Hi Michael
We're just back from our second trip to Italy. We went last year too - both times for about 5 weeks. Last year we crossed Dover to Dunkerque and then used free French Autoroutes and same in Belguim and Luxembourg. We then continued on down past Nancy and then turned west over the N66 through the Ballons de Vosge mountains. The latter is an easy route with gentle hairpins for any gradients. We then crossed into Switzerland from France. The last bit was a mistake as we later heard that it is possible to avoid Basle with its awful roadworks by crossing the Rhine into Germany and approaching Switzerland from there. We then drove down through Switzerland on the motorways. This does involve buying a annual vignettes for the car AND caravn - a bit of a rip-off really as it we were only in Switzerland for one day driving through each way. We crossed the Alps via the St Gotthard Pass going south last year as long queues at the tunnel. Again relatively easy gradients with hairpin bends - nothing scarey. It is flat on top and then hairpins down the other side - a good road. On the way back home and going down this year we used the tunnel. I do not like tunnels and find the 10 continuous miles of the St Gotthard a bit scarey.
The first year we stayed at Camping La Riva where the river flows into the Northern end of Lake Como. Very scenic Lakes and mountains but not a lot for your kids. We then continued on to Camping Cavallino on the Jesolo Peninsula. A lovely campsite with more for kids. Right on the beach of the Adriatic. Warm sea and VERY gentle sloping beach with lovely sands. Tehre are lots of other campsites of varying size and facilities right along the peninsula. Union Lido has its own Cinema, Church, shopping precinct and supermarket as well as several pools and sports centre - We saw the facilities when we attended the English Church service held there.
These campsites are ideal for visiting Venice. There is a bus but we drove the 4 miles to Ponti Sabione and caught the boat into Venice on several days. We bought a Venice card each time which gives unlimited travel on the waterbuses and free entrance to some museums and public loos. We alternated visiting Venice with its crowds and days on the beach to recover. When the crowds in Venice got too much we just jumped on a boat and cruised around the lagoon or went to one of he quieter islands.
This year we travelled further south and stayed at Camping Roma Flash on Lake Bracciano. The Lake is Rome's reservoir and is very pleasant. We travelled into Rome to see the sites on a couple of days - Bus to local station and then train (45mins). Lakeside was a cool haven after 32.5C temperatures of Rome.
We then drove back north and stayed for 2 weeks at Camping Riva St Pietro at Maron on Lake Iseo. This is a beautiful location right on the lakeside. Children's playground, pool and boats and swimming on/in the lake.
As our car broke down on the way north and the CC Red Pennant insurance had only managed to supply a VW Passat to replace our 4x4 we took the gentler route over the Brenner Motorway on the way home. As already said a scenic route and much cheaper than Switzerland as can buy 10 day Vignettes. We then drove up through Austria and Germany before rejoining our original route down near Luxembourg.
Italy is a beautiful country but it is quite a long drive. I would advise breaking up the journey with kids by stopping off somewhere in France or Belguim on the way down and back. The campsites tend to be more expensive than France, however. I would recommend Alan Roger's "Italy" and CC "Caravan Europe" Campsite guides - cheapest from Amazon.
We would recommend Italy.
Happy 'vanning.
Tim
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