Just in case any of you are thinking of driving to Corfu , we did it a few weeks ago and might be able to give you a few tips ?
We took the tunnel and then drove to Lyon which was about 625 miles and took about 8 hours from Gatwick airport. We stayed in an Etap hotel , just past Lyon , which was very good , clean and only £29.00 a night !
Next day we set off across Italy to a place on the east coast called Fano (500 miles) where the hotel was a bit more up market and cost around £65.00. The town of Fano is beautiful and we had a fantastic Italian meal !
Next day was the trip down the coast to Bari which was about 450 miles and we ended up in a mad house of one way streets in Bari center - Don't Do It !! Go straight to the port !! (the first port office is for Albania so go past that and the Corfu office is 1/4 of a mile further - right at the end.
All told it cost us about 100 euros a day in fuel and the road tolls cost about 200 euros each way.
Keep in mind we were in a van which is a little more expensive !
One of the tunnels , from France to Italy , cost 38 euros each way !!! (included in my toll charges)
The ferry was with a sleeper cabin and cost around £200 return.
It was basic but comfortable if you like bunk beds !! (only about 8 hours sail and you wake up arriving in Corfu feeling refreshed)
All told this is an easier and cheaper route than going through Switzerland and sailing from Venice ...
The Venice ferry is 24 hours and very expensive !
I hope this helps someone considering the trip .... its a great adventure (take an Italian phrase book !)
Curt