Tour of Switzerland and Italy

[Bertie Bus]

Be aware that it is illegal to drive a motorhome along the Amalfi coast road between 6.30am to 10pm, plus you would not want to as it is mayhem.
We saw this hire motorhome being ticketed in Amalfi for driving the road during the day.

View attachment 997699

We took the bus along the coast road thinking it would be a good way to see the views and villages, but it was awful on the bus from Salerno to Amalfi, so we went back on the ferry as we could not face another hour and a half on the coach to get to Sorrento.

Thanks

 

[Bertie Bus]

This year we wanted to see more than our usual dash down from Poland to Ancona for our ferry to Greece, so we booked the return to Bari, with plenty of time to wander slowly.

We went a bit further South in Puglia before turning north, sticking to the East and Central side of the country.

Until we got to Umbria, Tuscany and Marche we found it quite boring, except for food, but that applies for most of Italy whether buying to cook at home or eating out.

Umbria, R. of Tuscany and Marche we enjoyed.

Then continuing north, one has left the hills it becomew boring from the Bologna-Ancona northwards all the way till N. of Udine.

Previously we had been to Venice. Worth one visit but the crowds are awful and I doubt whether we will r-visit. S, of Venice the coast is AWFUL - cars parked everywhere and it is a continuous strip of sunbeds and umbrellas and goes on for most of the coast. We have friends with a caravan who go to a campsite there for 2 weeks every year, but not for us, we prefer parking at quiet Greek beaches.

Would we go back for a holiday, rather than transit to Ancona? Doubtful, except for Tuscany/Umbria because we have friends there, but they were away on business this year.

Anyway France beckons as we have missed 2 years. France and Greece remain our two favourite touring countries, but we have not been as far as Spain except to land at Santander for the Pyrenees.

Thank you for the advice

 

[Bailey58]

Thanks for the info. Did you have any issues driving around in a Bailey? Would you recommend Alpenblick?

Bob and Karen

No issues at all, not that we went far in the van once we were in Interlaken. We stayed briefly at Camping Jungfrau where we had spent a month pulling a caravan in 1995, it's now apparently run by the Werthmuller daughter but this time 20 years later it was still the same old man who refused to offer the ACSI discount despite displaying the sign and spent most of his day in the shop/restaurant smoking and playing cards with, it seemed, the same old men. We weren't impressed with the hygiene as the same hose was in use for both fresh water and the black empty point. It has probably changed by now but after a couple of days we moved to Alpenblick. ACSI pitches were on the main entrance opposite the loo block, fresh bread and rolls each morning, 20 minute walk to the centre if not taking the free bus which we did often to get us to various cable car and train journeys. No issues in the van going to Grindelwald and around both lakes. Incidentally if you do use the bus with the free tourist pass we discovered it only takes you halfway along Lake Thun, nobody mentioned it until the drive on the return journey asked for money!

 

[Bertie Bus]

No issues at all, not that we went far in the van once we were in Interlaken. We stayed briefly at Camping Jungfrau where we had spent a month pulling a caravan in 1995, it's now apparently run by the Werthmuller daughter but this time 20 years later it was still the same old man who refused to offer the ACSI discount despite displaying the sign and spent most of his day in the shop/restaurant smoking and playing cards with, it seemed, the same old men. We weren't impressed with the hygiene as the same hose was in use for both fresh water and the black empty point. It has probably changed by now but after a couple of days we moved to Alpenblick. ACSI pitches were on the main entrance opposite the loo block, fresh bread and rolls each morning, 20 minute walk to the centre if not taking the free bus which we did often to get us to various cable car and train journeys. No issues in the van going to Grindelwald and around both lakes. Incidentally if you do use the bus with the free tourist pass we discovered it only takes you halfway along Lake Thun, nobody mentioned it until the drive on the return journey asked for money!

Thanks for the info

 

[guy b]

A great day or two out is Grindelwald. You can take the cable car up to Mannlichen, then walk over to Kleine Schiedegg where you get an amazing view across the three peaks (Jungfrau, Mönch and Eiger) and you can of course take the train up to the top of the Jungfrau although it ain’t cheap…. But well worth it. Lovely area and you can also go down via train to Wengen.

