Trip to Italian Lakes
We are planning a trip to Lake Garda in June and wondered if anyone would have some advice as to which would be the best route. At the moment we are looking at traveling through France Switzerland to lake Como then onto Lake Garda. Returning Austria Germany Luxenburg Belgium France. Any suggestions would be appreciated. This will only be our 2nd trip to Europe in our motorhome went to Croatia last September well worth the journey absolutely fabulous would recommend it.
Comments
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Despite visiting Garda many times we have never done the Austrian route although many recommend it. We always went the quickest way - Calais, Reims, Metz, Strasbourg, Basle, Lugano etc. You have tolls to pay in France and a vignette (or two with a caravan)
in Switzerland. If you do decide to go that route I would strongly recommend Lake Maggiore rather than Como as it is very beautiful and easily accessible from Switzerland to Locarno. There are several excellent sites around Cannobio which is only 10 miles
from Locarno.0 -
Depends a little on where you are starting from in UK + Motorhomes weight. Consider overnight Harwich to Hook through Germany over the Fern / Brenner Passes to Garda. Camping Neckargemund at Heildleberg then Nattersea near Innsbruck. Camping Europa at Bardolino
is a short walk to a very nice lakeside town but as in a lot of Italy pitches/site roads are tight. Or go via Prutz just to the west of Innsbruck the route over the mountains to Bellinzona is easy enough with no tolls.0 -
We went via Basle (Camping Au Petit Port. Interesting campsite by pont du trois pays). Then into Switzerland (buy your motorway pass at the border). Down to Lucerne (Camping Lido. Expensive but lovely campsite with short lake walk into Lucerne which is v.nice
but again expensive). Then through Gothard pass (go early to avoid the queues) dropping down into Lake Mergozzo (Camping Lago Delle Fate. Small, tight campsite but in a beautiful location). Finally on to Garda (Camping Bergamini in Peschiera. Tight pitches
but great facilities and short lake walk into Peschiera)0 -
We are planning a trip to Lake Garda in June and wondered if anyone would have some advice as to which would be the best route.
There isn't really a best route. There's the shortest, the quickest, the cheapest, the easiest, and the one which takes you past the places you want to visit on the way. They are all different. Your own choice sounded fine to me.
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We are planning a trip to Lake Garda in June and wondered if anyone would have some advice as to which would be the best route.
There isn't really a best route. There's the shortest, the quickest, the cheapest, the easiest, and the one which takes you past the places you want to visit on the way. They are all different. Your own choice sounded fine to me.
Well said eurortraveller.
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I agree with hitchglitch about Lake Maggiore. It's very beautiful. Been there several times, though not very recently, and not with the caravan, because my Mum's family come from the village of Viggiona (up the mountain road from Cannero) on the north west
side. I believe there is a camp site on the lakeside in Cannero. The boats that criss cross the lake are a brilliant way to get around sightseeing.0 -
I agree with hitchglitch about Lake Maggiore. It's very beautiful. Been there several times, though not very recently, and not with the caravan, because my Mum's family come from the village of Viggiona (up the mountain road from Cannero) on the north west
side. I believe there is a camp site on the lakeside in Cannero. The boats that criss cross the lake are a brilliant way to get around sightseeing.Cannero is a lovely village. I am jealous! Yes, there is a site but I think it is fairly small with difficult access. Having visited many Italian lakes (but not Como due to access difficulties) I do think that Maggiore is an ideal choice for older couples.
Garda is probably best for children.Recently we have always stayed at Connobio and I can recommend Valle Romantica which is about one mile up the river valley. You can walk into town in about 20 minutes if you are reasonably fit. There are other sites in town including the sister site right
on the lake. There is so much to do around Maggiore including, of course, various ferry trips. Like all the lakes, the roads are fairly narrow and busy which is why we have tended to go to Cannobio as access is easy from Locarno.0 -
As a fellow motorhomer, I use this toll free route, or a variant of it.
Swiss tolls for over or under 3500kg are
explained here.I effectively lived at Garda for a while and happy to recommend sites based on your requirements.
Russ
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As a fellow motorhomer, I use this toll free route, or a variant of it.
Swiss tolls for over or under 3500kg are
explained here.I effectively lived at Garda for a while and happy to recommend sites based on your requirements.
Russ
Travelling through Belgium to Metz is certainly a good option, as is going via Saverne to Obernai which avoids Strasbourg where the Autoroute can be seriously congested in the rush hour. The Saverne rout is straightforward and signposted and is mainly dual
carriageway for the first part although slow in the middle. The municipal site at Obernai is a good place to stop and we have often lingered there.The Nancy route is attractive and there is a choice of tunnel or hill to Colmar. The tunnel is the best route but is often closed. The route via the "col" is fine though.
We always go through France to Metz due to the poor state of Belgian roads, congestion and lack of good sites. I am sure many will disagree and the route close to Brussels is probably better.
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