Campsites on the southern edge of Lake Garda
We are thinking of spending the month of May in Italy next year on the southern shores of Lake Garda.
we have a 7.2 metre Bailey Almeria caravan and use a full size awning when away for this length of time.
We have been viewing the ACSI campsite book and viewing the sites online, and the sizes of the pitches do not always correspond.
we are looking for recommendations for sites with large sunny pitches, we are quite happy just to have electricity, toilet and shower facilities, waste disposal, WiFi would be an added bonus. But any with large pitches would be very welcome. Those are our minimum requirements. Any help would be very welcome.
Thank you
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Pitch sizes on campsites around Lake Garda are often on the small size. However, some of the more expensive sites do have large pitches e.g. La Queria in Lazise. Its a full facility site with an excellent restaurant.
Please be aware that from 22nd May for two weeks it will be very busy on Garda (Pfingsten, the German equivalent to Whitsun, attracts many holiday makers from Germany). If pitch sizes are a major criterion you will find larger pitch sizes on the Adriatic coast e.g. Camping Capalonga which has large pitches along the lagoon and some on the beach area. There will be no need to pre-book before 22nd May. or until the end of July when the school holidays commence.
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Our experience in Italy is that they regard 7m as a large pitch so you may find it difficult to meet your minimum requirements. We pay 35 Euros per night on the lakes for a small pitch so you can see that ACSI sites are going to be few and far between. Try Fontanelle at Moniga which I think is in the Club's sites book. We used to go there a lot and the pitch sizes weren’t bad.
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Hi, first of all you will get more responses if this is in the overseas thread so maybe someone can move this??
So far as pitch sizes are concerned I do not think that with a van of your size you will have a big problem with finding a pitch large enough but you may have a problem accessing pitches without a mover.
We have stayed at Camping Bella Italia many times and our vans shipping length has been app 7.2m. Most times we were able to choose our own pitch and the only time it was real squeeze was when we had the only available pitch but if you are only going to be happy with lots of space then that may be a problem.
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Like Allan and Jean we have also stayed at Bella Italia with our then caravan of a similar size van and found the pitches quite reasonable. However do take note of Dave's comments about German school holidays as that is a bit of a game changer in terms of available pitches. We had to wait on the sports field until a pitch was available. Fortunately we didn't wait long as the Belgium couple next to us tipped us the wink that they had just vacated their pitch. Some picture of Bella Italia here
Camping Cisano might also be worth looking at as they have some bigger pitches but again difficult to get a decent pitch in the above holidays. Pictures here
David
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Malcom, Lake Garda is everyone's first choice but there are other lakes.
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Like David wee have had to wait on the sports field, which has EHU, and also then got a pitch the same day as people left but never waited more than one day. Before the sports field was to the standard it is now we were turned away, and that was in May,but got on the next day.
The German holidays will as said have an impact and the last time we stayed at BI we stopped over in Austria, at a lovely site in Prutz that is right next to the Fern/Reisa Pass route into Italy, and then headed down on the Saturday at the end of the German holiday and it was amazing how many Germans were heading in the opposite direction.
When looking at new places we start by looking at Google Maps which, if you are lucky, may give a better idea of the sites to shortlist and then you can come back with more specific questions which, now your post is in the overseas section, will hopefully get you some more responses.
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Stayed at Bella Italia for a few days in May this year 19th to 22nd. Site was busy but OK. Attached picture of our pitch which was reasonable size to give you rough idea. Never stayed on a site this big before it was half a mile from pitch to reception! It was OK though. Touring pitches down near lake. Statics and rentals up near reception but a lot of these were empty when we were there. Site has 3 restaurants and good supermarket and swimming pools.Pleasant walk along lake promenade to Peschiera. Got the bus outside site gate to Verona one day about 45 mins. Came here from Innsbruck (Natterer See). When we left went up to Lake Maggiore which was good.
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Have a look at Camping Sirmione. It's right on the lake, we found it fine with a 7.2m van (and mover although access is better than lots of Italian sites)
It's not too big compared to San Francisco which was in ACSI but we looked around and rapidly moved on.
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Hi Malcolm, we have used Camping Fornella and found the pitches are very good, owners are very friendly and helpful. At that time we had a 7m Sterling Moonstone caravan. Now use a MH. You can see the details in The Clubs Venture Abroad 2018 brochure, page 204.
Be aware of the warning of overcrowding by Germans and Cloggies!
BillC
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Hi Malcolm, did you look at this thread on the first page of the overseas section, it includes much about Garda.
Regards, Roy
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In 2015 we stopped at Camping Tiglio near Sirmione. It's a pretty big site with some generous pitches. We cycled into Sirmione - it's well worth a visit.
Have a look at our 'story'
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I too have stayed at Camping Fornella on EX large pitch. Van is 8.25 metres and had plenty of room.
Have a look at my story:
https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/club-together/your-stories/jonray57/lake-garda-another-story/
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Just like to say thank you for all your very helpful and interesting replies.
Regards Malc
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Hi
Allanandjean caravanner.
Can you please tell me which booking site you used to book Bella italia?
Thanks Jane
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Jane, when are you going? Until 30 July 2021 visitors to Italy who have been in UK during the previous 14 days must isolate for 5 days on arrival in Italy and then test negative for release.Whether or not that requirement might continue after 30 July has not been said.
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I agree that pitch sizes in Italy tend to be on the small size. Our caravan is 7.4m long and it was a squeeze to get the caravan, awning and car on the pitch at Camping Cisano (there are some 110sqm pitches but most are 80 - 100). We have been to Italy many times and never book. We avoid the peak periods and try to take the German Whit holiday into account: as we like to be away late May/June it is often difficult to avoid this period. When we arrived at Cisano late afternoon during the German holiday we asked for a pitch near the lake but were told that the only free ones where on the other side of the road near the swimming pools. However, if we went to reception about 10 am the next day they were sure that pitches near the lake would be available and they were. However, on the site at Badiaccia on Lake Trasemeno in June (on Brexit decision day!) we had no problem. Yes the pitches were tight but there was plenty of room to park on empty pitches at that time of the year; it was the owner's birthday and all were invited to his celebration in the bar!
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David, you are right about the winds at the Northern part of Lake Garda. Although the scenery is very dramatic at the northern end the winds can be much more violent up there. A superb day out from Cisano is to to take the boat to Riva, it stops at some beautiful villages and avoids the very busy and narrow lakeside road.
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Hi Jane,
Missed this as we were on our Lago Trasimeno substitute holiday at Pentewan Sands!
Simple answer-we didnt book and I would caution against booking , if thats what you want to do, other than direct with the site.
When we visited it was always outside high season, we used Camping Cheques and then ACSI, and you could not book even direct with the site outside of high season.
We did have to wait a couple of times, but its worth it.
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