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Hi

Having camped in UK and France for some years now we are looking to go further afield. In my youth I camped in the Italian Lakes but my circumstances have chamged since. Next year the kids will be barely 9,7,and 5. We use a tent and have a car with a top box. We would really like any campsite to be within easy and safe walking distance of a town/village so that we can use the car as little as possible. Has anybody amy suggestions of sites?

Thanks Helen

We stayed here for one night this year

http://www.campeggioaicollifioriti.it/

We turned up late in the evening on spec, received a warm welcome from the owner, who spoke excellent English.

As we only stayed the one night, I couldn't really comment on the local facilities etc, but I will say we found it quite difficult to find a camp site near to Lake Como. Others may come along soon & make other suggestions that are nearer to the lake.  Did have cheap ice-creams, around 1 euro 40 cents.

The only thing with this site is that it is up into the mountains, and a twisty and at times steep drive up there.

Lake Como is spectacular though, and well worth visiting.

The ground on the site was quite stony where we were pitched, but probably to be expected, as we were in the mountains.

The night we were there had some traditional Italian music and dancing out the front of the main reception building, which we all had a go at.

Smudger  

We were thinking of going to the Italian Lakes and a collegue suggested this site:

http://www.laquercia.it/INGLESE/FRAMESET.html.  Not sure exactly how far it is to the town but perhaps you could email and ask.  The person who recommended it has travelled extensively through Italy and this was one of her favourites.

Hi Helen

Friends of ours who camp at Lake Garda every year have told us that in their opinion Camping Piani Di Clodia is the best site in the area.  We were thinking of going there last year but when we worked it out it was going to cost us €50 a night for a pitch which we thought was too much considering our favourite camp sites in France only cost about €30 a night.  From what I hear, the pitches in Italy are very small compared to France and the sites are much larger with maybe up to 1000 pitches so it is a very different camping experience than in the likes of France.

Hi Helen

We're just back from Italy and finished our time there with 11 days at Lake Iseo.  This was the 2nd year we had been to Italy.

We stayed at Riva San Pietro at Marone on Lake Iseo.   We had not booked at RSP but just phoned on the day we hoped to arrive.

The site had views to die for of the Lake and mountains.  We finally had a pitch only 2 spaces back from the Lake shore.   The site had wonderfully helpful owners who spoke excellent English.  Nothing was too much trouble.  Helped us locate our van and move it to a pitch nearer the lake when it came vacant and phoned several times to book things for us - refused cost of call.

The site has a small swimming pool and bar-restaurant.  The site hires out various water sports items including sail boards, pedaloes, etc and a large motorised inflatable.  They, also, have boat mooring facilities - we have a Zodiac inflatable with outboard motor which we enjoyed.  There is, also, a children's playground and an outdoor table tennis table.  There are no organised entertainments but our 19 year old son made lots of Friends and enjoyed himself in the boat and jumping off the pier into the lake.  The site is in a small village with a small supermarket, 2 banks and other shops.  It, also, has stop for the ferry boats which cruise the Lake.

Last year we took our previous caravan, a twin axle Avondale Landranger (7.3 metres) to Camping La Riva at Colico at the northern end of Lake Como.  It is actually on the river as it flows into the lake.  Similar facilities to the one above pool and bar but no organised activities.We had booked there and did have a larger pitch right on the riverfront.  Again we enjoyed our boat.  The site has traffic  footpath/cycleway along the lake shore linking it to the small village.  The village has several campsites, a baker, newsagent, bar, bank and general store

A warning to tie your tent down well as all the Lakes are subject to VERY SUDDEN thunderstorms with high winds.  At Lake Como our alloy awning poles were bent irrepairably after the awning blew onto the caravan roof.  We were taking it down because of the impending storm but the storm got there  too soon.  Lots of people were safe in tents on both sites however so don't let me put you off.

Lake Garda sites probably tend to be more lively but we haven't been there.

I hope this helps .  Both sites sound as they would fit your bill.  We found that the Alan Rogers Italy Guide and the Caravan Club Caravan Europe site guides very useful.  Please post again if you have any other questions we can help with.

We love the Italian Lakes.

Best wishes

Tim

Hi

Thanks for all of this marvelous advice. I look forwards to researching the trip on the fast coming Autumn evenings. It is always so nice to have something to look forwards to.

Helen

Hi Helen

We go for the ocasional weekend each year to one of the lakes near to us, Lago Caldanazo there is also lago Levico just down the road we use Camping mario as we have two young kids (third one due to arrive in three weeks). Like you we use a tent and have found this campsite to be the best not to big but with plenty for the kids to do, the local town is about ten min walk from the site. This is one of the smaller lakes slightly off the tourist route of Garda etc but very pleasant, reasonably priced pizzeria/ resteraunt within three mins of site.

About 4 years ago we stayed at camping Fontanelle at Lake Garda. It was a small site right by the side of the lake and about 5 mins walk from the town of Moniga Del Garda where there were shops and Restaurants. Pool was good and it was not busy or noisy and as I remember it the pitches were a fair size. They organised excusions to Venice, Verona and Milan by coach from Tourist Information in the village. Lake great for swimming etc and there were regular boats going to other places on the lake that did not cost much so you did not need to drive.

Thanks again to everyone for the advice. I'm really looking forwards to brightening up autumn evenings investigatng all the possibilities.

hELEN

Hi Helen, we too are thinking of doing the Italian Lakes this year, we've been to France lots of times and like you fancy going somewhere different, cant wait to start looking in earnest!

Bryan 

bcam,

We took our van to the Italian lakes this year and visted 2 sites, Camping La Riva on Lake Como then Conca D'oro on Lake Maggiore, Conco D'oro was fantastic and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. The drive up to Capming La Riva on the East side of the lake is a bit rough when you consider it is suppoesed to be a motorway. I wouldn't recommend going via the West side of the lake as the road is extremely narrow in places.

We took the Rosyth-Zeebrugge ferry and it was fantastic.

Good luck

Jamsie

I would re-iterate what Jamsie says about routes to Camping La Riva on Lake Como.  The main road up the east side of Lake Como is by far the best way for caravans.  It is quite a good road but with lots of tunnels.  I'm NOT a lover of tunnels!!

The road on the west side runs through a lot of small towns and villages and the road is VERY narrow in some of these.  The west side road is,also, used by logging trucks.  I would NEVER try to tow on the west side of Lake Como.

Tim