Driving down to Kaprun in February

Hi, I am proposing to drive down to Kaprun in february and was wondering if anyone has any tips on the trip as I have never driven abroad before although I drive a HGV in this country. I am taking my wife with me so she can share the driving and we can get some quality time away from the now grown up kids (any romantic suggestions would be very welcome)

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Hmm. A few things spring to mind. Driving regulations abroad have a couple of intricacies:-

- You MUST have a warning triangle

- You MUST have a first-aid kit

- You MUST have had your headlights dipped correctly or have blinding strips to prevent dazzling the drivers on the other side.

- You MUST have a spare bulb kit

- You MUST have a GB sticker

- Your spare tyre MUST be fully inflated

- You MUST have a small, full, petrol container.

French, German %26amp; Austrian police frequently pull over UK drivers to check these things. I know it sounds insane but it is Illegal run out of petrol in Germany. Failure to be able to demonstrate all of the above results in a hefty on the spot fine which doubles if you are not able to pay %26#39;on the spot%26#39;.

When you hit the Austrian roads make sure that you buy a %26#39;Vignette%26#39;. It costs a few Euros and is essentially temporary road tax for foreigners.

There are sections of the German Autobahn that are effectively %26#39;unregulated%26#39; speed-wise. But beware as the Police can still pull you if they feel you aren%26#39;t driving with due care %26amp; attention, or your speed is not in keeping with the conditions. Flashing of headlights to let other drivers know you are waiting to pass is common and doesn%26#39;t offend - so no need to give anyone the Birdie if they flash you. If you then wish to signal that you intend to stay in the outside lane until you have finished overtaking turn on your left indicator - you should then find that the car behind backs off whilst you finish overtaking.

The motorways that you drive on in France may well have tolls. I can%26#39;t quite remember off the top of my head (despite having done the journey out to Munich a dozen or so times).

Make sure that you have snow chains (or buy them out there). To get to Kaprun (and definately when you drive up to the skilift area) they will not let you up the mountain without snow chains in bad weather.

Be aware of the directions that most %26#39;route finders%26#39; will give you going through Belgium. The roads in Belgium (admittedly last time I drove there was 2 years back) are positively dangerous. The French, however, maintain their roads extremely well so it is worth any tolls that need to be paid.

My advice - when you get off at Calais - is to head for Riems, then on to Metz, cross into Germany at Saarbrucken and then follow signs to A8 Stuttgart. Stick on the same Motorway all the way to Munich. When you get to Munich follow any sign you see towards the %26#39;Mittlerer Ring%26#39; (The %26#39;Central Ring%26#39;) which is the ring road round to the other side of Munich. Turn right onto the ring.

When you get to the other side of Munich look for signs to A8 towards Innsbruck. After 40 miles or so turn off and head towards Kufstein. Leave the motorway about 8-10 miles into Austria (you know you%26#39;re passing into Austria as the remains of the old border station are still there) - I seem to remember it is signposted Kufstein-Sud and it is the 2nd exit after the border. When you leave the motorway you loop round and back over yourself - cross the first roundabout and then turn right up into the mountains at the next one. You should now find yourself with a valley/river on your right and a mountain face on your left heading up a hill.

From now on it literally couldn%26#39;t be easier. Stick on the same road until you%26#39;ve gone past Ellmau and Going. A few miles past Going turn off right (signposted Kitzbuhel %26amp; about 5 other ski resorts). Head straight through Kitzbuhel, out the other side. Through Jochburg and then up, up, up until you hit Pass Thurn. Now you start heading back down.

Head all the way down the mountain until you hit Mittersil. Literally the second you arrive at the town you go round a sharp right hand turn over a bridge and must turn off right on the slip road. After about 100 metres turn right at the T junction. Head down this road for about 15 minutes (through Piesendorf) until you come to the roundabout signposted right to Kaprun.

Personally, I%26#39;d recommend staying in Zell-am-See instead of Kaprun (better nightlife, nicer village) - so don%26#39;t turn right at that last roundabout: Go straight ahead instead. When you come to the traffic lights go straight ahead which should take you bearing left into a tunnel. After quarter of a mile bear off right (you%26#39;re still in the tunnel at this stage). You should then leave the tunnel and Zell-am-See will be straight in front of you (with the lake on your right).

Romantic places to stay in Zell: The Grand Hotel is very nice. Juts out into the lake. Might take you a few attempts to find the annoying little road that takes you across the railway track to the hotel. Lots of nice places to eat - including the hotel ! The Kupfelkeller is one of my favorites. Crazy Daisy is a good apres-ski spot.

Have a nice trip. Safe driving.

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Mind that in Austria, Italy and some other countries, the driver must have a warning vest, stored inside the car and not in the trunk. It has to be put on at the moment of leaving the car outside of villages (for example in case of an accident, not when parking on a car park).

If you want to use the Autobahn (A..) or Autostraße/Schnellstraße (S..) in Austria, you have to buy a sticker %26quot;Vignette%26quot;...

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No advice on the driving, just agreeing with TheDoverMan that Zell would be better option to stay in, agree with his reasons. The Grand Hotel is lovely, stayed there twice, but it%26#39;s not cheap.