Member Since: 26 Oct 2013
Location: Argyll
Posts: 2929
Advice sought on 'best' route from Rotterdam to Geneva
Morning all
I'm heading south to the Alps later this week and on Friday have to get from Rotterdam down to Geneva. With the threat of strikes in France I am looking at route options and have accessed a number of different websites including those of the AA and Michelin.
The options presented on the AA site are relatively straightforward but include the slow section through the hills immediately to the north of Geneva. They also involve the longest section in France!
Michelin suggest a much wider variety of routes (but not the one suggested by the AA!), including a rather tempting one which heads further east through Germany and is almost completely on motorways/autoroutes/autobahns etc (albeit 60km longer)
Thoughts appreciated on these different routes - any known bottlenecks, major roadworks, national holidays etc, or is it just the usual case of Friday madness on the roads the same as here in the UK?
ThanksCurrently 2009 Disco 3 SE, 2013 MY D4 HSE and 2016 D4 SE
Previously:
TD5 Defender 110 CSW (230k miles)
300TDi Disco 1 (289k)
4 RR Classics (300-350k each, 2 manual, 2 auto)
110 V8 CSW (220k)
S3 109 hi cap pickup (ex RN)
S2A 88 Safari SW with lpg conversion (bloody lethal)
29th Jan 2023 11:31 am
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 14483
I've been driving to Milan a lot over these past few months using the Tunnel. I've had to deal with strikes, heavy rain, heavy snow and ice. I just followed google and never had an issue. It took me on some lovely routes. D4 HSE EU6 (Known as Jeeves)
New Defender L663 110 SE (known as Noddy!) Sold
Sold Volvo XC90 R-Design (known as Basil)
Sold - D4 HSE (Known as Gerty)
No longer the Old Buses original owner
231,000 miles and counting
05 S manual owned from March 2005
D4 Face lifted
Still original injectors and turbo
V8 Front brakes
BAS Remap, Allisport Intercooler and deCat
EGRs blanked
T-Max split charge
Hanibal Expeedition rack
Prospeed ladder
Duratrac tyres
IID BT
BAS FBH control
I would rely on Waze, which I prefer, but Google Maps is also good.
What I like about Waze is that it offers a very accurate picture of real time traffic and suggests alternate routes minimising delays en route.
NJSS
29th Jan 2023 12:19 pm
nigethecat
Member Since: 11 Sep 2016
Location: Marnoch
Posts: 4252
Driven the Michelin route (as far as Frankfurt, on my way to Slovakia) many times and it’s a very good route, done this at all times of day and night and not had any significant delays. Would certainly take this option rather than head across France. Just try to avoid hitting Brussels at peak times as that will slow you down.
Enjoy the trip! I want to see the sweets before I get into your windowless van... I'm not stupid!
Corris Grey D4 Commercial SE 2016
Zermatt Sliver 2007 D3 SE manual (gone)
Indus Silver D4 HSE 2015 (gone)
Bonatti Grey D3 HSE 2006 (gone)
White D3 S (LHD) 2007 (gone)
Firenze Red D4 HSE 2014 (gone)
Black RRS 3.6TDV8 2008 (gone)
Rusty Green Defender 110 1997 (gone)
Black FL2 HSE 2013 (gone)
29th Jan 2023 1:40 pm
Motolab
Member Since: 18 Oct 2019
Location: Sleen
Posts: 1820
A lot will depend on the time table….
When you arrive a Hoek van Holland at 07.30 you will hit the jackpot everywere… Antwerpen will be a potential disaster….
In France you will pay Toll, Germany is free of that…
I travel to Swiss a lot… from the North of the Netherlands…
We take this route, (dark blue) because it is effectively the quickest, best flow, etc. Etc..
I suggest you pick an entry point through what ever you prefer, to that route..
Best regards
Harold
Always looking for Pre '55's & Pre war British Motorcycles! knowing or having one for sale? PM please. I visit the UK 6 times a year
Ps. I edit my texts quite often, english is not my native language, so I will edit My “typo’s” etc.
29th Jan 2023 2:25 pm
ronald.soak
Member Since: 29 Apr 2008
Location: London
Posts: 534
May not be a consideration but, routes passing through Luxembourg offer a chance to take advantage of the much lower tax on fuel there.
