Stops near the Gotthard Tunnel

[Wellington]

Going to make our way down tomorrow, and would like to stop somewhere near the tunnel. I wasn’t inially planning to go through Switzerland on the way there, so I haven’t looked into stops. Doesn’t matter where, don't need any facilities, cheap and cheerful will be fine, just within an hour or so of the tunnel in any direction/country.

Any recommendations? I have a Vignette.

 

[Wellington]

Germinaga, on Maggorie, free Aire with its own lake beach, cafe and gelato cabin. Children's playground with fountains, and nice town nearby with supermarket.
EHU available if needed
What more could you need

Think we’ll head for here tomorrow, I can find two aires at Germinaga, one is 15 euros, one thirty, do you know happen which it is? I will happily pay for lake access and ice cream at this point, I’m melting, and almost 8pm!

 

[DBK]

You're cracking on! That aire is tiny but they can probably squeeze in a few more than the stated 6 but be prepared for it to be full. A little more expensive is this place. It's near the same lake but has 80 places so you stand a good chance of getting on especially if you are arriving late in the day. 18922 in CamperContact. It takes cards so you won't need any Swiss wotsits.

 

[Riverbankannie]

Yes, the one with the red line around the marker in your photo is the 15 € one right by the lake. Looks lovely but by the time you arrive likely to be full.
This is the location, obtained by clicking on the name of the stop at the top.

 

[Figaro]

Yes it's the area communal one at 15 euro but free when I was there.
Adjoining it is quite a large carpark and I expect motorhomers use that when the sosta is full. It is likely to be busy.
Let us know how you get on.
Safe driving

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[Figaro]

Here are some photos of the sosta from when I was there last year Wellington

 

[Wellington]

What time do you reckon we’d need to get there to be in with a chance of getting a spot? I was aiming for about 1. Normally, I don’t much mind where we park, but I’m melting!!!

All that water looks divine, It’s so ludicrously hot here! Just about cool enough to sit still. At 10pm!

 

[Figaro]

It`s hard to say what time, except the earlier the better. But like I say there is carparking alongside so you may get on there if the sosta is full.
Also some may not vacate and move on until lunchtime, I hope you get lucky and drop on a place

 

[Wellington]

We can but try. Although I think the child is going to drag me out at six, now!

 

[Wellington]

Yes it's the area communal one at 15 euro but free when I was there.
Adjoining it is quite a large carpark and I expect motorhomers use that when the sosta is full. It is likely to be busy.
Let us know how you get on.
Safe driving

I don’t mind if it’s not free, I just want to be absolutely sure it’s the one with swimming. And the ice cream! I’ve never been so hot for so long!

Im used to UK campsite prices, all this Aire business seems dirt cheap to me!

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[Figaro]

You can be assured it's the one with the swimming and gelato lol ,!

 

[peterc10]

As I'm planning on visiting Greece next year via this route I have been looking at most cost effective ways of getting through Switzerland.
This Aire could be expensive at €1.37 per hour, between 2 and 12 Hrs.
https://www.camperareatamaro.ch/en/opening-hours-and-prices.php

I'm of the view a more cost effective option is to stopover at parking Airolo ( CC52045) A free stopover at the southbound exit of the tunnel. (72 Km further north that this Aire). Then using the free water and dump in the service area 22 KM further south on the A2 (CC28191).

Phil,

The most cost effective way of getting through Switzerland to Italy and beyond is to drive through it in a day. Easiest is to enter at Basle and leave at Como. Spend the night in French Aire close to the border (we used the free one at Thann) and fill up with fuel in France. It is then a relatively easy run on motorways all the way through.

We stopped for a break at a motorway stop, and I can assure you that the price of diesel and food would have given you a heart attack.

 

[PhilandMena]

Phil,

The most cost effective way of getting through Switzerland to Italy and beyond is to drive through it in a day. Easiest is to enter at Basle and leave at Como. Spend the night in French Aire close to the border (we used the free one at Thann) and fill up with fuel in France. It is then a relatively easy run on motorways all the way through.

