Hi.
Usually tow the caravan to Costa Brava in April / May.for 5/6 weeks.
Never been to Italy.
This year we fancy Lake Garda so we are looking for route recommendation from Calais towing 7.3 m caravan.
We have ACSI but happy to use non ACSI sites if recommended.
Any site recommendations welcome, we don’t have a preferred area but walking distance from site to a town would be good.
Would like a decent sized pitch so we an put up our canopy.
Any advice welcome.
Many thanks
John
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Not camping related, however, of all the Mainland European countries where I had driven when I was participating in car rallies in my MINI Cooper, Italy scared me the most!
Vehicles zoomed in and out; left, right and centre; often without much notice or indications all the time!
That was nearly 20 years ago and I was younger and braver!!!
Good luck with anyone who drives in Italy!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Don't be put off, Italy is a lovely country to visit. We have enough idiots on our own roads so not sure Italy is any worse. They tend not to be so adherent to rules but that's up to them.
My suggestion route wish would be down through France and out to Metz and then join the German autobahn south to Fussen then across the Fern and Brenner Passes which will eventually take you down the eastern side of the Lake. Sites around Peschiera del Garda might suit as there are several within walking distance of the town. There are also train services from there. Easy visit to Verona from these as well. Have you thought about going onto Venice?
Quote: Originally posted by jsparkes201148 on 11/1/2024
Hi.
Usually tow the caravan to Costa Brava in April / May.for 5/6 weeks.
Never been to Italy.
This year we fancy Lake Garda so we are looking for route recommendation from Calais towing 7.3 m caravan.
We have ACSI but happy to use non ACSI sites if recommended.
Any site recommendations welcome, we don’t have a preferred area but walking distance from site to a town would be good.
Would like a decent sized pitch so we an put up our canopy.
Any advice welcome.
Many thanks
We did this run a few years ago, not sure how quick or how far you tow in a day. We did it in 3 days after reaching France. First night stop was at a municipal at Montmedy. Next day we went through bottom of Luxembourg, topping up with cheaper diesel, then we stopped at Ulm for the 2nd night. From there we went over the Fern pass, along to innsbruck and Brenner pass into Italy. Reached Manerba Del Garda in the evening of 3rd day. Long towing days, suggest another one stop at least.
John
------------- 74,going on 25
Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder
There are so many routes to Italy.and so many interesting places along the way. We picked out the places we wanted to see and joined up the dots. We took about ten days to get there via Alsace, the north side of Lake Constance and the Austrian Tirol, but you may be in more of a hurry than that.
As David said, I was also going to recommend somewhere around Peschiera del Garda, if you're walking distance into the town you can easily pick up lake ferries (eg to Sirmione / Bardolino / Malcesine & Monte Baldo / Limone) and trains (eg to Verona / Milan / Venice). Can't help with the travelling though, we flew to Venice then rented a mobile home in Cappuccini.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Our route took us to a first stop at https://www.campingofficielarlon.be/en/homepage-english/ fill up the tank just inside Luxembourg then on to Ulm for an overnight then to Natterersee where we stayed three nights and over the Brenner to Bardolino - La Rocca (which has now become much much bigger and more expensive). we like d the look of the site at Lasize very close to town. We've also stayed at Cisano - https://www.camping-cisano.it As David says there are trains to Verona and Venice from Peschiera - however we drove to both without any problem and found parking quite easily with the help of POI on the satnav.
Thanks for the replies, all very helpful.
I asked for route suggestions because we will be towing a 7.4 m caravan.
I usually take my time and drive a maximum 200 miles p day and happy to pay the tolls.
Quote: Originally posted by jsparkes201148 on 12/1/2024
Thanks for the replies, all very helpful.
I asked for route suggestions because we will be towing a 7.4 m caravan.
I usually take my time and drive a maximum 200 miles p day and happy to pay the tolls.
Whichever route you choose the major roads across Europe will not pose any problems for a caravan of that size, but the size of pitches on some sites in Italy might prove to be challenging.
Quote: Originally posted by Netherton on 12/1/2024
Whichever route you choose the major roads across Europe will not pose any problems for a caravan of that size, but the size of pitches on some sites in Italy might prove to be challenging.
Twice we've been to Italy and found numerous pitches hardly big enough for a medium size tent and our Berlingo. 8m x 8m seems to be pretty much the norm.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
We stayed at Camping Cappuccini last May. Really well positioned for walking into town, restaurants and for the lake. It was pretty expensive but pitches are roomy enough and facilities good - lovely pool etc. I think I did a review. We would use the site again.
We have been travelling to Garda for 10yrs...we love it. We prefer the north end, the terrain is more appealing to us. We favour Limone.
The hills of Trentino, Verona, Malcesine are accessible. Sirmione is ok but a day trip is enough...this area is easily accessible for Milan and the motorways to Tuscany and the Ligurian riviera.
Do your homework and research Lombardia.
You will love it.
I am bias being of Italian descent.
If you love nature, art, food, classical music you'll be in Eden.
The opera in Verona is wonderful....a bit cliche in the choice of repertoire but the arena is an amazing experience.( Carmen, Aida, Nabucco on a rota throughout the season)...no idea why they stage Carmen its French!!!!
------------- CAT
Favourite site:
Camping Nanzel, Limone, Lake
Garda..perfect for MTB, Kayak, SUP and fell running training.
Favourite areas: Provence, French Alps, Savigny (as a stop over for Southern France: Rhein valley as a stop over for Italy. 78
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: First time to Italy
via mobile 13/1/2024 at 12:49pm
