Has anyone been camping in the Italian lakes?

[millimat]

Back from hols so onto planning the next one!! Fancy a change from France but can't justify ferry costs for Spain - wondered about the Italian lakes? Does anyone have any experience?

Not of camping there, but we are considering it, or the Dolomites, or Aosta next summer. Not sure about the long drive at the minute.

Is the ferry to Santander expensive then? I haven't looked yet but we are paying £540 to go from Portsmouth to Le Havre at May half term, I thought that was bad enough.

Yes, we have a caravan so the ferry would be over £1000 for the summer holidays

Wow, you are right, with bikes on the car and a trailer (4m), three of us, incl cabin to 'anywhere in Spain' on Brittany = £1318.

Given that I only want to go for ten days that is madness!

We might look at Holland - good for DD for biking - but to be honest anywhere will do, even Northern France.

I love Italy, usually go there (not camping) 2 or 3 times a year incl skiing in Aosta or the Dolomites. Have always wanted to go back in the summer but the drive puts me off.

Who knows where we will end up next summer, both of us love to travel, both hate driving, especially after 1600 miles the other week. Maybe the memory (of the drive) will fade and we will do it anyway!

May I suggest Bavaria? Lots of lakes there. Less crowded, pristine, ringed by mountains and slightly cheaper.

Yes we camp regularly on Garda. We've returned to one site we particularly like. It's called Piantelle. Very relaxed, nice pool right on the lake. It's also handy for the supermarket and central to travel.

Have you thought of Switzerland for lake camping?

There are some fantastic sites in the Italian cantons. Also amazing ones at Interlaken.

Not expensive to camp and there are Lidl and Aldi stores to keep the costs of food down.

millimat, I think that we might be swayed by the ferry cost and go to Holland for a change rather than anywhere else - only £550 with bikes on top of the car and a trailer with cabins both ways and breakfast.

I might book it tonight once I have checked the school calender for next summer. I think we will do a couple of 9 day trips, we were away for longer this summer and I felt it was too long for me (have a few animals and the logistics of getting everything looked after for in excess of two weeks was a nightmare).

Will have to start my own thread 'have you camped in Holland' .