feedback from Italy from first time tourer

Sparkie63
Sparkie63 Forum Participant Posts: 12

Hi everyone
I got some great advice from this forum before setting off to Italy, towing a small caravan for the first time abroad. I thought I would feed back from our perspective (but the advice given was spot on)
our concerns (mine probably, maybe not my husbands)
concerns about the EHU -bought an adaptor but we didn't need it. (still take one just in case) flow was lower and we found it impossible on one site to boil a kettle.
accessing train for tunnel was fine but check your settings on sat nav - we went off course a bit and found that our sat nav was set to avoid tolls - not a good idea in Europe! timing for travel werent too much of an issue but extra traffic around Brussells ring and Luxembourg caused delays.  We also encountered long delays in Switzerland due to vehicle breakdown in tunnels - moral of the story - always allow extra time for journey.
We had an overnight stay on way out in Eguisheim - lovely site (if a little packed) staff were lovely, facilities excellent and the town delightful. A lovely walk through the vineyards to the tope of the fill where the 3 chateaux stand was lovely for the dogs and we stopped at a lovely hotel (brasserie au sapin) which was also dog friendly.
In Italy we stayed in Sorico on Lake come (well the river flowing into it really) this was great for the dogs as they could swim and there is a lovely walk along the river into the town. Town is very small but there are a few restaurants and a lovely one if you turn left out of the gate on the river side rather than right and cross over the bridge and into a small village (La Punesca)
Our concerns - is Italy dog friendly and can dogs swim in the lake, can you take them of ferries?
we found everywhere to be friendly, we always found places they could cool off with a swim and though ferries say you need to have a muzzle, we didn't have one and didn't have a problem (we only though have a cocker spaniel and jack russel/poodle cross so bigger dogs may need one)
loved the site La Riva at Sorico and staff were friendly - would stay at both these sites again.
concern - we were worried about towing/driving round the lake - we were right to be so. Hairpin bends and tight roads accessing menaggio and our friend had his motorhome damaged when a driver sped though a narrow gap. He did stop, but drove off when our friend went to fetch pen and paper. Just take it slowly - views are absolutely stunning.
We moved to Lake Maggiore and stayed at camping vallee romantic at Cannobio as suggested - beautiful site again on the river with some shady pitches; great for dogs and a lovely walk to town - but maybe too far for people with mobility problems. A few little niggles - pool closed at 5pm (too early in the summer 33 degrees heat) no toilet paper - but at 41 euros a night, a bit mean!! staff at reception were lovely, and the town was gorgeous!
finally - Metz municipal site was used for return journey. Will avoid in future due to blocked drains causing sewerage overspill

a great trip though and thank you to all who helped :)

Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited July 2017 #2
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • Sparkie63
    Sparkie63 Forum Participant Posts: 12
    edited July 2017 #3

    yes David - definitely got a taste for it and feeling much more confident thankyou

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2017 #4

    Glad you enjoyed Valle Romantica. Expensive but a beautiful site. There is an ACSI site in Cannobio but small pitches.

    The roads around the lakes are busy and tight, especially going South from Cannobio to Verbania but you can avoid that by approaching and leaving through Switzerland, Locarno.

    No doubt that Italy creates a few challenges for caravans but a bit easier in our compact Motorhome. Watch out for scams including low headline price fuel which somehow is only available from the pump that has broken.

    We tried Cinque Terra a couple of years ago but very crowded with small pitches. Not something we would do again but the lakes are easier to access and a very beautiful part of Europe.