Lido Verbano Camping Village

The campsite's lakeside position was the best part for us, with lovely views and easy access to the water. Nearby, though, there wasn't much to see or do, and the facilities seemed worn out and in need of an upgrade. Our kids made great use of the excellent playground and football pitch. Check-in caused a problem because nobody told us we'd need to order sheets ahead of time. We only found out late, which was frustrating and could have been avoided with a quick reminder on arrival. The price also felt high for what was offered, especially compared with a better quality site we stayed at on Lake Garda.

We spent seven nights at Camping Lido Verbano as a family of four, with boys aged 10 and 13, in a maxi caravan. It was clean and well maintained, with surprisingly good insulation against both heat and noise. The air conditioning coped easily with a hot July week, the bathroom was modern, and the kitchen had everything we needed. The boys played football and tennis every day, and we all went paddleboarding and kayaking using the small, well-run rental hut by the beach. The beach stayed clean and never seemed crowded. The water was clear, with little fish and even some crayfish, which I take as a good sign of clean water. We'd read complaints that staff were rude, so I was waiting to see that for myself, but didn't get even a hint of it. I asked reception about those reviews on our last day and learned the staff had all changed in recent months. Everyone we met was friendly, polite, and helpful. The campsite also had a nice local feel from the permanent Italian residents. Other guests were mostly Dutch, French, and Italian, with a few German and Danish families, an easygoing mix. Our location rating is four stars because the area isn't great for walks unless you have a car, and we didn't. This is a three-star campsite, not the five-star hotels we usually prefer. Judged as a campsite, though, it deserves five stars. We made great memories here and would happily recommend this charming, down-to-earth place, especially to families with kids.

A really bad stay. I had four dealings with the staff and every one went badly. They made my wife and baby wait in 37° while sorting out paperwork, booked our pitch three times in one day, then sent us to a pitch that had already been occupied for five days. The neighbors said they'd run into the same problem earlier and had to move too. Staff also tried to hold my passport and use our deposit and prepayment to pressure us. Other campers told me they'd heard similar stories and that this kind of behavior was new, not something they'd experienced in previous years. Whenever we raised an issue, the response was rude and arrogant, with “it's our policy” as the excuse. The site has a mass-tourism feel, like profit is the main concern, and it lacks a family atmosphere. Loudspeaker announcements across the whole site made it feel like a prison. It's also only a few miles from Milan International Airport's runway, with commercial planes flying low overhead every five minutes just after takeoff. Huge mistake. Avoid!

We were there for the campsite's opening night of the 2025 season, and it was great that they were open so early. The family running it were super friendly and welcoming. We had bad weather, which isn't surprising in mid-March, but in warmer months this place looks like it would have everything for a family trip.