Italy’s not so touristy lakes
Hello if you have visited the smaller lakes in northern Italy I would really appreciate which ones are good for motorhome camping going September. Best route down with out tolls, got 3 weeks to get there and back. Regards Sean
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Hi slf, I presume it will depend on the size of your MH the places you will want to access but there are lots of small sites around the lakes and also the Italian equivalent to Aires called Sostas I believe.
So far as route down again will depend on size, as that affects the possible tolls,but we went via Germany and the Fern Pass into Austria then on into Italy via the Reisa Pass with our MH buddies and it is a very nice route with no real challenges.
I am sure other MH ers will be able to offer more advice but may help if you can give a bit more info-which crossing size of van, site preferences etc.
Have great trip-we are already planning for a 2020 visit.
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If you type Smaller Lakes in Italy you will have a huge choice coming up on screen.
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Northern Italy is peppered with lakes both large and small and in September most tourists will have returned home so it will not be necessary to pre-book any sites in mainland Europe.
Travelling to Italy avoiding all tolls can be tedious and I’d recommend the route through Switzerland and the St Gottard tunnel if you’re destination is the northern lakes. Assuming your motorhome is under 3500kg the Swiss vignette offers good value compared to other routes where individual pass or tunnel tolls are involved (the St Gottard tunnel is toll free).
Assuming you are coming from the Calais area then through Belgium, on their much improved motorway surfaces, into Germany then to the Swiss border and into Italy is perhaps the most straight forward route.
As others have said, there are lots of Sostas that cater for motorhome in Italy for short stop overs (get the Campercontact app) but if you intend to stay for more than a couple of nights in any one place then the campsites are probably best. If you join ACSI then you will get much better deals on the campsites.
If you let us know where you’re expecting to go and what your interests are then I’m sure we can be of more help. My advice would be to resist the temptation to plan too much but to take it day by day. The Italians are very relaxed about motorhome stop overs and you can park almost anywhere overnight without question. Many campsites will close in mid September so its worth checking on their websites for closure dates but there will always be somewhere to stay.
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Hello aaj thanks for your reply, we have a small Rapido under 6m, I too was thinking of going down the Rhine route, but then in Austria do I need vignette and are there any toll tunnels ?
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Hi Dave thanks for your great information, bit worried about the weather in September ? Was thinking about lake maggorie, orta, Lugano, we like to cycle for pleasure and have a dog, we only have 3 weeks so would this possible in this time period ? Many thanks
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It’s nice to read others comments who have been
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Happy to help though I have only been to Italy 12 times, but you puzzled me by saying you wanted "not so touristy lakes" then saying you were going to Lakes Maggiore and Lugano.
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Hi slf
The weather in September will typically be very good. Warm during the day but a little chilly through the night. Depending on how far you wish to travel each day to reach Italy then 3 weeks will be fine.
Parts of the Maggiore area can be busy with tourists even in September but its a big lake and there are many quieter spots around the lake. Unlike the Italian coastal area, dedicated cycle routes are not so common in the lakes area and the roads can be very hilly.
If you like cycling then the north Adriatic coast is perfect for cycling with circular routes on the flat and free cycle ferries to take you over the rivers. Where we are in Bibione Pineda we can cycle all day long using dedicated cycle routes and free cycle ferries.
Re the vignette for Austrian motorways; With your motorhome less than 3.5t then a 10 day Vignette will be about 9 Euro (the same as a car).If you stick to the non motorway routes then you wont need a vignette. Most tunnels are free in Austria but there is a toll of about 10 E for the Brenner Pass. Motorway tolls in Italy are far less than those in France and the alternative routes to avoid motorways can be tedious.
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Thinking of going, that’s what discussion are about asking questions
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Hi slf , have to say that I was not thinking Maggiore/Lugano and if that’s you intended destination maybe a route via Switzerland would be viable as it will maximise your available time.
If you do go via Austria it is possible to do it toll free, on the route I mentioned, so long as you do not use the Landecker Tunnel.
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The are good campsites up there near the top of the pass - this one in the photo is Zumsee, but we have also used the sites at Malles Venosta and Glurns / Glorenza.
And there is even a non touristy lake - the Reschensee - which is where this thread started. It's a lovely part of the Alps - just in Italy but all German speaking.
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Lago d'Iseo and the town of Iseo are worth considering. It's a lake mainly frequented by Italians who will be busy packing up for the season in September. We've visited it often in September on our way home from Croatia. The lake boasts the biggest inland island in Europe.
The north end of the lake is dominated by a cement factory which luckily is out of sight from the south.
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We used the ACSI site Camping Ranocchio between Como and Maggiorie read my review on the ACSI site,it was perfect for us and just slightly off the beaten track with a good discount low season ACSI. Bon Voyage
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I have just left Lake Iseo and stayed at a site in Iseo. There are several. Iseo was lovely.
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I don't think anyone has mentioned Lake Calceranica which is near Trento. Quite a few campsites at the southern end of the lake. Small village with supermarket and I think a railway station nearby. We stayed here http://www.davidklyne.co.uk/camping_spiaggia.html
David
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Although Lake Garda might be described as 'Touristy', in late September/October the towns of Bardilino and Lasize are are delight. One hosts a wine and olive festival, the other a honey festival. Lots of wine drinking but all good natured.
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