Had a reply to my email to Railsavers this morning. Apparently there was a meeting in Holland today that would decide the fate of the Motorail service. The decision will be made known tomorrow.
I've just had to change my plans for a tour of Sardinia at the end of May/beginning of June as we were booked on the AutoSlaap train. I'd booked the train to Livorno, and return, together with an overnight Harwich/Hook of Holland ferry crossing, again with return, - all through Railsavers. Looks like I'll get something back on train booking but maybe nothing for the ferry booking. I'd already booked the ferry from Livorno to Oblia in Sardinia, return, along with all the hotels for a two week tour around the island. I didn't want to cancel the whole thing and start again. I did consider riding all the way down and back on my own, with my wife flying to/from Pisa - as she wouldn't want to ride all that way in a couple of days. I've ended up booking the bike on the BikeShuttle which transports the bike from near Northampton to Geneva overnight while we fly on EasyJet the same day, stay in a hotel near the airport and pick up the bike the next morning. The bikes are only transported out on Tuesdays and back on Thursdays but you can get them to store the bike at either end. Luckily we live only 12 miles from the drop off point, I'm retired and my wife's work is very flexible. So I'm just left with planning a leisurely 4 day route from Geneva to Livorno, and the same back. It's a real shame about the closing of the AutoSlaap train service, as I'd worked out a tour of Croatia for next year using the train down to Koper. I had the routes all worked out with ferry crossing between islands and had even started looking at hotels - did I mention that I was retired
Since it's only 350 miles by the shortest route, you will have time to go the pretty way. And there's a great choice of pretty ways between Geneva and Leghorn.
I had to google Leghorn to find out it's the English name for Livorono. Nice one @Pete1950 Mr. Garmin says the 350 miles can be done in just over 6 hours but doesn't tell me the total cost of the tolls or how much I'd square off the back tyre. My first go at a route is 450 miles and takes just over 14 hours spread across 4 days, and only one toll through the Fréjus Tunnel - looks like some sensible starts, long lunches, early finishes with a shower and wander around town before dinner My holiday/medical insurance (Holiday Safe) doesn't cover "end supplier failure" other than scheduled airlines - so I just hope RailSavers come good.
The demise of Autoslaap really threw my plans into the bin initially. I was taking a one way trip down to Livorno then riding back to Blighty via the scenic route stopping in a chain of hotels all prebooked. The Motorail booking company I used (Railsavers) confirmed this month that all hopes of saving Autoslaap with a 'buy out' have now failed. However another train company has stepped in and provided an alternative service that runs from Düsseldorf to Verona. Luckily I've managed to reserve a berth on this service leaving on the same day so all is not lost. Okay so it's a longer ride to Düsseldorf but the train leaves in the evening rather than lunchtime so it works out better. It's definitely a longer ride from Verona to our accommodation near Florence but the train arrives early morning the following day so we've all day to get there. Fingers crossed that it all works out.
Not this year. All my plans are based around Florence and a ride home via Switzerland, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium and France. Maybe next year. Would you recommend it?
I'm there 4-5 times a year. Mother in law lives there. If your into places of interest more than beaches it's the place to go. It's where the conflict started. Got some good sites. The Vukovar water tower is quite a sight and it's right on the Danube. Also about 20 mins from the Serbian border. It's easy reach for Bosnia too. Also the mother in law has rooms for overnight. She has a lot of guests from the uk that cycle through Europe and stay on the way through and back. If your riding at night in Croatia beware of the huge deer!!!! But roads are quiet compared to the uk. And riding through villages stick to the speed limits as the police like to pocket the fines if you see what I mean.
If you want more info give me a shout. It's a place I would highly recommend and love to tell people about it. So much so if my plans work out we will be moving over in a few years. Followed by my parents as they are due to retire and with dads arthritis it's ideal for him.
Stripes, thanks for the offer. If there's anything you can send me now (web links etc) then I'd be happy to tuck them away. Otherwise I'll contact you again when I'm planning a trip. Cheers
Sorry I was a bit late catching your question, I've just got back from Sardinia. BikeShuttle saved the day for me, shipping the bike overnight from Northampton to Geneva and back again 3 weeks later. Given it's their first year of service, they are very well organised. I'll definitely be planing some tours starting/ending in Geneva - already thinking of Corsica via the ferry from Nice. Given the demise of the AutoSlaap train service and specifically the train to/from Koper, Croatia might be a bit too far for a bike tour for us. I've had a quick look at using the Düsseldorf / Verona service which might make it feasible however I'm not sure if this service was a special for this year or if it will run every year. Could end up flying to Split for a long weekend. Spent 10 days in Dubrovnik about 10 years ago, loved the city and the coast/islands.
Really sorry not had chance yet as I'm still working away and Shen I have been home it's been for a matter of hours. Will get it sorted soon
