Italian Job

[BippinsVWClub]

Hi,

My husband and I are planning our first trip out of the UK with the campervan and were hoping to get some advice regarding how the campsites tend to run in Europe. Our plan is to visit the northern Italian lakes (Como, Garda and Maggiore) and have a few stops along the way there and back. Does anyone have any good resources for finding campsites? We tend to use searchforsites in the UK. Do you tend to book your sites in advance or would turning up on the day usually be okay? We are going in 2 weeks so it won't be peak season.

Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Frances

 

[WelshGas]

Hi,

My husband and I are planning our first trip out of the UK with the campervan and were hoping to get some advice regarding how the campsites tend to run in Europe. Our plan is to visit the northern Italian lakes (Como, Garda and Maggiore) and have a few stops along the way there and back. Does anyone have any good resources for finding campsites? We tend to use searchforsites in the UK. Do you tend to book your sites in advance or would turning up on the day usually be okay? We are going in 2 weeks so it won't be peak season.

Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Frances

I use the ASCI app. The app is free and you then download the Data for the countries you want which , when I last looked cost about £2.99 / country or group of countries. These campsites have a minimum standard very good, reviews, pictures and contact details , websites etc. Also directions and routes from where you are.
Another one is Archies. Once again an app, with contact details for 30,000+ campsites covering the whole of Europe. It was free on the app store. No reviews , minimal campsite details but addresses,GPS coordinates etc. Found some small very good campsites via Archies. Out of season you should be fine. In season probably need to book.

 

[The Tall Luthier]

By and large Italy at this time of year is ok to go on spec. The site near the lakes are variable, with some, especially around Lake Iseo, being very cramped and quite pricey.

We rocked up to one in the north of Lake Maggiore in mid April last year and it was only half full, big site.
Anywhere near high season you will need to book I think.

We didn’t use ACSI, though it’s quite good and can pay for itself. We just used Apple Maps to see where sites were.

 

[Big Bloke]

We rarely book a pitch in Europe when out of season, as mentioned ACSI is excellent and we have saved quite a bit in campsite fees using it over the last 9yrs of owning our Cali. We also use Camper Contact, as it also has all of the Aires, Stellplatz, parking places, etc on it.

 

[Ozzy Pete]

We have also used ACSI for the past 8 years and have found it fantastic. The app alone is worth the price. But you get 2 books as well. Definitely money well spent.

 

[Garrycotic]

If you get as far as south Garda, beautiful campsite Ideal Molino at San Felice del Benaco. Directly on the Lake, small restaurant quiet.

 

[BippinsVWClub]

Thanks everyone - this is all really helpful!

 

[Anthony1]

Hi,

My husband and I are planning our first trip out of the UK with the campervan and were hoping to get some advice regarding how the campsites tend to run in Europe. Our plan is to visit the northern Italian lakes (Como, Garda and Maggiore) and have a few stops along the way there and back. Does anyone have any good resources for finding campsites? We tend to use searchforsites in the UK. Do you tend to book your sites in advance or would turning up on the day usually be okay? We are going in 2 weeks so it won't be peak season.

Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Frances

We use ACSI all the time. That's all we use in mainland Europe.

 

[Richard Love]

We live on the continent and use the Park4Night app - it's fab!

 

[Johnny Rocket]

Hi,

My husband and I are planning our first trip out of the UK with the campervan and were hoping to get some advice regarding how the campsites tend to run in Europe. Our plan is to visit the northern Italian lakes (Como, Garda and Maggiore) and have a few stops along the way there and back. Does anyone have any good resources for finding campsites? We tend to use searchforsites in the UK. Do you tend to book your sites in advance or would turning up on the day usually be okay? We are going in 2 weeks so it won't be peak season.

Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Frances

Free camping spots in Italy for nature camping - Agricamper Italia

Over 1500 free 24h spots for motorhomes, campervans, and caravans in Italy at more than 450 farms, vineyards, dairy, mills and other unique places to camp.

www.agricamper-italia.com

Have a look at these chaps - this outfit is VERY much recommended, based on our own direct, first-hand, experience over the last week or 10 days or so (we are in Italy right now), and the 4 or 5 stops we have organised via them so far. Message me please if you wish to know more.

 

[Calimili]

how long are you going for? in 2 weeks it's off peak, but in 3 weeks in Germany there are the Pentecost school holiday and Lake Garda and other popular destinations are guaranteed to be packed. I would definitely book in advance for that period.

