Hi Ian
We went the Hull-Zeebrugge route a few years back. It was a good route but rather expensive we felt. For the last few years we have driven down to Dover and used Norfolk Line. Rather a long drive in the UK but we combine it with a visit to my Father-in-Law in north London.
The following is a pre-prepared accounto of my "Italian route" it includes some things I mentioned previously as that's quicker than editing them out!?
In 2006 and 2007 we travelled down Italy via Switzerland. On both occasions we had large (7.2 metre 'vans) - a twin axle in 2006. Although as teachers we have to travel in July/August we did not book any sites in advance but had little trouble finding pitches. I have amalgamated our experiences to give a route which we found reliable and some campsite recommendations. This route is TOLL FREE to the Swiss border.
In 2006 we travelled overnight arriving at Dunkerque at 06.00. After stopping for a couple of hours sleep at a Aire near Lisle we then drove on down through Belgium and Luxembourg on the E42. East of Namur we turned onto the E411.
Berchen motorway service, near Luxembourg, has the cheapest fuel in western Europe. For a night halt near the autoroute north of Luxembourg I would recommend Camping Chenefleur as an excellent night halt near to the motorway. We discovered this site in 2006 when we broke down on the way home and were towed there by breakdown truck. We stopped off there travelling south in 2007.
My review of Chenefleur: http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revid=7389
At Luxembourg we turned south onto the E23 and, in 2006, drove as far as an Aire near Nancy before stopping for the night at the aire - an excellent day's drive, from Lisle, we felt. The motorway ended just south of Nancy but we continued south past Epinal and then turned west onto the N66. This single carriageway road is a good one which goes through the heart of the Ballons des Vosges mountain range. The views are lovely and although there are some gradients these are relatively easily laid out in long hairpins.
In 2006 we spent a few days staying at the Camping Les Acacias site at Cernay, on the easter side of the Vosges.
My review of Les Acacias: http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revid=7390
From Cernay we continued down the A35 to Basle where we crossed into Switzerland. In 2007 we crossed into Germany before entering Switzerland which meant we avoided the centre of Basle. I have heard subsequently that the roadworks in Basle are now finished and it much easier to negotiate.
At the border we had to pay for the overpriced annual Swiss motorway vignettes for BOTH the car and caravan. When stopped at the Border point a man comes to sell them to you - 2 are needed one for the car and one for the 'van. We wished to pay by credit card so we had to park up and pay at the office. There are loos there too. We then followed the E35 through Switzerland a fantastically picturesque route
In 2006 we crossed the Alps via the St Gotthard Pass. The queues for the tunnel were very long so we decided to try the pass. It was quite doable even with our large outfit with a climb up long hairpins a long relatively flat part on the top and another hairpin descent. We tried to spend the night at the services at Airolo immediately after the pass but although services were clean and pleasant they were very busy and a lot of noisy folk laughing and shouting. We gave up at about 02.00 and pushed on and stayed at a services lower down for a few hours sleep in the van.
In 2007 we followed a similar route to the above but travelled southwards through the San Gotthard tunnel.
In 2006 we then continued southwards finally leaving the E35 at Chiasso. We then drove through Como and Lecco and up the eastern side of the Lake on the "E36" to Camping La Riva at the northern end of the Lake. We stayed at this site for about 2 weeks.
My review of La Riva: http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revid=7388
We then travelled on south westwards and picked up the autostrada near Bergamo. We then drove around the southern end of Lake Garda on the E66, E70 to near Venice. The roads were not brilliant until we reached the toll autostrada which were excellent. We drove from La Riva to Camping Cavallino in one day. Camping Cavallino had large pitches and accommodated us easily even though we had not booked just phoned ahead on the day before to see if they had room.
My review of Cavallino:http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revid=7387
In 2007 from St Gotthard we drove down to stay at Camping Roma Sporting Flash at Bracciano near Rome. We overnighted at 2 Italian aires on the way. From that pleasant lakeside site we travelled into Rome several times by train and went sightseeing.
My review of Roma Flash: http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revid=7385
In 2007 on the way back northwards we stopped for two weeks at Camping Riva San Pietro on Lake Iseo. A lovely site in a spectacularly beautiful lakeside location.
My review of San Pietro: http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revid=7386
In 2006 our route home was the same as the outward apart from the fact that we used the Gotthard tunnel on the way home. I hate tunnels but by that time had got a bit more used to them. For the 11 miles of the Gotthard I set the milometer at 0 at the beginning so that I could count off the mileage put my favourite new Johny Cash CD "My Mother's Hymnbook" on, whispered a prayer and went for it.
In 2007 we came back via the Brenner Motorway into Austria as we had had a car breakdown and the CC Red Pennant had only be able to provide us with a less powerful, hired, tow-car. The Brenner motorway is a toll motorway and Austrian motorways require an additional vignette too. The Austrian version is, however, available for short periods compared with the expensive, annual only, Swiss one and so works out much cheaper.
I hope this helps.
Best wishes
Tim