First trip abroad - France maybe Italy ?

[Bonna]

We have 3 whole weeks and the ferry booked from Dover to Calais on 23rd of July. We have the death stickers and the red and white stripes thing just struggling to decide a route and where to go.
Wish it was 3 months, France has so much to offer but would love to get to Italy any suggestions welcome. So much fun to be had and so little time ! Unlikely to get 3 whole weeks again for few years.

 

[mikebiggles]

We have 3 whole weeks and the ferry booked from Dover to Calais on 23rd of July. We have the death stickers and the red and white stripes thing just struggling to decide a route and where to go.
Wish it was 3 months, France has so much to offer but would love to get to Italy any suggestions welcome. So much fun to be had and so little time ! Unlikely to get 3 whole weeks again for few years.

We just arrived outside Nice yesterday 19th. We caught the 5pm ferry from Newhaven on Monday 9th so set off from Dieppe on Tuesday morning. We went across to Reims (nice free Aire) then over to Alsace region. then headed south through the mountains via Sisteron. We have not pushed the driving and have stayed at 3 France Passion’s as well as odd campsites for EHU. Done 1100 miles from home so could say 850 miles from Dieppe. One the drive down from Alsace region we could easily have popped into Italy. The villages in Alsace area are beautiful.

Hope this helps

 

[Guigsy]

You're going to burn the best part of a week driving to Italy and back. But if you think this is going to be your only opportunity for a few years, go for it.

My recommendation is, don't make your first introduction to Italian driving be Turin at Friday evening rush hour.

We stayed in Italy for a few weeks and didn't get any further south than San Marino. I got quite used to the driving style. But my wife felt like it was a white knuckle ride the whole time. We really enjoyed it, need to go back. But work...

 

[scotjimland]

Depends on how much driving you are prepared to do ..measured in days, not miles..
how far can you go in a day, how long in a day do you want to drive ..

With only 21 days I would stick with France ,, I don't want spend any more than 6 days driving .. 3 days each way .. that only leaves 14 days to chill out and enjoy the holiday

Of course, others do starship miles, and popping in to several countries . but see little .. then come home for a holiday ..

If you really want to go to Italy then head straight there.. but Italy in July will be roasting hot.. I would head for the West coast of France

 

[Bonna]

Thanks Mike, my partner doesn't want to spend all the time driving, so good to know. Whereabouts was the Aire in Reims ?

We just arrived outside Nice yesterday 19th. We caught the 5pm ferry from Newhaven on Monday 9th so set off from Dieppe on Tuesday morning. We went across to Reims (nice free Aire) then over to Alsace region. then headed south through the mountains via Sisteron. We have not pushed the driving and have stayed at 3 France Passion’s as well as odd campsites for EHU. Done 1100 miles from home so could say 850 miles from Dieppe. One the drive down from Alsace region we could easily have popped into Italy. The villages in Alsace area are beautiful.

Hope this helps

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[Bonna]

Depends on how much driving you are prepared to do ..measured in days, not miles..
how far can you go in a day, how long in a day do you want to drive ..

With only 21 days I would stick with France ,, I don't want spend any more than 6 days driving .. 3 days each way .. that only leaves 14 days to chill out and enjoy the holiday

Of course, others do starship miles, and popping in to several countries . but see little .. then come home for a holiday ..

If you really want to go to Italy then head straight there.. but Italy in July will be roasting hot.. I would head for the West coast of France

thanks, I think we have to make up our minds about Italy and like you say, go straight for it. Anywhere in particular on the West coast ?

 

[Bonna]

You're going to burn the best part of a week driving to Italy and back. But if you think this is going to be your only opportunity for a few years, go for it.

My recommendation is, don't make your first introduction to Italian driving be Turin at Friday evening rush hour.

We stayed in Italy for a few weeks and didn't get any further south than San Marino. I got quite used to the driving style. But my wife felt like it was a white knuckle ride the whole time. We really enjoyed it, need to go back. But work...

It really is a nuisance isn't it. I'm freelance so luckier in that respect . If only we could both work from the van ......

