27 April we will be landing in Milan from South Africa and plan to rent a car for the day to drive to Lichtenstein. On 28 April we plan to drive to Milan via Mont Blanc. Will the passes be open and it there any car rental that can be recommended as some seem very pricy.
Posted by
Tilburg, Netherlands
2829 posts
The high scenic passes (like the Furka or Grimsel) don't open till May. The normal routes are plowed year-round. The problem is that your route doesn't make any sense. Liechtenstein and the Mont Blanc (Chamonix, France) are on the opposite extremes of borders in Switzerland and separated, at least, by 5h30 hours of driving (via the low-altitude route in St Gallen-Zurich-Fribourg-Geneve). With just 2 days, I'd drive to either place (Liechtenstein or Chamonix) and enjoy the location.
Posted by
Green Bay
21346 posts
There are fleets of snowplows on standby to keep vital passes open in the Alps all year. That does not mean they might shut down for a few hours in a really severe storm. Secondary roads may shut down for the Winter in lesser used passes. A quick look at the map suggests you would be going over the San Bernadino Pass in Switzerland which has a tunnel underneath the high sections. Going through Geneva there are no passes to traverse all the way to Chamonix, then you can pass through the rather pricey Mt Blanc base tunnel into Italy. Be sure to pick up your vignette as soon as you enter Switzerland. Don't know how many people and luggage you need to haul. Wifey and I got a Megane for a couple of days last Fall and were very happy with it.
Posted by
OP
Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
2 posts
Hi Sam thanks so much. Just myself and husband and 2 suitcases so megane should be perfect. Which car rental agency did you use?
Posted by
Green Bay
21346 posts
I used Orbitz website, but others swear by Auto Europe. Rental at Geneva Airport was 46 CHF/day for 2 days. I also took the Orbitz insurance at 9 CHF/calender day. And of course, fuel was on the renter. Rental company was Sixt.