My 16 Day European Delivery Route Planning is Complete

[OneRib]

dsm918 are you driving to the airport? If so, I recommend expresspark north lot. Pricing was better than most and it's very close to the airport with no chance of getting stuck in traffic. It worked well for us. The only thing they don't have is covered parking.

Can't believe you're only about two weeks away. I think the favorite part of my trip was when the plane took off for Europe. I liked the anticipation at that point as I was so close to getting the car. I wasn't really in a rush once we were in the air.

[///M///]

Originally Posted by OneRib

dsm918 are you driving to the airport? If so, I recommend expresspark north lot. Pricing was better than most and it's very close to the airport with no chance of getting stuck in traffic. It worked well for us. The only thing they don't have is covered parking.

OneRib Can't believe you're only about two weeks away. I think the favorite part of my trip was when the plane took off for Europe. I liked the anticipation at that point as I was so close to getting the car. I wasn't really in a rush once we were in the air.

Thanks man. We are getting a ride from my friends dad. He has a huge van but if that doesn't work out I'll be sure to check this out. Yeah I am super excited considering I started planning this in Sept 2014 and took the first step by selling my E90 M. The time is finally here Barring any emergencies, this should finally happen

By the way, what did you end up doing in Innsbruck? Am thinking taking the cable car up for half a day and spend the second half exploring the town.

[Artemis]

dsm918, here's a roadmap that will give you an excellent idea of the mighty Dolomites:

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/46.8...d46.481521!3e0

Alike me, Dackelone has driven all these roads already and can witness that it's nothing less than awesome. The toddler and significant other will be amazed.

It's worth the detour to get off the highway at Vipiteno (Italian pronounciation) / Sterzing (German pronounciation) to take the Penser Joch (Passo di Pennes) towards Sarentino/Sarntal and Bolzano/Bozen: amazing views and lots of short tunnels carved inside the mountain range (for your aural pleasure whenever you let the beast go).

Then I guide you towards the whereabouts of the Bellavistahotel at Sella Ronda: if you get tired, stop at the Fedaia Lake (Lago Fedaia - drive with your car onto the middle of the dam to snap your 1 million dollar picture) and get to the hotel.

If you're in for more eye candy and driving joy, drive on as proposed by my roadmap and drive the Giau Pass (Passo di Giau - between Caprile and Pocol). At the top of this steep Passo di Giau, you can stop over again to snap another great picture (by the way, that view features in many brochures showing the Dolomites). Subsequently you drive a stretch of the Falzarego Pass and get on the eerie Passo Valparola ("moonscape" will spring to your mind when you see all those white/grey rock stones surrounding that pass) leading you to La Villa. Then I lead you to Sella Ronda: Corvara puts you onto the Gardena Pass (Passo Val Gardena - Grödnerjoch) and subsequently the Sella Pass (Passo Sella). Stop over again at the top of the Sella Pass to snap another one million dollar picture (green meadows and impressive mountain range). From there on, the Bellavista Hotel is just a few minutes away.

Been there many times. You'll be overawed. It's definitely another world (UNESCO world heritage for a reason). As if it was all photoshopped together ...in a great way.

[///M///]

Originally Posted by Artemis

dsm918, here's a roadmap that will give you an excellent idea of the mighty Dolomites:

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/46.8...d46.481521!3e0

Alike me, Dackelone has driven all these roads already and can witness that it's nothing less than awesome. The toddler and significant other will be amazed.

It's worth the detour to get off the highway at Vipiteno (Italian pronounciation) / Sterzing (German pronounciation) to take the Penser Joch (Passo di Pennes) towards Sarentino/Sarntal and Bolzano/Bozen: amazing views and lots of short tunnels carved inside the mountain range (for your aural pleasure whenever you let the beast go).

Then I guide you towards the whereabouts of the Bellavistahotel at Sella Ronda: if you get tired, stop at the Fedaia Lake (Lago Fedaia - drive with your car onto the middle of the dam to snap your 1 million dollar picture) and get to the hotel.

If you're in for more eye candy and driving joy, drive on as proposed by my roadmap and drive the Giau Pass (Passo di Giau - between Caprile and Pocol). At the top of this steep Passo di Giau, you can stop over again to snap another great picture (by the way, that view features in many brochures showing the Dolomites). Subsequently you drive a stretch of the Falzarego Pass and get on the eerie Passo Valparola ("moonscape" will spring to your mind when you see all those white/grey rock stones surrounding that pass) leading you to La Villa. Then I lead you to Sella Ronda: Corvara puts you onto the Gardena Pass (Passo Val Gardena - Grödnerjoch) and subsequently the Sella Pass (Passo Sella). Stop over again at the top of the Sella Pass to snap another one million dollar picture (green meadows and impressive mountain range). From there on, the Bellavista Hotel is just a few minutes away.

