Self Help Motorhome Tours (1 Viewer)

Jim

Ringleader
Jul 19, 2007
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You’d be amazed at how many times I’m asked if we arrange tours for our members. It seems there are many people too nervous to cross the channel. So many in fact that I’m sure If I started a touring company taking them there we could make a few quid. Except I don’t want to run a tour company, nor do I want to be a tour guide.

There are a couple of tour companies out there doing a good job but the costs are horrendous. So I thought I’d try a bit of our famous self-help.

I’ve made a Forum section here called Motorhome Tour Guides In that section you’ll be able to “advertise” for a tour guide or promote yourself as tour guide.

Tour guides can offer services for free, or ask to be reimbursed for expenses such as site fees and or fuel etc. However the actual financial arrangements should be kept private.

You might want to see Morocco or have a tour of Brittany, if you are prepared to reimburse some expenses you can say so in your advert.

Examples.
I’d like to go on a Brittany D Day Tour, I’ve never driven abroad and would happily pay re-imburse someones site fees if they are prepared to lead us.

Hi, I’ve been to Brittany many times and if anyone would like me to show them around for a week in September I’m available and would be happy to do it for free - For Fuel -site costs etc.

Of course, if you are going to use a guide it is up to you to satisfy yourselves of the guides suitability and ensure that you never part with any money before the tour has commenced. Motorhomefun cannot be responsible for any tour. We cannot recommend guides nor will we have any financial agreement with them.

The forum is here, I hope it brings a few of you together for some adventure.
 

Jaws

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I cannot help but feel going in a motorhome on an organised tour is something of an oxymoron :)

I do understand that folk are often scared to travel alone though.. It is just counter to what MH'ing means to Woman and me :)

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Don Quixote

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Jul 29, 2012
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Not long enough, but a little common sense helps..........
Perhaps for some it's not a tour they want, but a bit of company and guidance leaving the UK for the first time in their pride and joy. I would consider escorting a few through France or even Spain and back to UK. First time doing it can be for many a nightmare. Great idea Jim.
 

eddie

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Margaret Brannon, the lady that started Motorhome Ticket Club (MTC) use to take a couple of tours a year and was always incredibly busy.

She would work really hard, ferries booked, campsites booked, itineraries, local attractions booked, the lot!

A lot of people loved the idea that they just had to arrive at "XYZ" before lunch and then they would be doing such an such

Great idea Jim
 

PeteH

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Nov 22, 2007
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Margaret Brannon, the lady that started Motorhome Ticket Club (MTC) use to take a couple of tours a year

We went to Tropicana. 2003, with her group. I finished up being "lead" just behind the snow plough. Virtually all the way from San Sebastian to Pamplona! with about 8 or 10 Motor-homes following!!.

Any one out there remember that trip?

P.s. Subsequent to that we had 4 more occasions where we, even though travelling alone, "acquired" companions, usually after conversation on the Boat Crossing where we "led" for some part of Journey, usually the French section. We always made at least a 3day stop Near Biaritz just to recharge and a Couple of times at Park Verger. But others wished to push on.

Pete
 
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Khizzie

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I cannot help but feel going in a motorhome on an organised tour is something of an oxymoron :)

I do understand that folk are often scared to travel alone though.. It is just counter to what MH'ing means to Woman and me :)
I cannot help but feel going in a motorhome on an organised tour is something of an oxymoron :)

I do understand that folk are often scared to travel alone though.. It is just counter to what MH'ing means to Woman and me :)

Not quite on your own if there's two of you ,but a bit more daunting if you are a solo traveller...

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Bailey58

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We'd been abroad with a caravan more than once but was a bit cautious before our first trip with the van when it came to aires and bornes and the like. We crossed with @Loujess from Dover and after parking up at Marine Parade with them, where we'd heard of a few issues, we spent a couple of days on aires before leaving them to head west from Honfleur while we headed to Switzerland. We even wild camped in a wooded layby between Compiegne and Soissons on the way. :cautious:
 

Wombles

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Sounds like a good idea even if just for those going abroad for the first time (y) If tours don't take off straight away then it would be great to have a few more Fun rallies in France & beyond...
 

TerryL

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"Doing" Morocco this very minute with a small group - only €1500 a head (haven't told them yet:ROFLMAO:) Might have to do a runner tomorrow:sneaky:

See thread Morocco 2016.

