Italy for 2017 advice please for newbee
hi, pick up my first caravan this friday, very experienced hgv driver but clueless on caravan......in 2016 the family and i spent 2 weeks touring around germany, bit of france and couple of towns in belgium and netherlands, had a great holiday but stayed
in hotels which wasnt cheap, now we have our very own caravan, decided to spend 3 weeks in europe.....taken in little france as passing through, mostly staying in italy with a stay by lake garda with canoes, then back up through germany to see my daughter,
i have no issues driving in europe as been many times, but whats it like caravaning and whats the electrics hook up with different voltage/wattage, any advise as i like to plan ahead, be going about august time with 2 daughters and yes the wifes tagging along...lol,
also what to look out for do/dont's.....if you been before would you return, thanks in advance and looking forward to any advise and start planining...
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Read through the long thread on First Time Touring Overseas at the top of this page, buy a copy of the Club's Touring Europe site guide, do a few practice runs with the new caravan in the UK, and then come back to us with particular questions. Good luck with your new adventures.
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Came back from Italy 3 weeks ago, outward route France, Switzerland, Italy return Switzerland, Germany and Holland. Although I never stopped in France this time I never had a problem with electric. Stayed on 5 different sites and all had 16amp and no reverse
polarity.0 -
Stayed at Lake Maggiore and Garda this year in early June, although we did not book it was very busy then so August would be advisable to book. Electrics 240v and 10 amp on our sites, plus on one we had to use in addition our second mains lead to reach the EHU box, we take a 25m plus a second 10m.
Our third site on the Adriatic coast required 2 Dutch and a German to help me pitch as I did not have a 'mover' fitted, the pitch was a decent size but the narrow access road and adjacent units made it impossible to reverse my caravan. So be aware of access (I'm having a 'mover' fitted before next years outing purely because of this scenario).
Have found personally that out of France, Germany, Austria and Slovenia that Italy tended to have smaller pitches and in my experience units being pitched closer together. Off course I only stayed on three sites in Italy out of many hundreds so I might just have been unlucky.
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As you are going in August and its a first time trip with the caravan perhaps you might find it useful to order the Club's Venture Abroad booklet from here It might be an easy option to book through the Club for a first time trip. Garda will be very busy in August so essential, I would have thought, to book. Electricity supply in Italy is the standard 230volts as found in the rest of Europe but often quite low ampage, sometimes as low as 3 amps although 6 amp is more common. Its enough to run the fridge and services but pushing it for hot water (you won't need the heating!!!) or a kettle unless low wattage.
David
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Thanks for replies as driving from Liverpool I will be having a overnight stop off in France then continue to Italy for 2 weeks, couple of days in Switzerland then rest of time near Paderborn Germany, maybe overnight stay either in France before crossing
or Kent before drive home, will book sites in advance, I am lucky to have a motor mover already on caravan for those tight places, and will read up on those sites and booklets, will buy a extra lead just in case and teating everything out in the Lake District,
but in general can't wait to enjoy the freedom of caravan touring in Europe instead of hotels and take always.....thanks for advise'sps is the plugs from the electrical hook up the same or do I need a type of euro plug for these like there domestic plugs..
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The only "do" that imeadiatly comes to mind is that you probably need to book a site in Garda for an August visit, its busy and popular but the general rule most everywhere else is that there is no need and thats one of the biggest differences from UK touring where its almost obligatory.
Keep the questions coming, there are plenty of us here who have been returning year after year and also you might something of help here
Good luck
As you're going in peak season, I'd recommend booking everywhere. (Outside peak season you can safely go without booking).
Most sites use Euro plugs these days, but for what it costs you'll want to get a 2-pin plug from a caravan shop to be safe as some French sites still use them.
