On the road to Italy
Hello All,
I have a booked a three week slot for next summer and would love to take the family to the Italian Lakes in Northern errrr Italy!
My questions to those that have made the journey :
what route did you take?
how long did the drive take?
where were your stop-off points?
and could you recommend some sites?
As an experienced tugger, I'm OK with small and windy roads and not phased about towing on the continent. We tend to keep clear of tolls - favouring to take in the countryside 
Thanks again folks!
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What route you take might depend on which of the lakes you intend visiting? If you are heading for Garda then probably the Fern and Brenner passes would be fairly direct. We once went to Lake Maggiore and used the Tunnel de Frejus (very expensive!) Where you stop en route will depend on how far you are willing to travel in a day and how long you want to stay. One thing about the Italian Lakes is to try and avoid the German school holidays as they tend to flock to the lakes so it will be more crowded, especially if you don't want to book. As to sites you can look at my website here http://www.davidklyne.co.uk/european_campsite_index_new_2_index.html
Scroll down to the relevant country and you will see lists of sites we have stayed at. The reviews are a bit old now but they will give an idea of whether they are suitable for your trip.
David
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ViaMichelin.com will give you suggestions of routes and distances . I don’t know your start or finish points but as an example Calais to Lakes Como or Maggiore is about 650 miles so you might take 3 days, though I once took over a week.
You can get to tne Swiss border at Basel toll free if you go via Lille and Luxembourg but there’s no escaping tne cost of Swiss vignettes for both car and caravan if you choose that route to those lakes.
Choice of overnight sites depends on your choice of route and destination.
Take care.
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ET and David K have given some sound advice but a bit more info from you would help. When are you going - you say ' next summer'? Which crossing have you booked and time of crossing? If you are using non motorway route this will take you a long time maybe 2 or more extra days but as you say you could visit some places en route; it is a long way and we allow 3 days from arriving in Calais for the journey. We have towed to Italy many times, usually in May, and our, toll free to Austria journey is as follows:
Day 1 travel from home to Dover (about 2 1/2 hrs for us), take a midafternoon crossing to Calais and stay at a site near Calais, there are some very pleasant ones within 20 ks of Calais - in the ACSI book. This gives us a relaxing day 1.
Up early and head towards Luxemburg using the Belgium free motorways. Stop when tired.
Next day to Bavaria using the A8 in Germany Stuttgart to Ulm (yes, there are major roadworks on the A8!). Overnight in Bavaria between Ulm or near Imst in Austria.
Next day via Brenner or Landeck/Reischen Pass to Italy the Brenner being much quicker but you need a Vignette and pay the toll for the Brenner, Landeck avoids these charges. Having done both routes I now favour the Brenner.
This route gets you to Lake Garda area. We do not book en route sites but stop about 4 or 5 pm and have no problems. This year we found the Garda area very busy even away from the German holiday. If you are travelling out of peak season you may find joining ACSI useful; if travelling in season I would recommend booking your destination stay. Get a C Card with no overseas transaction charges.
Any more questions please come back to us.
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To avoid tolls in France, the route through Belgium, Luxemburg then the A8 via Stuttgart and Ulm to Fussen and the Fern Pass is the best route to the Garda area and our usual route to Italy. Stick to the Brenner, the toll is less than 10 Euros and the Italian motorway tolls are very low compared to the French ones. As others have said, the roadworks around Stuttgart are dire and will go on until 2026. Camping West (now renamed Camping Fink) in Imst is a good stopover. Get the Campercontact App for sites on route and if you’re not going in August there’s no need to prebook stopovers, just look for a site when you’ve had enough driving for the day.
For Lake Como and Maggiore the route through Switzerland and the St Gottard tunnel is best but you’d have to buy two annual vignettes, one for your car and one for your caravan. All the Italian Lakes are exceptionally busy in August and if you’re after a super climate with a bit more space then the north Adriatic coast is a better option. In general pitches are bigger, the beaches fantastic but the scenery is non existent. Let us know what your preferences are and we can help further.
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Went to Italy in May, overnighted at Calais - Camping Epinette, Metz - Camping Thionville and Waldheim Switzerland - Camping Sursee then onto Lake Iseo - Campsite Covelo.
4 days to get there only had to pay for car and caravan in Switzerland at £36 each though !, but it does last a year, unfortunately for us came back via Austria so only got to use it once.
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Hi, As mentioned you will get more info if you can give a bit more detail however, as with others we have towed to Italy on many occasions over the years and like them can give you our take on things.
Our latest trip was this year, initially at Lago Trasimeno, where we met commeyras, and then on Garda before heading for Holland via Austria and Germany.
Over the years we have used most crossings and a variety of routes-so knowing which you intend to use is important-initially from Dover and then the western Channel which is more convenient for us.
This year we went out via Plymouth-Roscoff and back via Hook of Holland-Harwich.
