Any been to italy in there van?

[froggy]

Trying to sort out a plan of attack for next year. We visited Italy a few years ago and have always planned on going back so we thought why not go in the van.
We plan to re-visit Lake Garda and the surrounding areas (north italy) as this is where we stayed last time and the wife loved the place .
Have read a few magazine articles and some say its easier to catch a ferry / boat to Bilboa in spain and then drive up and across into italy where as others say Dover - calais and spend a night or 2 somewhere on the way down.
Any been to italy in there van and can give me a few hints / tips / ideas?

 

[froggy]

Just looked on Multimap and its roughly 1050 miles each way, going through Germany and switzerland :shock: , but according to Multi map its only an 18 1/2 hour drive so a doddle really :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[slammedkustom]

drove there a couple of years back, did a 3 week tour of europe in the bus, never again will i do italy, dodgy drivers, police wanting backhanders and dodgy borderguards! :evil:

cracking scenery tho

 

[Clem]

I made it to Latte , just over the border, a few years ago .... the area wasnt beach-close-camping friendly though, so we turned back and got back into France again.
We booked onto a real bizarre campsite that was an absolute hell-hole I guess the huge live turtle in a small bowl in reception should have given me a clue ..... we lasted long enough to put the awning up, and then my wife insisted we left :roll: :lol:

 

[mattd1984]

I should be there i a month roughly. Setting of in 3 weeks for a raod trip for 2 months around Europe. Interested to hear about these hell whole campsites :shock:

 

[adamski]

I drove along the coast from the south of france, down to genoa, then to santa margerita and porto fino. Really really nice. Stayed in a place outside genoa for a few days, which was a good base as there was a train station there. It was interesting driving into the parking at porto fino!! (my bus is quite low).

We then drove upto milan, stayed there for a couple of days, then drove up through the lakes, stayed there, then into switzerland.

If you can, I would go down the east coast too. I plan to do that one day...

 

[Clem]

Interested to hear about these hell whole campsites :shock:

There was a 'path' to a beach ... which was actually a wall that you walked along, with a swamp either side. The beach at the end was a rocky stony dump with graffitti and broken glass everywhere. The 'swamp' area was visibly populated with lizards and massive frogs/toads .... they are cool but my wife is 'terrified' of snakes and the potential for them.
The site itself was really scruffy, not many facilities, and the 'neighbours' all seemed a bit like out of a 70's Naturist camp that had only got dressed cos we'd arrived .... it was a bit bizarre. Given we'd left a lush site near a sandy clean beach near St Tropez just 60km away ... we cut our losses and hightailed it back there!

 

[wilgartw]

we went to italy for a month or so, dashed down there in 2 days from zeebrugge. then took it easy. made it all the way past naples and round the amalfi coast. Had a great time. don't recognize any of the bad things said above.

yes peurto fino was cool, we stayed between there and cinque terre, got a boat to peurto fino for a day, and did the cinque terre a couple of days later.

 

[Trikky2]

Took the van to Italy 3 years ago and had a great time. The only thing we didn't like was the very heavy traffic in some places, particularly along the west coast roads. We gave up trying to drive along the coast after 4 attempts and stayed more inland where it was much quieter. The Italians were always very friendly and welcoming.

 

[Airtime]

I've been to Italy a couple of times, but not yet with the bus. Maybe next year? However, I usually go to a place called Castiglione del Lago, near Perugia. It's at a lake (Lago Trasimeno) and it's wonderful overthere! The camp site is fantastic and so are the people. 8)

'Talking' about it makes me want to jump in the bus and drive it there straight away! :msn4:

 

[Clem]

I found a pic



Sorry its late

I also took these 'around' the same time -





Just to say, one campsite wouldnt put me off going again. Please go for it and let us know! 8)

 

[windsurfer]

Lake Garda's great for Windsurfing

 

[vwvanman0]

Go for it i say,i used to drive hgvs to Italy,went Dover-Calais France,Swiss,Italy.

Never went lower than Rimini,but loved it,the country,the people,the food.

There are some cracking views and lakes in the north.

I also never tired of the scenery going through Switzerland,went via the Gottard tunnel,would deffo recomend going or returning that way.

Been planning a trip myself for the last couple of years but havent got on with it!

And at 56mph in the truck once got from Lancashire to Milan in less than 24 hours. (double manning obviously)

 

[froggy]

Trying to find some campsites to stop en-route, any ideas.
Also it now looks like were going to (try and) stop somewhere around Lake Maggiore and then maybe have a day trip down to Lake Garda.
Was going to stop at my parents for a few days on the way down and back up but there going to the Vendee region which is a bit off track (it will be like going to london via cornwall :lol: )