Travelling to Italy

peajay7
peajay7 Forum Participant Posts: 2

Can anyone recommend the best route to Lake Garda from Folkestone using motorways, towing a caravan ?

Comments

  • EJB986
    EJB986 Forum Participant Posts: 1,153
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2016 #2

    Google maps will give you the fastest, best roads, route....plus a couple of alternatives probably!

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited April 2016 #3

    I agree EJB, and wonder why this question always crops up regarding visits to Lake Garda. People seem to find their way to everywhere else, but Lake Garda seems to be a blind spot. Is it missing from maps? 

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,872 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited April 2016 #4

    Peajay

    You may find this
    thread
    here answers some of your question.

    MSAutoroute shows the quickest route is via Switzerland to the south of Lake Garda as being 742 miles. Personally I would be inclined to go via France/German/Austria and then into Italy over the Brenner Pass. I would also use the Fern Pass but this is not
    all motorway.

    David 

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,872 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited April 2016 #5

    I agree EJB, and wonder why this question always crops up regarding visits to Lake Garda. People seem to find their way to everywhere else, but Lake Garda seems to be a blind spot. Is it missing from maps? 

    It might be nothing to do with maps as such but more a case of transversing mountain ranges which if you have not done it before you might need some reassurance that you will be able to manage. Perhaps best not to second guess why people ask questions but
    just use our collective knowledge to answer them? I always thought that was the idea of the forum?

    David

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited April 2016 #6

    Motorways are well marked on most maps, David, 

  • EJB986
    EJB986 Forum Participant Posts: 1,153
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2016 #7

    Of course David....if the aim of the forum is to plan other peoples holidays fair enough!

    However, I'm sure the OP does not expect detailed plans but after a little thought by he or she there are many who will fill in all the blanks.

    It always reminds me of the person who asks...'I'm going to Italy in three years time, can someone suggest a good campsite?'

    The above is meant with no ill feelings....just a little boredom on a Sunday afternoon....which I am not used to!!!!

  • peajay7
    peajay7 Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited April 2016 #8

    Thanks everyone for the positive comments. However, I would hope Eurotraveller never needs to ask for help from fellow travellers xxx

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2016 #9

    In support of Eurotraveller, who is a very experienced and knowledgeable contributor to this forum,  this subject has been covered numerous times on CT and just a little research will give the various alternatives.  Most of us use the Belgium, Germany, Ferne Pass into Austria route; you can get to Bolzano just north of Garda toll free (going via Landek) or pay for the Brenner and Italian tolls - your choice.  If travelling via Switzerland you  need 2 x vignettes (80 euros I think) plus the French tolls.  If travelling off peak suggest you join ACSI.  If you like we can even suggest the best places to fill up!!!

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited April 2016 #10

    Thanks everyone for the positive comments. However, I would hope Eurotraveller never needs to ask for help from fellow travellers xxx

    Thankyou for your  kind words, Peeayjay. 

    I haven't asked for help since this forum began and don't intend to start now. 

     I hope your journey goes well.

     

  • Lutz
    Lutz Forum Participant Posts: 1,564 ✭✭✭✭
    edited April 2016 #11

    Comeyras has a valid point regarding the toll charges in France and the need for Swiss vignettes. If one wants to avoid them as much as possible, the best bet will always be via Belgium, Germany and Austria in which case the route as from the vicinity of
    Frankfurt, where I live, will be much the same as the one I intend to take in two weeks' time when I will be going to Italy. I've chosen the Fernpass/Brenner route.

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2016 #12

    Lutz.  Doing same route in a few weeks but will spend a few days near Dietzenbach where my Brother in Law lives.  Plan a week or so in Austria on way down then it's Umbria and Tuscany.  Do you go via Wurzburg or Stuttgart? We usually go via Stuttgart but
    always wonder if this is the better one.

  • Dave Nicholson
    Dave Nicholson Forum Participant Posts: 408
    edited April 2016 #13

    Forum Members are usually split on whether France or Belgium is the best option in a south east direction.

    As one who travels to Italy twice a year, my preferred (quickest and easiest towing) route is the one suggested by David K. Calais to Metz (a good overnight stop is the municiple site in the centre of Metz), then into Germany either via the A10  through
    Permisens or via Strassburg, then Stuttgart, Ulm, Fussen, Fern Pass (ideal over night stops around Fussen or Imst (Camping West), then the Brenner Pass into Italy and Lake Garda. The roads in France will be very quiet, those in Germany less so and those in
    Austria and Italy somewhere in between.

    Enjoy your trip and don't be afraid to ask if you need more info. Someone may have asked the same questions before but its always best to receive up to date information.

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2016 #14

    My preferred route to the lakes over about 20 visits is Calais, Metz, Strasbourg, Basel then through Switzerland. It is quick and scenic but not the cheapest due to tolls and vignettes. The other disadvantage with that route is that if you decide to stop
    in Switzerland you are in for a shock with site fees and food costs.  Our preferred site was about 65 Euros last time we went that way. Best to stay in Alsace then transit Switzerland in a day. This is still the best way to Maggiore as part of the lake is
    in Switzerland but for Garda, Venice, then Germany/Austria is a good option.

  • DianneT
    DianneT Forum Participant Posts: 521
    100 Comments
    edited April 2016 #15

    If you go to my website onto the European Route Page you will be able to follow our route to Garda inc ACSI Campsites to stay at en route here  

    Any more help please ask sorry I did not see your request before as we are in Germany at Oberweis en route for Austria ourselves.

    Just been to Luxembourg to fill up with Diesel at 73.44 pence a litre.  Petrol 89.34 pence a litre. premium Petrol 95 pence a litre.  Here in Germany Diesel 88 pence a litre still a good price.

    DianneT

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2016 #16

    most of the replies are from caravanners...

    has anyone an opinion on the 'most convenient' droute for a MH over 3.5t?

    the rules on go boxes and vignettes seem different for austria and switzerland.

    heading for venice (and beyond) possibly, from SW germany...

    thanks..

  • allanandjean
    allanandjean Club Member Posts: 2,401 ✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2016 #17

    Hi BB, we did Hook to Garda last year and as our friends had a +3500kg Autotrail they wanted to avoid using a GoBox. Our route was via Fern Pass then Landeck, the town, not the Landecker tunnel as it is part of the motorway system, then Prutz and the Reisa
    Pass into Italy and on to Bolzano.

    Another plus of this route is less time on the Italian motorway with very long stretches where caravans can't overtake.

  • allanandjean
    allanandjean Club Member Posts: 2,401 ✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2016 #18

    Sorry, I forgot to mention that the route is totally toll free!

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2016 #19

    A and J, thanks a lot....Happy