Here in Lausanne there’s more or less only one decent campsite on Lac Leman although some quieter ones over on Lac Neuchatel

As above plus Lauterbrunnen and the cable car to First

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[guy b]

East coast of Italy, apart from San Marino a bit dire to be honest. Eventually gave up trying to find somewhere and got onto the toll road to head south. Totally different country below Rome. Puglia is wonderful, Alberobella,Tropea, Civita de Bagnoregii, Termoli, Ostuni and especially Matera where there is parking on the opposite side of the gorge. Might not have enough time in six weeks to do the south of Italy justice as it is a bit of a stunning place. Especially if you like falling apart old Italian towns reeking of history and atmosphere.
And you quickly realise that there is still an amount of ‘organised’ stuff going on but never felt unsafe


www.rufusdoeseurope.co.uk

 

[nicholsong]

Thank you for the advice

Instead of 'R. of Tuscany' my post should have read 'E. of Tuscany, but maybe you worked out my big finger error.

 

[Paul Wilkins]

Switzerland = take plenty of money

 

[WESTY66]

No issues at all, not that we went far in the van once we were in Interlaken. We stayed briefly at Camping Jungfrau where we had spent a month pulling a caravan in 1995, it's now apparently run by the Werthmuller daughter but this time 20 years later it was still the same old man who refused to offer the ACSI discount despite displaying the sign and spent most of his day in the shop/restaurant smoking and playing cards with, it seemed, the same old men. We weren't impressed with the hygiene as the same hose was in use for both fresh water and the black empty point. It has probably changed by now but after a couple of days we moved to Alpenblick. ACSI pitches were on the main entrance opposite the loo block, fresh bread and rolls each morning, 20 minute walk to the centre if not taking the free bus which we did often to get us to various cable car and train journeys. No issues in the van going to Grindelwald and around both lakes. Incidentally if you do use the bus with the free tourist pass we discovered it only takes you halfway along Lake Thun, nobody mentioned it until the drive on the return journey asked for money!

We stayed at camping Jungfrau once, good site although expensive, for the last 5-6 times now we stay at camping Breithorn futher down The Valley, basic amenities very clean and run by a super family, get a pitch by the river it’s very calming

 

[drmartinwhite]

Hi All
We are fairly experienced motorhomers having had our van since 2017 and done quite a bit of driving in France and Northern Spain. We are looking to take around 6 weeks (flexible) to drive through France, stop at Reims and Colmar, and enter Switzerland at Basel. We have a Bailey 75-2 rated at 3500 kg so i think i am correct in saying i need a vignette for Switzerland. We are looking for a day or two in Basel before heading down to the Interlaken/Thun area for a few days before going south towards Italy and the lakes. Do you have any suggestions for an additional stop in Switzerland before going on to Italy?
We are looking at going down the west coast of Italy to the bottom before crossing and returning up the east side to Venice and then back to Switzerland. We have done Rome before so will avoid there but we will want to visit Pisa and Naples (Pompei) plus others. Can you recommend and particular places to visit in Italy as apart from Rome, this will be our first trip there. Is the eastern side of Italy worth visiting?
We will then return to Switzerland to tour a bit through the eastern side before returning to France. We are looking to do Belgium, Germany and Holland on another trip so will return through Basel again.
We are looking to go in mid May through June so hopefully the roads should be clear of snow and ice and before the summer rush. Any advice and campsites/places to visit will be greatly appreciated.

Bob and Karen

Hi, Nice trip. We are also visiting Italy in May, only 21 days though. We live in Lewes near Newhaven so plan to cross Newhaven Dieppe on the 9th May about 6pm and stay in the Dieppe port Aire overnight. Set off for Riems in the morning. We have stay at a nice campsite outside Reims befor, which has a quick train service into Reims. Should arrive ery afternoon, settle in for the evening and visit Reims the next day (all day), then move on the next day to Colmar, so each site spending 2 nights allow a full day visit to Reims and Colmar. May also stop 1 night near Interlaken as we head down to Lake Garda where we have booked a super pitch complete with its own show/toilet shed (also booked my sons, a partner and 2 grandkids in a chalet at same sit. Staying there for 10 days, then heading back up the Rhine valley, probs stopping g at I talked again, Black Forest somewhere and Metz on the way back to Dieppe. So taking about 5 days or so to travel each way.

That’s in May. Haven’t got round to a late summer trip yet. Might do the Moselle Valley and swing back through Holland, Belgium… maybe jumping on the Ferry to Newcastle and back across the UK (wife not keen on that one though).

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[sltgapper]

I think a day in Basel is definitely enough. Italy, Ravenna has fabulous mosaics. Siena is wonderful and so is Assisi. This is as far south as we got in the campervan. I second Liguria- good food.

 

[Paul Wilkins]

Oh and don’t forget to buy a Swiss plug adapter. Some sites still don’t have the Euro/Commando hook ups.

