Italian Lakes - which tunnel??

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interesting reading all....

we, too, are looking to head for Italy in May (Spain and Portugal before then...) and would love to do a bit of time in the Lakes area (and much more) before heading on to Croatia (possibly)....

routes/tunnels/passes/tolls/vignettes etc all in the mix....

watching closely...

We go to Maggiore most years but, rather boringly, we use the same route out as mentioned in my earlier post, however, if you are returning via Maggiore there is a great route over the Simplon pass from Domodosella. The pass itself is quite straightforward and after many years the roadworks have finally been completed. If you get clear, sunny weather when you cross to Switzerland I can highly recommend a trip to Zermatt. There is an ACSI site about 5 miles away and regular minibus service into the town (no access for cars to the town). The Gornegratbahn railway trip past the Matterhorn is sensational although rather expensive.

Thank you for all the suggestions.

ET, time and money is not an issue, as its something we want to do. I like your suggestion so that is in the mix.

Knowing that at the end of May beginning of June is the German holiday where they descend on the lakes, we are keen to avoid the Lakes at that time.

Our ferry is 5th May return 23 June,  we thought to go to Lake Maggiore first then onto d'Iseo.  Lake Garda wasn't in the plan (should it be)

After D'Iseo we might look at a couple of days at a beach near  to Venice, last time we were there we had two young children with us. 

Then it would be a lazy travel up through northern Italy to Austria (suggestions welcomed) we've been to Salzburg a number of times so something different please.

After Austria we might come back across Bavaria and then into France around Colmar/Strasbourg, weather depending.

However if we decide on getting the Swiss Vignette, (still to be decided) we might then be tempted into going from Austria back into Switzerland.

By then it would be around the end of the first week of June, which would give us time for a look around before heading back up to Zeebrugge for the ferry. We would only return to Switzerland IF we buy the vignette, (I do like VFM) 

We lived in Germany 20 years so not going there isn't an issue.

Although the cost isn't an issue I've priced them up, as it stands at the moment, the Mont Blanc is coming out at £51.26, Freus £52.13 and the Swiss Vignette x 2 is £61.08. So there is very little in it other than as ET mentioned the tunnels are just 1 way.

We will sit down with the maps and look at all the routes and suggestions over the coming days.

Please keep your suggestions and reasons why coming. Once we have decided on a route site suggestions would also be welcomed.

 

Tammy, a homeward route from north Italy to Austria which we like is to head west from Bolzano (call and see the Ice Man corpse in their museum) up the Adige valley via Malles Venosta ( good but expensive campsite well worth a few days to explore that area) , then  over the easy Reschen Pass to Austria (but divert first to a site in the Engadine valley in Switzerland to look at St Moritz, and no vignette needed on that road). And on towards home as you wish from there.

But you of all people don't need your hand held  ! 

Thanks ET will pass it on to the boss to add to the list.

No hand holding required  however I'm always open to suggestions. There is soooooo much to see and do that its impossible to get it right every time 

We are not big on lots of walking (certainly no hills) but we do like to go for bike rides so always looking for sites and places like lakes, promenades  and riversides/canal  that we can go for a ride.

Our ferry is 5th May return 23 June, we thought to go to Lake Maggiore first then onto d'Iseo. Lake Garda wasn't in the plan (should it be)

Lake Garda depends! Probably not in the German school holidays. Having said that I like Lake Garda and the surrounding towns. It will be busy so if you want to avoid maybe not. But I like busy. What about Como? 

David

The last time I did that route the tolls in France came to £85 (one way) followed by £64 for the Swiss vignettes for car and caravan.  If going again I would use Germany, Austria into Italy

OK for Garda but for Maggiore/Como it would be a very long way round but I agree that it is a popular route to Italy due to fewer tolls although this is partially offset by the greater distance and fuel cost. A good compromise is to go Belgium, Germany, Basel. You have to buy the vignettes (two for a towed caravan, one for a motorhome) but in return you get a great road system with no further charges and stunning scenery. Maggiore is a comfortable day trip from Strasbourg.

Having spend many years visiting Garda when the children were with us we would always choose Maggiore now. Garda is very large and commercialised. From  Maggiore you can also visit Lake Orta.

OK for Garda but for Maggiore/Como it would be a very long way round but I agree that it is a popular route to Italy due to fewer tolls although this is partially offset by the greater distance and fuel cost.

That's what we were thinking H, not sure that we want to do Garda and now that DK has said its always busy it kind of reinforces that. Neither of us are keen on busy sites or towns. 

What is it like for cycling at Maggiore? we prefer that to walking or taking the car out all the time.

The idea of going to the Italian lakes is that we really liked Annecy, Geneva and Aix- les- Bains so where hoping it was going to be like them in that we can cycle alongside the lake.

We tend not to uses Toll roads in France so little to no cost there.