First Time Trip Abroad - Help Needed

You live only 40 miles from Harwich so you might look at a comfortable cabin on the overnight sailing to the Hook of Holland. You would miss the possibility of congestion getting past London and on the M 20, and the driving distance  to Garda from the Hook is less than it is from Calais.

Not driven either. down as far as Lake Garda and, having a motorhome, we tend to meander to any destination. It will also depend on where on Lake Garda you are aiming for. The road around the lake is not the fastest either. Even if you leave home in the morning, the day will be half over by the time you hit Calais so realistically you need to be thinking of a two stopper, particularly towing a caravan.

Living in W Sussex we never think of using the Harwich crossing.  ET's suggestion could be well worth considering.  Expanding on Cyber's comments.  Yes the road around the Lake is tortuous and I would not like to tow a caravan around Lake Garda.  The climate at the North end of the lake is quite different from that at the South end.  The North is near the mountains whilst the southern end is open and away from  the mountains.  The north end can experience much more wind and rain than the south.  Most sites are at the southern end of Lake Garda and it is a lovely day out to take a cruise up to Garda from the south.  For the southern sites you leave the motorway at the Garda South exit and have no need to drive around the lake.

I hope you have time to see more of Italy than just that one week. We loved the country and went at least a dozen times.

But if you really are time limited then I suggest you leave the caravan at home, Fly from Stansted and rent an apartment with a balcony with a view of the lake. It isn’t really worthwhile hauling a caravan out there and back for just one week. 

We ourselves once spent a whole day by Lake Garda - it was enough - but if you have time the rest of Italy is fascinating.  Go well.

No, we never book for overnights on the way down or on the way back. You will always find somewhere to stop for the night. Download the Camper Contact App. It shows campsites and Aires. I know it’s often easier to find somewhere in a motorhome but there are lots of campsites on route. Definitely pre-book your site on Garda, you may be able to choose a pitch position too if you book early. If you go mid June you should miss Pfingsten (Pentecost) and the weather in June is more reliable. 

If you’re planning to use French motorways then you will eat up the miles. The are good for covering miles quickly with little traffic. I would definitely buy a French motorway fob (Emovis or similar, Tolltickets also sell them). they will save you a lot of stress at the motorway toll booths and travelling through the booths is seamless. 

Depending on what time you arrive in Calais, the city centre site in Metz is very convenient. It’s good fun to plan your journeys but as others have said, don’t over plan. Stop when you’ve had enough for the day. Camper Contact is ideal for that.

Although I have given lots of tips re taking a caravan to Italy I think ETs suggestion that it may be easier to book an apartment, fly and hire a car has a lot of merit and may be cheaper!  I don't think I would heave my caravan there for just one week.  We have had a minimum of 3 weeks holiday for that trip.  Just a thought.

Hi. A few years ago we stayed on Lake Garda on the way to Venice. Route was South Yorks to Calais on day one, Nancy, Lucerne, Garda. Venice and back via Innsbruck, Schaffhausen (Rhine Falls) and Luxembourg. We are retired and spent over 3 weeks on the trip. Enjoy the planning and the trip.

 Hi,

thanks to all the contributors here so far. Sorry if I'm hijacking a thread - let me know and I'll post separately if required.

We're planning a similar trip but starting next month - going out mid-September via the LeShuttle with a return some time into October, albeit in a motorhome rather than towing a caravan. Also an Essex start point

General route would be Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria and Brenner pass into Italy.

I've been looking at using the continental Britstops equivalents (Landvergnügen, Bauernleben etc.) for the journey down. Does anyone have any experience of these and more specifically what do you do to replenish fresh water and dispose of grey waste?

Our journey would then go on to the Como area so the route back would be different. We could head directly over into Switzerland or back into France. Any advice on this?

Lastly, the return tunnel/ferry. We're leaving it open as we don't know how long we'll be away. I'm not keen on P&O (complete disaster on a car trip earlier this year) but has anyone experience of booking a ferry or shuttle from the continent? Should we try an set a date/time a day or two before coming back or just turn up and try and get the next available? Any opinion on DFDS?

Thanks in advance

Your return journey ….don’t just turn up at the tunnel or ferry port but book on line when you know where and when you will be travelling. Use the French booking sites and pay in euros with a card like French people do. But with your Essex  address you might  choose to come back from Hook of Holland to Harwich. Your choice.

Many years ago booked  a few days before return whilst in France.  A phone call was all that was needed but surely using the internet is also possible.  In 2009 whilst living in France  turned up in the middle of the night on an emergency trip home just car,  too late a departure from our home to pre book,  paid an enormous price for a 3am crossing (I seem to recall something like £200!!!) so avoid that at all costs.  Many people do book their return whilst on their hols so I am sure you will get more up to date advice soon.  DFDS fine and honestly who really cares for an hour and a half crossing.  Don't forget to investigate what sort of vignette you would need for Austria.  Using the Reichenpasse via Landeck avoids need for vignette but is further and slower but quite an attractive drive. We usually night stop in Austria, in May in Imst.  Return trip well whatever takes your fancy; Switzerland is VERY expensive.  Via Switzerland is more direct than going through France and weather late Oct may be your decider - a rainy time in the mountains!.  Basically, I would stay as far south for as log as possible at that time of the year then a fairly quick drive home.

Have a great trip. Like your flexible approach just my style.  Assume you have looked at joining ACSI.

Post post note.  See ET agrees re my comment about not just turning up!  Ensure you pay in Euros do not get them to do  cost in sterling.

PS  To OP and latest poster using screennames.  You can give yourself a nice name by going into My Profile via link at top of page..