 

[AntonyA]

For me Lucerne is a must in Switzerland. There is a lovely site on the lake. Take the steepest cog railway in the world, up Mount Pilatus.

where can I find this post, thanks

 

[Ridgeway]

Switzerland = take plenty of money

It’s cheaper than the UK these days

 

[DavenJackie]

Hi All
We are fairly experienced motorhomers having had our van since 2017 and done quite a bit of driving in France and Northern Spain. We are looking to take around 6 weeks (flexible) to drive through France, stop at Reims and Colmar, and enter Switzerland at Basel. We have a Bailey 75-2 rated at 3500 kg so i think i am correct in saying i need a vignette for Switzerland. We are looking for a day or two in Basel before heading down to the Interlaken/Thun area for a few days before going south towards Italy and the lakes. Do you have any suggestions for an additional stop in Switzerland before going on to Italy?
We are looking at going down the west coast of Italy to the bottom before crossing and returning up the east side to Venice and then back to Switzerland. We have done Rome before so will avoid there but we will want to visit Pisa and Naples (Pompei) plus others. Can you recommend and particular places to visit in Italy as apart from Rome, this will be our first trip there. Is the eastern side of Italy worth visiting?
We will then return to Switzerland to tour a bit through the eastern side before returning to France. We are looking to do Belgium, Germany and Holland on another trip so will return through Basel again.
We are looking to go in mid May through June so hopefully the roads should be clear of snow and ice and before the summer rush. Any advice and campsites/places to visit will be greatly appreciated.

Bob and Karen

Did a trip down west of Italy in September… stayed a week in deiva marina and caught train to all the cinque terre fishing villages stunning coast line.
Would also recommend lake bracciano just north of Rome, also if in the Naples area herculeum much preferred this to pompei.

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[stevel]

Another vote for Lucerne in Italy. It's wonderful. We actually found a free overnight spot overlooking the lake at Hergiswii. I think it's on SfS.

 

[LesW]

Another vote for Lucerne in Italy. It's wonderful. We actually found a free overnight spot overlooking the lake at Hergiswii. I think it's on SfS.

Isn't Lucerne in Switzerland?

 

[WESTY66]

Another vote for Lucerne in Italy. It's wonderful. We actually found a free overnight spot overlooking the lake at Hergiswii. I think it's on SfS.

I think Al n Val used that one

 

[Al n Val]

I think Al n Val used that one

We did Ade

and a breathtaking view of the lake

 

[Bertie Bus]

Oh and don’t forget to buy a Swiss plug adapter. Some sites still don’t have the Euro/Commando hook ups.

Thanks for that advice

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[Bertie Bus]

We did Ade

and a breathtaking view of the lake

View attachment 998082

Wow wonderful view

 

[Sleeveless]

Maybe Lugano in Switzerland if you're heading South anyway. It would be a shame to miss Florence, so maybe after the tourist trap that is Pisa, go inland to the birthplace of European culture, then south to Siena and onward from there. Amalfi coast is best done with a scooter , hire if you don't carry one, but defo not for motorhomes ! Naples is crazy , stick to the tourist areas . Not as much going on on the east coast of Italy, but Verona is definitely worth a visit using the very handy Camping Verona Village. If the weather is good , consider return via Austria and take in the Grossglockner pass and Salzberg.

 

[Dean14]

Hi All
We are fairly experienced motorhomers having had our van since 2017 and done quite a bit of driving in France and Northern Spain. We are looking to take around 6 weeks (flexible) to drive through France, stop at Reims and Colmar, and enter Switzerland at Basel. We have a Bailey 75-2 rated at 3500 kg so i think i am correct in saying i need a vignette for Switzerland. We are looking for a day or two in Basel before heading down to the Interlaken/Thun area for a few days before going south towards Italy and the lakes. Do you have any suggestions for an additional stop in Switzerland before going on to Italy?
We are looking at going down the west coast of Italy to the bottom before crossing and returning up the east side to Venice and then back to Switzerland. We have done Rome before so will avoid there but we will want to visit Pisa and Naples (Pompei) plus others. Can you recommend and particular places to visit in Italy as apart from Rome, this will be our first trip there. Is the eastern side of Italy worth visiting?
We will then return to Switzerland to tour a bit through the eastern side before returning to France. We are looking to do Belgium, Germany and Holland on another trip so will return through Basel again.
We are looking to go in mid May through June so hopefully the roads should be clear of snow and ice and before the summer rush. Any advice and campsites/places to visit will be greatly appreciated.

Bob and Karen

Spello is a super place to visit. If you are there in June try to time your visit to see 'Le Infiorate di Spello'. It is truly amazing. The pathways and streets are covered in pictures made solely from millions of flower petals - and they are swept away within the day. We were there in 2023 and were lucky enough to be able to help one of the teams complete their picture. Espresso coffee kept us going through the night - which is when the pictures are created. And the Piano Grande is well worth a visit too.