Portsmouth to Italy with a caravan

[kastiekastie]

Hi, we have a caravan - not yet done up, waiting on a friend, haven't seen it yet - and would like to visit my sister in Tuscany in August. I have never towed a caravan, am a fairly confident driver (though not sure about in Italy!) Have one 13 year old son, two dogs (who could come or stay behind). Has anyone else done a similar trip and would they recommend it please or steer well clear (no pun intended). I realise there is another thread re driving to Italy but it's very old now and not specifically about taking a caravan or mentioning start point of Portsmouth (where obviously you could also get a ferry to France). This is day one of the idea being sown so please excuse my ignorance - no one's clever all the time ;-) Thanks very much.

yes we drive long distances across europe with a van. you might want to practise a bit first.

it will take a good few days

No experience of caravanning but have done the drive from Hampshire to the Cote d’Azur, specifically not too far from Monaco/the Italian border a few times. Consider driving to Dover and taking the Chunnel/the ferry from the there. The Portsmouth crossings all arrive on what is essentially the wrong side of France so you’d be massively increasing your overall driving time. As for the caravan, you’ll have plenty of company as in the summer every other car on the autoroute de soleil is a Dutch caravan or camper!