Sites Italian side Frejus Tunnel
We are taking our first trip to Italy and thought of using the Frejus tunnel route. I am looking for some suggestions as where to stay on the Italian side of the tunnel, we have no itinerary in mind but will exit Italy via Nice, so that we can travel over to Carcassonne, but sites look very thin on the ground. Has anyone had any experience of stopping in the lower Piedmont area. Also sites have to accept dogs.
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On the Italian side of the Frejus tunnel the best bet is Camping Gran Bosco at Salbertrand.
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Can't help with the Italian side of the Tunnel de Frejus but we stayed here in St Jean de Maurienne in France which is quite close the the Tunnel.
David
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Where are you planning to visit in Italy? The Frejus Tunnel is not the most interesting (or economic) route into Italy, the routes through Germany and Austria are far more interesting. if you are planning to return via Nice then perhaps a circular route via Austria (Fern Pass) on the outward journey may be more interesting and convenient for the Italian Lakes or the Adriatic coast.
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We are thinking of going out in the middle of May and returning late June we were thinking of Dover / Calais as we will have a dog with us, Besides my wife wanting to go to Italy & Carcassonne we have no plans, I had not thought of Germany / Austria so any suggestions on a route would be appreciated.
Davidklyne, I have seen your post before and have earmarked this site as it looks just right
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OR ,,, you could go to the South of France ,and cross via Menton to Ventimillia ,and go the other way round ??
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AS you can see our plans are fluid and once we arrive in France we will turn left or right depending on were the weather looks best
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We have thought of using that route, how does it fair for caravaners?
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I'd certainly recommend the route to Italy via Germany and Austria, you will then have the choice of visiting the Italian Lakes and/or the Adriatic coast between Venice and Trieste before heading West back to France an onto Carcassonne. Its a long circular tour but since you have a few weeks its not too taxing. One route suggestion is to go via the toll motorways from Calais to Metz where the municipal site in Metz is perfect for visiting the city on foot. Then from Metz into Germany and onto the Romantic Road to say Rothenburg ob der Tauber where there are two beautiful sites. Alternatively visit the Black Forest region before driving to the Tyrol region of Austria (via the Fern Pass). From there its an easy route to Italy via the Brenner Pass and the Lakes or coast.
I'm happy to suggest sites in either region if you decide on your route.
NB The Italian Lakes and the Adriatic coast will be very busy for the first two weeks of June (Bavarian school holidays) and you will need to prebook popular sites during this period but at all other times there will be no need to book ahead in any of the countries.
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Dave,
Having had a look at this general route I am getting very excited about it as it seems to tick all our boxes, and thanks for the tip about the school; holidays, it had not crossed my thoughts there would be any at this time of year. We have only been caravaning for fours years now but managed squeeze in one trip to Northern Spain in my annual 2 week summer hols, so a little apprehensive about this long trip.
If I can take up your kind offer of a suggested route starting / finishing at Calais and I would like the idea of the Black Forest and using the Brenner Pass. Any suggestions on sites would also be appreciated but must be dog "friendly" and no more than about 4 hrs driving between stops, time is not really an issue as this is my retirement trip but we are planning to be away between 6 - 8 weeks. I have no issues in France as have driven there many times on pre-caravaning hols
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No one seems to have questioned your intention of visiting Carcasonne via Italy! The walled city is a tourist destination which merits little more than a day visit for most folk.
On the other question of tbe Frejus tunnel and campsites in Piedmont, as frequent users of the tunnnel we can tell you that campsitewise there's nothing but a few ski resort over priced sites available. On the otherhand, you can get from St Jean de Muarienne to the Italian, lakes in a day using the tunnel and the autostradale. From the lakes you can carry on to Slovenia and Croatia.
IIf you head south from Torino, having come down from the tunnel, you won't find any campsites until you reach the coast west of Savona. From there the coast road clings to the cliffs through tunnels and bridges. The campsites along the coast are for modest sized caravans , packed together with no regard for EU safety distances. However, sharing your space with lively Italian families can be amusing!
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Don't mind those. Not too keen on roads with low sides or no barriers.
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NB The Italian Lakes and the Adriatic coast will be very busy for the first two weeks of June (Bavarian school holidays) and you will need to prebook popular sites during this period but at all other times there will be no need to book ahead in any of the countries.We have made that bobo. We are heading to Slovenia the first two weeks of June! Just hoping they (Germans) will be heading to the beaches.
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Honda, like your style re left or right; that is what we did when we lived in South of France!
