Italy April 2017 - looking for recommendations

[andyredz]

Hi all,

I'm off for a bimble around Italy in April, for a few weeks or so, any recommendations for places to see / routes / accommodation etc will all be considered - thanks in advance!

The only place I'm definitely going to is Assisi, my main reason for going.

I'm particularly interested in biker safe / friendly accommodation, ideally of the hostel or cheaper end B&B sort of thing (no camping this trip).

And if anyone wants to join me for all or part of the trip then happy to meet up. Ferry booked and leaving UK for France on 5th April. No return date, no real plans, just a relaxed trip...

[Arma]

I've always wondered what people mean or expect when they say things like 'biker safe / friendly accommodation'. I've stayed in hotels, campsites, home stays, outhouses, tree houses, bed and breakfasts and am yet to find anywhere turn me away because I arrived on a bike! Aside from the faceless hotels most are interested to have a look around the bike and a play with it!

I've not been to the Assisi area myself yet but on the way down I'd suggest avoiding the flatter land in the east. Personally I'd take a route through the French alps to get down and the Swiss on the way back, or the opposite. Use the German motorways for the blast down and back up if viable, save on nasty French tolls.

If you do go via the French alps I particularly liked a little town called Apricale on the Italian side, it's one of a few hilltop towns in the area and has one 'hotel' made up of small rooms all over town. Beautiful area.

[andyredz]

Thanks for reply, will be traveling via SW France as have friends there. Will look into visiting Apricale.

[backofbeyond]

Alps are going to be cold, cold, cold in early April. It's still peak ski season there. Take some woolies or something for the day or so it'll take to cross them and slap some ACF50 on the bike to cope with the road salt.

From Calais, if you head down to the French alps via the free German autobahns you'll not make as much autoroute toll saving as you might think as it's quite a lot further. Last time we did it (last summer) my "accounts notebook" (back of a fuel receipt!) only showed a saving of around €25 - and that's not counting things like tyre wear. By the time we bought the Swiss vignette we were in deficit.

If you're going via SW France none of this will apply but I still wouldn't bank on it being too warm until you hit the med.

[Grumpy old Man]

Hi. As written above the Alps are well covered in snow right now resulting in many passes closed. But you still can have some fun if you stay in lower regions. If you come in vis Marseille and then head towards Nizza and Italy there will be plenty of fun roads to ride on. Italy is where you like to go, then the Tuscany region is very good for riding. Almalfi Cost is worth a visit too but far south.. If you have enough time Corsica is abfab in April. No tourists at all. Stay cear of the Po flat land. It is sooooo dull. Like to look at old stones? The Rome is a must! The Colosseum is, well colssal! I mind when I've seen it for the first time; pictures or documentaries on tv don't do it justice- but be aware of the roman traffic. Its madness!

[andyredz]

Thanks for replies. I'm being very flexible in my plans when i get to Italy, so will be making up the route as i go. I appreciate your input