Rio Vantone

We had a lovely time on this site in August 2018 (peak season) - after all, it's hard to not to make the most of its fantastic idyllic location. However, the information provided on the CAMC website on booking (photos of pitches, description of 80m2 pitches separated by hedges - to match the photos) gave an impression different to the one we encountered on arrival. For £40/night you get the site's 'standard' pitch, a pitch type between 50 and 80m2, and with no separation of pitches. The three pitches we were offered were all of a decent size, but if your neighbour was squeezed on a small pitch, it made everything very tight. The first we looked at had two tents squeezed onto the adjacent pitch - if we'd taken it and rolled out our motorhome canopy, we'd have filled the pitch and been touching their tents. We'd have been able to pass the ketchup in an evening, In the end, the one we took was slightly larger, and our neighbours not so squeezed in, so we were a good meter from their car in the end, and felt slightly less sqeezed than most. We did track down a couple (but probably only that) pitches looking like the photos - they were a few of the site's 'comfort' pitches - which are a little larger, and cost EUR 10/night more in high season. To put 'cramped' into perspective - on our run to / from the motorhome service point, a family of four had to move themselves and their chairs / table out of the road; there was no room on their 'standard' pitch for car / tent / sitting area. Bins were regularly overflowing. 'Tranquil and relaxing' this site is not, at least not until about 2130 when the kids go to bed, when it borders on serene. It is noisy and lively throughout the day. Which is fine for us, but somewhat different to described. I'm not sure I'd describe any site with a frequently-used hi-de-hi PA system as 'tranquil', though my ability to understand dutch and german number plates when read out in the original is now much improved. At night it is quiet and peaceful, and we could enjoy the almost-nightly thunderstorms in the mountains surrounding this beautiful lake (albeit 'one of the smallest Italian lakes', it's huge). The nightly peace is shattered on Mondays when a band strikes up a medley of tourist-grade Italian hits in the bar at 2100 tll about midnight. We gave-up enjoying the scenery at 'Volare' and went to bed. The site's location is stunning, on the east shore of lake Idro (not 'Irdo' as on the website), sandwiched between the lake and the mountains. There is a narrow beach on the site's edge which is accessed from the site itself. Facilities are good (bar, restaurant, shop, playground, kids club etc). Easy flat walk into Crone (nearest village) for a small supermarket and other shops (bread / fruit & veg). We had a fantastic 5 nights here, but are now under no illusions. This is a holiday camp (Eurocamp, Profi-tent, Rent-a-tent are here), not a tranquil campsite. If you're ok with that (we were), it's great.

Response from the Site: 

Our site is in the mountains on a hillside, and so pitches are small and unusually shaped but in an amazing location. The site is very peaceful outside of school holidays and we would suggest anyone looking for tranquility should visit then. Additionally, the site is also ideal for families in the holidays, with activities for all on the lake and in the surrounding area. We would like to assure all guests that the loudspeaker is only used for safety measures to avoid customers blocking exits.

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