 

[Ting Tong]

The excellent park4night app is our goto resource for campsites in Europe.

 

[Anthony1]

Free camping spots in Italy for nature camping - Agricamper Italia

Over 1500 free 24h spots for motorhomes, campervans, and caravans in Italy at more than 450 farms, vineyards, dairy, mills and other unique places to camp.

www.agricamper-italia.com

Have a look at these chaps - this outfit is VERY much recommended, based on our own direct, first-hand, experience over the last week or 10 days or so (we are in Italy right now), and the 4 or 5 stops we have organised via them so far. Message me please if you wish to know more.

Their website reads:

Travel with a motorhome, campervan or caravan​

Exclusively reserved for fully self-contained vehicles (water, wc, waste, etc.).

We don't carry a toilet.

 

[Johnny Rocket]

Their website reads:

Travel with a motorhome, campervan or caravan​

Exclusively reserved for fully self-contained vehicles (water, wc, waste, etc.).

We don't carry a toilet.

We carry a B&Q bucket bought for 99p - that is quite enough to fulfil the requirement!

Many of these agriturismi have facilities (toilets, showers, etc.) which they also offer to AgriCamper Italia visitors - the 'self-sufficiency' statement is no more than a starting point . . . we have been welcomed with open arms everywhere we have visited. The website makes it absolutely clear what is available at each location.

If the agriturismi set-up is not your style, then of course go for a regular campsite, but the opportunity to stay in places which are so much more interesting, intimate and special than straightforward commercial sites is not to be overlooked - "agrirurismi" are farms, vineyards and other specialist producers of (often) organic produce who are passionate about their work, and they are often in locations with the most exquisite old buildings and landscapes which you would never likely come across without 'inside information'!

 

[Anthony1]

We carry a B&Q bucket bought for 99p - that is quite enough to fulfil the requirement!

Many of these agriturismi have facilities (toilets, showers, etc.) which they also offer to AgriCamper Italia visitors - the 'self-sufficiency' statement is no more than a starting point . . . we have been welcomed with open arms everywhere we have visited. The website makes it absolutely clear what is available at each location.

If the agriturismi set-up is not your style, then of course go for a regular campsite, but the opportunity to stay in places which are so much more interesting, intimate and special than straightforward commercial sites is not to be overlooked - "agrirurismi" are farms, vineyards and other specialist producers of (often) organic produce who are passionate about their work, and they are often in locations with the most exquisite old buildings and landscapes which you would never likely come across without 'inside information'!

Excellent, thank you.

We have a Bivvy Loo.

We will in Italy in a few weeks' time so may give a go.

 

[Johnny Rocket]

Excellent, thank you.

We have a Bivvy Loo.

We will in Italy in a few weeks' time so may give a go.

View attachment 108087

View attachment 108088

I should also have said, there’s a one-off annual subscription of €34.50, which we reckon paid for itself after just 2 night stops.
The basis of the set-up is that the agriturismi offer campers a one-night-only stop, and at no charge. In practice they often are very happy to have you for more nights, especially of course if you buy produce, or dine with them or whatever.
Some apparently do make a notional charge for the stop, and / or for some of their services, but that should be clear from reading the info for the site in question.

 

[BippinsVWClub]

how long are you going for? in 2 weeks it's off peak, but in 3 weeks in Germany there are the Pentecost school holiday and Lake Garda and other popular destinations are guaranteed to be packed. I would definitely book in advance for that period.

Oh thanks for this! We are going 13th-28th May - so will need to check if this will affect us!

 

[BippinsVWClub]

Excellent, thank you.

We have a Bivvy Loo.

We will in Italy in a few weeks' time so may give a go.

View attachment 108087

View attachment 108088

We have this exact bivvy loo too! Have yet had to use it though...

 

[Ksar-el-kebir]

Hi,

My husband and I are planning our first trip out of the UK with the campervan and were hoping to get some advice regarding how the campsites tend to run in Europe. Our plan is to visit the northern Italian lakes (Como, Garda and Maggiore) and have a few stops along the way there and back. Does anyone have any good resources for finding campsites? We tend to use searchforsites in the UK. Do you tend to book your sites in advance or would turning up on the day usually be okay? We are going in 2 weeks so it won't be peak season.

Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Frances

The camper contact.com is useful. As well as Europe it has sites in Morocco ,which is my favoured destination.