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 Topic: Towing from zeebrugge to Garda
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28/10/2014 at 4:06pm
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Hello there, I have done a fair bit of towing through France, and this year drove Bolton to Dover, Calais to clermont ferrand, c/f to annecy in 2.5 days. Then stayed In annecy for 12 days and left Sunday, got home to Bolton by 4pm Tuesday. So no problem long distance!
But I fancy lake Garda this year, prob going via Germany rather than via France. Could anyone tell me What is the tow like from Zeebrugge to Peschiera Del Garda? (July 2015) Via Michelin says it is 14 hours. Zeebrugge to Annecy is 10 hrs. Will that extra four hours ruin my holiday? France is easy, via the toll roads, but I wonder what Germany/Italy is like towing a double axle loaded to the hilt! I only have two and a half weeks so would leave bolton sun pm and aim to arrive Garda tues pm. Leave Garda sun,arrive Bolton tues pm.
I am thinking of travelling Hull/Zeebrugge rather than Dover Calais, a lot more expensive, but would perhaps save me a half days travel. I don't mind the cost as I am the only driver and a good nights rest is worth the extra money if it means safe driving and good distances the next day.
Can anyone comment on the tow from zeebrugge to lake Garda please? And perhaps recommend a nice overnight stop?
Many thanks
Christine
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28/10/2014 at 5:10pm
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Hi Christine, sure Lake Garda can be reached in two days from Zeebrugge - you'll obviously aim to use motorways all the way, but with a 50mph speed limit if you choose to go across Germany it will take longer than the 14 hours which Via Michelin is quoting. That's the time for fast solo cars.
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28/10/2014 at 6:56pm
Location: Suffolk
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We cross Germany all the time with a twin axle, it is a long way for two and a half weeks holiday. Why not have a holiday in Germany there are some beautiful lakes there which will not be as chaotic as Garda in July.
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29/10/2014 at 6:47pm
Location: Berks.
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Hi Christine,
We went from Dunkirk to Lake Garda in June this year. We went via Belgium, Germany, Austria into Italy.
It is cheaper going this way because you don't pay tolls through Belgium or Germany but the roads are terrible. They are breaking up through sheer weight of traffic, a lot of it is two lane and there were a lot of road works. Through Germany we were stuck in long traffic jams. I am used to driving through France and Spain with very little traffic and good roads. I haven't been this way for a number of years and thought the roads might have improved but they haven't.
I believe the Italians are building another motorway to replace the E45 but I don't know when it will be opened.
If I went again I would go via France, the roads are much more enjoyable to drive on.
We stayed at a very nice site in Bardolina, the site was called Camping Europa, it was a small site and the pitches weren't very big but it was very clean and friendly. There was a gate from the site which opened on to the lake. Bardolina was a lovely little town and only 10 minutes walk from the site.
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29/10/2014 at 8:27pm
Location: S Devon
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In 2011 we travelled down to Peschieria through Germany and back through France. Experienced a couple of German traffic jams but nothing too bad. Roads generally are busier and less well maintained than French autoroutes.
We went back last year and went via France and the Mont Blanc tunnel both ways. Devon to Reims day 1, Reims to Geneva and then Geneva to Garda the next. Comfortable way to do it reasonably quickly. We much prefer this route and accept the additional cost.
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29/10/2014 at 9:30pm
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We travelled down through Belgium, Germany to Austria in April and back in June with a twin axle. Road wes good in Belgium, better than some of our motorways. In Germany yes there are roadworks on the A8 has been for 2 years but we had no holdups this year at all.
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01/11/2014 at 12:19am
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Thanks everyone for your advice...I think the french route might be quickest if not cheapest! Especially considering the 50mph speed limit in Germany. I love the look of some of the german lakes...amd was about to give Fussen a go, until i researched the weather and found july is its wettest month! I need the sun... the only reason I was bored in annecy last time was because the weather was off, and the traffic is terrible when it rains because everyone heads for the town. .
Still thinking Garda might be a bit too far to do in two and a half weeks. Going on hol and driving two days to get there is fine.. its just when you have packed up, hitched up and you have to face two days solid driving home that you realise you have travelled too far!! Expecially as I am the I only driver.
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01/11/2014 at 9:29am
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Christine, there are nearer lakes than Garda, such as the northern end of Lake Maggiore or Lake Lugano - both on the sunny side of the Alps. The website lugano-tourism.ch/en gives ideas of campsites down there, and all quicker to get to than Lake Garda.
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01/11/2014 at 9:38am
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Hey Berriow thanks for that I will have a look. I had looked at La Pinede at Excenevex on yhe beach at Geneva, and then I read the reviews on trip advisor and they all said the same thing. Noisy, dirty toilets, local kids riding mopeds on the beach all night and dogs barking until he small hours. Decided to give that one a miss!
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01/11/2014 at 1:01pm
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We all have our own favourite routes. Personally prefer to go down through France to Metz and then through Germany into Austria using Fern and Brenner passes and once in Italy its an easy run down the eastern side of Lake Garda to Peschiera Del Garda. However as you are landing in Belgium it would make no sense to go through France. Worth pointing out that Lake Garda will be heaving in July, similar to the South of France.
David
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03/11/2014 at 1:57pm
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Thanks for your help David, it was your blog which gave me the confidence to go a bit further in France in the first place, which was how I ended up in the Rhone Alps. You're a bit of an inspiration, you know!
Thanks to everyone for their ideas, I have decided on Lake Maggiore, and have been emailing campsites all weekends looking for a lakeside pitch, which is what we have in Annecy when we are there. I am hoping for camping Conca D'oro near Feriolo, but they have 400 bookings to process since they opened their booking process this weekend, and I wait to hear!
Via Michelin is directing me from Zeebrugge through Belgium, Luxembourg, Metz, Basle, down the side of Lake Lucerne, and then down to the northern side of the lake. Any comments on this route?
Thanks again for your advice, it has really helped
Christine
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03/11/2014 at 4:57pm
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"Any comments on the route?"
That's the route we would choose and run toll free to the Swiss border at Basel, though others will tell you to avoid Belgium like the plague. At the border you can buy your Swiss vignette (two if you are towing) and cross Switzerland by motorway and the St Gotthard tunnel. Try to pick a quiet time of day for the tunnel.
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09/11/2014 at 8:59pm
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Personally I would go Zeebrugge-Luxembourg-Metz-Epinal-Bussang-Mulhouse-Basel-Ponte Chiasso-Milan-Garda.
Easily done in less than 2 days and a lot lot cheaper than down through the French peages. And no queuing up down the autobahn in the latest roadworks they have decided to attempt.
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24/4/2015 at 1:28pm
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Just a quick update and to thank everyone again for their advice. We have settled on Lake Maggiore and Lake Conc'a D'oro. We even got a beachside pitch!
Hoping to find an overnight stop somewhere after Basel.
Thanks again everyone. Christine
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