Lake Garda, Italy - Part 1: Planning our first trip to Italy
Lake Garda - August 2018
As a family we gave a lot of thought to our summer holiday last year. Although we are now a slave to school holidays and the massive price hikes they endure, Mr S and I, were keen to still do something we really wanted to do at a price we were prepared to pay. We have always liked to try and think ‘outside the box’ and take a step away from where the masses tend to go in the summer. We’d love to visit more of Spain, explore some of the Greek Islands plus much more but all of those destinations come in at a hefty price tag during the school holidays, at least doubling what you would pay outside of school holidays. I must admit I do love a bargain or at the very least, feel I am getting value for money! On various occasions over the last few years, we had thought of Eurocamp and quite liked the idea of it. Mr S had been to a Eurocamp in France as a child and I used to stay at Pontin’s holiday camps a bit closer to home, with my Grandparents in the summer holidays. We both have fond memories of those holidays and thought it’d be worth a try with our own children.
After lots of researching and various debates over driving vs. flying, how far to fly for Miss S’s first (regular) flight (her first being a medical aircraft to bring her back home from the Middle East!), how much further we’d be prepared to drive the other side, etc., we found a nice little campsite in Lake Garda, Italy. EasyJet had flights operating from Bristol to Venice which would mean around two hours driving either end. After also speaking to EasyJet’s special assistance team we felt reassured all would be taken care of…perfect! The kids were then excitedly watching the cheesy Eurocamp video on loop!
Tip: We booked our holiday in February for August. There was plenty of availability but we found that prices got cheaper the later in August you travelled. We got a great price for the last week of August, which meant we would still get home in time for the school term starting (with a day to spare…i.e. a day washing / ironing etc!!) AND I could spend my birthday in Lake Garda, an added little bonus!
We discovered later however, that our Eurocamp booking didn’t go quite as smoothly as we thought…all the best laid plans and all that! What it did teach us however, was a lesson in checking, double checking AND checking once more. We were lead to believe we were booking an accessible site when we booked up the Weekend campsite. Why wouldn’t we when Eurocamp’s website clearly stated it was an ‘accessible’ site?! A couple of months before we were due to travel and our balance was due, we called Eurocamp with a couple of queries. Whilst on the phone we thought we would just confirm that there was a ramp up to the static caravan to get Miss S in. When we were told no and in fact we would also not be able to park next to our home for the week, we questioned how the site could be advertised as accessible. We were told parts of the site WERE accessible to wheelchair users, but the ACCOMODATION was NOT!!!! We were furious that they advertised themselves as accessible when clearly the most important element, the accommodation, was NOT! We asked where we would stand with cancelling and were told we would lose our deposit. The service we received from this point and our following phone calls over the next few days, was horrendous. Eventually after kicking up enough of a fuss we were passed on to a wonderful gentleman, Duty Manager Chris, who could not have done more to help us resolve the problem aside from coming and physically using himself as a ramp to get Miss S in and out the accommodation! We still wanted to continue with our Eurocamp plans but the only fully accessible Eurocamp parks are in France and funnily enough, their most expensive parks going! We decided to offer a compromise that if they could find us an alternative site where we could park next to our accommodation, then we would make it work this time, whilst Miss S was small enough to carry in and out from the car or transfer from her wheelchair. Chris offered us a few campsites and we decided on the Bella Italia site at Peschiera del Garda. It was a much larger site (and actually cost a lot more than our original booking) but Chris discounted the holiday down so we still paid the same. We were really pleased to be back on track with our Italy plans and were able to get excited about it again and start planning some more. In bringing this (pretty big) problem to Eurocamp's attention, the campsite is no longer advertised as 'accessible' and instead has the following blurb under accessibility, which in my opinion is still a bit ambiguous but is better than it was so I guess that's a win?!
From Eurocamp's website...
From Eurocamp's website...
