My 16 Day European Delivery Route Planning is Complete

[///M///]

Originally Posted by OneRib

Make sure you bring lots of distractions/food for your daughter. Hopefully she is a solid sleeper.

Will do This will be a huge test. First time flying, first time in the car for over 2 hrs.

[OneRib]

Originally Posted by dsm918

Will do This will be a huge test. First time flying, first time in the car for over 2 hrs.

will not be the face of the people sitting near you on the plane. More like or

[///M///]

Originally Posted by OneRib

will not be the face of the people sitting near you on the plane. More like or

Lol too bad! Deal with it

[OneRib]

Originally Posted by dsm918

Lol too bad! Deal with it

That's why they invented noise cancelling headphones.

[Dackelone]

WoW! Looks like quite an adventure you have planned. Just remember to stay flexible with your plans. Sometimes you will run into traffic or things do go quite to plan. I find that if you can roll with the punches... your ED tour will be just fine.

Looking forward to your pics and write up. Let me know IF I can help you with anything.

Dackel

[ben1233]

Do you have your tickets reserved for The Last Supper? There's very limited availability on this one...

Also if you want a good lunch...to the right of the galleria there is a large department store. In that department store, on the top floor there is a restaurant (il Bar I think is the name). It overlooks the spires of the duomo. Nothing beats an afternoon of drinking the Jesus juice while overlooking the cathedral. Food is good, too.

Have fun!

[///M///]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

WoW! Looks like quite an adventure you have planned. Just remember to stay flexible with your plans. Sometimes you will run into traffic or things do go quite to plan. I find that if you can roll with the punches... your ED tour will be just fine.

Looking forward to your pics and write up. Let me know IF I can help you with anything.

Dackel

Thanks. Yes, I need help one one part of my trip. If you look at my route between Innsbruck and Malcesine, I don't think we can do it one day as it will be too much driving. What is a good place to stop for the night? Ideally I'd like to get past Cortina D'Ampezzo so I am closer to Malcesine the next morning when we resume our journey.

Thanks.

[///M///]

Originally Posted by ben1233

Do you have your tickets reserved for The Last Supper? There's very limited availability on this one...

Also if you want a good lunch...to the right of the galleria there is a large department store. In that department store, on the top floor there is a restaurant (il Bar I think is the name). It overlooks the spires of the duomo. Nothing beats an afternoon of drinking the Jesus juice while overlooking the cathedral. Food is good, too.

Have fun!

Yes tickets done. Thanks for the excellent tip. Keep them coming

[OneRib]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

WoW! Looks like quite an adventure you have planned. Just remember to stay flexible with your plans. Sometimes you will run into traffic or things do go quite to plan. I find that if you can roll with the punches... your ED tour will be just fine.

Looking forward to your pics and write up. Let me know IF I can help you with anything.

Dackel

I will echo the comment on flexibility. We missed out on the Audi factory tour because of traffic. Nothing we could do. I guess we will have to do it next time. I was disappointed, but we made the best of it. On a trip that long you can't turn into a crazed micromanager who loses it with every small detail. Even more important for you with the little one.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by dsm918

Bought the Air tickets (non-refundable). Set in stone

My only other tip is while Cinque Terre is so beautiful it gets quite package by 11am. Go there early before all the crowds arrive. That little road leading to Vernazza becomes madness by noon with all the buses going there. I would say get there by 9am or so.

Also the trains are confusing leaving from Vernazza to Cinque Terre. A train will pull up in Vernazza and then backUP out that village. So make sure the train you are on is headed for the right direction(village). IF you can visit Lucca while in Italy, its also a great little city. I also really like Verona(Romeo and Juliet fame). Near Verona is one of my favorite auto museums: Nicolis Museum

We tour: Museum Nicolis - Verona, Italy
http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=959180

In Turin is also a really nice museum too...
Museo dell'automobile di Torino
http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=959036

But I really prefer the smaller and packed Nicolis Museum - I think bc they have so much cool stuff. Something for everyone here. Not just car related. I also like driving this area of Northern Italy quite a bit. Be sure to go grocery shopping to check out some of the local foods. I always go grocery shopping while in Italy to pick up local snacks and drinks. CoOp or Mpreis are favorite chains of mine.

Dack

[///M///]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

My only other tip is while Cinque Terre is so beautiful it gets quite package by 11am. Go there early before all the crowds arrive. That little road leading to Vernazza becomes madness by noon with all the buses going there. I would say get there by 9am or so.

