Italy first time! (1 Viewer)

[Wurn]

Hi all,we are going to Europe for the first time next April and May and after reading up I have a few questions.First one is, is it really necessary to book sites in advance at that time of year as we dont know our daily schedule and dont want to become slaves to a timetable? Secondly , we are in the process of getting our dogs passports and have noticed a few restrictions in Italy,firstly, surely muzzles arnt required in public? Next is there a limit of one dog per vehicle? And is a barrier required behind the seats? All seems a bit OTT to me,and is it like a lot of things Italian namely nobody takes any notice!Finally can anybody recommend some good sites in Sicily and was there any problems with the Messina ferry from Villa San Giovanni?
Cheers Paul.

 

[hilldweller]

Hi all,we are going to Europe for the first time next April and May and after reading up I have a few questions.First one is, is it really necessary to book sites in advance at that time of year as we dont know our daily schedule and dont want to become slaves to a timetable? Secondly , we are in the process of getting our dogs passports and have noticed a few restrictions in Italy,firstly, surely muzzles arnt required in public? Next is there a limit of one dog per vehicle? And is a barrier required behind the seats? All seems a bit OTT to me,and is it like a lot of things Italian namely nobody takes any notice!Finally can anybody recommend some good sites in Sicily and was there any problems with the Messina ferry from Villa San Giovanni?
Cheers Paul.

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They did Italy with a vengeance this year.

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People were being turned away from Butterfly in May, but there were plenty of other places.

 

[jaygee]

Don't know about dogs so can't help there.
regards to campsites - would not book until you are there to keep your options open. We traveled France/Belgium this August & last year for a month and never had any troublke getting into campsites and usually stayed on ones that we would not have pre-booked anyway. It's good to be able to go where you like and stop at any place that takes your fancy. We stayed on numerous Aires having never used them before and were amazed at how good they were.

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[BobT]

Hi Paul,
Taking dogs to Italy can be a problem. You are right about the law that they must wear a muzzle in public, but did you know that dogs are forbidden on all forms of public transport? This law is sometimes overlooked, but you can be sure it won't be when you are involved! Also many campsites do not accept dogs and those that do sometimes have a separate "kennels" area where your dog will be installed - you will be allowed to visit him/her.
Whenever we take groups to Italy we suggest that our customers do not take dogs.

Good luck,

Bob

 

[tommytli]

we have just been to italy for the 1st time, we had no problems with the dog and the only place we were advised to use a muzzle was on the water boat to venice,our dog is a small bichon frise so this could be the reason we were not bothered

 

[estcres]

Hi there,

We have just returned from 3 weeks in Northern Italy which we did with no forward booking as, like you, we didn't want to be timetable slaves.

We firstly went to Camping Butterfly on Lake Garda but discovered they had no vacancies so carried on to Lido de Jessilo which is just East of Venice, turned up at a campsite (Union Lido) and got in with No trouble at all, selected our pitch and stayed there for 8 days. Then went back to Lake Garda and tried Camping Butterfly again, again without success so travelled up the East side about 10k and picked Camping Piano de Claudia, selected our pitch next to the lake and spent 5 days there.

Can't speak about pets as we don't have one.

Hope this helps you.

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[gozomike]

Hi

I have gone through Italy to Sicily the last two Septembers and have not had any problems getting on sites. I have not tried early season but would not have thought it a problem.

The twice I have driven down I have used the ferry from Villa San Giovanni to Messina. It is a shuttle service with no need to book. Each time there has been plenty of room & the ferries will take large vehicles. For my small MH the cost was €32 one way.

On Sicily I have used two sites from the ACSI guides one at Marinello which was fine, the other was Camp la Timpa in Acireale the site is OK but it is terraced and would not be so good for a large MH.

It's best to avoid Catania when driving - It's mad!!!!!!!

Doing the trip again starting 8th September.

Mike

 

[lorger]

Hi Paul

Firstly we have just returned from italy and loved it we arrived 2 days earlier than planned and tried think it was 22 campsites down the shore of lake garda and all full it was a saturday, eventually phoned the site we where booked in for the week and got in no problem but after doing this we passed to mh stopover places and they had loads of room so could have used them.

We didnt take our dog but loads of dogs on site and none with muzzels but did notice some wearing them in towns.

Gerry

 

[billkce]

Hi Paul

Just spent 3 months in Italy & didn't see a dog with a muzzle. Saw dogs on buses as well. There are so many 'vans in Italy that the police just dont have time to bother with them. There is a lot of scaremongering going on.

As for sites, you would be really unlucky not to get into a site outside July & August. Yes, Garda is busy from May but everywhere else we have been has had plenty of space - right across the N of Italy & the Riviera.

Dogs aren't allowed on beaches.

Enjoy yourself, but dont expect any of the campsites to be peaceful. Italian sites are very noisy, specially if children are on holiday.

Good luck

Bill

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