Italian Lakes

[Aretsukusu]

Hi All,

Heading out to the lakes next month and we're looking for a well appointed but quiet central campsite to veg out and use as a base to explore the area for a week.

We dont want to be completely out in the cuds, but a nearby quiet village or town would be nice for supplies and a meal once in a while.

Any ideas?

Cheers, A

 

[wessie]

there's a good looking campsite very close to Lake Garda at Torbole.
http://www.trentino.to/it/guide/852...240it,season,at2,selectedEntry,home/home.html

I haven't used it - I was staying in s****y hotel across the road, but walked past a number of times to get to the lake shore.

Very easy to find, the entrance is opposite the petrol station & small supermarket.

Looking at the price list, linked to from above at http://www.campingalporto.it/Pricelist/tabid/147/Default.aspx it does not appear to be cheap. Just as well stay in one of the nice air-conditioned hotels across the road...

 

[Aretsukusu]

Varenna?

Anybody been to or stayed in Varenna on Lake Como?

SWMBO has taken a liking to it!

 

[fleagle]

I can personally recommend the following two campsites, and the third was personally recommended to me.

Lake Garda
http://www.campingalpino.com
Located just outside Torbole on the North East side of Garda. Stayed here several times and will continue to do so when I'm in the area. Couple of clicks south of Torbole, where you can buy all your provisions from the Coop without having to venture into the traffic jam that is Riva. It's right by the lake side and has a short underpass so you can safely walk under the road to the lakeside for cooking, eating, chilling and swimming. They're bike friendly (although show me an Italian who isn't!) and always give you a choice of pitches so you can be near the river (and main road) or at the top away from the traffic. There are taps near all pitches with safe drinking water. Free hot water and showers.

Lake Como
http://www.campingsolarium.com/Chi_Siamo.htm
Used this for the first time a few weeks back. Right by the lakeside and there's a nice little pizza restaurant nearby. The chap running it is very friendly and the camping and bar prices are very reasonable. Didn't order any pain au chocolate for the morning, but this wasn't a problem and there were plenty available. They were among the best we had on the entire trip! Huge bottles of ice cold Peroni were €2. Hot showers were 80 cents, but it was too hot when we were there so we just had cold ones.

Lake Maggiore
http://www.riviera-valleromantica.com/uk/camping-valle-romantica-lago-maggiore.htm
We didn't stay here but had it personally recommended to us. It's on a river right by Lake Maggiore. We went through Cannobio a few weeks back and it was lovely.

Lake Garda is the cleanest of the lakes (no motor vehicle allowed) so the nicest for swimming. It's the furthest east so it depends where you want to be based. Stay out of Riva Del Garda though - it's a huge tourist trap.

More info here http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=196647

Hope this helps. Regards, Dave