 

[Saucer]

There is so much to see and do in France, and the roads are better than Italy. I’d stick to that.

 

[scotjimland]

thanks, I think we have to make up our minds about Italy and like you say, go straight for it. Anywhere in particular on the West coast ?

Start at the top and work down till you find a place you like..

La Rochelle is lovely and Ile De Re is great for campsites , beaches and cycling

Royan is nice town..

if you like beaches and surfing , further south to Mimizan ..the whole coast is just gorgeous ..


over the years since 1997 we have done the whole coast ..several times over

 

[PlacidoD]

Not clear from your post whether there are just two of you or whether you have children and/or animals with you?

I regularly do trips out to Switzerland in a two weeks plus a couple of days fitting 4 nights in the Italian Lakes in between weekends. So what you propose is doable unless you have children or animals.

From Calais to Northern Italy there are broadly two routes. Both start with the Belgian motorways then through Luxembourg to Germany/France around the Rhine somewhere around Karlsruhe or Haguenau. From there you either head across Germany/Austria and into north-East Italy or down the German side of the Rhine into and across Switzerland to Italy via Lugano.

You will definitely need to book campsites in Italy at that time of year and, yes it will be hot (I am normally there in early September.)

I can be more specific about a route if you are going via Switzerland. I have no experience of the trans-Germany route.

P.S. My first trip out to Switzerland by motorcycle a couple of decades ago I took the overnight ferry Hull-Zeebrugge and then rode circa 550 miles to near to Zug south-west of Zurich. I was feeling brain dead by the time I got there!! Ever since I have taken two days to make Zug. The Italian Lakes are about four hours from there. So two days absolute minimum to make somewhere like Lake Como.

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[suavecarve]

It really is a nuisance isn't it. I'm freelance so luckier in that respect . If only we could both work from the van ......

As someone who can work from the van, why not drive over a week in advance of the less fortunate partner. Do your days work, then drive 3-4 hours and meet partner off an easyJet flight (no baggage) in Turin or Rome, and do the same on the way back. You get 5 weeks holiday they get 3 weeks all in Italy

 

[mikebiggles]

Thanks Mike, my partner doesn't want to spend all the time driving, so good to know. Whereabouts was the Aire in Reims ?

Next to the football stadium. There’s no services but public toilet across the road in the park. Two minute walk if necessary. Reasonable size spaces and good shade.

 

[Jonno1103]

You're going to burn the best part of a week driving to Italy and back. But if you think this is going to be your only opportunity for a few years, go for it.

My recommendation is, don't make your first introduction to Italian driving be Turin at Friday evening rush hour.

We stayed in Italy for a few weeks and didn't get any further south than San Marino. I got quite used to the driving style. But my wife felt like it was a white knuckle ride the whole time. We really enjoyed it, need to go back. But work...

Na, I tend to do Pisa - Geneva in 10 hours when delivering. Costs a bloody fortune in tolls mind!

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

I would stick to France if it's your first time. Lots to see.
Head across the Normandy coast and down to Mont St Michael. Lots of free aires to stay in. Normandy beaches and museums if you like that . Bayer tapestry and town is a good spot.
From mont St Michael you can go down to Bordeaux . Cognac. Dune de pilate. Lots of really nice places that 3 weeks will soon dissappear and you won't have seen a lot of what France has to offer

 

[barryd]

Might be useful if you say what kind of stuff you like or want to see. I'm in the its too much for three weeks camp but France and Northern Italy are Europes summer playgrounds and they have everything from great cities, humongous mountains, lakes, stunning beaches, gorges, pretty villages (I could go on). For me personally for three weeks in Summer I would be heading to the Alps. In fact thats exactly what I am doing next week. Kind of but Im going for a bit longer. Tell us what interests you and maybe we can make more recommendations.

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[fishplug]

So two days absolute minimum to make somewhere like Lake Como.

I have done it (accidentally) in 24h door to door.

I wouldn't choose to do it again though

2 - 2.5 days to Northern Italy is pretty comfortable for me, but I don't mind a good day of driving.

To be honest, as a first trip I wouldn't get too hung up on getting there and back.

