Camping in Ticino

Any recommendations for decent campsites in Ticino? It'll be our first time camping with the kids (who will then be nearly 3 and 5.5) so we want decent facilities (hot showers, little restaurant/shop) and ideally with a pool and/or lake. 3-4 hour drive from vevey is ok.

We are thinking of going at the end of May - I'm presuming it'll be warm enough for lake swimming / shorts & t-shirts then, or am being naive?? We figured South would be warmer...

Bump

Looking too now. Did you come up with anything interesting? Thought we'd go for a Deluxe Family pod in the TCS Muzanno but it's full up. Only basic pods left & as everyone in this world will end up in a plain wooden box one day, it's a bit off-putting. Want easy toilet access before I no longer have a choice.

The sites in the area look like they are in the 1970s. Rather irritating mix of languages on the web sites as some are only in German which is strange in an Italian speaking area but himself reckons that is because they attract Swiss Germans or Germans.

https://www.tcs.ch/fr/camping-voyage...es-de-camping/

https://www.google.ch/search?q=campi...&ie=&oe=#spf=1

Lake swimming will still be cool in May, I recommend you go south of Pisa, but be aware the railway is noisy at night, so choose carefully.

I have been camping with a tent and daughter 3 times here in Cecina, highly recommended! http://www.camping.it/en/toscana/mareblu/

We used to take a cold breakfast and lunch, and eat out for dinner. If you can afford it, rent a chalet, it results in a much easier life!

If you are used to decent UK sites you may be in for a shock, most (not all) Swiss sites are half full of statics crammed in and looking awful, touring pitches crammed together with little space between them and most facilities basic.

Camping Delta in Locarno has lake and river nearby, and is close to the regional bathing centre which has pools, you can go even if it's raining and cold (there is a thermal pool with indoor access).

There is also a nice campsite in Lugano, somewhat pricey for a camp, but it is close to water and train station.

https://www.tcs.ch/de/camping-reisen...rte/lugano.php

If you drive a bit down to Italy lago maggiori you will find many places.

Answering go to Italy when someone is looking for a place to stay in Ticino is like telling someone to go to Annecy when they want to visit Geneva. Off topic, wrong country.

We abandoned the idea of camping for various reasons & went to a hotel called Vedeggio in Isone. It’s a little way up in the mountains away from the hustle & bustle of the tourist track. They are extremely welcoming & no one will ever starve to death there! The waitress speaks English & the owner French, as well as Italian. It has an American BBQ weekend special menu as well as the usual local dishes. We will investigate the campsites on another trip.

Yep, first time camping with kids on a mountain lake in May is not a good start.

It's now the end of may and not very warm, it is sunny, but not warm.

If you have to go this week, go south of Pisa. Otherwise stay at home, your children won't thank you for a freezing week in Ticino.

http://www.meteocentrale.ch/en/europ...78/#2017-05-26

This week a strong wind will make the weather feel very cool in Lugano. it will be pleasant enough, but get out of the wind.

You need to get away from the mountains of Switzerland to go outside in the water, otherwise keep wearing the jacket and jeans.

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Ok so we're going to try the Tenero area.

Weather looks great (26-29 degrees) for the next week at least so I reckon we'll be ok. As long as it's dry we'll be happy to be honest.

I'll report back!

lol, it was 28 degrees today

ho ho ho, she isn't there yet, and she wanted to swim in mountain lakes...

29 around here.

Tom

But the lake water was cold, wasn't it?

http://meteonews.ch/en/Article/Lakes/CH/en

also, it can rain a lot near the mountains in June.

No, not at all.

We were in the lake on Sunday to inspect a boat my wife is hoping to buy, and the water was reasonably warm.

Tom

The weather is beautiful, and yes the lake is a bit chilly but the kids don't care!

Does anyone know if a pub in this area which will show the FA Cup final on Saturday? My husband is very keen not to miss it......

Camping on the shores of Lake Maggiore is good, and just over the boarder into Italy (so a bit cheaper).

We just came back from a short 2 day glamping trip to Campofelice in Tenero. Usually the place rents for a minimum stay of a week but someone cancelled and we were able to get a last minute rental through booking.com.

It was fantastic and exactly what we were looking for as a treat for our 9 year old visiting nephew. We ended up with a bungalow with 3 small bedrooms and 2 bathrooms (toilet and shower box) . It was super clean and spotless with a ceran field for cooking, all cooking utensils and a full sized fridge and air conditioning.

Activities for kids --- our nephew loved the acqa park with giant floaties in the lake and the playground with a mini zip line. There is a small mini market on site and the big Coop inside a shopping mall was a 10 minute walk away. Pizzeria on site was delicious -- we ate once at the restaurant and one time take-away.

Great area for bike rides, and activities for kids such as SUP, archery, ping pong, etc. SUP and Archery classes were for children 10 yrs and up.

website:

http://www.campofelice.ch/?lang=en

So many possibilities... you can rent a caravan, a bungalow, bring your own tent and rent a plot.... the camping grounds are pristine and well-kept.

Pricey but worth it.

Some friends of mine stayed in the TCS camping site in Agno last year, they said it was really good.