Is 3 weeks enough time to enjoy travel to the Italian Lakes and trip tips.

[LillyWales]

So we did our first successful Moho Spain trip in November with great help from ye funsters. All went well apart from the rain and wind chasing us.

Part deux.. can you help me plan for the Italian lakes in spring and other bits. Please advise and critique.

I’m thinking about ferry Harwich to Holland to sleep , dog cabin and ready to get going the next day. It’s not much longer than le shuttle from South Wales and sleeping and a late ferry seems an attractive option. Plus the French tolls seem extortionate..!?!
Cities won’t suit our young GSD until he grows up a bit, but he settles well in the van and we plan to buy e bikes.

I’m thinking .. Catch up with Belgium on the way back
Day 1 Luxembourg
onto the Black Forest - I know nothing !!!

Swiss lake lac or leman as a stop over we ski and know the Alps well so wont linger just pop in to see CH ‘old friend’
onto the Italian lakes maybe not all of them but maybe 10 days.
Maybe Bergamo.

Weave our way in reverse and catching stuff we missed.
Probably le shuttle back home.

 

[Figaro]

Three weeks is enough time to do it at pace, but you may not get time to linger or get side tracked by something that takes your fancy.
So just make a note and return another time.

 

[Wanders from Glos]

We did it a couple of years ago and I would say you probably won’t do it justice in 3 weeks. There are quite a few stunning towns nearby that would be worth a night. For us it wouldn’t be a rest to be honest.

Also make sure you know when the German school holidays are, because it gets very busy when they are off. We ended up booking, which completely goes against the grain for us.

 

[fishplug]

It's an area I've been to more times than I can remember and I normally allow 2.5 days to drive there (although that's motorways and not going off on tangents to take in the scenery en route)

If you allow for slower roads and coffee stops and deviations and distractions then I think you could still easily get there in a week, have a week there and then spend a week coming back.

Doesn't sound rushed to me although there's only so much you'll see in a week there.

You're spoiled for choice really so I'd decide in advance if you just want to do a bit of general sightseeing with a view to picking places you want to explore in more depth another time or if you want to focus in on a specific spot / activity.

 

[LillyWales]

It's an area I've been to more times than I can remember and I normally allow 2.5 days to drive there (although that's motorways and not going off on tangents to take in the scenery en route)

If you allow for slower roads and coffee stops and deviations and distractions then I think you could still easily get there in a week, have a week there and then spend a week coming back.

Doesn't sound rushed to me although there's only so much you'll see in a week there.

You're spoiled for choice really so I'd decide in advance if you just want to do a bit of general sightseeing with a view to picking places you want to explore in more depth another time or if you want to focus in on a specific spot / activity.

Thank you. What Where do you like in the lakes?

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[nicholsong]

I think you will need a MH based on a Sprinter chassis

 

[LillyWales]

I think you will need a MH based on a Sprinter chassis

It’s not a huge journey?

 

[fishplug]

Thank you. What Where do you like in the lakes?

Garda is stunning, if a bit touristy since Cluny turned up.

Lago Maggiore is where I tend to go if exploring the lakes. The boundary between Piemonte and Lombardia runs right down the middle of the lake. Luino and Laveno are nice as is Gravellona Toce.

There's a fairly unusual cableway from Laveno up the mountain which is pretty impressive and gives you amazing views.

The other 'thing to see' (again a bit touristy but still well worth it) are the Borromean islands with their spectacular gardens.

If you prefer a bit of old architecture then there's a monastery, Santa Caterina del Sasso, and further along you've got the castle, Rocca d'Angera which is incredibly well preserved and houses a huge collection of dolls. I think one of the most famed in Europe or something like that.

I could go on. Lago d'Orta, Cannobio and Cannero...

You've got more villas and ornamental gardens than you can shake a stick at and you can be at the top of a mountain in the morning and by lunchtime you can be crossing the lake on a 'vaporetto' to go and explore somewhere else.

If you're into walking / hiking then there are any number of options, there really is something for everyone. It really depends on what you like to do / see.

 

[Fdhadi]

So we did our first successful Moho Spain trip in November with great help from ye funsters. All went well apart from the rain and wind chasing us.

Part deux.. can you help me plan for the Italian lakes in spring and other bits. Please advise and critique.

I’m thinking about ferry Harwich to Holland to sleep , dog cabin and ready to get going the next day. It’s not much longer than le shuttle from South Wales and sleeping and a late ferry seems an attractive option. Plus the French tolls seem extortionate..!?!
Cities won’t suit our young GSD until he grows up a bit, but he settles well in the van and we plan to buy e bikes.



I’m thinking .. Catch up with Belgium on the way back
Day 1 Luxembourg
onto the Black Forest - I know nothing !!!

