Frejus Tunnel

[sallylillian]

Some may remember my enquiry about the tunnel back earlier this year. It seemed that as I am class 4 on the tolls that I would be the same going through the tunnel. The thing that I could not get answered was the Euro emission rating, so I just decided to bowl up and see what happened!

Yesterday at about mid day we arrived, I went to go through the HGV section and a lorry driver frantically waved me to the bus entry, so I diverted to that entrance; to be met by a guy running out of the office waving his arms directing me back to the HGV entries!

So for the 3rd time that day I had to reverse out with the single axle trailer on the back. Well getting better at that having had so many issues with the Telepass toll booths in Italy not accepting my box and having to reverse back out of the toll booth to the one next door!!

So now through the first barrier a guy comes over and speaks come Italian to me, then he calls his mate who asks me in English where my Euro rating sticker is?? Well played dumb and he said park up and go to the office with the vehicles papers! They were really helpful, I jumped the queue and he gave me a declaration form, looked at the reg document to see first registration date as 2008, and signed me off at Euro 5. Well that gets me the cheapest toll I thought, but still nigh on 300 Euros!!

Get to the toll both, the girl speaks no English but points me to the LCD screen, it says Class 2 54 euros! Give her my card quick and off through the tunnel!

So I am sure my lower rate is a fluke but as I will never ever, I did say never, be taking the Coach into Italy again, who cares! The month in Italy was a test, and made the Cornish roads I use look spacious and well maintained. The cart tracks that Bullysconi calls Autostradas are a joke and 70% work in progress. The bridge expansion joints are like ditches compared to the French ones, it was a relief to escape.

Now at a lovely site in the mountains the other side of Chambery, http://www.camping-sougey.com/gb.html
right on a lake, staying until Sunday then over to Parc Verger for a few nights.

So at least you now know how to get your Euro sticker, not sure if its any good anywhere else??

 

[PabloH]

Thanks Sallylillian. I fancy taking the family to a site near Venice, the wife and I spent a week there a few years back, incredible place. Do you not recommend an RV in Italy then, is it that bad.. ? Cheers.

 

[sallylillian]

In answer to your question Pablo, I can say that I would not have missed the trip even with this knowledge, and would not say to anyone else do not go, just be prepared for a different experience on the roads. The Autostradas had what seemed like hundreds of miles of narrow lanes with yellow lines as works were going on, in theory of course, as like the UK you never see anyone working. However they place those concrete barriers right on the right hand line of an already narrow lane; now I see all the lorries going through the tolls at 50 mph, but a professional I aint so it does make it a bit of a stress driving in a constant toll booth channel! The ordinary main roads all seem to have rows of trees and lorries steaming past on the other side, but my £1k mirrors survived. My wife decided that I could do all the Italian driving! Perhaps I exaggerate a bit but...

We stayed at camping Cavalino (http://www.campingcavallino.com/en-venice/) in Venice, but there are loads of sites on the peninsular, and you just buy a ferry ticket 3 miles down the road at Punto Santo to Venice, boats every 30 mins. But if you buy a multi day ticket that gets you on all the ferry services and they are like the London Underground, a definite must to get about. The site was great and they took me around in a buggy to find the best pitch, however at 37ft I was testing the maximum, and the pine tress are very.... shady, but I exited against the one way at 07:15. They came and changed the fuse box to give me 10 amps, I broke the sewer cover when I drove over and they fixed that, nothing too much trouble. Adolf's gang were there and there was ructions when I bowled up to my chosen pitch. They were demanding I went elsewhere, but the staff stood their ground, and by the time we were set up they were over saying hello!

We stayed between Florence and Pisa, here, http://www.toscanavillage.com/en/
With the car we were able to get to Pisa, but got the train to Florence, only 30 mins and easy. Site was great, loads of space.

In Rome we stayed here http://www.ecvacanze.it/it/camping/camping-in-town/roma-camping-village/
Although I had booked, and fortunately had my printout with my confirmation of large pitch, water, 10 amps and drain, they tried to say they did not have such a pitch! But then voila, all sorted, hitched my water hose to a pipe behind a static, 10 amps simple, and here is a drain cover! I said can you trim those branches, bang up comes a guy with the gear! Navette into the city, 20 mins, and you would not want to drive but that's a whole days tale, 3 euro return on site, did not even get the car off the trailer!

Went here for some R&R between Rome and Venice.
http://www.campingdonantonio.it/english/index.html
Great cycling along the shore.

Lake Garda was a wonderful, I found a great site with huge pitches and full services, they even gave me the key to an alternate gate for our early departure!
http://www.fornella.it/

My caveat to all these sites is that we were there in May and June, so mostly half empty or less, so I do not know if they would have been so accommodating if it was July and August and they were full as a jug!

There you go.