Hi

I'm trying to arrange a camping trip to Italy for me and my hubby, we plan to go for about 2 weeks June/July camping en route to a chosen destination, staying there for up to 5 nights then camping en route back again, we'll be travelling with our dog.

I have started researching this and ordered a few books as I know nothing about Italy but thought I'd ask on the forum for any advise and recommendations for areas to head to or if anyone has ever done anything similar if they can recommend a good route, we know we want to spend some time around Como etc.. on the way but thats as far as we have got with the route so far.

Anyway any tips and advice would be greatly appreciated and also any dog friendly camp site recommendations would be very helpful

Many thanks
Nicky

Take the train to Genoa, overnight ferry to Sardinia and hire a tiny car. Drive from one unspoilt, white-sanded, picturesque camp ground (not a caravan in sight) to another, almost to yourselves. Beautiful place for camping, wild or otherwise. Kids will love you for it, as most of Italy is very child friendly, especially at camp sites. Empty beaches, great food, safe environment.

May/June is a great time there, not too hot but the sea temperature's comfortable. Italian campsites are fantastic: real communal feeling and plenty of late nights around the fire with a bottle of Limoncello...

My experience of campsites around the Lakes is pretty forgetful: you'll be squeezed in-between large static caravans and ghastly garden furniture. Probably not the kind of people you'd hang out with at home. Many, many Germans. The sites are cramped, expensive and not worth the effort. Head away from that region if you can. Piemonte is lovely but still a little chilly in the evenings. Head South, where Summer comes soonest!

cheers for the info Uncle Max, sounds wonderful.

Sorry i should have said originally that we will be driving from Zurich so have our own transport and we have no kids just us 2 and our little dog

Sardinia does sound amazing wasn't originally planning on going so far south due to the long drives but thinking now that if might be worth it

Still leave the car behind, take the train to Genoa, ferry to Sardinia... it's not expensive when booked in advance and the journey is a lovely part of the holiday. Plus it 'fast forwards' you to the warmth. Very romantic taking sundowners on the upper deck, Ligurian mountains behind you, dolphins at the prow...

The only downside to all of this is schlepping your kit. An area closer to home is around Lago Maggiore. Stunning vistas wherever you are, but very popular, hence crowded. An alternative to lakeside camping is heading over to Lago di Orta, a smaller, mostly unknown lake to the West of Maggiore. Wherever you go at that time of year (except Sardinia) it'll be busy.

I'd say if you were going for two weeks, fast forward the middle ground and spend your holiday at the destination, touring from there. I took this option several years ago and would jump at the chance to do it again now.

Nowhere in the region will disappoint though, it's all stunning.

thanks again Uncle Max, unfortunately we just upgraded our car to a bigger car for camping purposes over summer and you're right I don't fancy carting all our camping gear by train, i'm not a 'rough it' camper I'd need a few home comforts, namely my pillow and an airbed

Do you know much about the northern beach resorts, I accept that its going to be busy.

Stil going to research the southern areas though as you have now set the mood for visiting Sardinia!

I would recommend the train to Genoa, night there and take in Portofino then get the ferry to Sardinia. I've done the first two bits, but more than once turned up at the ferry station in Genoa port to be told there is no way I can get to Sardinia for the next four days (as a foot passenger end July). So I spend a happy five days in Genoa...which is quite a place it itself.

If you want a dry-run practice, try going up the road via Basel Alsace and Colmar. It an easy weekend camping outing, with vineyards and minimal stress...

dave

Cheers for the info Dave, as for the dry runs, we did those last summer and are now ready to be fully fledged crusties..err I mean campers for 2 weeks

Carry past Lake Como, go into the Valtellina, stop to try their excellent Inferno wine when down in the valley (caves can be found, I think Ponte In Valtellina has good places) then go up the Val Malenco, take the road all the way up to Chiareggio at 1800m, there are a few hotels there for food (local specialities are polenta served with ribs grilled in wood fire, pizzocheri and breasola) and lots of unspoilt nature and also places where to camp can be found quite easily. If you are a decent walker, you can hike up to the Swiss border, using the old smuggler's pass.

Sounds lovely! I might even take your suggestion! Well, except for the actually camping part...

If anyone would like to take me with them...

Check this link out they are really useful resources for camping and are up to date.

http://campingfuehrer.adac.de/acfweb...et/DataServlet

with that avatar? no way

I cant get me head around it either Niki

Hi,

I'd recommend visitng in June more than July - both months are busy but July's pretty much into peak season. I've never much liked Como but can recommend Lago Maggiore for a day or two. There's a nice campsite in Feriolo di Baveno called Camping Conca D'Oro (www.concadoro.it), it's clean and well managed and outside high season they also allow dogs.

If you go to Stresa you can take a boat trip of the islands -makes a nice change and there are a couple of decent restaurants on Isola dei Pescatori.

From there to the coast's only a few hours down to the Riviera. Portofino, Santa Margherita etc. all used to be nice. Le Cinque Terre and Tuscany, Pisa/Florence are not too far to consider. Depends what you like in a holiday.

I wouldn't recommend the train unless you're planning really long distances, having the car is convenient. Just be careful where you park, theft's a bit more common here than in CH.

Anyone have any other Italy camping tips?

Uncle Max has it nailed, I had a great trip to Sardinia this time last year with tent and motorbike, at this time it was practically empty and I had a great holiday

We've been camping in Italy a few times now, around the Genoa region and by Lake Como, we also drove and took our dog. None of the campsites we went to had problems accepting our dog, so I don't think you'll have a problem there. The campsite we went to in Como was quite small, but very close to a main road, and within walking distance to the lake itself. Unfortunately as we didn't book anything, just turned up and found a campsite I can't remember what any of the campsites were called, sorry.

This is one we went to, we rented a bungalow (large shed), but has it's own beach (although very small), but close to other sandy beaches. Unfortunately we found that dogs weren't allowed on the nearby sandy beaches. http://www.villaggiosmeraldo.it/