Why not go to Black Forest on way down (via Germany or France), then east towards Austria, missing Switzerland, then into Italy via either Landeck or Brenner. Then on return use coast route and enjoy counting the tunnels as you approach the French border. You are planning a lot of driving and if you limit it to 4 hours a day it will take you a very long time; some of us do 3 x 2 hour stints and find that this is fine allowing you to cover quite long distances without getting too tired. Most sites in mainland Europe are dog friendly. If you are going in the main holiday period (Jul and August) you would be wise to consider booking, but if you are going out of this period there is no need to book and suggest you join ACSI and get the Club's European guides.0 -
Anothersunrise. We have done same - heading for Croatia early June! May now consider booking which goes against the grain! Arriving Croatia 2nd week in June so may just take the risk and hope that the Germans head home a little early, will probably just phone a couple of days ahead to check on availability. We don't like to plan too much and like to follow the weather.
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Hi Honda, some good advice, as usual, in regard to your post. We have never done the route that you are considering but regularly visit Lake Garda and have stayed at Carcassonne.
Last trip to Italy was 2015 and we stayed over in Austria for four days so that we arrived on site as the German school holidays ended. I can't remember the website bit we did find one that listed the dates of holidays for various regions and looked at those that border Italy.
I once asked a German guy with a caravan how long his journey home was and his reply was a surprise-"about 4-5 hours" which is probably why so many Germans are around at that time and the site we always stay at, Camping Bella Italia at Peschiera Del Garda, has had no pitches on three occasions when we have arrived and that's in May.
As said pitches can be on the small size but if we could only ever go to one place again it would be to Peschiera.
Our route was similar to that mentioned by Dave going via the Fern Pass into Austria then via Landeck town to Prutz and onto Italy via the Reisa pass. It was one of the most enjoyable routes we have done and a lovely change from the usual motorway type roads we would use. When we tow our routine is a maximum of four x two hour stints with a thirty minute break morning and afternoon and an hour for lunch.
For us towing just four hours would feel that we were spending forever getting there but also have no desire to have a 'drive till you drop' approach and find that keeping to a routine, and the stops for us are key, makes journeys something to enjoy rather than endure.
Carcassonne is a place we glimpsed as we drove up the Autoroute on the way home from Spain and we through it looked great so visited. We enjoyed it but moved on after a day spent in the old walled part.
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Thank you one and all, this is really wetting my taste buds. The reason for Carcassonne is that "the significant other" wants to go there. As for time I intend to get an open ticket for the return ferry so if we want to take longer or if the money runs out earlier we can choose whatever.
Thanks all for the tip about the school hols looks like anticlockwise might be the better option if the weather allows - then again might just do Spain.
I do like the idea of this retirement thing (no looking at calenders) wish I could have done it sooner.
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Bit of a bummer really. Could Change dates but a bit off a faf.
We have only been as far as Austria before. Do you think the Geman sites will be busy too?
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If you get to Carcassonne think about staying here http://www.davidklyne.co.uk/Camping_de_la_Cite.html as its only a short walk to the old City. Also worth pointing out that there is more to Carcassonne than just the City.
David
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HondaL
I think you have the right idea to have an open ticket for your return journey. My advice would be to tour without any hard and fast plans but maybe just a few guidelines in mind.
As others have said, 4 hours is not a long time towing but with time on your side just see how you feel each day.
Sites I would recommend for the route to Italy are: Metz Municipal. Its perfect for visiting the city and ideal for an overnight stop on your route south. It may take you longer than 4 hours from Calais to Metz but the motorway route is effortless. Neckertal near Heidelberg is an ideal site for visiting Heidelberg with a short bus journey from outside the site. The transport system in Germany (bus and train) is so easy to use and is very efficient. Tauberromantik or Tauber Idyll sites are next to each other and a 15 minute walk from the delightful town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
We normally stop at Camping West at Imst on the south side of the Fern Pass. Its very convenient for visiting Imst (we love the restaurant at Hotel Neuner a few minutes walk away).
As far as the Garda area is concerned there are lots of sites to choose from but they will all be busy for the first two weeks of June and again in August. We’ve stayed at Camping du Parc in Lazise a few times which is very handy for the ferries around the lake. The Garda area can be very busy (too busy for us in August) and we prefer the Lake Maggiore area which is quieter.
As for sites along the Italian coast, Camping Capalonga in Bibione Pineda is our favourite and has everything for all age groups, including boat trips to Venice, but again it will be fully booked for the first two weeks of June. However, from the end of April to the first week in June and from mid June to the end of July it will be quiet with plenty of touring pitches in all areas of the site (beach or lagoon).
In answer to someone’s question about German sites and how busy they will be during the first two weeks in June it depends where the sites are. Many Bavarians with families will be heading for the Italian coast, the Italian Lakes or the lakes in Bavaria for the school holidays in June. Sites outside of these areas should not be so busy but the German’s method of camping tends to be slightly different from ours and many have touring ‘vans permanently sited at locations close to their homes. They often move these semi - permanent ‘vans to the coasts of Italy and Croatia for their annual two week holidays.
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