Hi,
We are hoping to take our tourer to Italy during the summer holidays next year, from Calais travelling down.
Has anyone any experience of doing this and nice stop off's on the way, ideally (with 2 children 9&7) we would like an outdoor pool, we prefer slightly bigger sites with a nice atmosphere and a bar/restaurant.
We are looking to stay for the main part of our holiday around Lake Garda, recommendations would be great, also with a trip to Venice, although this might be too much in the height of summer I know..
Thank you in advance
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
There are different ways to drive to that area of Italy.
Some drive through Belgium, Luxembourg, into Germany and then through Austria.
We drove Belgium, Luxembourg (1st night's stop), Switzerland (2 nights stop, one near Basel and one near Lugano because of staying near family) then onto the Veneto (Union Lido).
On the way back, we stopped for a week in Porlezza on Lago di Lugano, then Herbolzheim in Germany and then Birket camping in Larochette Luxembourg. I have will leave reviews of all the campsites.
We had fun. Enjoy your summer trip next year :-)
We went to Garda a few years ago, first night stop was a municipal at Montmedy. Then through bottom of Luxembourg for a cheap top up of fuel. Second night halt was Campingplatz Illertissen, then over the Fern and Brenner pass and down to Garda next day. Long days towing but we only had 2 weeks. We stayed at Camping Baia Verde in Manerba Del Garda, great site with great facilities. We stayed late Aug into Sept and used Asci. Returned through the St Gothard tunnel, first night at Eguisheim, at stunning circular town. Can't remember next nights halt so not memorable.then back over from Calais.
------------- 74,going on 25
Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder
Hi, we have made the journey to Garda many times, and quite a few from Calais, however never at the time of year you are going.
There are many sites around Garda but I suspect that a lot will be very busy, and all probably expensive, so research now will help you to narrow down the choices.
We have always stayed at Camping Bella Italia in Peschiera Del Garda a site that is very well positioned,on the lakeside and within 20 minutes walk of the town and its lake steamer and main line railway connections.
It has a number of pools, a very good supermarket and good restaurants/pizzeria, geletaria etc and pitches are reasonable but non are big and all are surrounded by trees and shrubs so can be awkward to access but if you have a mover its no problem.
We have over the years traveled via France/Belgium/Switzeralnd/Austria and when we next go will likely use the Fern Pass mentioned. This can be a toll free route, if you avoid the Landecker Tunnel, and avoids the cost of the Swiss vignettes.
The route that we have used most was via Ostend then Belgium/France and into Switzerland at Basle and stopped at various places but think you will need to decide on the route first then plan in your stops to suit your needs.
We plan around a max 8 hours driving in 2 hour stints having tired, literally, of the foot down keep going method when we were younger and find it helps planning as well.
This part of the process is, my wife says, what I enjoy the most and I will make great use of Google maps, for route planning , and Steetview to look at access to sites etc, so good luck and have a great holiday!
------------- Allan
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
We are hoping to do this trip next August as well - we’ve toured in France a number of times but this will be our first time in Italy. Interested to read the suggestions. I’m using via Michelin to get routes and rough timings. At the moment, we are looking at our first night stopover just north of Riems in France - our kids like a pool too so we’ve found a site with a small one. Then we’re going to have a long travelling day down to Lucerne in Switzerland where we’ll stay a couple of days by the lake and then through the Gothard Tunnel and onto Garda. It’s probably the most expensive route but seems to be the most direct. There seem to be loads of sites to consider - we are looking at Europa Silvella, Fornella, the Weekend Glamping Resort all on the west side of the lake.
Michmush77, As the others have said you can go out on any route you choose - just spread out a big paper map and choose. We last went out via Lille, Luxembourg, Alsace, Lake Constance and the Austrian Tirol - all interesting places along the way and we were in no hurry.
But with children aged 9 and 7 you will be tied to school summer holidays and I seriously wonder whether Lake Garda is the best place to take them at that time of year - because of the distance, the hot weather, the packed campsites and all that. I have now got grandchildren that same age and they are happiest on a seaside beach with space to play - and if you move on from Garda to seaside beaches in Italy they aren't usually child friendly. You pay to sit quietly in neat lines !
Hi,
I am also interested in going to to Italy next August.
For those who have done it, are all the routes suitable for towing our tourer caravan? There seem to be quite a few choices of routes to take to get to Italy. I am also considering ferries.....Portsmouth-Bilbao and spend a few days in Spain then head to Barcelona to get the ferry to Italy from there. Anyone done that?
Quote: Originally posted by Jeannie51 on 07/10/2019
Hi,
I am also interested in going to to Italy next August.
For those who have done it, are all the routes suitable for towing our tourer caravan? There seem to be quite a few choices of routes to take to get to Italy. I am also considering ferries.....Portsmouth-Bilbao and spend a few days in Spain then head to Barcelona to get the ferry to Italy from there. Anyone done that?
Few of us have enough money to do that. Will you come back the same way or just drive home on a big motorway from Italy to Calais like the rest of us ?
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: Travelling to Italy with Tourer