Been there many times. You'll be overawed. It's definitely another world (UNESCO world heritage for a reason). As if it was all photoshopped together ...in a great way.

Thanks a lot man. That looks really intense. Over 6 hrs of driving with no stoppages. Not sure wife will sign off on that. The route you chose from Bolzano to Carezza Al Lago, it looks narrower than a one way street , narrow as hell. What's going on in this section. I did some quick street views and didn't see much of the typical Dolomites in this particular section. My other challenge is that I am heading from up north down to Malcesine (Lake Garda) and doing the Dolomites inbetween. Coming down to Bolzano like you suggested gets me more south that i want to be. Hope that makes sense.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by dsm918

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.

Well... Yeah, most times you only have the choice between Gasoline and Diesel. IF your lucky... you will also find SuperPlus 98 or at Shell 100 octane

Here are some examples. The gas prices were from last year. Now gas prices are around ~1.75 in Italy.

The former Shell gas station in Vipiteno. Next door is Hotel Restaurant Zum Engel - a decent place for a nice dinner or overnight stay.
https://www.google.de/maps/place/She...81659564?hl=en


Seemed kind of sketchy at the time... but it was the real deal. 100 octane fuel. Btw... Senza PB = Unleaded Fuel This was the price last month...






This was the price of fuel last year in Italy...








Every village you will see these boxes. Most of the time they are empty... but they CAN Blitz(photo radar) you. Italy has one year to send you the "bill"/ticket,








That Dam that Artemis talked about










one of the many "carved" tunnels in the Sella region...

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by dsm918

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.

You really can not go wrong driving around the Sella area. There is no right or wrong places. Just places(to drive and enjoy the unreal scenery). The Sella Dolomites are really impressive and jaw dropping in person.


This is the route I would recommend you to drive...

Sella, Corvara, Canazei and back to Sella.
https://www.google.de/maps/dir/Sella...9175!3e0?hl=en

Is Cortina a must do to properly experience the Dolomites?

Maybe Artemis would be the better one to answer this question. I don't recall IF we drove thru there this year. Maybe we drove there on last year's tour. ?


Dackel


PS: Check out my YouTube channel (Dackelone) for my Sella 2.0 and Sella 1.0 videos.

https://www.youtube.com/user/Dackelone/videos

You will see just how narrow the roads are. In most sections its not that bad. But there are a few sections of roads(&tunnels) that will make your heart skip a beat or two. You also click on the Sella link under my post for last year's writeup.

[OneRib]

Originally Posted by dsm918

Thanks man. We are getting a ride from my friends dad. He has a huge van but if that doesn't work out I'll be sure to check this out. Yeah I am super excited considering I started planning this in Sept 2014 and took the first step by selling my E90 M. The time is finally here Barring any emergencies, this should finally happen

By the way, what did you end up doing in Innsbruck? Am thinking taking the cable car up for half a day and spend the second half exploring the town.

We just explored the town. We arrived late in the day and left early to go on the Crystal tour. Nice town. I think your plan sounds good.

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by dsm918

Thanks a lot man. That looks really intense. Over 6 hrs of driving with no stoppages. Not sure wife will sign off on that. The route you chose from Bolzano to Carezza Al Lago, it looks narrower than a one way street , narrow as hell. What's going on in this section. I did some quick street views and didn't see much of the typical Dolomites in this particular section. My other challenge is that I am heading from up north down to Malcesine (Lake Garda) and doing the Dolomites inbetween. Coming down to Bolzano like you suggested gets me more south that i want to be. Hope that makes sense.

Well, that comes down to a balance of interests question. Depends if you consider ever coming back to that place by fun car. Otherwise, if the Dolomites could speak, they would say: "See you in the next life !".

[///M///]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

You really can not go wrong driving around the Sella area. There is no right or wrong places. Just places(to drive and enjoy the unreal scenery). The Sella Dolomites are really impressive and jaw dropping in person.


This is the route I would recommend you to drive...

Dackel

I like this. Definately doable.

Thanks a lot.