !

ta

[Mr Moofo]

Switzerland will be expensive because of the exchange rate - and needing to purchase a vignette (if you are going on motorways)
The are several walled cities s- which are interesting to go to Gruyeres and Mureten being two of them.
Stein am Rhein is lovely
Fluela pass out of Davos worth riding as is the Skt Bernardino pass. Lucerne is worth visit - and there is a panoramic drive on the way.

[weeksy]

I believe that all towns in France HAVE to have a camping area...by law... If there's more than 30 people in the village they have to have a tennis court/football pitch too, which is a bit weird, but cool. So maybe camping is the way forward to lower costs ?
Can't help much other than that as only been to Morzine and it's 1 road in, 1 road out. It's a nice enough road... but it gets busy.

[Noggin]

Looking at a 8 / 10 day break on the Harley next summer as we've done enough of Ireland and the UK recent years and we like France a lot. Just like the idea of heading up into the mountains as it all looks very nice. On the waywill be Ypres and that Guédelon Castle but apart from that open to idea's. Don't really mind not doing all the usual ''biker'' mountain passes etc and would like to visit some more unusual places - as apposed to the normal tourist stuff. Harley are Morzine again but it's telephone numbers so that's out.

And obviously keeping an eye on the hotel costs, less we spend there more days away..

Idea's please !

ta

Harley also meet in Courchevel, maybe June. From there you have a ton of mountain routes that are not 'popular' and some that are - Col du Petit St Bernard to La Thuile in Italy. Top of Val d'Isere, you can get to Italy from there, and also ride around the back of the range of mountains that include Courchevel and come back over, couple of options including Col de Madeline (not certain of spelling), Col du Telegraph, Col du Galibier (closer to Grenoble).

If you look up routes in Savoie, there are a ton! You can get to Morzine over the mountains from here, Annecy is along that route if you fancy. And Italy via the Col du Petit St Bernard is about 1.5 - 2 hours from Courchevel. Or you can go towards Grenoble and hang a left taking the mountain routes into Italy that way

Also easy to pick up the Route du Napoleon if you do want a mountain trip from Grenoble to Nice.

However, it's a bastard long way to get to this area (about 9 hours from Calais by motorway) and I have no idea of pretty routes to get here as I've only ever done motorway


If you do Courchevel, let me know as I have friends in the area, so could maybe help with relatively cheap accom (English friends mostly over that side!).

Switzerland will be expensive because of the exchange rate - and needing to purchase a vignette (if you are going on motorways)
The are several walled cities s- which are interesting to go to Gruyeres and Mureten being two of them.
Stein am Rhein is lovely
Fluela pass out of Davos worth riding as is the Skt Bernardino pass. Lucerne is worth visit - and there is a panoramic drive on the way.

Not sure 40€ is expensive? But maybe. Ok, France is bigger, but if you do motorways from Calais to here it's approx 80€. The whole of Switzerland for 40€ doesn't seem so bad!

The more important thing about Switzerland is that they are NOT flexible about speeding. The fines are HUGE for minimal infractions!!

Also, TBF, even if you don't plan to go on the motorways, it's worth getting a vignette unless you are 100% SURE you won't use them. If you find yourself on one accidentally, the fine can be approx 200€ (I'm told!)

[DefTrap]

I believe that all towns in France HAVE to have a camping area...by law... If there's more than 30 people in the village they have to have a tennis court/football pitch too, which is a bit weird, but cool. So maybe camping is the way forward to lower costs ?
Can't help much other than that as only been to Morzine and it's 1 road in, 1 road out. It's a nice enough road... but it gets busy.

Well maybe - our place has a shady gravelly car park next to the cemetery which also serves as 'camping', but it's geared towards vans. Iirc there a couple of hookup points. I don't think I've ever seen a tent down there, it'd be too dusty and you'd never get a tent peg in.

That said, if you just pitched a tent up by the polyvalent you'd probably get away with it.

[Ditchfinder]

Massif Central, not as busy as the alps and a fair bit cheaper. Not as far down either.

[Dodgy69]

Roaming data doesn't work in Switzerland either. You can probably pay for it though.

[Ditchfinder]

If you do fancy the Massif Central - this is on in early September https://www.aces-experience.com - not been myself but it's in a good spot for riding roads

[KungFooBob]

Go to Lake Bled in Slovenia instead, or maybe Lake Balaton in Hungary.

If it has to be French, then Lake Annecy.

I like lakes.

[Noggin]

Go to Lake Bled in Slovenia instead, or maybe Lake Balaton in Hungary.

If it has to be French, then Lake Annecy.

I like lakes.

But not in the summer holidays!! Annecy is VERY popular for French school holidays!! Manically busy

[Dodgy69]

Go to Lake Bled in Slovenia instead, or maybe Lake Balaton in Hungary.

If it has to be French, then Lake Annecy.

I like lakes.

What about Ricki Lake.

[Alan PBTD]

Cheers All - plenty to think about !