Road Tripping

Now that Memorial Day has come and gone, I think we all can agree that summer has indisputably started.  Sundresses, warm evenings, weekends lazing about in the sultry heat...and hot subway platforms and impertinent mosquitoes which have the nerve to fly 15 stories up (and into my apartment) that we will eventually need a vacation from.

So not only has summer started, but vacation planning has also begun in earnest.  Certain tools must be dusted off and employed.  Fly.com for airline fares, Tablet Hotel for the distinctly un-Marriot/Westin/Hyatt type accommodations, and my new favorite, via Michelin for planning road trips.

Type in a departure location and a destination, and dear old Michelin will tell you how far you'll be driving, how long you'll be driving, how much in tolls you'll be paying, how much in gas you'll be paying and where those pesky speed cameras are located.  You couldn't get such detailed information from even the most informed of locals.

So for a few unscheduled days I have in Europe this summer, I've been trying out a few virtual itineraries.  Do I drive from Paris to the Atlantic coast of France or take the train?

via Interchalet

From the looks of it the 2 hour TGV beats the 4 hour drive and the 30 euro tolls.

Is a leisurely drive from Marseille to Nice realistic in 4 days?

via Destination 360

The answer appears to be yes, but the summertime crowds are another story.  Epic, I'm told.

Lisbon to Madrid?  Doable, but why leave Portugal for a six hour drive?

Wherever I go (suggestions are welcome) there are bound to be a few surprises, but hopefully, with the help of Monsieur Michelin, none of them will be transport related...