Also the trains are confusing leaving from Vernazza to Cinque Terre. A train will pull up in Vernazza and then backUP out that village. So make sure the train you are on is headed for the right direction(village). IF you can visit Lucca while in Italy, its also a great little city. I also really like Verona(Romeo and Juliet fame). Near Verona is one of my favorite auto museums: Nicolis Museum

We tour: Museum Nicolis - Verona, Italy
http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=959180

In Turin is also a really nice museum too...
Museo dell'automobile di Torino
http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=959036

But I really prefer the smaller and packed Nicolis Museum - I think bc they have so much cool stuff. Something for everyone here. Not just car related. I also like driving this area of Northern Italy quite a bit. Be sure to go grocery shopping to check out some of the local foods. I always go grocery shopping while in Italy to pick up local snacks and drinks. CoOp or Mpreis are favorite chains of mine.

Dack

Dackelone . Thanks again. Some great tips on the trains and museums.. As far as getting to Vernazza in Cinque Terre, not sure if you missed it on my map, but I am takin the train from Milan. The car will be safely tucked Way in Milan for three days in a private car garage. The airbnb host we will be staying with is renting me his private 2 car garage for 4 days. I had read that while it is a beautiful drive to Cinque Terre, it can be a very stressful drive so I had decided not to drive there.

Day 9 - Friday
- Leave Milan -Take the train from Milan Central to Vernazza in Cinque Terre.
- Arrive in Vernazza.
- Explore Vernazza
- Spend the night in Vernazza

Can you give some advise on my post#29 above?

Thanks.

[vonmayr]

When is day one?

[///M///]

Originally Posted by vonmayr

When is day one?

Aug 27.

[vonmayr]

Originally Posted by dsm918

Aug 27.

Getting close now! I would assume that you are through production at this point. Make sure you post pictures - there are some cool places that you are visiting!

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by dsm918

Dackelone . Thanks again. Some great tips on the trains and museums.. As far as getting to Vernazza in Cinque Terre, not sure if you missed it on my map, but I am takin the train from Milan. The car will be safely tucked Way in Milan for three days in a private car garage. The airbnb host we will be staying with is renting me his private 2 car garage for 4 days. I had read that while it is a beautiful drive to Cinque Terre, it can be a very stressful drive so I had decided not to drive there.

Day 9 - Friday
- Leave Milan -Take the train from Milan Central to Vernazza in Cinque Terre.
- Arrive in Vernazza.
- Explore Vernazza
- Spend the night in Vernazza

Can you give some advise on my post#29 above?

Thanks.

It is really hard to go wrong staying at any hotel in the Sella region. Last year we stayed in Corvara at the Hotel Kolfuschgerhof. It was a very nice hotel. They even kept all of our cars locked up inside their garage at night. I would go with an upgraded room - they were quite nice. Its a family run hotel and their daughter Dagmar runs the place. Send her an email asking about availability. This hotel was on he pricey side though.





Hotel Kolfuschgerhof
I-39030 Kolfuschg von Corvara

http://www.kolfuschgerhof.com/deu/Default.asp

info@kolfuschgerhof.com



Where us Euro 1Addicts met for lunch last year(and this year) in Vipiteno was a very nice restaurant and hotel. Its in a busy area but the hotel is off the main street and it is very green and lush. The staff was friendly and they had great food. I was actually thinking of coming back to stay over night in the future. Their prices are much better and they have a German/Italian flair. Also a BIG PLUS is the gas station next door has ONE pump with 102 octane. Most gas stations in Italy only have 95 octane, while in Germany/Austria most have 98 and some 100 or 102). But in Italy 95 octane is the norm.


Hotel Restaurant Zum Engel


Gas station next door to the hotel Engel


Hotel Restaurant Zum Engel
Via Deutschhaus, 20
39049 Vipiteno BZ
Italy


Another place I could recommend is Bella Vista Hotel.. again opt for a deluxe suite... its only a few euros more and the rooms are VERY nice. Lots of woodwork. I've stayed here twice and I would go back. The wait staff is a little eccentric... but you will be ok. The views from this area of the Sella mountains is just to die for!






Hotel Bellavista
Strèda de Pordoi, 12
38032 Canazei Province of Trento
Italy

http://www.bellavistahotel.it/

The view from my hotel balcony at the Bella Vista a few weeks ago.


the view of the Sella mountains from the hotel's parking lot.



I hope I answered your Q's. Just hit me up for any other questions. Maybe my Italian expert Artemis can recommend some hotels too.

