Best route to Italian Lakes - Como

levoyageurs
levoyageurs Forum Participant Posts: 8
edited January 2019 in Overseas Campsites & Touring #1

We're looking to head over to the Italian lakes in our motorhome (7 meters long) end of March 19 (and aware of potential Brexit chaos). Any advice will be helpful on the best (direct) routes to take (we'll be heading of from the North East) and maybe some thoughts on a one night (at least) stopover on the way.

We're frequent travelers to France but this will be our first time venturing further,

Thank you in advance for your time in responding.

Comments

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,829 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2019 #2

    As you are from the north east are you looking at the Newcastle to Ijmuiden ferry?  Then make a bee line for Basel and the St Gotthard tunnel. 

  • levoyageurs
    levoyageurs Forum Participant Posts: 8
    edited January 2019 #3

    Thank you. The Newcastle to Ijmuiden ferry is handy so I'll take a look at that.

  • allanandjean
    allanandjean Forum Participant Posts: 2,401
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    edited January 2019 #4

    Hi, interesting that you ask for the most direct as most posters will often ask for the ‘best’ route which is, of course, very subjective. However, even the most direct will be open to differing opinions in regard to toll or non toll options.

    It will also depend where on Como you should intend to head for but as said heading for Basel and then Como could reasonably be said to be the most direct but will involve both tolls and either the Swiss vignette or the option option for heavier vehicles depending on your weight.........or at least the MHs weight! 

  • Marsker
    Marsker Club Member Posts: 68 ✭✭
    edited January 2019 #5

    We hail from the same area as you and have always found the Hull crossings to be a good choice. (If I can, I will avoid driving in SE England). The Rotterdam crossing has the advantage of leaving later and arriving earlier than the Zeebrugge crossing and, if travelling via Brussels, is only about 30 miles further. Good deals can be had through the club if travelling on Saturday or Sunday nights.

    We used the Newcastle crossing late last year to visit our daughter in North Holland and, even though the journeys were shorter at both ends we could have left later and arrived earlier via Hull - Rotterdam. With a caravan, we have also found the Newcastle crossing to be expensive.

    Last summer, we comfortably made it to the Lucerne area with 1 stop at Le Brabois in Nancy, and with a caravan we travel more slowly than you most probably will. We have also used Les Portes du Soliel at Saverne as a first stop out and you should make it through to Como from there. If your MH is under 3500 kg then a single swiss vignette (in the order of £30) will cover you for the return journey on the Swiss motorways with no additional charges for tunnels, I can't say what the charges will be if it is heavier.

    Coming back, we have found it pleasant to have a couple of nights in the Ardennes area and it is an easy journey back to the ferry from there.

  • Marsker
    Marsker Club Member Posts: 68 ✭✭
    edited January 2019 #6

    Sorry! an error: for Les Portes du Soleil read Les Portes d' Alsace at Saverne.

  • levoyageurs
    levoyageurs Forum Participant Posts: 8
    edited January 2019 #7

    Thank you alanandjean and Marsker for your advice. Duly noted. Also, the Hull-Zeebrugge is making mores sense for us and we appreciate your thoughts on stopovers. Our van is 3500kg so will look into the Swiss vignette as well.

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited January 2019 #8

    A long way from the town for a motorhome. Try the municipal at Obernai (also ACSI). Great site and a short walk to town centre and supermarkets. Turn off the Autoroute at Saverne and cut across to Obernai by-passing Strasbourg which can get very busy.

    You can get from Obernai to the Italian lakes same day.

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,829 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2019 #9

    What's the time factor?  Is it 600 miles from Zeebrugge to Como in two days? Or is there time to pause and smell the coffee in Luxembourg, Nancy, Strasbourg, Colmar and Lucerne? Or some of them at least.

     

  • levoyageurs
    levoyageurs Forum Participant Posts: 8
    edited January 2019 #10

    Hi eurotraveller. Good of ou to come back to us again. There might be time to pause a while, depending on how flexible our travel dates can be.We'll be spending a long time in Italy and our thoughts were to head straight there.

  • Dave Nicholson
    Dave Nicholson Forum Participant Posts: 408
    edited January 2019 #11

    If you’re looking for a direct route I’d recommend the Motorhome Aire at Colmar by the canal for a stop over to visit the attractive town or if you prefer a quick ‘one night stand’ that’s convenient for the Autobahn then the Stellplatz at Ettenheim that’s part of the Hymer motorhome dealer site is  ideal (you may even be tempted to exchange your motorhome there ??). Enjoy the Italian lakes. It will be cool in the evenings and in the mornings in March but hopefully will be warm during the days.

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