So we had a major disaster this year, the car was written off by a runaway lorry on the ferry from Dublin to Cherbourg while we were in the cabin overnight, can't elaborate as it's still with the insurance to sort out. Caravan thankfully undamaged.
To be honest the whole affair has made me rethink the wisdom of taking overnight ferries with car and caravan, it's just not worth the potential loss.
So after at least 80 crossings over the years from pretty much every Irish port to Scotland, Wales, France and Spain, we're sticking to caravanning in Ireland. Of course that may change in the future, who knows, but at the moment it doesn't feel like it will.
Anyhow, the question is, is there any region or specific site you'd recommend flying to and renting mobile homes or chalets ? It would need to be somewhere with easy airport access and with great public transport, and not remote for supermarkets and restaurants, so I'm initially thinking Peschiera del Garda and Interlaken, both of which have great ferry boat routes and train services. We actually did this to Cappuccini in Peschiera a few years back and had a great time. Also perhaps the Costa Brava / Costa Dorada which has a good coastal train service and lots of sites. Any other ideas or recommendations ?
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Lake Garda is lovely, I especially like Bardolino and Garda. I've stayed in hotels rather than camping but there are lots of sites along the Lakeshore from Peschiera to Garda. As well as ferries there are buses between the towns. Many of the sites have access to the lakeside promenade from Lazise to Garda, perfect for a gentle walk after visiting one of the local restaurants.
I echo the above suggestion, we camped with our van by the lakeside at Bardolino, but they had lots of different static camping options too.
Another place we have observed is the Cote d'Azur, fly to Nice and there is a good railway round the coast from there, if you can find a campsite. Busy area, but potential for walking away from the coast as well.
So far this year the younger members of my family have flown to Crete, Jordan, Thailand, Montenegro, Copenhagen and Spain. Sometimes they rent a car when they get there, sometimes they use public transport. They book accommodation with AirBnb or Booking.com ,but never restrict themselves to campsites. The choices these days are unlimited.
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Yes, my kids have used Airbnb in Malta and Rome and are enthusiastic about it, by this stage though I just feel more comfortable in a campsite setting in fresh air.
This thread has set me thinking. We haven't been abroad for several years and we haven't used our reduced rate continental rail travel for years either. Maybe we should give it a go if we can find a suitable static site near a railway. I'll be watching with interest.
------------- Best Regards,
Colin
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Perhaps a Ryanair flight to Beziers, or Perpignan, with lots of sites along that coast, a good train service, one euro buses, and some of the larger sites have shuttle buses to the local beaches/supermarkets/etc.
Quote: Originally posted by Colin21 on 17/11/2023
This thread has set me thinking. We haven't been abroad for several years and we haven't used our reduced rate continental rail travel for years either. Maybe we should give it a go if we can find a suitable static site near a railway. I'll be watching with interest.
Colin, as I said above we have done this once before, we flew in to Verona and stayed in a mobile home at Camping Cappuccini in Peschiera del Garda, and it was a success, out of season 70 euros per night. I can heartily recommend Cappuccini, close to the lake, town, restaurants and lake ferry stop, a bit farther to the train station (but still walkable). The only minus was the lack of a nearby large supermarket, however there was a Lidl less than a mile away and you could organise a taxi to lift from there back to the site if carrying many or heavy items.
We also drove to Manor Farm in Interlaken but the car only moved once in 2 weeks, rather we used the nearby lake ferry stop and the free bus from outside the site into town and trains to get to the mountains. Again I would recommend.
Quote: Originally posted by arthurdent on 17/11/2023
Quote: Originally posted by Colin21 on 17/11/2023
This thread has set me thinking. We haven't been abroad for several years and we haven't used our reduced rate continental rail travel for years either. Maybe we should give it a go if we can find a suitable static site near a railway. I'll be watching with interest.
Colin, as I said above we have done this once before, we flew in to Verona and stayed in a mobile home at Camping Cappuccini in Peschiera del Garda, and it was a success, out of season 70 euros per night. I can heartily recommend Cappuccini, close to the lake, town, restaurants and lake ferry stop, a bit farther to the train station (but still walkable). The only minus was the lack of a nearby large supermarket, however there was a Lidl less than a mile away and you could organise a taxi to lift from there back to the site if carrying many or heavy items.
We also drove to Manor Farm in Interlaken but the car only moved once in 2 weeks, rather we used the nearby lake ferry stop and the free bus from outside the site into town and trains to get to the mountains. Again I would recommend.
Thanks for that, my wife has often said that she would like to go to that area, maybe I'll check it out. When you say out of season, when was that please and what was the weather like then?
Quote: Originally posted by Colin21 on 17/11/2023
Thanks for that, my wife has often said that she would like to go to that area, maybe I'll check it out. When you say out of season, when was that please and what was the weather like then?
May / June / Sep is the 70 Euro rate, however we actually went in July and it was around 30/35 degrees, we subsequently use a much slower pace of walking in warm weather which we call "Italian pace". Beautiful area though, and its always much cooler on the lake ferries.
Post last edited on 17/11/2023 15:28:34
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Off piste - but can you fly to Nantes from Belfast ? Nantes Camping has some really smart - and quirky - statics. The site is 100yds from the tram into this wonderful city, and you could easily hire a car and explore the lovely area around it.
Quote: Originally posted by arthurdent on 17/11/2023
Quote: Originally posted by Colin21 on 17/11/2023
Thanks for that, my wife has often said that she would like to go to that area, maybe I'll check it out. When you say out of season, when was that please and what was the weather like then?
May / June / Sep is the 70 Euro rate, however we actually went in July and it was around 30/35 degrees, we subsequently use a much slower pace of walking in warm weather which we call "Italian pace". Beautiful area though, and its always much cooler on the lake ferries.
Post last edited on 17/11/2023 15:28:34
Fantastic, that's our usual time of going away. We never go anywhere in school holidays so second half of July and all of August we spend time in our garden as it will be far quieter than most British campsites are likely to be. Fortunately we live in a very nice quiet country area anyway.
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: Fly and "camp" suggestions
via mobile 16/11/2023 at 11:17pm
