European site suggestions
We are going to take our first european trip with our caravan in July 2024 for 5 weeks and wondered if anyone had any site suggestions or other suggestions for the following areas: -
Belgium
Luxembourg
Switzerland
Northern Italy
Nice
This is the route we are thinking of taking however we are more than happy for suggestions from anyone who has done a similiar route before.
Is there anything we need to take into consideration visiting these different areas?
Many thanks for your help.
Kev & Claire
Comments
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Belgium. A day in Bruges perhaps? We would go back for a couple of nights atCamping Meidoorn at Sluis - about ten miles out of town and actually just over the Dutch border.
Luxembourg . We would only give that a day too . Camping Kockelscheuer has a bus from the gate into the city.. A day in the city is enough. Press on.
Don’t miss Alsace. We would stay on a small village site called Les verts bois at Freland - in the hills above Colmar - but you may want somewhere grander. Or will you want to see the motor museum and railway museum at Mulhouse. We did.
Switzerland. Most British visitors stay on one of the Interlaken sites but they are too busy for me. So perhaps Camping Jungfrau at Lautarbrunnen or Camping Eigernordwand at Grindelwald. Again it depends on the style and size of site — but location is everything. Will you be walking in the hills?
Italy.. Most British visitors would go to one of the sites on Lake Garda - but it will be very busy in July. We would push on down into Tuscany and Umbris instead - and we went to so many camp sites there that I really can’t choose just one for you. And there is Venice of course - you must go!
Nice. Too far. Some other time.
Envious! I wish I were younger.
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That is quite an ambitious trip for five weeks, it won't allow to stay very long in any one place. If you are intending to travel from Italy to France along the coast you will be going through a lot of tunnels. We have been to all those places but have tended to concentrate on a main destination. I imagine Belgium and Luxembourg will mainly be for transit? I think we perhaps need a bit more information on where you would like to visit in each country.
David
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I did a similar trip in 2013 but took just over 6 weeks and it was in a motorhome and I did not always use campsites for overnight stops or visit Switzerland chosing to go through Austria instead. If my notes of the trip are of any use you can read them >here<.
peedee
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You say this is your first trip to Europe with caravan. Have you driven in Europe before? Whilst driving on the right is easier than many think, additional concentration is needed on a strange road network with different signs and protocols. It can be very tiring. I think you are trying to do too much. We used to go for three weeks and would for example, tour around an area in France, or through Germany. With the sort of whistle stop tour you are proposing you will miss a huge amount. You will miss out on absorbing any local “colour” of the sort you get by wandering round villages for example. I would do less in more detail.
Cant advise on sites, we just used to sort them when we wanted, depending where we were and how long we decided to stay.
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People are trying to put you off your 5 week trip.
It’s only 500 motorway miles from Calais into Switzerland - so a week with sightseeing stops is ample to get there. Even if you allowed a week to get back that gives you three full weeks in Switzerland or through the Gotthard tunnel into northern Italy.
An easy taster trip.
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I tend to agree with ET don't be put off although I would perhaps delete the 'diversion' to Nice and include that in a trip to Provence some other time. We have done a similar trip many times as Italy is our favourite holiday destination. However, we tend to go in May/June, in July you will need to plan in some detail and it will be necessary to book at the more popular locations especially Switzerland and Italy. We normally stay in Austria rather than Switzerland so perhaps a future trip to Provence/Switzerland may be better - just a thought. To give you some idea of what you can easily achieve: we get an afternoon crossing and then stay in a site just inland from Calais. Next day we get to Luxembourg and yes a visit to the city is well worth it (so 2 nights there. Next we head to Germany direction Ulm/Austria and stop one night in Bavaria en route; there are not too many sites between Stuttgart and Ulm so a little planning needed. Next day into Austria where you can use either St Beranrd or via Landeck and Reichenpasse into Italy - it will be very hot in Italy we have experienced 40 deg in Jul in the past!. Austria is gorgeous and much cheaper than Switzerland. After Austria into Italy. For overnight stops if you stop by 4/5 pm you should be ok without booking especially if you avoid Friday and Saturday nights.
