Suggestions for route to Italy

[Watchthis]

Thinking about next year's summer holiday and the wife and I have decided we'd like to go to the eurocamp at lake Garda with our 11yr old daughter. I quite fancy taking our car rather than flying and renting a car there and we'd most likely do Newcastle to Ijmuiden ferry or possibly the euro tunnel ( or go via France, return via Holland etc is an option )

Anyone have any tips on which route to take? Best places for an overnight stopover?

[bennno]

Eurotunnel early morning, stop somewhere near Macon, use Mont Blanc tunnel to skip Switzerland (drivers nightmare).

There are a couple of overnight car trains from Germany if you’d rather avoid a long drive.

[omniflow]

So many choices - it really depends on how you want to cross the Alps and if there's anywhere specific you want to see on the way.

The Brenner pass is the quickest way to Lake Garda.

Grossglockner is supposed to be nice (it was closed due to snow when we were planning to cross using it). You can book accommodation at the top, which looks really nice and means you can spend some time up there.

Timmelsjoch is fine, but the drive the other side is just plain tedious.

I wouldn't ever bother with the tunnel if I was heading for Italy. Harwich -> Hook of Holland overnight is far better. You're going to be spending a night somewhere, you might as well be moving whilst you're doing it.

Neuschwanstein is worth an overnight - the view of the castle is pretty cool. Up to you if you want to do a tour.

As for places to stay in Germany, I really like Nuremberg. Plenty of decent and reasonably pricing hotels, a very pleasant old town and lots of nice places to eat and drink. I've always fancied staying in Rothenburg ob der Tauber which looks fabulous, but I've never been able to find a hotel I could stomach staying in.

Be aware, Lake Garda is VERY German. To the extent that you will frequently wonder what country you are in.

[bennno]

omniflow said:

Be aware, Lake Garda is VERY German. To the extent that you will frequently wonder what country you are in.

Nah, we just got back from another trip to Sirmione and it doesn’t feel German.

[littleredrooster]

Our last trip through Germany to Italy included a stay at Memmingem at the Gasthous du Schwanen, a small hotel just off the town centre. Highly recommended in a delightful small-ish town.

Other lovely places we stayed, pre-Covid, now seem to be closed

[Watchthis]

Currently thinking Newcastle to Ijmuiden (closest ferry from Scotland, we've used it a few times in the past) then a stay over in Germany. Quite fancy a theme park in a place called Rust, there's a roller coaster that launches straight up and my wee yin would love it. Then through Switzerland, over the Alps into Italy. A week or so based at the euro camp and then can visit Milan, Venice.. possibly a short plane trip down to Rome also. Heading home back over the Alps but towards lake Geneva area then work out way back from there

[Batfoy]

Done this a few times, Calais - Alsace - Gavardo (nr Garda). Used to stay in Thannenkirch but also Saint Hippolyte. Functional stop rather than anything else. Depends what you want really in terms of an overnight.

[cliffords]

bennno said:

omniflow said:

Be aware, Lake Garda is VERY German. To the extent that you will frequently wonder what country you are in.

Nah, we just got back from another trip to Sirmione and it doesn t feel German.

Agreed we have been many times . In the summer it's very Italian still.
Good option as a destination from your 11 year old OP.

[heisthegaffer]

cliffords said:

bennno said:

omniflow said:

Be aware, Lake Garda is VERY German. To the extent that you will frequently wonder what country you are in.

Nah, we just got back from another trip to Sirmione and it doesn t feel German.

Agreed we have been many times . In the summer it's very Italian still.
Good option as a destination from your 11 year old OP.

We went last July and didn't think it was remotely German. Just fantastic Italian people.