Calais to Lake Garda - route advice please

[JoshnPen]

So having spent yesterday with the map books and researching this forum and Google to come up with a route we're still undecided.

We only have 2 weeks off work for this trip, but accept that the drive is part of the trip! Our old van is not ulez compliant so we need to avoid big towns eg Reims. Also we don't want to pay a fortune in tolls but we've come to realise that we will probably have to, due to the time constraint. Any route suggestions/ which tunnel etc? This is all new to us.

Also, is there a good sat nav we can buy which we can ask to avoid ulez and tolls?

We've ordered the crit air but I think we're only crit air 5. Thinking of getting the Ulyes tag.

Thank you!

 

[Soycd]

If you go France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, ltaly you should only end up paying tolls in Switzerland and Possibly Italy.

 

[steve69]

Prepare for some very windey, and scarey roads. Fabulous scenery though.

 

[JoshnPen]

Very excited, we've never been to Italy or Switzerland! Or France countryside come to that, only the cities.

 

[Diabalo]

When we did it. Calais-Metz-Basel through Gottard tunnel- Bergamo- Lake Garda

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Figaro]

There are good non toll routes down to Garda either France or Belgium Luxembourg Germany.
You'll probably need to pay for vignette for Switzerland (depending on your weight) at the border but after that the majority of roads and tunnels are free in Switzerland.
Saint Gottard tunnel is a good easy route which brings you out at lake Magorrie.
Some road tolls in Italy are worth paying for to get you around cities avoiding congestion.
It's a fabulous journey and destination, enjoy

 

[tacr2man]

A route I've used previously commercially , enough diesel to get into Luxembourg (E1.50 ) next best price is Austria (E1.59) minimizes Tolls Diesel Germany (E1.70)

Calais car ferry to Arco

www.google.com

 

[MisterB]

Have you considered using Harwich to Hook of Holland? we are currently planning the same journey and planning to stay here for a few days. we stayed here last year and it was really good.

Camping on Lake Garda: Baia Verde, a green holiday

Welcome to the camping on Lake Garda Baia Verde, for your special holidays in nature.

www.campingbaiaverde.co.uk

 

[Soycd]

One other thing, check if your sim package covers Switzerland. Our's didn't last summer. We were only in Switzerland for transit but I sent a posted a pic of one of the lakes to some mates and my wife added two pics to her Facebook page. Big mistake! The data charges cost us about £3 per image!

 

[JoshnPen]

Have you considered using Harwich to Hook of Holland? we are currently planning the same journey and planning to stay here for a few days. we stayed here last year and it was really good.

Camping on Lake Garda: Baia Verde, a green holiday

Welcome to the camping on Lake Garda Baia Verde, for your special holidays in nature.

www.campingbaiaverde.co.uk

Looks gorgeous, we were thinking of Weekend Resort - it's a CMC site, but nothing booked yet!

Is 3 days enough for the route via Germany enough? Or do we need to allow more? Also, can you recommend overnight stopping places?

I've just sent Josh our for more map books, Google really isn't cutting it for me! I can't get a feel of where in the world I actually am!

We're travelling in June so hopefully not too windy. Thanks again for your help.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[steve69]

Last October I took a coach tour to Garda. The bus went via Belgium and Germany towards the Brenner pass into the Dolomites. I think that route has minimal tolls......and gorgeous scenery.
The bus took about 14 hours from Brussels including 3 rest stops.

 

[MisterB]

Looks gorgeous, we were thinking of Weekend Resort - it's a CMC site, but nothing booked yet!

Is 3 days enough for the route via Germany enough? Or do we need to allow more? Also, can you recommend overnight stopping places?

I've just sent Josh our for more map books, Google really isn't cutting it for me! I can't get a feel of where in the world I actually am!

We're travelling in June so hopefully not too windy. Thanks again for your help.

we are also planning to go in June, we stayed at Baia Verde last year and we loved it. It is alos a CMC site, so i am hoping to be able to use some vouchers someone gave us as a present, but i dont know if they will allow it?

we dont usually stay on camp sites to be honest, but are more than pleased to be going back again! i have used via Michelin to plot our route from Hook of Holland (selecting the avoiding Switzerland option) - it gives an approximate cost of £200 in fuel and tolls etc. but of course this is only an estimate. The ferry is around £260 return. it suggests the journey will be around 18 hours non stop driving - so i am going to look at doing the trip with 3 stopovers along the way possibly 4, though it could be done in two if we wanted to really push it.

we are planning to visit a few additional places around Italy before returning home

i will select stop overs over the next few weeks and try to find some cheap/free one night stopovers.

ViaMichelin: Route planner, Maps, Traffic info, Hotels

Route calculation, MICHELIN maps, real-time traffic information, hotel booking in the UK and Europe

www.viamichelin.co.uk

 

[Riggers1]

Looks gorgeous, we were thinking of Weekend Resort - it's a CMC site, but nothing booked yet!

Is 3 days enough for the route via Germany enough? Or do we need to allow more? Also, can you recommend overnight stopping places?

I've just sent Josh our for more map books, Google really isn't cutting it for me! I can't get a feel of where in the world I actually am!

We're travelling in June so hopefully not too windy. Thanks again for your help.

Hi we are looking to do the same trip sailing on the 12 June from Harwich sailing back from Rotterdam to Hull on 29 June. (Couldn’t get a crossing week commencing 10 June from Hull I expect because of the European Championship in Germany!) It’s our first trip going this far south since switching from our caravan in 2022 so very exciting. Looking to go via Colmar to Lucerne then through the Gottard Tunnel down to Garda. Coming back over the Brenner Pass. No fixed plan yet or sites booked. We look to do so in the next couple of weeks.

