to think that if anyone books a holiday with 1,000 mile drive at end they are mad?

[oldbeforetime]

I'm just looking on the ThomsonAlfresco website for a summer holiday.

I said to my dh what fantastic prices these are to Italy for a week - considering they include ferry travel. He was surprised at ferry travel to Italy.

So it was at this point I read the small print - it's a ferry to Calais or Dunkirk, according to their chart there is then mileage of 740 - 1245 miles to their Italian campsites.

Who would do this - AIBU to think this is mad, and certainly makes ryanair look like they use local airports!!!

Why not? Not everyone likes to fly. It would take about two days to comfortably drive to the north of Italy, staying overnight somewhere, especially if they are camping.

It's very normal for campers to drive long distances in Europe, that it half the fun, you get to see the countries along the way.

We do this every year - not always that far - but last year we drove about 3000km over 3 weeks. Tuscany via Germany and Northern Italy on the way out and Lake Como and Switzerland on the way back. We make the travelling part of the holiday.

It can work out cheaper than flying hiring a car at the other end and you can take all your "stuff" with you. Half of Northern Europe heads for the med in cars and caravans in July/August. I once heard a good joke that Belgium was founded by Dutch caravan owners that got lost en route to the South of France.....

Some people like driving as you get to see a lot more, stope on the way, take their time etc.. and see it as part of the holiday.

I love doing holidays with lots of driving - take your time, check out interesting places en route, etc etc. Since having the DCs, however, this sort of holiday has lost its appeal - hoping it'll seem more fun again when they are a bit older (i have 4 under 4 at the mo).

We are driving to Italy for our summer holiday. Tent in the boot, three nights in the French alps to watch the tour de France and then over the border for a week in Italy. Planning on driving back via Switzerland, should be away 2.5 weeks, I am sooo excited. Think of all the different cultures and foods we would miss if we sat in a plane instead.

I better not tell that joke to dh Portofino!

Personally, my kids would go crazy on such a journey. But I know lots of families that are happy to drive that length afterwards, relax and enjoy the scenery.

My kids are full of "Are we there yet" if we go on as much as a 5 mile drive!

We used to drive to Northern Spain every summer for 2 weeks when the LOs were small. It made a lovely holiday, meandering through France for 2 days to get there.

So yes, YABU.

My parents used to drive to Hungary each summer (they've emigrated now). I have fond memories of endless singalongs with my sister in the back (and fortunately for our parents we could both actually sing). My Dad really likes driving on motorways, some people do.

Portofino we'll be staying in Liguria, can't wait every time I've seen you name on a thread I get a little meep of excitement! Do you have any travel tips for the drive back via the Lakes and Switzerland, we have the way down mapped out as we have to time it to fit in with the tour but the way back is an adventure we haven't even thought properly about yet.

I think my problem is I'm lady007pink's children grown up, I'm sat there thinking are we there yet, must be nearly there etc

Although no longer say it out loud

Well to those of you that like the drive have a look at the Thomson Alfresco website they have some fantastic deals at the moment.

My geography is useless - can someone tell me how far south in France do I have to go to get "guaranteed" decent pool weather in July?

belgo - guess not! For small children, I can recommend a portable dvd player!

Tried that Portofino, caused travel sickness.

So we have a load of belgium children's music on cd - K3, Mega Mindy etc, drives me mad having to listen to it so last year we got the girls aldi MP3 players.

You need a vignette to drive on the Swiss motorways - costs about 40 euros. You can buy it at the border or order one in advance from the Swiss Tourist board. We drove back through the San Gottardo tunnel. I know it can get very busy - particulary on Summer weekends, so allow lots of time. Otherwise the drive was pretty simple. The scenery is stunning.

Whereabouts in Liguria are you going? We have been a few times....

Hi Portofino, we are staying in a villa in the hills just over the border from France! The nearest town in Ventimiglia (sp?) which is apparently a bit 'tired' but I'm not that fussy! We plan to have a couple of days heading down the coast to check it out for next year. For a family of home bods we are venturing out of our normal comfort zone. The boys are very good in cars though.

A 1000 drive would be my idea of a living hell but each to their own I suppose and I can understand why some would enjoy it or find it more practical. Also, you can't bring all your camping gear on a flight with you so suppose car is the only option.

My children are used to long car journeys because we travel so much backwards and forwards to England. They do have their noisy moments though!

I-spy type games are great, especially now the girls are older and learning to read; and so are car spotting games - counting 20 yellow/green cars, campervans/ caravans/tractors etc.

We drive from England to Poland quite regularly, over 1000 miles and quite doable. We always see it as part of the adventure, really. First time we did it with our son he was 3 months old - we have a Fiat Multipa which has 3 seats across the front so he was in between us, which was great. He's 4 now and very used to long car journeys: when he was 2 and a half we did Derbyshire - Austria - Milan - Brittany - Derbyshire in 2 weeks (including Milan to Brittany in one hit) and he coped beautifully.

I wouldn't do it, I'm not a huge fan of long car journeys. I do like long ferry crossings though.

Can I just ask, before you read the small print, where did you think the ferry was going to go to and from?

We're driving to Puglia this summer for the second time. We have 3DC now and they love it! We camp on the journey and then have a week of complete relaxation in perfect weather.

Driving on the continent is so easy and the DCs love to stop and loook at the sights along the way.

I'm used to it though, when i was 11 my P's drove my DB and i through Spain and Portugal for a month. It's one of my most memorable holidays!

It would be our perfect holiday tbh! (I guess it's each to their own )

For our honeymoon in July we travelled 5 hours down to dover, then crossed on the ferry to Calais, then drove 7 hours to Brittany. (A round trip of 1500 miles I think DH said)

DD was 16 months and is a happy traveller, she either sleeps or plays with small toys, plus we stopped loads for a run around and snack etc. We saw so much more of France than we expected to.

We have also done the Hull to Rotterdam crossing, then driven on to Germany - the roads are fantastic and we are both happy driving on the 'wrong' side of the road.

I can't wait to go again

We drive to SOuth of France from Dover most year, last year went further to a few hours SOuth of Barcelona.

A few years ago we flew to Cannes. Kids asked if we could drive the next year! They didn't appreciate waiting at airport to check in, collect baggage, sort hire car etc etc. With your own car you have no baggage limit & can bring back crates of wine :)

YANBU, it would be my idea of hell, not holiday! But obviously lots of people would love to do it, and I guess the holiday company knows that.

Well, of course it is only dover calais, as it is with most self catering companies, but the drive is half the fun, if you don't want to drive then fly. For guaranteed good weather in France, I'd want to be in Provence if east, Bordeaux if west