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Personally i would advise pre-booking all your stops well in advance. As you may be aware You are going at peak German holiday season and simply would not risk having the uncertainty of wondering if you have a pitch for the night. Some sites have minimum
stays in the peak period and will already be filling up for next year, many in Europe book a year ahead! I would recommend your first stopover in France at the CC affiliated site just outside Calais and perhaps somewhere like Rudesheim, Saarburg or Anweiler
and Innsbruck on the way down.0 -
Agree with David that some site supplies in Italy can only be 3/4 amps, also, pitches are often quite small.
Usually we find one or more sites in France still require the French connector so buy an adaptor. The other place where EHU is often non-standard is Switzerland, particularly the Southern part. They will lend you an adaptor but the last time we borrowed
one it was for a French two pin plug so that's another reason for carrying the French adapter. The voltage is standard throughout Europe.0 -
We have never been to Italy because for me at least it is too far to get to and back in 2.5 weeks.
If you multiply the number of amps by 250 you will get the approximate number of watts you can use before blowing the trip.
The actual voltage maybe lower than the standard 220-240v
Fridges tend to work better on gas. So if the temperature is very high it might give a colder fridge and or a faster cool down upon arrival. I tend to run our fridge for about 24hrs on gas.
The cheapest way of crossing the Channel is the tunnel paid with Tesco club card vouchers.
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Most of the points seem to have been covered. I would only advise look at the distances involed. We have been to Italy many times usually going via Frankfurt to visit my brother in law. With a caravan behind us we need one overnight stop in Belgium to
get to Frankfurt and then at least one night en route (Bavaria or Austria) from Frankfurt to Garda and this makes for two long days towing. So throwing in a couple of days in France and some time in Switzerland (2 x vignettes required) then your family visit
on the way back it is a busy, but not impossible, itinerary. Have you thought of going direct to Italy, the options on routes have been well covered on this forum. Cheaper fuel in Luxumburg and Austria. We go out of season so do not book but you will need
to book your Garda site and it will be very busy - it's pretty crowded in May/June. En route for overnight stops if you stop at about 4pm you should be ok. Pitches in Italy tend to be smaller than UK (80sqm is usual) and you may find that you only get 6
amp (sometimes 4!) but if you are careful you should be fine with the supply - get a 750w kettle (that's nearly your 4 amps!) and turn other things off when using it - not the fridge which only draws a litle power but the water heater, fan etc should be turned
off. Whatever you decide have a great trip.0 -
Pre booking as soon as possible for sites in the Italian Lakes in August. The lakes are good for water sports and canoes but in my opinion the lagoons along the Adriatic coast are better. Camping Capalonga in Bibione Peneda has direct access to hundreds of miles of lagoons (and the sea) from the site and canoeing is very popular there. However, you will have to book a pitch there asap for August. The site supply is 10 amps and you will not need an EHU extension. The pitches are a lot bigger than those in the Italian Lakes. My experience is that Garda and the Lakes are just too crouded in August, especially since Europeans are reluctant to fly to the African states now. Apart from in Italy you will find sites on-route for a one night stop without a reservation providing you don't arrive too late.
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As usual some good advice but, as said, the more info you can give the more advice you will be likely to get. Depending on your ferry you will be likely to need two overnight stops each way and in August you will need to book.
Switzerland is a great place but the prices match and you will also need to get two vignettes for motorway use but you can get these at the border,it's easiest if you have Euros as this will mean not having to stop as you will have to if you pay with a card.
We have been going to Italy for many years and always in May/June and even then we have been turned away from sites on Garda so it will be very very busy but, if we only had one place we could go then it would be Camping Bella Italia on Garda.
Usually had 6amp electrics and pitches can be a bit tight but its location is fantastic.
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Hi thanks for all the great tips and advice...
