Rhonda

Definites: <BR>Flying in Fall to Frankfurt <BR>Pick up car and drive to Hamburg to visit relatives for a few days. <BR>8 days later have a week booked in Tuscany. <BR>7 days later visit friends in the Algarve, Portugal before departing from Madrid 5 days later. <BR> <BR>We would rather do a big days drive then spend a couple of nights in one place, instead of constantly being on the move. (We are used to driving 1,000 kms a day but not in Europe!) <BR> <BR>We have LOTS of ideas thanks to this forum, but what would YOU recommend for a family of 4 with teenagers? Any suggestions?

Rex

Well, i'll start with a logistics nugget, from http://www.europebyair.com - - I don't know if this fare is available for Australians (it doesn't show if you select "English [UK]") - - but maybe you can get it sold to you as if you are from the US (or maybe they can come up with Australia pricing). <BR> <BR>Anyhow, they offer Bologna-Lisbon for only $99 USD ($192.61 AUD) - - since you want to go from Italy to Portugal. <BR> <BR>Same thing for Dusseldorf-Milan or Berlin-Venice - - better than the one-way drop charge to turn in a German car in Italy. <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex <BR>

Rhonda

Thanks Rex but we first looked at flying. Multiply everything by 4 (all adult fares)and car leasing won out. We're definately driving (drop off charges were greatly reduced and extra 10 days for free with earlybird deal). <BR> <BR>Any more suggestions? Is 4 weeks too short for this distance? <BR> <BR>

Rex

Okay. Suit yourself. I would have personally broken this up into two rentals (or one lease plus one rental, in Portugal). The air fare will still be cheaper than the drive from Italy to Portugal, but you can see some interesting geography driving. Using www.mappy.com. I get 1446 miles, Florence to Faro (estimated at 25 hrs), with a fuel estimate of 158 GBP and tolls of 229 FF plus 4840 ESP. <BR> <BR>You say that you are accustomed to 1000 km days. I've done those (in Europe, and especially here in the US). But three long days, back to back, is tough. And I suspect that you will want two overnights to get from Italy to Portugal. Looks like you would want your first stop no sooner than Aix-en-Provence, and no later than Perpignan. Montpellier and Sete are both nice. Second stop in the general vicinity of Valencia to Cartagena, perhaps? <BR> <BR>

Rhonda

Thanks Rex for your suggestions. Yes, www.mappy.com is a great help. I was thinking maybe doing the Florence - Faro leg over at least 4 nights with 1st on the French Riviera, 2 in Carcassonne, France and last down past Valencia. May visit Port de la Selva, Figueras, Girona or San Feliu on the way. Interesting that mappy recommend fastest route via Valencia - Cordoba using N322. Ever travelled that road? <BR> <BR>

Rex

Whew - - gotta rack my brain here. I drove from Fuengirola to Ronda to Benidorm (overnighted) past Valencia to Barcelona once. Seems like I went vaguely via Murcia, but sorry - - memories too faded now. I can drive you I drove like a bat outa hell. I was supposed to turn the car in at Valencia and fly on a cheap flight to Barcelona, and I decided what the heck at 200 kph, I can drive it just as fast (figuring in the time to get to the airport, check in, turn the car in, and get from the Barcelona airport to my destination). <BR> <BR>I don't necessarily recommend this with a family. But the roads are conducive to safe and fast travel. (as long as i'm not on them). <BR> <BR>Prospective Fodorites' trip participants: this is not the "real" Rex posting - - he's a very safe and conservative driver (wink...) <BR>

Rhonda

Thanks Rex for your help. My kids think I'm approaching this trip like I'm preparing a thesis. We don't want too much prebooked and the roads sound like we'll manage (despite being on the "wrong" side of the road. Ever driven in Aus? Melbourne to Brisbane,1500 ks?, is no big deal.) Above possible destinations are all due to Fodrites' recommendations. Thanks all.

Rex

Only once, Rhonda. Sydney and some of the Blue Mountains (day trip only). You may have seen my comments here that it is not that hard to get used to "the other way" - - even with manual shift. <BR> <BR>One of the best French restaurants I ever visited in my life was in a little town in the Blue Mountains - - Le Gobelet in Leura. Another one of those "rack my brain" things. Thank goodness for scrapbooks and souvenirs, huh? <BR>