Italian Campsites (Fly/Drive Holiday)

We've booked flights and are trying to decide on whether to stay by Lake Garda or on the coast by Venice in a campsite. We've two smallies who will be 6 and 8 next summer. Think we'll do a couple of days in by the Dolomites at the end of the trip too. We're flying in and out of Bergamo airport so I'm thinking of hiring a car. Has anyone done campsites in both areas and if so which did you prefer?

thanks

Thanks Josip. I'm going to do some more research based on the above 👍

That time of year again, need to get summer holidays sorted. Italy gone expensive, between flights and car hire. From a quick look France might be a more reasonable destination this year maybe.

Much prefer Italy myself, have to start looking a costs 😛

Just back from 2 weeks in Union Lido, our first campsite style holiday. Overall we(3 kids under 8 also) enjoyed it but the feeling both my wife and I came away with was for the money we paid we could have had a very nice and much more luxurious half board/all inclusive hotel type holiday. Now we did book late(ish) in October and went in peak season of July, anecdotally it's significantly cheaper in June and late August/early Sept. Private transfer was 240 from Marco Polo, can be done a lot cheaper using bus public transport but we felt the kids were too small to be subjecting them to that. We ate out maybe 7 nights, bbq or takeaway the rest of the nights but the cost of food/groceries really adds up, probably spent over €1000 over the 2 weeks which I don't think we've ever done on a holiday. Bed linen, towel rental, exit tax, bike rental added up to another €300.

Union Lido itself is very impressive and I can understand all the plaudits it gets, it's very well maintained and run. Huge amount to do, lots of restaurants, shops and services including free doctor which we needed for a 2 year old with a nasty cough. You could definitely go there for 2 weeks and have no reason to leave the site unless you were doing a day trip to Venice. There was quite a few Irish around evidenced by the pale skin and gaa jerseys but the majority are Germans, Austrians, Dutch, Danish. Probably good value for them as they can just drive there even if they have to split it over 2 days as some of them told us.

The mosquitoes are rampant and aggressive but to be honest it didn't bother us too much, we just we just put on repellent as much as possible then applied bite cream when necessary and got on with things.

I think the ideal age range for campsite holidays with kids is 6-12 because we had a 2 and 4 year old and they didn't fully appreciate it, in other words they would've been just as happy in hotel and it would've cost us a lot less. Friends of ours have kids in the 6-12 age range and they happily do campsite holidays every year. We will probably do another campsite holiday when they're older but for next few years will stick to hotels.

We're just back from Union Lido, want to book now for next summer and torn between going to Lake Garda (we've been twice and love it) or giving Tuscany a go. I've always loved the look of Norcenni. Did you hire a car? Hard to get a good deal on car hire in Italy.

Thanks for that! Union Lido was fab this year but way more expensive for next summer, we can only travel in mid August. Human Travel are hard to beat for prices and their mobiles lovely with beds made and towels provided. Think after reading your post I'll bite the bullet and book Norcenni!

Pitched in Pra Del Torri a couple of times. Very big campsite and although you can walk, bikes are ideal for getting around. We had our own, I think the rental will add up over 1-2 weeks. Access to the beach is via gates opened with your bracelet. Not sure what the cutoff age is, but our 8 year old couldn't get through by himself. Very nice restaurant on the beach and in the evening time, there's usually a fireworks display from the Venezia or other side one of the nights. The pool is big enough to be interesting for a few days, but from what I remember it didn't have much in the way of slides and was starting to show its age (5 years ago). Massive variety of activities to do all over the campsite.

I know cost have definitely increased..some good value in France. Friends have been to sanguli and really loved it!

I have stayed at all three you mentioned (Pra del torri was last year), and also Altomincio. I have 2 boys who are now 15 and 17.

Marina di venezia would be the favourite of these, as it has the best restaurants, evening entertainment and pool facilities. I know it is the biggest and busiest but if you can go outside the busiest times it is not an issue.Also close to Venice for a day trip. The biggest draw back for me(which does not apply for everybody) was as I always hire a car and do sightseeing trips to towns and villages, but this was not practical in Marina, as you need to travel back along the penninsula everytime to get anywhere. Pra del torri has nice large town(Caorle) a bus trip away .

Norcenni is quite remote with fewer facilities and is on a mountain with a lot of hills to walk up and down.

Others to consider Club Albatros (the only place I gone back to). Has the option of going to the beach a few days as well as some fabulous towns to visit in Tuscany (this is less attractive if you dont hire cars). Have also stayed in Piani di clodia on Lake Garda which is great as a base for touring the lake and towns, as well as visiting Gardaland. Some great accomodation here with hottubs and views of the lakes. Campsite itself has less food options and not as many onsite facilities.

Anyway, my least favourite was actually Altomincio, so I think any of the others will not disappoint.

Feel free to ask questions.

Highpath

Looking at Park Albatros at the moment think im going to book, of course flights to Pisa are way more expensive than Milan... Car hire gone expensive also.

We’ve done Bella italia 4 times now and Absolutely love it. Probably because we have developed a familiarity with it and know the process and area well. There is so much to do. First 3 times we hired a car but the latest trip we took a bus>train to Peschiera which was quite cheap and relatively stress free. We had previously driven around the lake (Riva, Cable car, Venice and Verona) so the last trip we saved a fortune without the cost of a car sitting at the camp for 10 days. The walk to the town isn’t far, plus we did make some boat trips to other towns which I highly recommend across the lake.

we never had trouble at the pools, versus a trip we had in Mallorca last year, it’s very relaxed and scenic in comparison.

Hey guys off to lake garda in the summer how much is a pint of beer over there???

Ah jayzus 😭

I think about E1 for a can in shop

Was e7 for a large beer in park I remember, maybe a hint cheaper in small beach bars outside but about that in most places

Could get a Aperol for about a fiver I think, cheaper even in some places