Accessibility
- This parc is suitable for customers in wheelchairs. Wheelchair-adapted accommodation is only available on selected parcs, please check before booking.
- The following areas of the parc are wheelchair friendly:
- Bar
- Pool area
- Reception
- Restaurant
- Sanitation blocks
- Shop
- There are disabled toilets on site
- Access is available in the pools
- Means of accessing the pool:
- Sloped entry into the water
Bristol Airport
Seeing flights depart to over 125 destinations all over the UK and Europe as well as further afield such as Egypt, Morrocco, the USA and Caribbean, Bristol has a lot to offer away from the larger London airports.
In terms of accessibility for disabled passengers, Bristol is 1 of 10 UK airports rated as ‘Good’ (16 are rated as ‘very good’, 3 ‘needs improvement’ and 1 airport rated as ‘poor’ (Manchester!) so this was also a selling point! Gatwick, one of our largest London airports, seeing a huge amount of footfall every year, was rated as 'needs improvement'. This was another selling point to use a more local airport which is also better meeting disabled passengers needs! You can see the full Accessibility report here –
With around 10,000 disabled passengers making use of Bristol airport every month, they are doing well but obviously there’s still room for even further improvement to be rated as ‘very good’ and absolutely meet all passengers needs. You’ll find out about our EasyJet experience in part two.
Parking:
For ease, we pre-paid for our parking at the closest airport car park, the ‘Premium’ long stay situated across the road from the terminal. Upon arrival we quickly realised that the only thing ‘Premium’ about this car park was the price!!! It was quite a small, outdoor car park when we had expected it to be at least under cover and it was very difficult to get a space…not great when you need to leave your car for a week and get luggage, children and car seats out. Miss S is a Blue Badge holder, therefore what we were really after was a disabled space…no chance! There were only a few disabled bays in the car park and they were all taken. It was chucking it down too which was just bad luck but it added further annoyance to our difficulty getting in a space and unloading. It was one of few times we were quite pleased to take advantage of someone else’s laziness in the form of a dumped airport trolley. We had numerous bags, car seats and a specialist seat to carry so this at least made things easier.
We have since found out that as a blue badge holder you can gain 30 minutes free access in the Express Drop Off car park which could possibly have made things somewhat easier but wouldn’t have completely solved the issue of parking the car in the Premium car park following this.
Toilet/changing facilities:
I was aware that the airport had a Changing Places facilities. I queried this at the information desk and we were shown down to the facility so we could change Miss S. I was disappointed to learn that there are only Changing Places facilities prior to security nothing air side. Upon querying this with Bristol airport via Twitter, they advised that all passengers requiring the facility can be taken back through to use it before boarding their flight. This isn’t ideal but at least there is a facility to use and a plan should it need to be used.
The airport’s cleaning staff need a little educating however on the importance of access to disabled toilet. After dashing Master S to the toilet just after our arrival at the airport, we discovered the cleaner was directing EVERYONE to the ONE disabled toilet to make life easier for her to clean. After highlighting the fact that this would prevent a disabled person being able to access the facility for whom it is intended, she was not in the slightest bit bothered and carried on. Needless to say, Master S and I proceeded to use the regular toilet anyway, much to her annoyance!
Eating / shopping:We found a couple of coffee shops (Starbucks and Soho), an American inspired grill and bar, another serving ‘pub grub’, a more upmarket wine/craft beer bar, a sandwich shop and a Burger King. Along with all this was the Aspire lounge. We looked at the lounge longingly but after being informed it would cost around £100 for us (and we couldn’t stay long), we thought better of it and chose something else. The kids were happier with their Burger King kids meals anyway!
Accomodation:
If you are travelling further afield than we were, the Hampton by Hilton is located 250m away from the terminal via a direct walkway. The hotel offers accessible rooms with a roll in shower and the option of adjoining room.
Read part two: 'Easy Peasy CheesyJet…or so we hoped! 'and part three: 'We made it and it was Bellissimo!', now.
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