DRIVING TO ITALY AND MOTORAIL...
( the most luxurious motorail train in Europe) Sunday Times 2007
More and more people are choosing to drive to Italy or to put their car on the train. Taking your own car adds greater flexibility to your holiday. You can avoid stressful airport queues and luggage restrictions as well as enjoy a leisurely drive at a pace that suits your, through some of Europe's most stunning scenery with an overnight stop en-route.
The drive from Calais to Zeebruge to Tuscany or Umbria takes approximately a day and a half. Northern Tuscany is closer to Calais than is the French Riviera.
Below we have listed a couple of tried and tested driving routes (many times over with our now grown up children in the car). We have also listed the benefits of putting your car on the motorail instead and recommend our partner www.railsavers.com who have specialized in offering a personalised motorail service for over 25 years.
DRIVING ALL THE WAY ...RECCOMENDED OVERNIGHT STOP.
Montreaux - Lake Geneva 'The Hotel with the million dollar view'
480 miles from Calais. The only 5 star hotel on lake Geneva. The hotel offers outstanding standards in a magical location by the lake, overlooking the magnificent mountain peaks of the Alps. Indoor pool.
SUGGESTED DRIVING ROUTES
ROUTE A:
Calais / Arras/ Reims / Metz / Strasbourg or Zebrugge / Brussels / Luxembourg / Strasbourg - both routes then continue:
Strasbourg / Basle / Lucerne / St.Gothard Tunnel / Como / Milan / La Spezia (for coast) or Parma / Bologna (For inland Tuscany)
Aprox distance Florence 850 miles
Aprox driving distance to Pietrasanta 804 miles
ROUTE B:
Calais / Arras / Reims / Chalons sur Marne / Lyon / Dijon / Besancon / Lausanne / Martigny / leave
Grand St. BernardAostal / Ivreal / Allesandria / Piacenza / Parma / La Spezia (For coast) or Bologna / Firenze (for inland Tuscany)
Aprox distance 900 miles to Florence
Aprox driving distance to Pietrasanta 850 miles
DON'T WANT TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY?... TAKE THE MOTORAIL INSTEAD - Drive with your eyes shut
Motorail allows you and your car to cover thousands of miles without the stress of driving. It’s safe, no traffic jams or road rage. Enjoy the freedom to fill the boot of your car with as much as you want. Wake up fresh at your destination, ready to explore the beauty of Europe, from your own car.
- You have YOUR car on holiday
- No luggage restrictions...Take as many books, toys, play stations etc as you like!
- Wine! bring back a full vineyard full
- Windsurfers, bikes, golf clubs no problem.
- Less tiring, less stressful, less worry
- More environmentally friendly, Reduce your Carbon footprint
- Interesting and children love it
- Avoid traffic jams and road traffic accidents
- Breakfast served to your compartment
- Civilised departure and arrival times – say good bye to blood shot eyes and tired children
- Helpful, bi-lingual hosts / hostesses in every carriage throughout the journey
- A bi-lingual manager is available on all trains and at all train stations
- Motorbikers – dedicated service for individual riders or groups
- Hot and cold drinks and snacks available and a at-seat service provided in your compartments by your host/hostess
- Pets are welcome – dedicated compartments for those travelling with their pets
- Aperitif and a savory bite to eat served upon embarkation as part of our welcome aboard service
- Turndown ‘Good Night’ service from your Host/Hostess
- ‘Club’ – After the last restaurant sitting, the restaurant car converts into a club coach
- Special requests service – We can arrange Champagne, Chocolates and even Birthday cakes for those special occasions. (Pre Ordered only) – Nothing is too much trouble
For more information and bookings visit www.railsavers.com
Rail Savers Tel. 0845 293 27 15 low cost callsfrom UK
Rail savers Tel. +44 1253 59 55 55 from outside UK
HOLIDAY EXTRAS; Book hotel parking, hotels, airport lounges and insurance
Book airport parking:
http://secure.holidayextras.co.uk/idyllic-parking
Book airport hotels:
http://secure.holidayextras.co.uk/idyllic-hotels
Book airport lounges:
http://secure.holidayextras.co.uk/idyllic-lounges
Buy travel insurance online:
http://secure.holidayextras.co.uk/insuranceukreferea-idyllic
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1. What is Supplier Failure Cover?
Top Supplier Failure Cover is an insurance policy which protects you if the supplier of any component of your holiday cancels or delays your trip or goes into liquidation. Most general travel insurance policies on the market today do not cover individual holiday components.
2. What do you mean by 'Supplier'?
We consider a supplier to be any provider of flight or other public transport, transfers to or from your accommodation, your accommodation and car hire. This means that every part of your holiday should be covered. Please read the policy wording to see the specific definitions.
3. Do I still need travel insurance?
Supplier Failure Cover offers additional protection and is not an alternative to a standard travel insurance policy. You will need to purchase travel insurance in addition to this cover.
4. If I have travel insurance, do I need Supplier Failure Cover?
Most travel insurance policies do not cover scheduled airline failure and none include Supplier Failure Cover. To ensure you are completely financially protected you will need to take Supplier Failure Cover in addition to your standard travel insurance policy.
5. What is not covered by Supplier Failure Cover?
The policy will not cover costs if you decide against travelling or any costs which are refundable or recoverable from companies bonded or insured elsewhere. Costs mentioned in the General Exclusions will also not be covered See your policy wording.
6. What happens if my airline, for example, goes into liquidation?
If you are on your holiday and your airline will not bring you home, we will cover the cost for each insured person to buy a ticket home with another airline up to a maximum of £5,000 per person.
If you have a holiday booked and have not yet travelled, we will cover any financial loss you face if you are unable to replace the flight tickets. If your airline has gone into liquidation, we will cover the cost of replacing the flight tickets.
7. Am I covered if my airline cancels my flight?
Yes you will be covered if no alternative travel is provided within 12 hours.
8. I pay for my holiday components by credit card.
Do I still need Supplier Failure Cover? top If you want to be sure you are fully covered, you will still need to take out Supplier Failure Cover.
Most credit card companies only protect their clients against the failure of the company with whom the card transaction has been made and not the companies to whom the money is passed onto ie the airline, the hotelier etc.
In addition, costs under £100 are not usually covered by credit cards and repatriation costs are, in most cases, the responsibility of the traveller.
9. I booked my flights through an ATOL protected company, do I need Supplier Failure Cover?
Flight bookings protected by ATOL will be covered only up to the original cost paid if you have not yet travelled and to assist you getting home if you are overseas. ATOL does not protect you if the airline or operator simply cancels the flight, Supplier Failure Cover does. Unlike ATOL, Supplier Failure Cover also covers your accommodation, transfers and other holiday components meaning you can continue your holiday.
10. Who is my insurer?
Europ Assistance underwrites all Supplier Failure Cover policies. Europ Assistance in the UK is part of the Worldwide Europ Assistance Group which was established in 1963. Owned by the Generali Group, they employ 4,000 staff worldwide in 35 contact centres and 50 subsidiary companies with representatives in more than 200 countries. In terms of capacity and experience in underwriting major travel insurance programmes, Europ Assistance currently holds 10% of the UK travel insurance market and is the third largest travel insurance provider.