This was over a 5 week period so, as you may wish to maximise your time in Italy, 3 weeks may see you prioritising the fastest route, which will have cost implications, such as via Switzerland.
The timing is also important as we used the A8, in early July and the queues were awful-indeed our experience of using the route from Garda via Brenner to reach the A8 was similar and its a route that we would not use again preferring the Reischen/Fern Pass route.
So far as sites are concerned my suggestion is to decide the area you wish to visit and then use Google maps and Streetview to narrow down your choice-with 3 weeks in total you will be travelling for around a third of that time so don't want to be stuck on a site that does not suit-but if we knew when you are going that would help with recomendations for ACSI etc.
Personally we have visited some lovely places, Trasimeno and the hilltop towns this year were stunning-and the winery visits, as indulged by commeyras and ourselves-Lake Como etc but for us Garda, we always stay at the Southern end around Peschiera Del Garda, takes some beating for location.
As others have said a bit more info will help us to help you but, wherever you go, have a great trip!
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Hello Alan and Jean, we still have a few bottles of the Poggio Bertaio left!!
For what is is worth my thoughts on Reichen v Brenner:
Ease: both no problems towing.
Reichen free Brenner toll and vignette.
Speed: Reichen slow, Brenner can be busy.
Cost: Despite Brenner tolls, as it is a slightly shorter drive using motorways Brenner route is probably cheaper than Reichen. Don't look at your fuel gauge on way up Brenner but you recover the mpg on the way down!
Time to Bolzano from Germany/Austria border, Reichen most of day, Brenner a few hours.
Scenery, Reichen wins but both routes have lovely scenery.
Stopping Places: There are very few places to pull in on the Reichen route and we have struggled to find one on some of our trips. There are a few service stations on the Brenner route - but they can be busy.
From the top of Brenner to Trento no overtaking for caravans! But as it is downhill HGVs are usually doing 60 kph so no problems.
As I said earlier, we now tend to use the Brenner but both are ok.
MHG are you going to come back with more details?
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Commeyras You are good to give such a thoughtful, detailed reply., though I myself am getting rather weary of posts saying I have decided to go to Italy, (or Spain) , but where is it, and how do I get there?
I feel I am getting cantankerous and might even decide to join in to tne argumentatative section of Club Together.
Happy Christmas.
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Hi commeyras, Like you I have a few bottles left and it will be a Montepulciano Nobile for Christmas Day!
It would be good to see some response however, my reasons for choosing Reichen over Brenner are based on our use of them.
Using Reichen, we intended to stop one night at Camping Aktiv in Prutz but really like th esite and area and stayed 4 nights. A bonus was this meant we then arrived in Peschiera at the end of the German holiday inundation!
We found prices were reasonable and spent one memorable day travelling up to the Kaunertal Glacier-we nearly dismissed it as it required the uses of a toll road but was with every penny.
This year we decided that seeing the Brenner and Europa Bridge, we had no intention of staying anywhere en-route, was worth a try, but our overriding memory will be the awful experience of being stuck behind trucks that were at times doing just 27 MPH.
Scenery wise the Rechen wins, but to be fair it was easily enjoyable at the speeds on that route and a clearish view rather than the view on the Brenner route through lines of trucks.
Interestingly, we were with our MH buddies via the Reichen and had no issues finding stopping places going or on the return-one of my rest stop rituals is that I bang on their MH window and ask for "burger, chips and a tea please"!!
After our annual planning meet up last week we are now looking at routes and sites for a trip to Annecy and the St Tropez area.
We had considered Spain & Portugal, but leaving much earlier than our now late May departure, and had great advice and info from AD, but have decided that, as the main attraction was that we had not been there and the earlier season weather, the appeal had dwindled.
Have a great Christmas, and a Happy 2023 towing!
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Afternoon and a big thanks to all of your replies - very informative and shows this club at its best - helping each other - so thank you
We will be setting off from Calais the last weekend in July (sat 29th) for three weeks exactly. We're in education so unfortunately the dates are fixed. We've not booked the crossing so can go either train or ferry. We are well used to holidaying in busy periods.
Was initially thinking of working way down on the French/Swiss border and then looping up round coming home through Germany via Luxembourg and Belgium.
We would like a few nights on one of the lakes.. but more important a nice site to explore the areas. We'll take a trip to Venice, so somewhere around Treviso would be good. In general I would welcome any advice/recommendations of sites in these areas.
I appreciate that tolls may be the quicker route, so guess we might need to plan in for these. As mentioned before, when towing in France, we tend to stay away from the peage (except to skirt around the big towns). I have found alot of the roads in France (particularly south) have great dual carriageways.
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Camping Fusina is on the edge of the Venetian Lagoon, we had a pitch looking out toward Venice which are more spacious.... was great seeing the cruise ships come in & manoeuvre into docking positions....
Ferry across to Venice a short walk from site, tickets can be purchased from reception.
