Lake Garda 2018

Arnold Layne

Hello there, I am looking at Lake Garda for a self-catering family holiday (2 kids 10 & 12) in July 2018 and would appreciate any infomation regarding flights, resorts, etc.

Where is teh best airport to fly into for Lake Garda? I have checked and seen that Verona is near but do Ryanair fly from Irelend direct to there or is it just Milan, Bergamo?

Would I need to hire a car to get from whatever airport to Lake Garda or are there buses for transfers?

Can anyone recommend a good campsite/resort?

Thanks In Advance

mfceiling

Arnold Layne wrote: »

Hello there, I am looking at Lake Garda for a self-catering family holiday (2 kids 10 & 12) in July 2018 and would appreciate any infomation regarding flights, resorts, etc.

Where is teh best airport to fly into for Lake Garda? I have checked and seen that Verona is near but do Ryanair fly from Irelend direct to there or is it just Milan, Bergamo?

Would I need to hire a car to get from whatever airport to Lake Garda or are there buses for transfers?

Can anyone recommend a good campsite/resort?

Thanks In Advance

Fly Ryanair to bergamo and hire your car to drive up to the lake...about an hour. I've heard people talk about Bella italia campsites...never used them myself.

Arnold Layne

mfceiling wrote: »

Fly Ryanair to bergamo and hire your car to drive up to the lake...about an hour. I've heard people talk about Bella italia campsites...never used them myself.

Thanks, I've heard good things about Bella Italia. Is a car necessary or is there any other way to get there from Bergamo?

dennyk

You could take a bus or train there easily enough, though for the train you'd likely have to connect in Milan or another nearby city, so it'd be a few hours. A car would give you more freedom to explore around the lake and the surrounding mountains, though.

Also, consider spending a couple days in Bergamo itself; it's a lovely city.

manshay

Arnold Layne wrote: »

Hello there, I am looking at Lake Garda for a self-catering family holiday (2 kids 10 & 12) in July 2018 and would appreciate any infomation regarding flights, resorts, etc.
Where is teh best airport to fly into for Lake Garda? I have checked and seen that Verona is near but do Ryanair fly from Irelend direct to there or is it just Milan, Bergamo?
Would I need to hire a car to get from whatever airport to Lake Garda or are there buses for transfers?
Can anyone recommend a good campsite/resort?

We stayed at Bella Italia this year, 2 adults, 3 children 12,10,7. It was a fantastic holiday, very relaxing as the kids are relatively independent. We stayed in a mobile with Eurocamp, it was an Avant, nice but expensive. Book direct with the campsite when they release accommodation prices in late Sept/Oct to save money. Friends stayed in an apartment, they thought it was small and preferred the mobile. I have attached Bella Italia's 2017 pricing to give you an idea.

We flew with Aer Lingus to Verona, the July 12-26 flights were expensive €1,300 including 5 bags, even though booked in September 16. Never seemed to go much cheaper-as Aer Lingus has no competition to Verona they take advantage of it! Could get Ryanair flights to Bergamo for those dates for less on occasion, Aer Lingus bags can be cheaper, once 1 adult buys one bag the children can book 2 bags for a lower price.

However as a result of flying to Verona transfers were cheap; €110 with goopti(or check the skyscanner website carhire section for a transfer pricing comparison). Goopti were great, kept in touch via texts and emails and drivers were very polite and on time.
We didn't hire a car.
Weather was hot-couldn't face going for a jog!

ThisRegard

I think Bella Italia is just too massive a place, almost 1,300 pitches on site and all the people that go with that.

Wexfordboy89

Theres a theme park called gardaland I went there on a school tour.dunno.if its still open was fun lots of rides etc to go on.forget the name of it but theres a cable car you can take to the top of a mountain if u have a head for heights that was fun aswell.

galvo_clare

Bella Italia is a great place. Was going to mention it anyway. A range of accommodation from self catering apartments to camping/caravans.
We took an apartment. They have a basic shop, restaurant, pools etc and a short walk into Peschiera.

mfceiling wrote: »

Fly Ryanair to bergamo and hire your car to drive up to the lake...about an hour. I've heard people talk about Bella italia campsites...never used them myself.

alchemist33

Wexfordboy89 wrote: »

Theres a theme park called gardaland I went there on a school tour.dunno.if its still open was fun lots of rides etc to go on.forget the name of it but theres a cable car you can take to the top of a mountain if u have a head for heights that was fun aswell.

Gardaland is going strong and gets decent reviews. I was looking at a trip to that area next year as well. Someone else here recommended agriturismo.it for a farm stay which we might well go for. A car will be a must as I'm not going to northern Italy without doing some of the Alps, or the Lamborghini museum for the youngster

gabsdot40

We went to Bella Italia in June this year. We flew into Verona, flights were booked last Sept and were reasonable, about 600 for 4 of us. BI was brilliant. Lots to do and really well situated. We went out and about a good bit, sailing on the lake, Gardaland etc.
I'd highly recommend the area.

