Italy help

pointypatrol

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Italy help

· Posted: 29.03.2016 · #1

Hey Guys ,

Heading away July and August and looking some help on route from Cherbourg to lake Garda Italy, I was thinking of going via Switzerland using the Mont Blanc tunnel.

Has anyone done this route before and if so what will it be like for Aires, Tolls and roads.

Also can anyone advise any good value for money sites at Lake Garda in and around the theme park Gardaland.

We plan to stay there for a full week before spending 2 weeks heading back up to Cherbourg for the ferry home. What do people think would be a good route with lots of things to see and do ( traveling with 8 yr old daughter)

I was thinking of maybe doing the Alps but would like to hear other people's experiences.

Thanks in advance G.

kabundi

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Re: Italy help

· Posted: 29.03.2016 · #2

Hi

Is your van GVW over 3500kg as this effects the toll cost for Switzerland?

Edgar

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Re: Italy help

· Posted: 29.03.2016 · #3

If your Motorhome is over 3.5 you can avoid the motorways in Switzerland by heading for Geneva and keeping to the French side of Lac Lemon and into Switzerland then Italy remember if stopping in Switzerland you will need Swiss Francs go to route finder and get a route from Michelin as it will show you different ones to compare put in to avoid tolls as well to see what comes up Edd

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Re: Italy help

· Posted: 30.03.2016 · #4

Try this, www.searchforsites.co.uk very helpful for the continent.

pointypatrol

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Re: Italy help

· Posted: 30.03.2016 · #5

Hi thanks for the replies, my motorhome is plated for 3.5tonne but it is quite possible that I may be very slightly over it due to going for 4 weeks and taking bikes, blokart, possible kayak and god knows what else if my wife and daughter have their way lol.

I know I should not go over 3.5 tonne but what is the likely hood of being weighed and more importantly do they weigh you at the France Swiss border.

Thanks G

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Re: Italy help

· Posted: 30.03.2016 · #6

hi pointypatrol.. I had no idea what weight the van + our normal load was, so we pulled off at loughbrickland on our last trip and weighed it on the free DOE weighbridge to put our mind at ease! there's a few around and it would be worth a look so at least you'll know! for me I wouldn't like to wait till someone in a uniform is telling me I'm overweight :whistle:

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Re: Italy help

· Posted: 30.03.2016 · #7

Hi

Your nearest DOE weigh bridges are at Larne or Nutts Corner. Both are self use and free to use so no one apart from yourself will see the weight.

R&N

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Re: Italy help

· Posted: 24.06.2016 · #8

This is not to do about original of Italy but ...though others said about being over 3500kg?

I am always buying things for MH, recently bought 2 new lounge chairs..... But left one at home as "heavy" And today I saw a "breathable" groundsheet which they only allow in French campsites but we couldn't see any to buy in France.
This was in Aldi in Dublin today €27.99 (though I didn't see it as a "this week special" but in with camping items) and a 4pole large windbreak which packs into a neat bag €19.99....they may be returned without even opening...but you buy these things when you see them.
we only have upper wind-out awning.

We too went to weighbridge up near Babnbridge on a day run in MH so not filled up, and it wasn't much under 3500kg but as others above have said when going on holidays....when filled with more than usual....for every weather condition etc.
We aren't even laden down with cases of wine....more like a box of books which then get exchanged for different ones in campsites.
At the port they only glanced at our passports.

Has anyone been pulled in about being overweight? In Ireland or visiting UK? and what happened?
I know it has to do with category of driving licence. Our MH is 4 berth, but more like comfortable for 2.

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Re: Italy help

· Posted: 24.06.2016 · #9

Don't know about Ireland but they would be more prone to weigh across the water. Heard of a guy in Austria, pulled over, was too heavy so got fined and had to jettison some items before being allowed to proceed. Thats second hand info mind you.

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Re: Italy help

· Posted: 26.06.2016 · #10

Friend just back from touring away for 3 months with M/H plated at 3800.

Tells me he was stopped 4 times at borders asked weight and then asked to prove with m/h documents. 3 of the 4 also put him on a weigh bridge

Better to be safe than sorry would be my approach

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van weight

· Posted: 27.06.2016 · #11

hi - just wondered is a van normally weighed without anyone inside?
i am just about to take a long wheel based sprinter for mot,and last year it within 50 kg
of the plated weight (3500kg).
this is a van ,professionally converted to carry two motorbikes,so it looks like quite a
problem if vans are being regularly weighed in europe.

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Re: Italy help

· Posted: 27.06.2016 · #12

We did 14 frontiers on our three month trip, never weighed, and never saw any facilities for doing so.
One common sense tip is to drain all waters from the van if you feel insecure at certain points. Keep a five later bottle in the van and this could save you over 100kg+.

VinR2D2

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Re: Italy help

· Posted: 28.06.2016 · #13

expect a 40 euro entry visa to Switzerland and another 40 euro toll to go through the mountain !!

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Re: Italy help

· Posted: 28.06.2016 · #14

I read part of this post last night and it got me thinking. For the life of me I couldn't remember buying a vignette for Switzerland. I kept all the one I'd accumulated in situ so this morning I went out to look and there it was. Missing. We went in through the Gothard pass and 17km tunnel which was magical, but forgot to buy a bloody vignette. We drove from Gothard to a brilliant fre Aire with free everything and included a big firepit / bbq, and wood! It is ata small counrtry town called Huttweil @ N47 06 55 8 and E007 52 08 1
They would not have been happy if they found me driving in their wee country without the relevant papers! We never went on motorways through choice, being axious to get to the sun of France, that wasn't there anyway.
So, went back to France via La Balme de Stillingy.
This is useless info for what you need, but from Northern Italy, we were in Rigamonte, the Gothard was our best route.

Hessy Hymer

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Re: Italy help

· Posted: 27.01.2017 · #15

Any update on the trip as considering that part of the world this summer for a wedding?
Easiest way to Italy from Belfast?
Belfast - Scotland - Newcastle - Amsterdam - Brussels = Italy?
Belfast - Rosslare - Cherbourg - Switzerland - Italy?

Any assistance from experience gratefully welcome??

the fat controller

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Re: Italy help

· Posted: 27.01.2017 · #16

Quote by Hessy Hymer

EasyJet!

ntg

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Re: Italy help

· Posted: 28.01.2017 · #17

Quote by the fat controller

Quote by Hessy Hymer

EasyJet!

What kind of rates do they charge for a motorhome?

the fat controller

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Re: Italy help

· Posted: 28.01.2017 · #18

That's different!

Hymer544

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Re: Italy help

· Posted: 28.01.2017 · #19

Hi pointypatrol. We were in garda in 2014 and 2016. Both trips we went via Belgium, Luxembourg and Austria with no tolls via Brenner pass. We stayed at lazise first time (beside gardaland) then last year in camping brione in Riva de garda. I would have to say I would recommend Riva over anywhere else for every reason ( too many to list). The north of the lake blows the rest away including lake Como. We can back through mont blanc tunnel (50euro) and stayed at Chamonix aire for a awesome few days hiking up to glacier. If your transiting I'd leave Switzerland (rediculously expensive and they don't have aires.). We also have young kids and plenty of kit. 7 big 5 weeks trips in a 3850kg van and weight never can issue. Pm me and I'll give you a detailed route.

kabundi

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Re: Italy help

· Posted: 02.02.2017 · #20

Quote by Hessy Hymer

Hi

See attached document which describes various routes to lake Garda. If you need any more specific info just ask

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