Driving to Italy

splatt30

We would love to go to Lake Garda next year (end of May beginning of June) and we are considering booking Eurocamp. Looking at transport flights look like they will be at least £800, probably more like £1000 (2 adults and 2 children). So such we are considering driving. Would be be completely crazy? Our daughters will be 4 and 6.

Andypandyboy

Half term end of May?

splatt30

Probably leaving the Monday of half term and taking a week out of school.

Andypandyboy

That is why flight prices are so high. Have you thought of flying into more obscure airports? Bergamo, Pisa, even Nice? Although then you have to add in car hire.

I would love to do it, with several overnight stops along the way but I suspect it wouldn't work out that much cheaper. Additionally, it is a long way for kids, and then you have the return journey.....

We did Brittany by car when our kids were young and it was very doable by ferry and driving.

Cloudydaze

At similar ages to your children, my parents would drive us to camp near Lake Garda. I think we'd have 2 stopovers en route. One in France and one in the mountains.

This was 30 odd years ago and we had to make do with a Walkman, books and a Rubic cube! I'm sure it's much easier to keep children entertained these days.

The holidays in Lake Garda are probably my favourites childhood memories.

Voyager2002

Driving that distance is certainly possible, but would be exhausting unless you are willing to take a long time for the journey. And once you have paid for motorway tolls and so forth, I doubt if you will save much compared to the cost of flying.

I suggest you check air fares flying FROM airports all over the UK (remember that school terms in Scotland are different so air fares from there may be a lot lower than from England) and even Ireland; and (as suggested above) TO the various airports in the region. Remember that trains are both good and cheap, so car hire is unlikely to be necessary.

richardw

If you are near Heathrow look at BA flight+car deals to Milan Linate and Venice, if near Gatwick to Venice or Verona, if near LCY to Venice.

A lot of Ryanair flights aren't on sale yet.

PeacefulWaters

British Airways Monday to Monday fares are £92 return pp, £122 with hold luggage. That's Heathrow to Linate. You'll get a biscuit and drink on board too.

£533 will get you four return flights with hold luggage and a Renault Clio. I'd suggest not trying to fit that amount of hold luggage in the Clio!

Book via Topcashback and you'll get a few quid returned. Not to mention extra Avios for it going booked as a holiday.

Register with Avis preferred and you'll probably get a slightly bigger car.

peachyprice

TBH, once you've factored in petrol, ferries, road tolls, hotels en route, food en route etc. I don't think it will be that much cheaper. Have you looked at all flight options, that seems very expensive, what airlines have you checked and where are you flying from/too?

It's definitely do-able and a lovely drive, but IMO, it needs a minimum of a 2 week holiday, preferably 3 , you need to factor in 3 days travelling each way, I wouldn't do it with any less 10 days holiday in between and wouldn't want to go back to work straight away.

Blue264

The two best route to check out are probably Ryanair from Birmingham to Verona and Monarch from Manchester to Verona.

elsien

Cloudydaze wrote: »

At similar ages to your children, my parents would drive us to camp near Lake Garda. I think we'd have 2 stopovers en route. One in France and one in the mountains.

This was 30 odd years ago and we had to make do with a Walkman, books and a Rubic cube! I'm sure it's much easier to keep children entertained these days.

The holidays in Lake Garda are probably my favourites childhood memories.

Walkman? Sheer luxury!
Parents lived in Southern Italy and we always drove back to the uk. A few times we drove from Malta. Three kids in the back seat. They took it in turns driving and spelled each other, occasionally they booked a b&b although sometimes we slept in the car. They just wanted to do the journey in the shortest possible time.
Entertainment was I spy and listening to cassettes. I couldn't read do anything involving writing or colouring in as I got car sick.
In retrospect, it was not the pleasantest of journeys but perfectly doable. And as kids we put up with it because that's just how it was.

It's whether it's worth the amount of time it will take from your holiday.