Driving from Manchester to Italy

lovesgshp

mrsg26 wrote: »

We haven't driven to Italy yet but have drove all the way from Scotland to France and then onward to Holland in the one day, spent a fab week there and then drove to Paris for another week there and then drove back from Paris to Scotland the same day...with a 4 year old and a Dog in tow too! We had an amazing time and the driving allowed us to to see some beautiful places and scenery along the way. This year we flew to Italy (Bergamo)and hired a car and drove to Lake Garda ..and it was far too stressful! We vowed that when we go back we will drive again from Scotland and take 2-3 days getting there..it is only 19 hrs from Glasgow to Lake Garda and that can easily be done with 2 stop overs so I wouldn't hesitate to do it from Manchester. The only thing is the drivers in Italy are some of the worst I've ever seen they think nothing of pulling out in front of you at alarming speeds, however if you are a confident driver then I don't see that being a problem for you. I hope you have a fantastic time

Yes, Italian drivers are crazy. They will overtake with a bend coming up, even if you are in a tight line of traffic. Virtualy every day there is a accident and the flowers on the corners are ongoing.
I drive many miles with my job, most Italians do not know what a indicator is used for, you put it on sometimes as you are going to turn, as the car behind must know!!! A junction is a excuse to pull out in front of you when you are 10 mtrs away.
Car has been hit numerous times when parked, but with no note left. Was actually sitting in the car one day outside the doctors surgery, when one came down the road and hit the front corner of the jeep. Apology was "My phone was ringing".
You need eyes in the back of your head here!!!
Driving in France or Germany, is relaxing compared to here

claire16c

mrsg26 wrote: »

It was stressful as we flew with Ryanair, the seats were uncomfortable, the luggage allowance was difficult to manage with our daughter and on arrival at bergamo we picked up a hire car that wouldn't have been out of place at a scrap yard, scratches dents all over it not to mention the front bumper had fallen off and was in the boot!! Then we had to return to the car hire company and get them to check all this over in the dark at midnight with an extremely tired 4 year old by our side! They also held a 1500 euro deposit on our credit card for any damages..for a rust bucket off a car that didn't even look like it was worth that amount. So in the end all of this compounded together made us realise that loading up our own very comfortable jeep and driving from Scotland to Europe was a damn sight easier than flying to Italy with Ryanair and picking up an awful hire care....but then again each to their own.

Ah so it wasnt so much the flying then, it was the bad car hire company? I was wondering how such a short trip could be stressful!

You could always fly with BA, better seats! And 23kg allowance. Although its such a quick flight anyway.

You're very lucky you have a child who can sit in the car for that long. Me and my sister used to be sick on any journey over about an hour :rotfl:not to mention the frequent stopping at service stations for toilet trips! Nightmare!

SUESMITH_2

when our kids were small we drove just about non stop to the coast an hour further south than Barcelona and they were quite happy

Bob_the_Saver

mrsg26 wrote: »

I replied above to the OP, it's all down to individual choice and I don't like to fly Ryanair simple as. For us it's our choice. We tried it this year when we flew to Italy and we didn't like it so next year we will be driving to The South of France in our own car, which we load up with everything that we will need for the trip without having to restrict ourselves to 15kg luggage allowance. We make it part of the holiday as we love stopping off along the way and taking in the scenery around us. It's all part of the holiday experience.

I'm in the South of France in my own car today as a matter of fact (36c light winds and not a cloud in the sky since you ask).
Ryanair can take me from here via 3 airports all within an hour away to places all over Europe for 15 Euro's and often less. Don't see the problem. As for 15kg of luggage I take only half that for 6 months in Asia over the winter.