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......Sorry pushed wrong button......I will take it all onboard and book everything by the latest end of year starting with Italy soon, decided after a lot of thought be spending 10 days in Italy at 2 different sites as which to spend some time with my daughter
and grandson in Germany, will stop in France for couple of nights then into Italy up through Switzerland into Germany......but a couple of questions as like to be organised before setting off.....vignettes I know I need 1 for car and 1 for caravan but how
much do they cost and where can I get them from ie...in order in advance.....toll booths...shops as am I right in thinking they need to be displayed and are these only used in Italy, Switzerland.....thank youps.....I've been on a lot of caravan holidays but static on holiday camps, this is my very first touring caravan, will be picking up tomorrow but have learnt so much, and it's great to be part of a community that's is willing to help total strangers out,
if only every country done a national caravan owner service this world would be a better place to live.....I should of bought a caravan years ago.......thank you.....0 -
The vignettes are 40CHF (Swiss Francs) each. If you are going through France I assume that you will be crossing at Basel from the Strasbourg Autoroute. You can pay cash at the border (they will also take Euros) or if paying by card they will direct you to
the parking area (there are toilets there) and you pay at the cashier and fix the vignettes yourself.0 -
Hi Campbells, I note you're from Merseyside. If you're able to book a Saturday or Sunday night ferry and book some camping nights in the same transaction through the club, then it might be worth your while to look at the ferries from Hull. You should be
able to leave home early afternoon and be on continental roads breakfasted and ready to go the following morning. Without the weekend caravan offer though, these crossings can work out eye wateringly expensive!With the lack of HGV traffic on a Sunday, we find that we can do just over 300 miles off the ferry, enough to get us just into Alsace.
It's worth a play on the sites and ferries bit of the club website, you will be able to cost it and you can cancel if you don't like what you see!
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hi thanks.....i always carry euro's, card is for emergency's only, good to know you can pay as you go.....and yes from merseyside but i have a young daughter in london, this year i drove from liverpool to london picked up daughter, pop in a friends for quick
visit down to folkstone got stuck in all the traffic when they tighten up security (took an hour to do 1 mile) crossed by train, drove to hill63 trenches in belgium then over to Saint Omar....total of 10 hours driving, wife and both daughters had a nice sleep,
but have been looking into picking daughter up by train back here then going over to hull but costly which ever way i go.......but i do appreciate all the advise.........thanks0 -
Your exactly right KjeIINN next time I go it will be via Austria., I paid £64 for vignette for car and van to go through Switzerland and apart from stopping and filling up on the way and stopping for lunch on the way back that was it, so very expensive.
Vignette is valid until the end of the year but I'm not likely to return0 -
If time is short the quickest way is through Switzerland. You can get from Strasbourg to the Italian lakes in one day by going through Basel, Lugano. Yes, it's not cheap. Stop for coffee on the motorway and it will cost you £4 a cup.
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We went to Lake Como this year and weighed up the options of going via Germany and Austria to save on the vignettes but with that extra mileage we decided to opt for going through Swiss which probably worked out very similar cost wise but with the added
bonus of the shorter distance involved. We done Bristol to Lake Como in 3 days with 2 stopovers the first at Chalons en Champagne the 2nd on the edge of Lake Lucerne.On the return trip we did Lake Como to Eguisheim for the 1st night then onto Chalons for the 2nd night then the 3 rd day was an easy ride upto Calais followed by the dreaded Dover to Bristol section for a long day 3.
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Hi, I have travelled the last two years from Glasgow to Lake Garda, both have been via Calais, then travelling through France and staying in the Black Forest area of Germany before passing through Switzerland via the Saint Gotthard Tunnel. I had two overnight stops, one in Dover and the other in Germany as I have mentioned. It's along journey but in my opinion it can be done. This year we stayed at Camping Fornella on the west side of the lake. I would highly recomment this site, and would suggest the super pitches as they are 120m2 and are fully serviced. The sight is immaculate, one of the best we have stayed on...
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Be aware that the Gothard tunnel is subject to severe conjestion fridays and saturdays up to several hours delay. if you are using that route get there before 0900
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When I went south through the Gothard tunnel on a Saturday the queue to the tunnel was about 7Ks and took about 45 minutes. I returned on a Sunday and the queue was about 100 yards.
Write your comments here...We went through both times midweek and about late morning and the southbound was clear and northbound was about half an hour delay on the return leg.
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