Luc is always trying to get me to stay at the KUBE Hotel South of Trento. One day!


Hotel Kube
Località Fondo Grande, 21
Folgaria TN
Italy

http://www.kubehotel.it/


Have fun on your ED.
Dackel




Sella...

[Dackelone]

I was just going thru some of my Sella photos from our Sella 2.0 tour. I remembered driving past this hotel. Its in the Sella area... and frankly is just looks so cool. I've never stayed here... but its just one of those hotel's that caught my eye.







Posta Zirm Hotel
Str. Col Alt, 95
39033 Corvara In Badia BZ
Italy

http://www.postazirm.com/en/

[///M///]

Originally Posted by vonmayr

Getting close now! I would assume that you are through production at this point. Make sure you post pictures - there are some cool places that you are visiting!

Thanks vonmayr. Will be doing a nice recap when I get back.

Originally Posted by Dackelone

It is really hard to go wrong staying at any hotel in the Sella region. Last year we stayed in Corvara at the Hotel Kolfuschgerhof. It was a very nice hotel. They even kept all of our cars locked up inside their garage at night. I would go with an upgraded room - they were quite nice. Its a family run hotel and their daughter Dagmar runs the place. Send her an email asking about availability. This hotel was on he pricey side though.


Attachment 1258771


Hotel Kolfuschgerhof
I-39030 Kolfuschg von Corvara

http://www.kolfuschgerhof.com/deu/Default.asp

info@kolfuschgerhof.com



Where us Euro 1Addicts met for lunch last year(and this year) in Vipiteno was a very nice restaurant and hotel. Its in a busy area but the hotel is off the main street and it is very green and lush. The staff was friendly and they had great food. I was actually thinking of coming back to stay over night in the future. Their prices are much better and they have a German/Italian flair. Also a BIG PLUS is the gas station next door has ONE pump with 102 octane. Most gas stations in Italy only have 95 octane, while in Germany/Austria most have 98 and some 100 or 102). But in Italy 95 octane is the norm.


Hotel Restaurant Zum Engel
Attachment 1258772

Gas station next door to the hotel Engel
Attachment 1258777

Hotel Restaurant Zum Engel
Via Deutschhaus, 20
39049 Vipiteno BZ
Italy


Another place I could recommend is Bella Vista Hotel.. again opt for a deluxe suite... its only a few euros more and the rooms are VERY nice. Lots of woodwork. I've stayed here twice and I would go back. The wait staff is a little eccentric... but you will be ok. The views from this area of the Sella mountains is just to die for!

Attachment 1258773

Attachment 1258774


Hotel Bellavista
Strèda de Pordoi, 12
38032 Canazei Province of Trento
Italy

http://www.bellavistahotel.it/

The view from my hotel balcony at the Bella Vista a few weeks ago.
Attachment 1258775

the view of the Sella mountains from the hotel's parking lot.
Attachment 1258776


I hope I answered your Q's. Just hit me up for any other questions. Maybe my Italian expert Artemis can recommend some hotels too.

Luc is always trying to get me to stay at the KUBE Hotel South of Trento. One day!


Hotel Kube
Località Fondo Grande, 21
Folgaria TN
Italy

http://www.kubehotel.it/


Have fun on your ED.
Dackel




Sella...
Attachment 1258778

Originally Posted by Dackelone

I was just going thru some of my Sella photos from our Sella 2.0 tour. I remembered driving past this hotel. Its in the Sella area... and frankly is just looks so cool. I've never stayed here... but its just one of those hotel's that caught my eye.




Attachment 1258865


Posta Zirm Hotel
Str. Col Alt, 95
39033 Corvara In Badia BZ
Italy

http://www.postazirm.com/en/

Thanks Dackel. The last picture is amazing. I'll check all of them out and decide on one.

Much appreciated.

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Luc is always trying to get me to stay at the KUBE Hotel South of Trento. One day!
Hotel Kube

No, that's not the hotel I meant, Dackelone.

