I'm just about to re-plan that bit of the trip.We don't really know them either, but we are still hoping to join in..... (maybe we're just mad!). And out of curiosity which route are you taking to Garda - we've got a strange one booked (tho' we are doing France via the N40 I think it is)
We went in August 2020 - and due to France (and others) being on the red list at the time, we headed straight for Germany and went Cologne -> Neuschwanstein -> Timmelsjoch -> Salo
The Timmelsjoch was ok - but the road on the other side in Italy was really tedious - it just took forever. I then ignored the Satnav and went north round Garda - massive mistake - it took over 2 hours to get about 12 km. We were staying in Salo and the road down the west side of the lake was totally rammed.
This year we're not going in August, so I am hoping the traffic will be better. We're definitely starting with an overnight ferry from Harwich -> Hook of Holland and the interim destination is definitely Salo - but that's all that's definite at the moment. I think it will be Germany & Austria. My wife would prefer that we got to Salo as quickly as possible and then spend any extra days there. I'm contemplating a stopover in Salzburg or possibly even a detour to Vienna. Planning the trip is all part of the fun