We traveled back to Calais via Grossglockner Pass, Zell am See, friends in Germany with last stop in Bernkastel Keus.
hth
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Thanks for coming back MHG. As you have not booked you might try linking your booking with Club Vouchers, you don't need to use them and could save quite a lot; or Tesco Vouchers for the Tunnel if you have them. Don't try the Grossglockner towing - not allowed! As you are travelling peak season all the advice about pre booking is important. Your plan looping through Switzerland and back through Germany sounds good, as an indication allow 3 days from Garda to Calais. Good luck and have a great holiday.
Alan and Jean enjoy your Montepulciano - finished all mine
. We stayed at a site just north of St Maxime in September quite close to St Tropez - see ACSI. Some lovely hill top villages nearby including Tour Tour (not a typo!) We had a very nice lunch in St Maxime opposite the marina ('port' in France!), €15 for 2 courses but as they had run out of the desert I would have liked was offered a different one and was charged €12! In St Maxime! Happy Christmas to you both from Jeni and me.0 -
Hi MHG, You dont say your starting point so it maybe that Harwich-Hook works for you and Dover-Dunquerke is good for a non toll route via Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany, so ticking a few of your boxes.
Would recommend using viaMichelin to get an accurate cost comparison of toll V non toll. Sitzerland will require two vignettes and the two tunnels are both expensive even just one way and overall the non toll may be just a few hours more over an 850 mile journey.
As mentioned at that time you will probably need to be booking sites but away from the most popular spots you could chance it.
I mentioned Peschiera and a day trip to Venice from there is a train ride away, add in the mass of options on and around Garda and it seems a very good option for you-we have stayed multiple times, usually for three weeks so you should be able to keep amused.
More suggestions are available if you are interested!
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"Alan and Jean enjoy your Montepulciano - finished all minecool. We stayed at a site just north of St Maxime in September quite close to St Tropez - see ACSI. Some lovely hill top villages nearby including Tour Tour (not a typo!) We had a very nice lunch in St Maxime opposite the marina ('port' in France!), €15 for 2 courses but as they had run out of the desert I would have liked was offered a different one and was charged €12! In St Maxime! Happy Christmas to you both from Jeni and me."
Hi David & Jenni, Hilltop villages seem to be your specialty, after the local tipple of course, as we took your advice and visited Panicale!!
Have stayed in Frejus before, but our friends want to be closer to St Tropez so looking around there Grimaud/Cavalaire so any recommendations welcome.
We have visited St T before and were surprised at how 'normal' it was and had a really great time there and the nearby Port Grimaud-well apart from a restaurant refusing to serve us two pizzas as were were sharing between four!!
Hope you have a great Christmas, Jean & Allan.
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Hi MHG
There are few sites in the vicinity of Treviso, it’s a pretty flat and uninteresting area albeit most old towns in Italy have their charms. The trains in Italy are extremely cheap and reliable compared to the UK and Verona ( a city I would highly recommend) is only 90 minutes by train from Venice with return tickets less than £10. Alternatively stay on the north Adriatic coast where there are lots of quality sites and Venice, Trieste and many interesting towns are a short drive or train ride away. Entering Venice by train is one of the most charismatic ways of starting your city tour.
Early August is high high season in Italy so it will be essential to book your chosen sites ASAP. I would not recommend Lake Garda in August, its far too busy in my opinion (certainly the southern parts) and most roads in the area are nose to tail for most of the day.
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The recommended through Germany, Austria into Italy advising that the Brenner motorway is the best way is good advice. We have been travelling this way to the Adriatic every year for 12 years and we always take this route after trying the other routes for a couple of years. Travelling through the Dolomites while making good progress is a scene we always enjoy.
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Been taking the Italy data on board from this thread, thanks to the contributors...
in return, A&J if you haven't already fixed plans, try Selection Camping at La Croix Valmer, nr Cavalaire sur Mer. We've been going for a good few years now, nice cycle to St Maxime, st T, or beyond..in each direction
Alternatively, Camping de la Baie in Cavalaire couldn't be better placed for the lovely town and beach.
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Hi YT, Thanks for the suggestions.
Its quite usual to say there is good news, and bad news-sadly its bad, and bad for us!
Our holiday dates were 22nd May to 27th June however, on the 21st May I was admitted to hospital for emergency surgery so sadly no holiday for us this year.
All Ok now, and considering where 2024 will see us venture as it will be an earlier trip than usual as we are going to Normandy for the 80th D Day events, so our usual May to June time frame is out.
Did briefly think about squeezing in a trip later this year, but cant go till late September and of course that means very few sites to choose from so have given up on that idea.
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Thanks for the update, glad you're on the mend. Enjoy your 2024 excursions👍
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Hi David & Jenni, Thanks for the good wishes.
Must admit it was quite a shock but back to normal, or as normal as I can be!
We are booked on a CMC rally in September or would be heading over as well-harbouring a very, very faint hope of squeezing something in-but hope that you have a great time-you will have to advise me on French wine shopping as we are down to our last Montepulciano Nobile!!
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