Maybe have Italy as a theoretical destination, avoid the motorways and enjoy the scenery and villages on your way down and see how you fare.

If you're enjoying a more leisurely pace and a few more stops here and there then so what? You might not get to Italy, but it will give you an idea of the sort of milage you can do in a week / two / three and (this is the important bit) still enjoy yourself.

The best holidays I've had didn't necessarily have a route or a destination. If somewhere's really nice then maybe stay a day or two, if it's not all that then overnight and move on.

 

[Bonna]

Not clear from your post whether there are just two of you or whether you have children and/or animals with you?

I regularly do trips out to Switzerland in a two weeks plus a couple of days fitting 4 nights in the Italian Lakes in between weekends. So what you propose is doable unless you have children or animals.

From Calais to Northern Italy there are broadly two routes. Both start with the Belgian motorways then through Luxembourg to Germany/France around the Rhine somewhere around Karlsruhe or Haguenau. From there you either head across Germany/Austria and into north-East Italy or down the German side of the Rhine into and across Switzerland to Italy via Lugano.

You will definitely need to book campsites in Italy at that time of year and, yes it will be hot (I am normally there in early September.)

I can be more specific about a route if you are going via Switzerland. I have no experience of the trans-Germany route.

P.S. My first trip out to Switzerland by motorcycle a couple of decades ago I took the overnight ferry Hull-Zeebrugge and then rode circa 550 miles to near to Zug south-west of Zurich. I was feeling brain dead by the time I got there!! Ever since I have taken two days to make Zug. The Italian Lakes are about four hours from there. So two days absolute minimum to make somewhere like Lake Como.

Thank you , that is food for thought. Just the two of us

 

[Bonna]

As someone who can work from the van, why not drive over a week in advance of the less fortunate partner. Do your days work, then drive 3-4 hours and meet partner off an easyJet flight (no baggage) in Turin or Rome, and do the same on the way back. You get 5 weeks holiday they get 3 weeks all in Italy

Sadly neither of us can work from the van, though as a freelancer and can take time off as I please ( finances allowing!) But going on ahead could be a way of doing Italy in future

 

[suavecarve]

Sadly neither of us can work from the van, though as a freelancer and can take time off as I please ( finances allowing!) But going on ahead could be a way of doing Italy in future

I have flown back from numerous airports leaving the wife out there so I can do 4 days work then fly back out again. Geneva Lyon Venice Bordeaux Nice Barcelona have all served us well. I dump the scooter at those airports and pick it back up on return flight.

 

[Parrot Face]

Although both countries are busy during the school holiday periods Italy can be busier at that time. In France you can find some places quite quiet.

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[DDJC]

Although we love France, for us, Italy is better. Especially the Adriatic beaches near Venice.

So we cane our way down. Stop one night at Croix d'Arles. Then through the Mont Blanc tunnel, stopping for two nights at one of the sites near Aosta, Camping International or Campsite Mombarone

Then it is a straight run to Venice. So in three days we are in Tri-Venezie.

 

[The Wino]

If you're going in mid summer I'd either head towards somewhere high up or the coast if there's a heatwave it's pretty unpleasant roasting at low level inland

 

[gpat]

I agree with all those on here that have said avoid Italy. Too far and too stressful. Has nothing that France doesn't have

Do you like beaches or towns or countryside. If you are going to Calais it's a hell of a long way to the west coast.

The Alsace is a beautiful area and not too bad from Calais. Metz is a lovely stopover for a couple of nights.

 

[MisterB]

You can be on the Vendee in 8 hours, but I would stop part way at Fougeres and check out the castle, then onto Normoutier for a couple of days, then move down to La Rochelle (stay at the free aire Lac du Frace). A few days on the Ils de Re on one of the sites adjacent to the beach and If time allows you could drop down to Blaye near Bordeaux.... before heading back inland or meandering along the coast up to
I strongly recommend buying All the Aires France books. They really help with planning your trip, we also use P4N etc when travelling but find the hard copy book ideal when planning.

If you're going to use a couple of campsites ( especially adjacent to the beach on the Ils de Re) then I strongly suggest booking in advance.