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To late to edit, should have said Brenner not St Bernard!!!! Forgot to add if you use Reichenpasse you have a toll free route all the way to Italy, using the Brenner toll free to Imst then you will need an Austrian Vignette and pay the Brenner Toll; however, the Brenner is a much quicker route.
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The problem with a question like this is everyone has different ideas of what constitutes a long/short holiday/daily mileage etc etc. We have caravanned to northern Italy (Dolomites) and back in under 3 weeks going via Germany and Austria with minimal stops en route. However I am happy towing 300 miles in a day, especially on the autobahns.
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I also support ETs view. My trip in 2013 averaged 52 miles per day, not a lot, so there is plenty of time to stop for a few days and make up mileage after your stopover. I had 11 stopovers of more than one night (the longest was 6 nights) and quite a few where I only drove for half a day. The problem in July is, it might be busy and you will probably have to book your sites in advance so you will end up having a strict timetable. You will need to plan carefully.
peedee
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As others have said, 5 weeks is not a long time to visit all these countries and Nice is certainly the odd one out. If you’re new to towing in Europe you would not enjoy the coastal route from Italy to France so perhaps do Nice another time? Are you looking for a sightseeing holiday or a relaxing one? We travel to Italy every year and our preferred route there is Calais, Belgium, Luxemburg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy. Returning Austria, Germany, Luxemburg, Belgium, Calais.. If you’re using Switzerland merely to reach Italy then Caping Gottardo near Faido is a good stopover. If you’re looking for a relaxing holiday on the Adriatic coast with lots of cycling routes then Camping Capalonga in Bibione is arguably the best site along that coast but in July and August you will need to prebook now. You will also be more comfortable with Aircon in your ‘van. If you give us more info on what sort of holiday you’re looking for we can give you a few more suggestions. What ever you decide I’m sure you will enjoy it.
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I will come back and comment about towing on the continent in general. It is very easy! Once you have mastered the first couple of roundabouts you will be fine; I have a saying 'bum in drain' when driving over there, this used to amuse the kids many many years ago. Sadly, the Route Nationals in France are now a minefield with roundabouts and speed bumps everywhere and changing speed limits (there are speed cameras everywhere!); a real pain!! Unless you have the white tag your passenger will get a little fed up with stretching to insert your card in the payment booth - they are all card payment in France. However, with over 50 yrs of driving on the continent, and living there, I have found it to be a a much more pleasant experience than in UK; there is less traffic, lane discipline is much better. You can set your cruise control to match the HGVs and just relax you are unlikely to come across a 40mph centre lane hogger. The service stations put ours to shame, ok in Italy they can be a bit tight! And in France and Germany there are also lots of additional stopping places with tables etc (space and climate!
). As everywhere, fuel is more expensive on the motorways. Once you get used to the road signage navigation is simple (but we all use sat navs don't we!). A quick word about sat navs; by all means set it to the fastest route BUT have a look at your map to check you are not been routed down a gravel road past lovely villas in Tuscany to save 15 ks on the motorway, and don't use it to navigate you from Sorrento to Gargano in Italy or you may be taken through some very dubious areas of Naples stick to the autoroutes!!! Both have happened to us in the past!! In general we do about 250 miles a day; drive for 2 hours then coffee, another 2 hours then lunch then a further 2 hours before a night stop. I am no spring chicken but find this schedule fine giving time to wonder around a village in the evening. Oh, I also try to fill up with fuel (the car that is) in the evening so I start the day with a full tank. At the lunch stop we check sites about 100 miles ahead and I would phone ahead to check availability if travelling in Jul; a good test of your linguistic skills and useful to have prepared a few relevant phrases (but sites, even the small ones, tend to have an English speaker). So Kev and Claire have a great trip. Do your planning but don't delay too long making your reservations.
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Thanks so much for your help and reply, much appeciated.
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