We stopped for a break at a motorway stop, and I can assure you that the price of diesel and food would have given you a heart attack.

Agreed Peter, I have identified a free Aire and a cheap fuel station at Basel (German side) and I will only require to put a few litres in before reaching the port of Ancona. My stopover in Switzerland will add zilch to my travel cost through Switzerland.

 

[Puddleduck]

As I'm planning on visiting Greece next year via this route I have been looking at most cost effective ways of getting through Switzerland.
This Aire could be expensive at €1.37 per hour, between 2 and 12 Hrs.
https://www.camperareatamaro.ch/en/opening-hours-and-prices.php

I'm of the view a more cost effective option is to stopover at parking Airolo ( CC52045) A free stopover at the southbound exit of the tunnel. (72 Km further north that this Aire). Then using the free water and dump in the service area 22 KM further south on the A2 (CC28191).

Make sure you don't have to book in advance as one "free" stopover we tried to use (not sure where now) required booking at least 72 hours in advance plus a security deposit, neither was mentioned on CamperContact. Needless to say we kept going and found the Monte Cenari place.

10 hours at 2CHF an hour is still a lot cheaper than a full service site.

Last year we were planning on going through Switzerland in a day on the way to Italy but an accident with no easy detour put paid to that. Coming back we planned to stop at Monte Ceneri having found it on the way south.

 

[PhilandMena]

Make sure you don't have to book in advance as one "free" stopover we tried to use (not sure where now) required booking at least 72 hours in advance plus a security deposit, neither was mentioned on CamperContact. Needless to say we kept going and found the Monte Cenari place.

10 hours at 2CHF an hour is still a lot cheaper than a full service site.

Last year we were planning on going through Switzerland in a day on the way to Italy but an accident with no easy detour put paid to that. Coming back we planned to stop at Monte Ceneri having found it on the way south.

The reviews for Parking Airolo have not indicated any payment is required and the parking price clearly states it's free. I've not yet come across a free CamperContact stopover that requires a deposit or a payment ??? I suspect the one you visited was not a CC one. Also, I'm taking into account there will likely be delays getting through the Gothard Tunnel so this will be the perfect place for us to stop and set us up nicely for our next leg the following day.

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[pjay]

I can confirm the stopover at Airolo is a freebie, we stayed there a while back on the way to Ancona.
Its nothing special, just a carpark at the base of the cablecar but a convenient stop nonetheless.

There is another reasonably priced aire in Switzerland at Willisau behind the fire station about 100kms north of the tunnel just off the A2, its been 5Chf (or €5 if you dont have francs) via honesty envelope for several years but I believe it has gone up recently. Handy as its open all year and has full all weather facilities inc water. 47.11917 7.99793

Pete

 

[Puddleduck]

I've not yet come across a free CamperContact stopover that requires a deposit or a payment ??? I suspect the one you visited was not a CC one.

It's the only one we have come across as well. I queried it and was told we were in the correct place and that they had started to ask for bookings / deposit because of a bad experience with a group of people travelling together. The deposit was refundable on leaving so technically it was still free. Not a great stop anyway as it was in the middle of an industrial zone.

Looking at our diary for last year's trip the place was near Bellinzona - not sure if it was in CamperContact or CamperStop.

 

[Figaro]

Wellington
Did you make it to Germinaga and did you get on the sosta ?

 

[Wellington]

Sorry, I missed this. We didn't, we pushed onto Padua. It was SO HOT we were better off driving with the air con on. My cousin, who were visiting had a pool and an air conditioned house. And cold Prosecco. Ill plan a stop there for next year though, as we can set off early, before most of the UK kids are off school (at least)

 

[StephDeLux]

the locals who report you to the police.

If the locals can see you it means you didn't go high enough in the mountains.