On the road to Italy

Hi commeyras, Like you I have a few bottles left and it will be a Montepulciano Nobile for Christmas Day!

It would be good to see some response however, my reasons for choosing Reichen over Brenner are based on our use of them.

Using Reichen, we intended to stop one night at Camping Aktiv in Prutz but really like th esite and area and stayed 4 nights. A bonus was this meant we then arrived in Peschiera at the end of the German holiday inundation!

We found prices were reasonable and spent one memorable day travelling up to the Kaunertal Glacier-we nearly dismissed it as it required the uses of a toll road but was with every penny.

This year we decided that seeing the Brenner and Europa Bridge, we had no intention of staying anywhere en-route,  was worth a try, but our overriding memory will be the awful experience of being stuck behind trucks that were at times doing just 27 MPH.

Scenery wise the Rechen wins, but to be fair it was easily enjoyable at the speeds on that route and a clearish view rather than the view on the Brenner route through lines of trucks.

Interestingly, we were with our MH buddies via the Reichen and had no issues finding stopping places going or on the return-one of my rest stop rituals is that I bang on their MH window and ask for "burger, chips and a tea please"!!

After our annual planning meet up last week we are now looking at routes and sites for a trip to Annecy and the St Tropez area.

We had considered Spain &  Portugal, but leaving much earlier than our now late May departure, and had great advice and info from AD, but have decided that, as the main attraction was that we had not been there and the earlier season weather, the appeal had dwindled.

Have a great Christmas, and a Happy 2023 towing!

Afternoon and a big thanks to all of your replies - very informative and shows this club at its best - helping each other - so thank you 

We will be setting off from Calais the last weekend in July (sat 29th) for three weeks exactly. We're in education so unfortunately the dates are fixed. We've not booked the crossing so can go either train or ferry. We are well used to holidaying in busy periods.

Was initially thinking of working way down on the French/Swiss border and then looping up round coming home through Germany via Luxembourg and Belgium.

We would like a few nights on one of the lakes.. but more important a nice site to explore the areas.  We'll take a trip to Venice, so somewhere around Treviso would be good. In general I would welcome any advice/recommendations of sites in these areas.

I appreciate that tolls may be the quicker route, so guess we might need to plan in for these. As mentioned before, when towing in France, we tend to stay away from the peage (except to skirt around the big towns). I have found alot of the roads in France (particularly south) have great dual carriageways. 

Camping Fusina is on the edge of the Venetian Lagoon, we had a pitch looking out toward Venice which are more spacious.... was great seeing the cruise ships come in & manoeuvre into docking positions....

Ferry across to Venice a short walk from site, tickets can be purchased from reception.

We traveled back to Calais via Grossglockner Pass, Zell am See, friends in Germany with last stop in Bernkastel Keus.

hth

Thanks for coming back MHG.  As you have not booked you might try linking your booking with Club Vouchers, you don't need to use them and could save quite a lot; or Tesco Vouchers for the Tunnel if you have them.  Don't try the Grossglockner towing - not allowed!  As you are travelling peak season all the advice about pre booking is important.   Your plan looping through Switzerland and back through Germany sounds good, as an indication allow 3 days from Garda to Calais.  Good luck and have a great holiday.

Alan and Jean enjoy your Montepulciano - finished all mine.  We stayed at a site just north of St Maxime in September quite close to St Tropez - see ACSI. Some lovely hill top villages nearby including Tour Tour (not a typo!) We had a very nice lunch in St Maxime opposite the marina ('port' in France!), €15 for 2 courses but as they had run out of the desert I would have liked was offered a different one and was charged €12!   In St Maxime!  Happy Christmas to you both from Jeni and me.

Hi MHG, You dont say your starting point so it maybe that Harwich-Hook works for you and Dover-Dunquerke is good for a non toll route via Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany, so ticking a few of your boxes.

Would recommend using viaMichelin to get an accurate cost comparison of toll V non toll. Sitzerland will require two vignettes and the two tunnels are both expensive even just one way and overall the non toll may be just a few hours more over an 850 mile journey.

As mentioned at that time you will probably need to be booking sites but away from the most popular spots you could chance it.

I mentioned Peschiera and a day trip to Venice from there is a train ride away, add in the mass of options on and around Garda and it seems a very good option for you-we have stayed multiple times, usually for three weeks so you should be able to keep amused.

More suggestions are available if you are interested!

"Alan and Jean enjoy your Montepulciano - finished all minecool. We stayed at a site just north of St Maxime in September quite close to St Tropez - see ACSI. Some lovely hill top villages nearby including Tour Tour (not a typo!) We had a very nice lunch in St Maxime opposite the marina ('port' in France!), €15 for 2 courses but as they had run out of the desert I would have liked was offered a different one and was charged €12! In St Maxime! Happy Christmas to you both from Jeni and me."

Hi David & Jenni, Hilltop villages seem to be your specialty, after the local tipple of course, as we took your advice and visited Panicale!!

Have stayed in Frejus before, but our friends want to be closer to St Tropez so looking around there  Grimaud/Cavalaire so any recommendations welcome.

We have visited St T before and were surprised at how 'normal' it was and had a really great time there and the nearby Port Grimaud-well apart from a restaurant refusing to serve us two pizzas as were were sharing between four!!

Hope you have a great Christmas, Jean & Allan.

Don't try the Grossglockner towing - not allowed!

OOPs!

Apologies on that, overlooked the towing bit ....

Hi MHG

There  are few sites in the vicinity of Treviso, it’s a pretty flat and uninteresting area albeit most old towns in Italy have their charms. The trains in Italy are extremely cheap and reliable compared to the UK and Verona ( a city I would highly recommend) is only 90 minutes by train from Venice with return tickets less than £10. Alternatively stay on the north Adriatic coast where there are lots of quality sites and Venice, Trieste and many interesting towns are a short drive or train ride away. Entering Venice by train is one of the most charismatic ways of starting your city tour.

Early August is high high season in Italy so it will be essential to book your chosen sites ASAP. I would not recommend Lake Garda in August, its far too busy in my opinion (certainly the southern parts) and most roads in the area are nose to tail for most of the day.

The recommended through Germany, Austria into Italy advising that the Brenner motorway is the best way is good advice. We have been travelling this way to the Adriatic every year for 12 years and we always take this route after trying the other routes for a couple of years. Travelling through the Dolomites while making good progress is a scene we always enjoy.

Been taking the Italy data on board from this thread, thanks to the contributors...

in return, A&J if you haven't already fixed plans, try Selection Camping at La Croix Valmer, nr Cavalaire sur Mer. We've been going for a good few years now, nice cycle to St Maxime, st T, or beyond..in each direction 

Alternatively, Camping de la Baie in Cavalaire couldn't be better placed for the lovely town and beach.