Swiss lake lac or leman as a stop over we ski and know the Alps well so wont linger just pop in to see CH ‘old friend’
onto the Italian lakes maybe not all of them but maybe 10 days.
Maybe Bergamo.

Weave our way in reverse and catching stuff we missed.
Probably le shuttle back home.

If you only have 3 weeks then just make it work. We only get 2 but have made it work for us. Obviously you will miss things out but it is what it is. JFDI.

 

[Wanders from Glos]

If you only have 3 weeks then just make it work. We only get 2 but have made it work for us. Obviously you will miss things out but it is what it is. JFDI.

Very true

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[Roby2008]

Good advice from the other funsters, the school holiday advice is sound, no one goes in August because its too crowded......the half of Germany that is not on the North Sea coast is in Italy, Gardasee (Garda) is very very busy, but away from the lakes and into the mountains it can be stunning......

 

[Wanders from Glos]

It was rammed in late May / June too. I think there were German holidays then too? We got tired of it being so busy in the end and headed away from the lakes visited some fabulous towns.

 

[LillyWales]

I’m thinking late April early May

 

[Wanders from Glos]

I’m not sure about their holidays then, I know they are staggered, but it was easy enough to find them on Dr Google. The roads over the Alps will be spectacular then, might still be snow?

 

[Jim]

It’s not a huge journey?

I recall we drove there in a day once, but it was a long day, a very long day, a long time ago.

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[Wanders from Glos]

I recall we drove there in a day once, but it was a long day, a very long day, a long time ago.

Wow that was a long day. I think we drove down to somewhere like Chalons en Champagne from the tunnel. Then into Switzerland over the Simplon Pass and down to Maggiore. Obviously no good for the OP as they will be Hook of Holland.

The Simplon Pass:

and Lake Maggiore:

 

[Brize]

We went for 3 weeks to the Italian Lakes last April. It wasn't our first time in the lakes and previously we had been to the larger ones - Garda, Maggiore, Como etc, but as others have said, they are quite touristy.

This time we decided to do the small lakes - d'Orta and d'Iseo, and we weren't disappointed. We went down to Italy quite quickly and had 6 days at each, then meandered a little on the way back with 2-3 days near Geneva and 2-3 days on the Somme to visit some CWGC cemeteries.

You can save time by doing the Shuttle both ways, and 45 mins on the train is much easier for dogs. You will also save a great deal of time by using French toll motorways. We did one stop in southern France, through Switzerland on the 2 and the next night we were at a site overlooking Lake d'Orta.

Do your stopovers on the way back because once in the Lakes, you can determine how long you want to stay - weather plays a big part in decision making!

More info available if you want it. Whatever you do, enjoy!

 

[fishplug]

I recall we drove there in a day once, but it was a long day, a very long day, a long time ago.

I did Cambridge to Varese in 25h door to door once (and only once) in a Citroën 2CV.

I wasn't planning to but when I got to the planned overnight stop it turned out that it had been shut down.

This was pre-internet and paper maps days so I consulted my trusty F1 paper booklet and off I went to the next one an hour away....

It was full.

A 20 minute 'cat nap' and off I went in search of a bed for the night but it had got too late so I just carried on with a couple of stops in Aires for more 'cat naps'

It was an experience, but not one I'd choose to repeat

April / May is a nice time in terms of weather v crowds. You will be probably be hitting the Easter holidays mid-late April so if you want to avoid them then early May might be better.

 

[fishplug]

the small lakes - d'Orta and d'Iseo

both fantastic - agreed.

 

[LillyWales]

We went for 3 weeks to the Italian Lakes last April. It wasn't our first time in the lakes and previously we had been to the larger ones - Garda, Maggiore, Como etc, but as others have said, they are quite touristy.

This time we decided to do the small lakes - d'Orta and d'Iseo, and we weren't disappointed. We went down to Italy quite quickly and had 6 days at each, then meandered a little on the way back with 2-3 days near Geneva and 2-3 days on the Somme to visit some CWGC cemeteries.

You can save time by doing the Shuttle both ways, and 45 mins on the train is much easier for dogs. You will also save a great deal of time by using French toll motorways. We did one stop in southern France, through Switzerland on the 2 and the next night we were at a site overlooking Lake d'Orta.

Do your stopovers on the way back because once in the Lakes, you can determine how long you want to stay - weather plays a big part in decision making!

More info available if you want it. Whatever you do, enjoy!

Thank you. I will private message you.

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[Bianchiman]

Wow that was a long day. I think we drove down to somewhere like Chalons en Champagne from the tunnel. Then into Switzerland over the Simplon Pass and down to Maggiore. Obviously no good for the OP as they will be Hook of Holland.

