Caravanning into Italy

We went to Italy in June towing, no problems, as many will say some sites can be very tight in the busy areas, we went via Mont Blanc Tunnel down to Genoa then south  but tunnel and autostrada tolls are expensive down to the Cinq Terre region after that much more reasonable. Returned via the Brenner Pass and Germany much cheaper. 

I always go from Calais as far as the Swiss border at Basel via Lille, Namur, Luxembourg, Nancy and Colmar. No tolls at all, and yet 400 of the 450 miles are motorway.

The cost of the Swiss vignette to go on from there into Italy is good for a return journey, but the cost of the French tunnels (Mont Blanc or Frejus) are one way prices.)  But crawling across the Germany route in an endless line of lorries at the limited speed limit on the autobahn just doesn't appeal.

I always go from Calais as far as the Swiss border at Basel via Lille, Namur, Luxembourg, Nancy and Colmar. No tolls at all, and yet 400 of the 450 miles are motorway.

The cost of the Swiss vignette to go on from there into Italy is good for a return journey, but the cost of the French tunnels (Mont Blanc or Frejus) are one way prices.)  But crawling across the Germany route in an endless line of lorries at the limited speed limit on the autobahn just doesn't appeal.

Over the years going to Italy,farthest being to Cecina in Tuscany but mainy to Garda, we have used a variety of ports and routes. Our favoured port is Plymouth and our most used route is via Switzerland.

The comment re the vignette cost was certainly true for us and having tried both the Mont Blanc and Frejus tunnels stuck with Switzerland for quite a few years. Last year though we were with friends who have a motorhome that is over 3500kg meaning that the vignette was not an option in either Switzerland or Austria.

After posting on CT we decided on a route across Germany and then via the Fern and Reisa passes into Italy. We also found that in Austria tunnels are part of the toll network so could have come unstuck as the route we took would normally be via the Landecker tunnel ans not the town of Landeck but doing this gives a toll free route from Hook of Holland into Italy which we really enjoyed and,whilst we did see some big hold ups on the opposite carraigeway, we had a very good journey through Germany as well and if heading further down into Italy would use this route again.

 

I am a bit confused by eurotravellers comment, I thought all EU countries have speed limits? I have towed into Austria and Italy on 3 ocassions via Germany passing briefly through France/Belgium/Luxembourg and can't say I noticed much difference in the volume of HGV's. 

Allan and Jean,  you are right - a Swiss vignette is not an option for a motorhome over 3500kg. , but strange as it seems, it can actually be cheaper for a large motorhome like that to transit Switzerland than it is for a smaller one under 3500kg. The smaller one needs to pay 40 CHF for a full year's vignette, but the larger motorhome can get a short term permit from 25 CHF upwards, and for ten days, which need not be consecutive, costimg 32.5 CHF. 

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I support what Eurotraveller says about the cost of transiting Switzerland in a 3500kg+ MH.  We have just travelled from the Black Forest to Lake Lugano and with the help of the website set up by Russell Whiteley (aka The Kontiki Kid), we downloaded a copy of the application form in advance and paid 32.50CHF (about £25) for a 10 day pass.  It took all of 10 minutes at the border and was a very easy process.

As it happens, we didn't stay in Switzerland as we had planned due to heavy rain and travelled directly to Italy using the St. Gottard tunnel, which is TOLL FREE.

So, it cost us the equivalent of £25 to travel through the Swiss motorway system and over the alps to Italy - great value.  And we still have 9 days of the toll pass left to use before the end of September 2017, so even better value if we use it for another trip next year.

Slow response due to going to NEC but big thanks to ET and JimE. Just the sort of info that makes using CT worthwhile!

Will have a look at Russels website as a cost effective way to visit Switzerland would make visiting Como easier.

I know this post is six years  old but did you ever make the trip? I'm thinking of visiting the lakes in North Italy so wont be going as far south as you but would be interested to know if you have any tips.  Cheers