29th Jan 2023 7:08 pm
Motolab
Member Since: 18 Oct 2019
Location: Sleen
Posts: 1820
See what you mean, but is a very inefficient route in time and distance and the savings are a tenner or maybe two max..Best regards
Harold
Always looking for Pre '55's & Pre war British Motorcycles! knowing or having one for sale? PM please. I visit the UK 6 times a year
Ps. I edit my texts quite often, english is not my native language, so I will edit My “typo’s” etc.
29th Jan 2023 8:57 pm
waterbuoy
Member Since: 26 Oct 2013
Location: Argyll
Posts: 2929
Thanks all for your input
The Motolab route looks very similar to that in the Michelin screen shot so, having sat in the carpark aka motorway around Antwerp and Brussels before, I think I'll look to give that a try this time. The tolls saved in France should just above cover the Swiss motorway vignette, and I can stop for lunch in Strasbourg!
So far as routing software is concerned then I will probably stick with the D4 satnav and google maps as I can operate those solo. Waze looks to be very useful for closer to home (ie in the UK) but as I will be travelling solo then it is probably best to keep it as simple as possible. Currently 2009 Disco 3 SE, 2013 MY D4 HSE and 2016 D4 SE
Previously:
TD5 Defender 110 CSW (230k miles)
300TDi Disco 1 (289k)
4 RR Classics (300-350k each, 2 manual, 2 auto)
110 V8 CSW (220k)
S3 109 hi cap pickup (ex RN)
S2A 88 Safari SW with lpg conversion (bloody lethal)
29th Jan 2023 9:59 pm
al cope
Member Since: 08 Nov 2005
Location: Oldbury, WM
Posts: 10361
A lot of folks say to buy your vignette (Swiss tax disc you will need for driving in Switzerland) before you go, and we have done this, but it was also just as easy to buy at the border crossing on the way into Switzerland.
AlVolvo XC90 B5 Plus Dark
Gone - MY18 D5 HSE - Corris on 22's with Black Pack
Now gone - MY16 D4 SE Tech, Loire Blue, Almond Leather, Privacy, plus some other goodies.
Old - MY12 D4 SDV6 XS Auto - Ipanema Sand with Almond Leather - Plus other niceties, and D4.com sticker
Older - D3 TDV6 XS Auto - Lugano Teal with Almond Leather, 20" Stormers, Shiny Tailpipes, DVD/TV - and obligatory D3 sticker
Ancient - D3 TDV6 S - Tonga with Ebony, 20" Stormers, satnav & DVD
30th Jan 2023 8:25 am
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 14483
I just buy it at the border. Really easy.D4 HSE EU6 (Known as Jeeves)
New Defender L663 110 SE (known as Noddy!) Sold
Sold Volvo XC90 R-Design (known as Basil)
Sold - D4 HSE (Known as Gerty)
No longer the Old Buses original owner
231,000 miles and counting
05 S manual owned from March 2005
D4 Face lifted
Still original injectors and turbo
V8 Front brakes
BAS Remap, Allisport Intercooler and deCat
EGRs blanked
T-Max split charge
Hanibal Expeedition rack
Prospeed ladder
Duratrac tyres
IID BT
BAS FBH control
30th Jan 2023 9:18 am
waterbuoy
Member Since: 26 Oct 2013
Location: Argyll
Posts: 2929
Thanks both
I usually call in to a German service station just before the Swiss border and buy the vignette there - that way you can go through the express lane at customs.
About 15 years ago we took the kids to Saas Fee and found out that their passports had expired when we arrived at Hull to board the ferry. UK/Dutch authorities were excellent and flexible but both cautioned about the 'challenges' of entering Switzerland with incorrect paperwork. We therefore bought the Vignette in Germany and anaged to whizz through Swiss customs in the fast lane, following which our son proudly declared that he was now an illegal immigrant!Currently 2009 Disco 3 SE, 2013 MY D4 HSE and 2016 D4 SE
Previously:
TD5 Defender 110 CSW (230k miles)
300TDi Disco 1 (289k)
4 RR Classics (300-350k each, 2 manual, 2 auto)
110 V8 CSW (220k)
S3 109 hi cap pickup (ex RN)
S2A 88 Safari SW with lpg conversion (bloody lethal)
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