Big Adventure
After a few health scares this year- we have decided to bite the bullet and really go for it next year. We are planning a trip with the caravan (have previously toured abroad with motorhome) which could last 3 1/2 months. We have booked the ferry to Bilbao and plan so far is Haro, Zaragoza, Valencia, Vilanova, gulf of roses. Then into France and area around Albi, stop off at Sommieres, and Maussane. Then area around Valensole (want to see Verdon Gorge but don't fancy towing any where near it!).
Then we are stuck! I think we would like somewhere on the coast to relax but sites seem very static orientated or have steep approaches. Any suggestions please?
Also I can't find anywhere on coast as cross over into Italy. Again any suggestions please?
The plan is to then go up to Italian lakes. Probably Como and Garda (looking at opera and a night at a hotel in Verona).
Then Innsbruck, Lake Constance, Germany somewhere on route to Moselle. Bitberg, Calais.
Any suggestions re long time abroad or any suggestions re sites or must sees on our proposed route would be really welcome.
Comments
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When? The opera season in the arena at Verona is July and August - so working back from that has you driving all along the Italian Med. Coast at the busiest time of the year. An alternative is to miss that out and head north east after the Gorge du Verdon and cross into Italy either from Barcelonette or Briancon - both are easy crossings.
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When I last looked opera starts 21st June we are looking to book 22nd.
The ferry is booked for 3rd April planning to return about 17th July (ish).
I enjoy the planning as much almost as the trip itself! Like Another David we tend to have a plan that has "options". The options get more varied as the trip goes on.
We have just started looking at insurance one quote for house/contents while away was astounding!
According to rough plan so far should be near south of France end of May (ish).
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Beverley, we are non planners and relish the freedom this gives us. If the weather is poor we move on; if we like a place we stay longer! It sounds as though you are planning a wonderful trip. We leave with an outline plan and armed with various site books. You will find it worthwhile joining ACSI for their off season discount rates. However, be warned that there is a 2 week holiday in Germany 8 weeks after Easter; Easter in 2019 is 21 Apr add 8 weeks takes you to 17 Jun
. During this time you will find the Italian lakes full and could well have a problem finding a site unless you arrive early afternoon. I have not looked recently but I remember looking at the Opera in Verona a couple of years ago and it was almost fully booked months before the season so good luck. When we lived in France and we're heading into Italy we stayed at Menton but one of the sites has a steep access and if you have a big outfit best avoided. You do not need to stick to the coast when crossing into Italy; from Menton head north on the E74 to Cueno then you can go to Torino and all points east towards the lakes. The tunnel at Tende is fine as we have done it a number of times. There are dozens of sites on the Med coast, or just inland, on or near the Cote d'Azure - look at Frejus area. We stayed at a lovely site in Gordes in September (it is the only site in the village). Re temps in Spain in May 2017 we woke up to 3 Deg one morning in Salamanca!! Get a card that does not have a loading for using abroad eg the PO card (No loading for purchases) but there are others0 -
There are a few insurers/brokers who offer longer unoccupancy cover, such as Saga, a google will throw up a selection, but the best price we found recently was through the Camping and Caravanning Club, even taking the membership fee into account.
As you will not be away over winter, if you get similar conditions to us, all you will need to do is have a friend or family member check the property weekly, and send any valuable jewellery to a trusted family member to look after.
You may also have to search for new car insurance as most limit foreign use to 90 days, again Saga and the Clubs will be able to help, and some insurers will offer longer cover for an additional premium.
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We never got beyond the unreserved stone seats in the Verona arena - we went several times in different years, bought tickets at the door the day before, and went with caravan cushions by 7pm for the 9pm. start.
It was always an experience - the crowd, the whistles, booing, cheering, throwing things down at the posh people in the stalls, the ice cream and refreshment salesmen calling out and pushing past - but good lord it was always slow, and the intervals seemed endless. We actually left one year at 1a.m. before we even got to the last act of Carmen.
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If you’re planning to drive along the coast from France into Italy then I’d recommend a few nights in th Cinque Terra area. There’s a good site in Levanti (Alberto D’Oro) that’s a short walk to the local train station where you can buy day tickets for visiting the 5 towns and beyond. We visit the opera in Verona most years but stay at a motorhome Sosta near the city centre. As you say, it may be better with a caravan to have an overnight stay in a hotel because some of the operas don’t finish until the early hours. There are lots of car parks around the old city perimeter.
The performances in the Arena are magical. Our first visit in the early 1990s was a bit of a disaster. We were on the stone steps and had a thunderstorm before the performance commenced. The stone steps make for great waterfalls! We now prebook seats in the front stalls, not cheap but worth every penny (if it rains you can take shelter from the stalls but not from the steps). We’ve never experienced ETs problems, the crowds have always been very well behaved. If the Arena is on your “must do” list then bite the bullet and book seats in the stalls.
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