 

[Wanders from Glos]

When we did it. Calais-Metz-Basel through Gottard tunnel- Bergamo- Lake Garda

If you do this route Bergamo is worth a stop over. There is an aire in one of the carparks. Get the lift up to the old town. The aire has electric if you want it.

 

[Ridgeway]

As you’ve mentioned with the time constraint I’d just take the fastest (most expensive) route to have more time at your destination. Watch out for the local holidays end May/early June as this clogs up the tunnels and passes

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[MisterB]

As you’ve mentioned with the time constraint I’d just take the fastest (most expensive) route to have more time at your destination.

Although if the difference is a couple of hours I wouldn't bother too much about losing a couple of hours especially as you recognise the journey is part of the holiday! The money you might save could give you a night on a site when traveling or the chance to sample some local cuisine on the journey, that you might remember for ever .....

 

[MisterB]

Hi we are looking to do the same trip sailing on the 12 June from Harwich

If you're traveling from Oldham and looking to overnight somewhere local, our drive will be empty, just close the gate behind you!! we have black and grey waste emptying facility and fresh water if you need it (possible electric aswell. We are 20 mins from Harwich ....

 

[PeterCarole29]

Have you considered using Harwich to Hook of Holland? we are currently planning the same journey and planning to stay here for a few days. we stayed here last year and it was really good.

Camping on Lake Garda: Baia Verde, a green holiday

Welcome to the camping on Lake Garda Baia Verde, for your special holidays in nature.

www.campingbaiaverde.co.uk

Hi Dave we may pick your brain as we go to the lakes for our 25 th wedding ann.(unfortunately it at the same time as your bash)

 

[PeterCarole29]

As you’ve mentioned with the time constraint I’d just take the fastest (most expensive) route to have more time at your destination. Watch out for the local holidays end May/early June as this clogs up the tunnels and passes

Do you have more specific dates about local holidays

 

[A-Mech]

Would there be any reason not to travel over mountains on A12 through Landeck? Comes up as quicker route with no tolls.
I never done it, so don't honestly know and have planned out our trip next year to Garda that way???

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[MisterB]

I'm sure plenty of funsters have travelled along several routes and will be happy to offer routes/stopovers etc .....

 

[Soycd]

Do you have more specific dates about local holidays

Have a look here. Germany is virtually on holiday for most of May! Also the Germans and some other contries stagger the school summer holidays to prevent chaos on the roads.

Public holidays Europe 2024

The data source for public holidays and school holidays, since 2003

www.feiertagskalender.ch

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Have a look here. Germany is virtually on holiday for most of May!

Yes I think I have met them all on our last May/June trip

 

[ChrisL]

I did Calais, Belgium, Luxembourg (fill up here usually the cheapest fuel in Western Europe) Germany, Austria, Lake Garda, the only tolls were driving into Italy but you will need a vignette or a go box for Austria, it is possible to do it without but you need to be careful which roads you use.

 

[Riggers1]

If you're traveling from Oldham and looking to overnight somewhere local, our drive will be empty, just close the gate behind you!! we have black and grey waste emptying facility and fresh water if you need it (possible electric aswell. We are 20 mins from Harwich ....

Hi MisterB and thanks for the brilliant offer. We are booked onto the 23.00hrs sailing on the 12th so driving down during the day just taking it steady. I very much appreciate the offer though.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[JoshnPen]

We've just booked Le Shuttle across.. probably stay at Black Horse CMC ferry pitch the night before. We've thinking we'll go via Belgium and Germany, taking 3 to 4 days each way. Looking at Garmin Camper to assist but blimey they're expensive!!!

 

[MisterB]

We've just booked Le Shuttle across.. probably stay at Black Horse CMC ferry pitch the night before. We've thinking we'll go via Belgium and Germany, taking 3 to 4 days each way. Looking at Garmin Camper to assist but blimey they're expensive!!!

There are a few alternatives to the Garmin camper. a lot of people use android versions and use their own 'favourite' sat nav software.

 

[JoshnPen]

There are a few alternatives to the Garmin camper. a lot of people use android versions and use

Thank you, I'll have a look!

 

[MisterB]

Hi Dave we may pick your brain as we go to the lakes for our 25 th wedding ann.(unfortunately it at the same time as your bash)

Pick away, there's not much meat left there though ...

We stayed on a Sosta for the first night, about 15 mins from the camp site for 18 euros but for 3 euros extra the camp site won in terms of value! We used ACSI card, but we only saved about 2 euros per night, so not sure if it was worth it UNLESS you plan using it elsewhere?

If you book early, you can get the discount on the ferry AND Baia Verde camp site. The pool is brilliant and toilet facilities etc are very good. Gated access to the Lake itself. They also do pitches where you can have your own private shower room/WC if you wanted? There's a few bars and restaurants overlooking the lake within a minute or two walk from the site, via the beach access gates. Prob best to stock up food and wine at the Aldi/Lidl about 5 mins before you get to the site - if you go there if course !! We found 'food shopping' prices around Garda really cheap in comparison with France!.
We didn't explore the local area on foot/bicycle that much so not really sure what else is there.


View of the lake inside the campsite


Pool - there are no slides etc so it's seemed to be more of an adult feel, though I assume in the Summer it's packed.


View down to the lake from our pitch

Happy to share any more info on the journey etc. We found the drive through Austria was our best option but that can vary depending on weight. I know some Funsters drive through Switzerland and don't pay for Tolls etc by avoiding motorways. We came back through Switzerland but paid for the 'pleasure' lol.

 

[vzac]

Check out our vids from last yr. Went to lake Garda in the Greece adventure and came back from Italy in November from Sicily ( no tolls).
Phil
Wend yer way.