Italian Wedding
One of my nieces is getting married in the Italian Alps at Champoluc at the end of June and one of my first reactions was to drive down with the caravan - nice and slowly. Does anyone know the area? Not too far from Aosta (nearest airport we are told is Turin). I would be travelling with at least one dog (and I know the animal procedure) I do have ACSI - or will have so I know how to find a site but would appreciate any local info please. I don't speak Italian but my French is tolerable! It is a long while since I have been that far down France - my experience mainly Brittany and Normandy recently. One thought was to park the caravan somewhere near the border and hotel it for the wedding. Thanks in advance.
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Hi Pippah,
When boy was well we towed several times around the area, mainly staying around the lakes. Beware that pitches are normally quite tight and roads a little bit tight too.
I would say go for it, buy a couple of Vignettes so you can travel through Switzerland 🇨🇭. Beautiful beautiful part of the world 🌎 and you have prompted me to look again.
good luck
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I towed alone to Italy in Sept 2016. I went France and Switzerland, 99% motorway/dual carriageway but expensive. One way tolls and vignette were over £150.00. If I were to do it again I would go Germany, Austria etc. I stayed on a site in Pavia (an hour south of Milan) and the pitches were a good size.
Personally I would take the van the whole way
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Pippah - you're familiar with France, so why not go down 'the long way round' and drive down through France, along the Mediterranean coast, find a nice site in the hills near the Mediterranean to leave your caravan (most will offer what they call 'garage mort' to leave an unoccupied caravan on pitch for a reduced fee) and then drive solo up to the wedding venue and stay overnight in a hotel which is dog-friendly.
There are several sites in Luguria which are near to the Med............. few in France, unfortunately.
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Pippah
Not sure what the roads are like in the immediate area around where the wedding is but there are several campsites near to Aosta which is on the main route if you wanted to avoid the more narrow mountain roads up to the resort. I would have thought the most direct route would be either via Switzerland or via France and the Mont Blanc Tunnel. Although we have been to Italy many times we have not ventured that far into the mountains. Sounds like a wonderful trip.
David
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Pippah - just another thought - what will you do with the dog on the day of the wedding? Can he come with you? Will the 'venue' allow it? Will you need to make alternative arrangements? You may have taken all this into account, but just in case...................!
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If you mean to stay on the French site of the border I can recommend Lodge Les Domes de Miage in St Gervais Les Bains which isn't far from the tunnel. I know because I nearly took us through it by accident! The site is ACSI and we loved it so much we are going back this year.
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Brilliant everyone - the power of Club Together!
Thank you all so much - lots of food for thought. As to the dogs at the venue I might have a problem with SIL - mother of the bride she is convinced one of mine is dangerous!
France is favourite at the moment although perhaps I should take the opportunity to renew long ago acquaintance with Germany and Austria where we had a few caravan trips when in the services (him not me) - exciting planning anyway.
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All dogs are dangerous. Just a wolf in wolf's clothing.
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We have driven around the North side of the lake to Martigny and the route through France, Bourg en Bresse , Geneva and Martigny is fast motorway so no problems and very simple. Have not been through the St Bernard tunnel though. The alternative via Annecy and the Mont Blanc tunnel avoids having to buy two Swiss vignettes so looks the better option. Two ACSI sites on the main road through Aosta.
It would be good to get feedback from somebody who has done both routes/tunnels.
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The groom's mother failed to reach the venue this week due to heavy snowfalls - hopefully not a problem in June! It seems they are regulars there - and the "wedding ceremony" is a hike up the mountains. I must guard against altitude sickness if it is high up!
Quite right CY and this one possibly more than most she is a Rottweiler x GSD! but unless your intentions are evil she won't trouble you!
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Pippah, your French language skills will stand you in good stead in that part of Italy - it's widely spoken there.
With a caravan the Mont Blanc tunnel from Chamonix is an easier approach to the Aosta valley than the Grand St Bernard tunnel - that one is a long slog up from Martigny to the tunnel mouth. With a heavy load I recall 20 miles in second gear at 20 mph taking a full hour to the tunnel - simple arithmetic !
The site we have used and liked in the Aosta valley is Camping Monte Bianco at Sarre, but that is still 45 miles short of your wedding destination, so the site further along the valley at St Vincent might be a better bet for you. There are sites nearer to Champoluc but the roads up there are twisty so you might prefer to do the last stretch solo.
Enjoy!
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Thank you very much ET - I hadn't expected my French language skills to be of use on the Italian side of the border but good to know! And the rest of your advice is also very useful. I am hovering between flying out on jet2 or similar and hotelling it and trying the caravan! Flying out still leaves me with accommodation problems as a solo traveller so I am not much further forward except that I have much more information about camping it.
Many thanks to everyone.
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Pippah - you may pay a little more for your room, but I would imagine that overall a flight there, a hotel room for as many nights as you need, and a taxi to the hotel venue may well cost less than taking a caravan the whole way there and back, paying tolls, vignettes, site fees, etc. Just check a few prices on flights and a room - and see how it compares. Booking.com often have 'single rooms' where you make quite a saving on the cost of a double.
I'm sure you'll decide what is best for you but don't underestimate the distance involved in towing and the possibility of things going wrong en-route.
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