Edward Hendriks
There are several Italian campsites that go by the name 'Continental', but the campsite we are discussing here is the one on Lake Mergozzo in Fondotoce di Verbania. This popular campsite is beloved by the Dutch and Germans and is located close to the popular Lake Maggiore.
We spent one week during the May holidays at this large campsite with many facilities. According to the ANWB, the campsite has about 330 pitches and another 300 rental accommodations (mainly mobile homes). During our stay, new accommodations for the new season were being placed right near our mobile home.
We booked directly through the campsite a few weeks ago, asking if they still had a nice off-season offer. In response, we were offered a €100 'Happy Spring discount'. The May holidays have been our favorite time to plan a vacation in Italy for years, as we are tied to the school holidays.
Moreover, late April/early May is often a great time to go sightseeing and do things in Italy. Not too hot, and often already nice weather. Of course, the weather is a bit less reliable in northern Italy (and certainly in the mountains), but we were willing to take that risk.
Since we are traveling with two teenagers, campsite facilities are quite important. There must always be a nice swimming pool, and preferably some other entertainment as well. We (and our children) have never really felt the need for animation, and the entertainment at Camping Continental is primarily aimed at young children. It is convenient for Dutch travelers, however, that the entertainment staff speaks Dutch even in this early season and organizes activities during the May holidays.
Arrival
Just as we crossed the border into Switzerland (and therefore only had a short drive left to the campsite), we received a call. It was the reception, asking what time we expected to arrive. It was already approaching 7:30 p.m., and the campsite had informed us in advance that the reception would be open until 8 p.m. (we were supposed to let them know if it would be later).
So a little later we arrived in Fondotoce at the Mergozzo Lake and we were able to check in. This was done in an extremely friendly manner. However, you do have to pay any outstanding balance within 2 days of arrival, so we just did that the very next day. The campsite requires a 100 euro cash deposit, which you get back upon departure. So it is handy to have some cash with you.
Incidentally, you cannot pay with cash at the campsite to buy an ice cream, a drink, or groceries. Instead, they use a so-called 'paycard' that you can top up with cash. This can be handy if you want to give it to your children so they can go get an ice cream or buy rolls at the campsite shop in the morning.
But you can also pay everywhere with your bank's debit card or Apple Pay/Google Pay. We accepted the paycard and topped it up a few times with cash (which you can withdraw from the ATM at the campsite).
The accommodation
We had rented a Maxi Caravan Comfort L, which is perfectly fine for 4 people. There is a spacious master bedroom, a children's bedroom with 3 beds (one of which is elevated), a small bathroom with a shower, toilet, sink, and hairdryer, and a combined living room/kitchen where there is also a television with Dutch and German channels.
The kitchen offers everything you need in a simple form. There are cups, glasses, cutlery, plates, and pans. There is also a standard filter coffee maker. If you want to use it, you need to bring size 4 filters and ground coffee, of course. But this can also be found in the campsite shop (just like virtually everything else you need).
There is no kettle, so if you drink tea, you have to boil water in a saucepan or bring your own solution. Incidentally, we used a self-brought one for the coffee. mocha jarYou might occasionally find a moka express or a percolator in rental accommodations, but not on Continental.
The mobile home was nice and clean and tidy. Blankets and pillows with pillowcases were ready. We hadn't booked a linen package, so we brought our own sheets. Incidentally, you don't get a duvet, but a fairly thin fleece blanket. Keep in mind that it can get quite cold at night in the Lake Maggiore area during the May holidays. I was warm enough myself, but if you get cold easily, you might want to bring your own blankets.
Facilities
There is plenty to do at the campsite itself. There is a bar at the small beach by the lake, a bar by the swimming pool, and a bar at the central building. Cocktails such as Hugo Spritz and Aperol Spritz, and 0,4 L beer cost €6. Sandwiches are also around that price. You can also get an affordable bite to eat at the restaurant (pizzas, hamburgers, pasta, steaks). The campsite shop has a fairly wide range of products, but naturally, you pay higher prices than in the supermarkets located a few minutes outside the grounds.
The rolls, by the way, are very affordable and tasty. In the morning, you can choose from various brioches filled with chocolate, pastry cream, or jam. You also have a choice of all kinds of cookies and pastries. And then there are the regular rolls and the baguettes. Just make sure you don't sleep in too long, because then the tastiest things will be gone.
At the center building, you will also find a large playground (renovated for the 2026 season). There are also various pool tables, arcade games, and pinball machines that you can pay for with tokens (which you can get from the machine with your paycard). You have free access to fast Wi-Fi in and around the center building.
The campsite comes across as very clean and tidy. Street sweepers drive through the campsite streets daily, and the toilet block we visited (S2, in the central building) was clean. Incidentally, during our stay, the finishing touches were being put on a renovation of the sanitary complex at the beach.
Swimming pool
The large swimming pool complex is one of the highlights of this campsite. For smaller children, there is a spray park with a soft bottom where even the little ones can enjoy playing with water. There is a water castle for slightly older children, as well as two additional slides for teenagers and adults.
However, do not expect a water paradise with various spectacular slides. For smaller children, however, this is a wonderful place. There are some loose tiles in the pool, around which barrier tape has been stretched. Hopefully, this will be resolved before the high season, as it looks untidy.
At the swimming pool complex, there is also an excellent gym where you can work up a sweat. It features various new machines from the well-known Italian fitness brand Technogym. For example, there are bikes, rowing machines, a chest press, a shoulder press, and a lat pulldown. The gym was open for three days during the weekend of May 1st. So, outside of the high season, you should bear in mind that the gym is closed.
During our stay, the weekend of May 1st fell, which officially marks the start of the summer season in Italy. May 1st is a public holiday in Italy, so many people head out in their campervans. The result was a veritable invasion of Italians onto the campsite, which had been quite quiet until then. However, the staff were clearly prepared for this, and everything went smoothly. By Sunday evening, most of the campsite was empty again.
Surroundings
Location-wise, you are well situated here. Lake Mergozzo is not large, but it is well-suited for swimming (the water is very clean) or taking a pedal boat or canoe. We rented canoes ourselves (you can pay with your paycard) and paddled to the beautiful town of Mergozzo. From Mergozzo, you can also go on various beautiful hikes through the mountainous nature surrounding the lake.
Lake Maggiore, with all its attractions, is just around the corner. In Verbania, you can visit the botanical gardens and also the magical Lake Orta It is also located nearby. If you have a bit more time, you can also take a day trip to Milan. All in all, this is a great location to spend a week or two without getting bored.
Checking out
To save on costs (€65), we had chosen to clean the mobile home ourselves. However, even if you order the final cleaning, you still have to at least dispose of the rubbish and clean the kitchenette. Since we all have a sports bag with our own clothes, everything was packed up and cleaned in no time.
We then drove to the reception, where we handed in the key and received the remaining balance back on the paycard. One of the managers at the reception was asked via walkie-talkie to check the mobile home. That was done in no more than 3 minutes, after which we received our deposit back and could head home. All in all, we had gotten a very positive impression of this popular but, for us, new campsite.
View Continental Camping Village on Vacanceselect
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