Right gang, we’re planning a road trip to see daughter in Davos and I’m really hoping for some tips and advice from those of you that do these trips often? I will be driving my 405 and have already fitted a set of winters and have some JLR snow sock thingies to Chuck in the boot!
So, there will be me SWMBO’d and our 11yr old son... Where do you lot stop for breaks? Hotels on the way, way back etc etc etc Is there any options to avoid some tolls or am I just wishfully thinking?

Many thanks in advance

Craig

Try AA route planner..... It has an option to use or avoid toll roads.
Often when I have visited France , I deliberately choose the avoid tolls option for at least part of the journey, not only to cut costs, but to get to see some of the interesting towns that you zoom past on the toll roads.

Taking the toll free option from Calais to Davos completely adds just over 2 hours to the trip, up from 9.5 hrs to 11.5 hours.
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We drive down to Arlberg at least once every year. We do it in 1 hit overnight but Kids are drivers so that is 4 to share the load. When the kids were little we use to use Etaps.
Your route as far as Zurich will be the same, worth getting a Tag for the tolls in France. We get off the A4 at Jct 45 and cut down through Marmoutier rather than going through Stasbourg.
You can buy a carnet as you go in to CH at Basel.
If you are using the Chunnel and have not been through in the 405 the overheight is best as the carriage roadway is wider, the standard if the tyre touches on one side I cant get my foot in the gap on the other and you have to fold the mirrors.
Do not speed in CH they charge like a wounded Rhino. letters not necessarily in the right order

Waze App. Allow some you to avoid toll roads.
The dynamic route planning to avoid jams works for me in uk Gone to a good home: 2011 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE Buckingham Blue with Ivory and clear glass = "Rory"
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Is the journey part of the experience - of do you just want it gone as quickly as possible ?

I’m always the latter - I’d rather pay the tolls and just get there.

I use google maps and figure out roughly where I’d need an overnight stop - then use Accor.com and a map view and find a hotel somewhere close to the route I will be on.

Flexi plus on the tunnel worth thinking about if you’re travelling on a busy day - particularly on the return leg, when your arrival time at the terminal is a bit more unpredictable. It’s a decent premium over the standard fare, but you’re first on the next train whenever you arrive, so it can save hours of hanging around if there’s been delays, or it might make no difference at all..... and there’s free food for all passengers which takes the edge off the extra cost.

Autoroute tag is handy - particularly on a busy day, or if your passenger likes to sleep - otherwise just pay with a card - so get a card that doesn’t charge a massive premium for spending in Euros.

Thank you guys... We will be stopping over en route as we are with our 11yr old! i don't want to push on too long!

I believe we will stop somewhere halfway through France... Maybe Metz? & maybe Reims on the way home?

Agree ; Pay the toll money & there is /was a link from eurotunnel site, with a fiver/tenner sign up , worth it.

We don’t do flexi tunnel - to rich for me . Only badly caught once. Odd hour on odd occasions, often let on early. Might be busy at weekend. Euro tunnel have a traffic update on their website.

Take your own Coffee and sarnie for the first stop . Lot of aires (Pulloffs) ; most restaurants off the motorway do euro 12/15 3 course lunches . Even posh places!

130km 80mph is steady Eddie and less stressful than looking for speed traps which are well hidden.

Hope daughter is better and back to work now.


I should add if u can spot petrol just off the motorway it’s 15 cents per L cheaper, so any town close to motorway is worth a pull off for lunch and fill up Filters are in fact so good that in certain circumstances, when the ambient air is already polluted, a diesel car will tend to extract more particles from the air than it emits. Emissions Analytics worked with........etc etc

He who dies with the most toys wins...

Thank you Bill, yes daughters cast came of on the 13th so she's back pretty much to normal now... & obviously taking better care of her limb's now

Yes i already have a TAG but i guess id better check it still works? Its still registered? Not driven through france since 2016 with it...

Good tip on the fuel - I try to time my overnight stop with a nearly empty tank & google in advance for the nearest fuel station.

Tag is always a bit of a worry at the first toll booth to see whether it still works. If no it, then hazards on as quickly as possible to prevent a queue behind you. Then either pay by card, or you can hand the tag to a manned booth and they read the serial number - but card is easier as a plan B.

I find it better to avoid France as much as possible .. go through Belgium ,Luxembourg ,Germany , Austria , Liechtenstein
Fill up in Luxembourg .. still circa 20% cheaper than neighbouring countries 4.2 SC - sold , now bought back
4.4 AdBlu Tractor - Stolen

Other than cheap fuel, what’s the benefit ?

I don’t really go that side much, but it looks a reasonable amount further.....

Assuming one just wants to get there...

No stopping, queuing , or toll fees ,
Areas of autobahn to stretch the cars legs , higher average speed ...more countries to visit, oh and less French people 4.2 SC - sold , now bought back
4.4 AdBlu Tractor - Stolen

Thank you very much for all the help thus far guys... Please keep the tips & advice flowing

As well as waze, I find the viamichellen app very good, just to see where I’m going ‘overview.. also gives you toll costs for different routes. Ultra detailed map on an iPad Filters are in fact so good that in certain circumstances, when the ambient air is already polluted, a diesel car will tend to extract more particles from the air than it emits. Emissions Analytics worked with........etc etc

He who dies with the most toys wins...

Watch for speed traps in Switzerland! Grey boxes on the right side, on some places even in the middle between the guard rails. Once you leave the motorway/Autobahn in Landquart pay extremely attention! In Graubunden they act like street mugger! Fairly big grey boxes like little trailers on the roadside, with bad luck also cops with laser guns. On the long strait road section around JENAZ do NOT over 85 Km/h 80 is the speed limit but 85 you can do, worst case you pay 20 Swiss francs. Don't forget Daytime Running Lights! Autobahn you can easily do 125, you pass the Speed traps with no problems but 125 on the speedometer not GPS!
Enjoy your days in Davos.
Andy