Having taken our caravan to France and Spain for many years we are planning to go to Lake Garda this summer.
I read somewhere that we should not expect the cleanliness of facilities in Italian campsites to be up to the same standard as those in France and Spain. Certainly in Spain the toilet blocks have teams of cleaners who spend their whole day just going around the one block and the cleanliness was superb.
Can anyone who has been to Bella Italia advise me of their expereince?
Thanks
Chris
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We stayed at Bella Italia in late June last year, it is a very professionally run campsite. For my review follow Val's link above. I have stayed at quite a few sites in Italy and certainly not experienced problems with toilet blocks, although to be fair we do use our own facilities. Bella Italia does have the advantage of decent sized pitches many with their own water supply/waste disposal. It is a busy campsite and we arrived during the German school holidays so had to wait a few hours for a pitch. Its in an excellent location. I would be happy to return.
We stayed at Bella Italia a couple of years ago and the toilet blocks etc were very clean. The facilities there were superb. The pitches were reasonably clean - we had our own tent and did have to pick up quite a few cigarette butts before putting the groundsheet down especially with 2 young boys that like to play in the dust. Probably wouldn't even notice this if you are in a caravan. Excellent site.
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Hi, we stayed at Bella last year, it is a clean site right on the edge of the lake.
But... and there is always a but
as david has said it is a big, busy site.
We live in a seaside town and in summer we get the holiday makers come in and 90% of them are great, the other 10% leave their brians and standard at the border and run riot, when we were at bella it was more like 70/30, there where a lot of groups of young lads and lass and it was not the quitest of places.
over all I would say if you like the Haven / butlins type of places this is what it is like. For me it was a bit of a busmans holiday.
I would also avoid being near the shop /supermarket area they start work at 5am and empty the bins and bottle banks at 7.30am
There is a quieter site right next door to Bella Italia, called I think Camping Cappuccino which overlooks the lake rather than being on the edge of the lake. Almost the opposite of Bella Italia. We went to have a look but did not think the people that run the site were very friendly in their attitude. They could be different if you were actually staying there but you don't know.
Quote: Originally posted by Steve W 77 on 22/2/2010
I stayed at Camping San Fransesco and the facilities were first class, The pitch was a bit tight, but manageable.
Steve W
Steve
That was our original choice but I was put off by the pitch size and the reason for going to Bella Italia. If we get back to that area we might give it a try but outside the main holiday periods!
We have been to San Francesco twice with Coachman Amara 520/4 once and Eldiss Crusader Storm twin axle last time in 2008 we did not have a problem they do have different sized pitches. Toilets,Showers,Laundry and Restaurant are all excellent.
We went to Bella Italia in 2005, and found it to be great for families with Children, it is huge, but that isn't a problem, the food on site was spectacular and its position on the lake is really convenient.
Its position on the lake is very good too, as it is near the town (walking distance along the lake shore) of Pescaria del garda (excuse spelling). From this station you can get direct trains to Venice, Verona and Milan, trains in Italy being cheap...
Happy to share piccies of this to those interested...
I am going to make a booking for Bella Italia - are there any particularly good pitches that I should request? Or do you choose, from what is available, on arrival?
Thanks
Chris
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Some of the pitches are quite small, i was really clear to them about what i was bringing, and also we needed to be near our friends. When we arrived they took us to some pitches that were too small. We were clear with them that we had provided all the information and they put us into a small late arrivals field.
At 0830 the next day, a nice man escorted us to two really nice pitches right on the left hand side of the site (can't remember the numbers sorry).
But to summarise, they reception is really helpful, and IF you are really clear about the size you need (in writing-email), you will be fine.
When we arrived they were full and we were told to wait on the sports field (water and electrics) as there would be space in the morning. We were lucky in that someone left there pitch and parked next to us on the sports field and told us there were a couple of vacant pitches, so off we went! The pitches at the far end of the site, away from reception and in the sections next to the lake are of a decent size..
Having booked a large pitch when we arrived the pitch reserved for us was too small for a tent - but probably would have been ok for a caravan. The ground was also too bumpy for a tent - it was the second row from the lake so actually was quite good just not for us. We parked the car on the pitch and went for lunch and then wondered around looking for a more suitable pitch for a hexigon shaped tent which we found. Once we found a pitch we moved the car and then I went and told one of the lads who direct people to their pitches.
By the way I don't like Haven/Butlins sites but I did like Bella Italia. Didn't have a problem with noise etc. Did have difficulty in getting a lounger at the pool! Also don't camp near to the toilets or bins - as someone else has already said the dustbins are emptied every morning at about 7.30ish by a large refuse vehicle. Plus side - always empty bins! I would go back to Bella Italia.
We have booked Bella Italia for August and have been quite specific about needing a largish pitch for our tent. I certainly don't fancy having to pitch my tent in the late arrivals area to wait for a suitable pitch to become available to then take down tent and re pitch later on that would not be a great start to my holiday!!!
I think the sun bed issue is a common problem at European holiday parks. The only place I've ever been where it wasn't an issue was Pra Delle Torri on the Adriatic where you could book but also pay for your sunbeds - you still had to throw squatters off your booked sunbeds though!!
Quote: Originally posted by FionaW1971 on 02/3/2010
We have booked Bella Italia for August and have been quite specific about needing a largish pitch for our tent. I certainly don't fancy having to pitch my tent in the late arrivals area to wait for a suitable pitch to become available to then take down tent and re pitch later on that would not be a great start to my holiday!!!
Fiona
If you booked don't worry about that. We turned up on specc so a different situation.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Lake Garda - Bella Italia