Roger Hassenforder

Wexfordboy89 wrote: »

Theres a theme park called gardaland I went there on a school tour.dunno.if its still open was fun lots of rides etc to go on.forget the name of it but theres a cable car you can take to the top of a mountain if u have a head for heights that was fun aswell.

sounds like the Malcesnine (mt. Baldo) cable car.
http://360gardalife.com/en/cable-car-malcesine-monte-baldo
cable car up, mountain bike down.


hire a car, very easy to get around.
Milan and Venice are quite close to drive to (about 2hours)
(book The Last Supper in advance, dont just rock up!)

the kids will love Gardaland, and make sure they try wind surfing somewhere at the North of the Lake (Torbole best)

Wexfordboy89

Roger Hassenforder wrote: »

sounds like the Malcesnine (mt. Baldo) cable car.
http://360gardalife.com/en/cable-car-malcesine-monte-baldo
cable car up, mountain bike down.


hire a car, very easy to get around.
Milan and Venice are quite close to drive to (about 2hours)
(book The Last Supper in advance, dont just rock up!)

the kids will love Gardaland, and make sure they try wind surfing somewhere at the North of the Lake (Torbole best)

Yep thats the one sorry it was 11 years ago since I was there.ya Venice is too there used to be a Ferrari shop there dunno if its still there they had a formula 1 car in the shop.had the best pizza ever in venice still havent had nicer pizza since

Lex Luthor

manshay wrote: »

We stayed at Bella Italia this year, 2 adults, 3 children 12,10,7. It was a fantastic holiday, very relaxing as the kids are relatively independent. We stayed in a mobile with Eurocamp, it was an Avant, nice but expensive. Book direct with the campsite when they release accommodation prices in late Sept/Oct to save money. Friends stayed in an apartment, they thought it was small and preferred the mobile. I have attached Bella Italia's 2017 pricing to give you an idea.

We flew with Aer Lingus to Verona, the July 12-26 flights were expensive €1,300 including 5 bags, even though booked in September 16. Never seemed to go much cheaper-as Aer Lingus has no competition to Verona they take advantage of it! Could get Ryanair flights to Bergamo for those dates for less on occasion, Aer Lingus bags can be cheaper, once 1 adult buys one bag the children can book 2 bags for a lower price.

However as a result of flying to Verona transfers were cheap; €110 with goopti(or check the skyscanner website carhire section for a transfer pricing comparison). Goopti were great, kept in touch via texts and emails and drivers were very polite and on time.
We didn't hire a car.
Weather was hot-couldn't face going for a jog!

Went to same place, same accommodation this year in Jun
Similar travel plans, flew to Verona with Aer Lingus and booked a taxi to/from in advance online with https://www.suntransfers.com/?xtref=www.google.ie#?passengers=2&adults=2&children=0&infants=0&direction=1&legs=2

Very reliable and punctual

Only thing I will say on the negative and its picky is WIfi on the site is not great and Verona airport is really slow to get through as they are not set up for volumes of people. Fantastic place and would highly recommend
Your kids that age will love it

Irish Gunner

Looking at family holiday to Lake Garda and junior wont be one yet when travelling

May say it to Grandparents also if they wish to come (some babysitting duties )

Is Bella Italia good for a family and near enough so that we can take time out ourselves to see the country day tour, car hire etc

gabsdot40

Irish Gunner wrote: »

Is Bella Italia good for a family and near enough so that we can take time out ourselves to see the country day tour, car hire etc

BI it a great place for families and there are loads of things to do in the area. There is a car hire place right outside the from gate of BI. The guys name is Alex and he's great.
We hired a car one day and drove all the way around the lake. It was beautiful. We stopped a few times and went swimming etc.
You can do a day trip to Venice, Milan, Verona etc. The campsite had details of those excursions.

JoeyJJ

Went to Gardaland last year flew into Bergamo and hired car, drive not too bad, motor way most of the way, once you do a few roundabouts you are usually fine. We stayed in Gardaland hotel which was good however we were there 4 nights not that long. Tickets to Gardaland were decent got an annual pass for price of about 2 days entrance. Its a good park lots to do for the kids of all sizes, some great roller coasters too.

Drove around a bit however it girls wanted Gardaland or hotel pool more than sightseeing and because it was short enough time-frame only went around a few places sirminone was beautiful however parking there was a nightmare where men send their women out to block off spots even if they are not ready to park and stand in spots shouting at you if you try to park

Roger Hassenforder

the opera in Verona in an old amphitheatre is a great night out (I'm not an opera buff!)
https://www.arena.it/arena/en/season/performances-of-the-arena-opera-festival.html

Irish Gunner

gabsdot40 wrote: »

Irish Gunner wrote: »

Is Bella Italia good for a family and near enough so that we can take time out ourselves to see the country day tour, car hire etc

BI it a great place for families and there are loads of things to do in the area. There is a car hire place right outside the from gate of BI. The guys name is Alex and he's great.
We hired a car one day and drove all the way around the lake. It was beautiful. We stopped a few times and went swimming etc.
You can do a day trip to Venice, Milan, Verona etc. The campsite had details of those excursions.

Ok is only option flying to Verona and then on wards? Did you hire car in Verona or just do it with Alex :-)
Also what type of accommodation did you stay in?

Strand1970

Booked with Ryanair via Milan yesterday for end of June, cost a lot less

Strand1970

Also booked direct with the campsite, generally campsites hold back best locations for their own hire.

Necro

Yeah we're heading the end of may and even at that point it's about 700E cheaper Dublin/Bergamo than to Verona.
Haven't been on a campsite in years so looking forward to it. Hopefully won't be overly mental at the end of May either.