The Simplon Pass:

View attachment 1000437

and Lake Maggiore:

View attachment 1000438

We,re considering a similar trip to the lakes,not been abroad in our new Accordo yet, but reading some great inside info from all of you, just look at the size of the parking spaces in this shot !!!

 

[Wanders from Glos]

Do your stopovers on the way back because once in the Lakes, you can determine how long you want to stay - weather plays a big part in decision making!

Good advice, the weather was pretty mixed when we were there. I'd add, although the French toll roads are expensive I wouldn't have thought the cost of toll roads plus tunnel is much different to the cost of the Harwich ferry. To use the tunnel, we stayed at Canterbury park and ride for £8, then you have a 25 minute drive to the check in next day.

 

[Wanders from Glos]

... also the journey through France and Switzerland to Lake Maggiore is a good 250k shorter. But you have to get a Swiss vignette which was 40CHF.

 

[LillyWales]

Good advice, the weather was pretty mixed when we were there. I'd add, although the French toll roads are expensive I wouldn't have thought the cost of toll roads plus tunnel is much different to the cost of the Harwich ferry. To use the tunnel, we stayed at Canterbury park and ride for £8, then you have a 25 minute drive to the check in next day.

Yes I see your point. I just hate that French motorway down to Geneva and route de Alps. It’s the most boring journey which we do so often. I was thinking of a change of scenery at least 1 way. But stopping overnight in Canterbury park might be a good plan for us.

 

[Wanders from Glos]

Yes I see your point. I just hate that French motorway down to Geneva and route de Alps. It’s the most boring journey which we do so often. I was thinking of a change of scenery at least 1 way. But stopping overnight in Canterbury park might be a good plan for us.

It means you can catch an early train feeling refreshed. You don’t have to go as far as Geneva (I know what you mean). We headed off near Dijon towards Switzerland.

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[Lenny HB]

We used to do it when we were young. 3 days to get down there and 2 days back.

Wouldnt consider going that far so quick now.

 

[Brize]

Yes I see your point. I just hate that French motorway down to Geneva and route de Alps. It’s the most boring journey which we do so often. I was thinking of a change of scenery at least 1 way. But stopping overnight in Canterbury park might be a good plan for us.

But it's all about maximising the time at the place you want to be. There is no point in going all the way to the lakes unless you do them justice and maybe visit two or three, and you have to be realistic about the travelling time to and from. As others have advised, you don't want to bust a gut travelling there because you will be too tired to enjoy it!

If you had longer (5-6 weeks), then you could plan all these diversions, but you have to be realistic about what you can do in 3 weeks when your destination is three countries away.

 

[smeaty]

So we did our first successful Moho Spain trip in November with great help from ye funsters. All went well apart from the rain and wind chasing us.

Part deux.. can you help me plan for the Italian lakes in spring and other bits. Please advise and critique.

I’m thinking about ferry Harwich to Holland to sleep , dog cabin and ready to get going the next day. It’s not much longer than le shuttle from South Wales and sleeping and a late ferry seems an attractive option. Plus the French tolls seem extortionate..!?!
Cities won’t suit our young GSD until he grows up a bit, but he settles well in the van and we plan to buy e bikes.

I’m thinking .. Catch up with Belgium on the way back
Day 1 Luxembourg
onto the Black Forest - I know nothing !!!

Swiss lake lac or leman as a stop over we ski and know the Alps well so wont linger just pop in to see CH ‘old friend’
onto the Italian lakes maybe not all of them but maybe 10 days.
Maybe Bergamo.

Weave our way in reverse and catching stuff we missed.
Probably le shuttle back home.

I live in Luxembourg! you have to visit its a great region and has the cheapest diesel, so leave room to fill up......beautiful country, great hiking and cycling.......
Secondly the Dolomite region or Süd Tyrol is very beautiful in the very north of Italy

 

[Bazc79]

We did the lakes last year. With 10 days annual leave, we manage to spend 17 nights away (including weekends).
This was our trip.....

1 night france
3 nights lucerne
2 night near Verona & Venice
3 night garda
3 night como
1 night lucerne
2 night troyes
1 night Warwick race course

It was a lot of driving, and the missus couldn't drive as its a 4250kg van.

As a HGV driver by trade, the driving didn't bother me, and she was happy taking in the sights on the way.

I guess everyone is different and it depends how rushed you want to be. I personally didn't feel rushed with what we did, and anything we missed, just gives us an excuse to go back. I think you'll get a decent holiday out if it with that much time.

All the best and have a great trip!

 

[LillyWales]

I live in Luxembourg! you have to visit its a great region and has the cheapest diesel, so leave room to fill up......beautiful country, great hiking and cycling.......
Secondly the Dolomite region or Süd Tyrol is very beautiful in the very north of Italy

We know the Dolomites having skied there but not as late as Spring or Luxembourg. Yes good price on fuel thank you.