HI everyone, I'm planning a family holiday and would like to go to Italy. Problem is my dad wants to go to Spain as he says its cheaper. Anyone advise me which is the cheapest place to visit for such things as food, petrol and campsite prices? He seems to think Italy is expensive?
There will be six of us including children so looking to keep the cost down but would love to travel to Italy. Already got my ferry booked just not sure whether its Italy OR Spain we're heading for.
Plus what are the roads like in Italy. I travelled through France and spain last year and found it to be an easy trip on their roads. Not very confident driving just yet so want to avoid any narrow roads so probably better to travel on Motorways but dont want to miss anything.
Don't know if this is any help to you or not, but the week before last we stayed for a night at a lovely little campsite on the North West side of Lake Garda. The daily prices there for this time of year are 6.90 (euros) per adult, 4.70 per child between 4 and 10 years, and 11 euros per pitch for a caravan or tent plus car. I don't know about prices any where else in Italy as we've never camped before, but that might give you a rough idea. Price-wise, the further south you go the more expensive it is - Lake Garda is in the North, so not too bad on prices, though obviously it's dearer than here. It used to be fairly cheap but that all changed when the euro came in. Also it depends what you buy and where you buy it from - get a glass of Coke in a bar or restaurant and it'll cost you 2.50 (£2.17p) but buy a can from a supermarket and it's only 1 euro (87p). The roads in Italy are great, far better than over here, though I can't comment on the petrol prices as we don't drive when we are over there, but I do know it's cheaper than here. As an area to stay I can really recommend Lake Garda (we've been 9 times now and love it) and there's loads of nice campsites around the lake.
------------- Tigermouse
I have a very temperamental personality - 50% temper and 50% mental
We travelled to Italy this year after going to france last september.
By comparison we found pitch prices in Italy to be more expensive although we went May/June which is high season, and did France at the end of september which was low season. For two adults and camper van, we payed about 15-20euro's per night in France as we travelled down, against 24-30 euro's in Italy.
we stayed north doing lake maggiorre, Como, Verona, Venice, then Lavento near the Cinque Terre.
We found the Toll roads in Italy to be very good and seemed cheaper than france, not much difference in petrol prices between the two, although some service stations have attended pumps and self service with attended ones charging a higher price and its easy to pull up to the dearer ones by mistake.
If you have any of the caravan club europe books or Alan rogers, they usually give an indication of site fee's.
Well my dear every body above have given you good advice, but take it form me(i'm italian by the way), and if i tell you that I GO TO SPAIN because its cheaper then listen to an old fool. In the summer months ie. especially july and august i would not touch Italy with a barge pole,peak season, the campsites are over crowded the fees are extortionate and at times the heat can be overbearing, done it over and over again when my kids were young, now i only go off season and going first week in september due to one of my sisters who is not doing to well ealth wise otherwise it would be Spain/Portugal yet again, it is still cheaper to travel to these countries. Hope that helped, i 'm not trying to put you off going but if, go you must then do it off season re.april/ may/june===september/october, right now i must find that bottle
Currentlly in Italy, I disagree with comment above, re-pitches, we are on a great site, large pitches not cramped in at all, and we did not book, just turned up. We are down in Tuscany at present. Temperature is 34+ but that is why we come away and I bet most pople to get to the sun
Deisel is € 1.41 / ltr
meal for 4 inc. wine and beer € 58
icecream €1.80
Good bottle of Chianti €10 for 1ltr. I like St Emillion Grand Cru and usually pay €25+ per bottle and this stuff is on par with that
MOtorways are cheap - did about 250 mile + yesterday and it only cost €24.50 - and this was all toll road. Roads are great, little traffic well signed
Well I would like to thank everyone who has responded to Italy on the cheap. I'm off tomorrow for my ferry, so I'll let you know which country i chose. I'm hoping its Italy but my dad still thinks Spain is cheapest so we'll have to see when we land in Calais!
Thank you once again, its been interesting reading your responces
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Italy on the cheap?