I spoke you about the "Mercure Nerocubo Hotel" (which means "Black Cube", after its design). It's a modern four-star hotel with interesting tariffs, along the A22 Brennero highway near Rovereto (choose a 'panoramic superior room' or 'sky suite'). Due to its shape, you'll notice it when driving on the A22 highway (which I did already many times). Nothing peculiar around it (isolated), except for the parallel mountain range and the A22 highway meandering through the valley. But well-positioned as 'base' to head to the sweet Garda Lake (Lago di Garda), Verona, Trento, Bolzano, Merano and the Dolomites. Someday we're gonna test it, Dackelone.
hotel website: http://www.nerocubohotel.it/en/
Tripadvisor ratings: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...lto_Adige.html

[///M///]

Dackelone gojng up and down on the octane between 95 and 102, does that matter much to the car? Just wondering if it gets too used to the 102

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by dsm918

Dackelone gojng up and down on the octane between 95 and 102, does that matter much to the car? Just wondering if it gets too used to the 102

Well.. the engine will adjust(detune) itself IF you use lower octane fuel. I always use 98 octane SuperPlus. Over here SuperPlus(98) is equivalent to 93 octane (premium)back in the USA. Super (95) octane over here is equal to 89 octane in the USA. When I am driving in the Alps... IF I see a brand name fuel station that has 98 or 102... I will stop and top off with some fuel. There is also a third fuel called "Super E10" that is also rated at 95 octane. But this fuel has ethanol in it, and is equal to regular 86 octane fuel in the states.

When we drive spiritedly thru the Alps... we aren't really concerned with fuel economy. I always seem to use about 14 liters(to as much at 17l) per 100 kph or about 16 mpg(to 14 mpg). Also... the fuel in Italy costs close to two euros per liter. While in Germany its around 1.55 / liter and in Austria its another 0.20 cents cheaper than in Germany! So fill up in Austria Still you will have to buy fuel in Italy sooner or later.

As soon as I hit the highway I set my cruise control and can get 30 mpg.

Also.. the fuel is cheaper off the Autostrada(highway) than on it. But off the Autostrada its hard to find a station that open. Almost all stations will have a "reader" that you can feel your cash money into to turn on a pump. Gas stations on the Autostrada are always open normally.

Dackel

[///M///]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Well.. the engine will adjust(detune) itself IF you use lower octane fuel. I always use 98 octane SuperPlus. Over here SuperPlus(98) is equivalent to 93 octane (premium)back in the USA. Super (95) octane over here is equal to 89 octane in the USA. When I am driving in the Alps... IF I see a brand name fuel station that has 98 or 102... I will stop and top off with some fuel. There is also a third fuel called "Super E10" that is also rated at 95 octane. But this fuel has ethanol in it, and is equal to regular 86 octane fuel in the states.

When we drive spiritedly thru the Alps... we aren't really concerned with fuel economy. I always seem to use about 14 liters(to as much at 17l) per 100 kph or about 16 mpg(to 14 mpg). Also... the fuel in Italy costs close to two euros per liter. While in Germany its around 1.55 / liter and in Austria its another 0.20 cents cheaper than in Germany! So fill up in Austria Still you will have to buy fuel in Italy sooner or later.

As soon as I hit the highway I set my cruise control and can get 30 mpg.

Also.. the fuel is cheaper off the Autostrada(highway) than on it. But off the Autostrada its hard to find a station that open. Almost all stations will have a "reader" that you can feel your cash money into to turn on a pump. Gas stations on the Autostrada are always open normally.

Dackel

Thanks. So in Italy I pretty much don't have a choice but to put 89 octane (US) unless I find a brand name fuel station? That sux.

Out of the hotels you recommended, I think I might go for Bellavista only because it is further away in our trip from Innsbruck and making it to Canazei would be a good use of the day there is another one called Wellness Hotel Lupo Bianco that is rated #1 on Trip Advisor. Not sure if you know about this one....

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...lto_Adige.html

That said I'll keep the Covara one as a backup incase my daughter gets too cranky and we absolutely have to stop earlier.

[///M///]

Dackelone so this is just a backup plan incase the day is getting too long and we want to alter our plan. Say we make it to Corvara (must see place) and then skip Rifugio, Cortina and backtrack to Sella and head down south straight to Canazei. Will that be a deal breaker? Is Cortina a must do to properly experience the Dolomites? vonmayr gave a me a great suggestion to come up with the exiting route you see below so I get to see the Dolomites from both sides. Just want to keep a contingency plan because of the toddler incase we want to make it faster to the hotel in Canazei.

On the map below, skipping D,E and F and instead going from C (Corvara) back to B (Sella) and then south to A (Canazei). There seems to be an option to head south from C (Corvara) as well but am not sure if it falls off to a beaten path after Arabba.

I guess to summarize the above I am asking if Sella, Corvara, and then Canazei is enough to get a good feel for the Dolomites vs the whole loop around Cortina via Rifugio?

As always, thanks for all the help.