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For many years we have taken our caravan to various parts of France and after a soggy holiday in the Dordogne have come to realise that to be (reasonably) sure of good weather you need to go a long way south.

So for the last couple of years we have taken ferry Portsmouth to Bilbao and driven across to the Costa Brava. The weather has been fantastic but last year the drive took us 12 hours (mainly due to traffic) which we did in a day. So given that we spent 36 hours on the ferry and 12 hours driving, the journey took us 48 hours and the ferry costs alot of money.

So this year I am trying to pursuade the family to take the tunnel and drive to Lake Garda. My thinking is that the travelling and driving time will be no worse than last year. Their view is that 2 to 3 days driving is a long way! None of us particularly enjoy driving but if we break the journey into sensible lumps then it could be part of the holiday rather than just a chore.

Looking at other threads would suggest to me that we need to give oursleves at least 2 days for the journey each way and probably 3. Research also suggests to me that Garda is about the same distance (and hence drive) from Calais as the South Of France and I feel that Garda will be alot more of an interesting destination.

So my question is whether the journey to the South Of France is any easier than that to Garda?

Thanks

Chris

Having been to both several times I can't say I have considered whether one journey is easier than the other, just different. From Calais I would suggest its at least a two stop journey en route. I think the journey to Italy is more interesting because you have to cross several countries and of course you will encounter real mountain scenery. To me its the destination which is important and the journey is just part of the organisation. I know lots of people like to get to their main destination as quickly as possible but the best way of making the journey fell less daunting is to incorporate it into the holiday by stopping a few days en route and do the same on the way back. I appreciate that means less time at the main site but at least it does not feel as though you are heading for the Moon!

David

Well if the journey is just a means of getting there I would say south of france is an easier joourney.

As to how many stops - this depends when you arive in france. We tend to stop near Calais after a reasonable drive to get to our crossing and then we need one more stopover going south

Agree with above poster - having done both from Calais (not towing) I think South of France is easier. Distance may be same but you have more tunnels to consider to Italy which can mean more traffic. I've driven to SofF with one stop over, Italy it tends to be two and even that means it is still a long drive. Lake Garda is 12 hours driving without stops.

Chris - why not drive to Dover and take the tunnel and then drive to SofF rather than doing the two day ferry thing?

I'd agree, South of France is easier providing you choose the right part of the South.  If you head for Nice (say) then it's a huge loop with almost half your journey being fromthe bottom of the Rhone Valley along the South Coast..  As Francais says, you don't have to head for the coasts - there are some fantastic inland areas of Southern France and you don't have to go as far as the Mediterranean or if you do head for the Languedoc area instead of the Cote d'Azur.  It's 1045 kilometres from Calais to the resort of Grau du Roi and 1220 to Salo on Lake Garda - but in my opinion the Med is an easier journey than to Salo.

Like Francais we love the Ardeche areas, and also the Gorges du Tarn, and some of the Languedoc coast - and it's all accessible with just one (strategic) overnight stop somewhere (depending on your ferry arrival time, obviously).  We've done a late night ferry to Calais, slept overnight in an Aire, headed off before 8.00 am in the morning, and been down as far as the Clermont Ferand area that night.  From there you'll reach your campsite on the Med before campsite reception closes!  If you're staying inland you can be there for 4.00 pm and set up and established with a glass of wine in your hand and the steak sizzling before 6.00 pm.  The following morning you'll feel like you've been there two nights already!

We've done Lake Garda - lovely, but very mixed weather with lots of cloud and thunderstorms.  Great site, but two overnight stops to get there, and fairly small pitches.  I liked it there a lot, but France seems somehow much easier and less travelling all round.

Hi Val.

         The OP like you has a caravan, so maybe only one overnight is fine, for us being tent campers, we need that extra overnight, so that we can get to the main site early in the day, to allow time to setup, and same again when we break camp, what with 8m tent and kitchen tent, it does take some setting up, still no pain, no gain.

Andy.

Quote: Originally posted by Val A on 07/2/2010

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 Great site, but two overnight stops to get there, and fairly small pitches.  I liked it there a lot, but France seems somehow much easier and less travelling all round.

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Not necessarily so, on our trip to Italy last year we stayed at 5 sites, including one on Lake Garda, and they all had decent sized pitches, certainly as big as we have found on Mediterranean sites. However you do have to do your research to find the sites with good size pitches.

David

Quote: Originally posted by Francais on 07/2/2010

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Hi Val.

         The OP like you has a caravan, so maybe only one overnight is fine, for us being tent campers, we need that extra overnight, so that we can get to the main site early in the day, to allow time to setup, and same again when we break camp, what with 8m tent and kitchen tent, it does take some setting up, still no pain, no gain.

Andy.

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I know, we used to have a tent!  After the tent came a trailer tent, then came Canvas Holidays where all the setting up was done, but it still took me hours to clean up before we left.  Next came our first little old caravan with bunks for the boys.  After that was a brand new caravan and bunks, then pup tents again for the boys.  Now it's our lovely 10 year old fixed bed Swift - and no pup tents!   It's certainly much easier setting up and taking down these days, especially as this year we'll have our lovely new motor mover, and a sun canopy instead of the awning.  We'll be up and off before you've even removed your tent pegs!

I know you've got a trailer now, next might be 'just a small caravan', perhaps????

Hi Val.

         I am of to the "OutDoor Show", later this month, main reason is to have a good mooch round the Eriba Troll's, I like the idea that they can be towed by a medium car, I nearly bought a static some years back, down on the Cote d Azur, it was just the 3K per year service charge that put me of, anyway I will be sticking with the tent for a good few years to come, buying a caravan is a serious investment what with all the add on costs, and somthing I definatley can't justify at this point in time, but there is no harm in looking is there?.

Andy

Our neighbours have bought a Dethleffs Campy - which I think is also lightweight enough to be towed with a moderate car - they have a Focus estate - and they're taking it to Lake Garda in July!  It actually fits inside their garage!  It looks lovely too and manages to fit everything into a tiny space.

I can't remember where they're staying, but somewhere near where we were just outside Salo.