But seriously, it's a great idea and it works.
 

Langtoftlad

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I'd certainly be interested in benefiting from other funsters experience, especially when off the beaten track.
The Insider view so to speak

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Snowbird

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Several years ago I was approached by the owner of a UK based MH hire company that sent there stock down to Malaga in the winter after the UK season had ended. He wanted me to organise tours of Morocco with his hire vans, flying customers into Malaga. This would have been a very lucrative enterprise and if I had been a bit younger I would have given it a go. After thinking about it for some time, I came to the conclusion that it would not be as simple as I first thought. These potential travellers would quite possibly have no idea how a MH worked as they were all hire vehicles. I did not relish the idea of emptying overflowing cassettes and wet nursing a dozen motorhomers around North Africa irrespective of how many chocolate bars came my way.
The problem I find with just two vans running together is that no two peoples bladder capacities are the same, and many other issues come into the picture. I suppose it would be easier with people that were used to motorhoming, but not a job to be taken on lightly.
 

sedge

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Oh, we hate convoys! - cars, motorbikes or motorhomes. OTOH it is nice to have a bit of company in the evening or when you get wherever so it's nice if you are travelling with fairly independent souls where you can decide together where the next overnight will be, but not actually follow one another or do the same things unless you happen to want to.

If nowt else in common, you have the journey to talk about - 'Did you two happen to see the ugly whatever?' 'Did you go through that village that had the fantastic whatever?' LOL

I have looked at itineraries for tours in the Club magazines from time to time. The actual places they go may well appeal to either or both of us - but the organised activities !!! Often every day and every evening - and when you do get a rest day, it's usually at somewhere that has no appeal whatever LOL

Carry on doing our own thing and arranging our own entertainment, or rather not arranging it, taking what happens to be available - if we want to - or not if we don't - and enjoying it !
 

laird of Dunstan

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part of the fun is getting lost ,it might not feel like it at the time,but it makes for a funny story in the pub afterwards:)

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Badknee

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Oh, we hate convoys! - cars, motorbikes or motorhomes. OTOH it is nice to have a bit of company in the evening or when you get wherever so it's nice if you are travelling with fairly independent souls where you can decide together where the next overnight will be, but not actually follow one another or do the same things unless you happen to want to.

If nowt else in common, you have the journey to talk about - 'Did you two happen to see the ugly whatever?' 'Did you go through that village that had the fantastic whatever?' LOL

I have looked at itineraries for tours in the Club magazines from time to time. The actual places they go may well appeal to either or both of us - but the organised activities !!! Often every day and every evening - and when you do get a rest day, it's usually at somewhere that has no appeal whatever LOL

Carry on doing our own thing and arranging our own entertainment, or rather not arranging it, taking what happens to be available - if we want to - or not if we don't - and enjoying it !

We loved the guided tour we went on that much in 1979 and we haven't been on one since. :rofl:
 

JockandRita

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We prefer to make our own way and meet up at the next destination.

Exchanging mobile numbers in case one of us needs help along the way, means that you don't altogether feel that you are your own, especially if you all agree beforehand, to use the same route. It's the last one bringing up the rear that dips out if they have a problem, unless another is contacted and turns back to assist. (y)

Cheers,

Jock. :)
 

PeteH

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I too, have an aversion to "convoys", although we did (as described earlier) actually join one of Margaret Brennan's in 2003. Largely because we where actually going on the rally anyway, but as well to do with thinkng backup with a new rig too, (Alcossebre). We have done in excess of 12,000 miles around the USA. On our own, just stopping where the Fancy takes you! is good, can be scary, but you only live once!

Go for it!! and if you are not sure the first time if you get the offer take up with convoy?. Once you get the confidence, you may well find you prefer solo travel (or not?).

(For Eddie Vanbitz:- Do you know what became of Margaret and her Husband?, I was told they had bought a "gite" in France, but beyond that they just seemed to have disappeared??).

Pete

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Khizzie

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I understand the feeling to do your own thing with out looking out for others ,I do this whilst in the UK and have done so in the USA when we hired a rv and drove from Colorado to key west..took two months doing it on our on and lived it.. But France I have not had the pleasure of yet and I would like to have company for a little while to show me the ropes .ie what to do Aires etc .what about parking up for shopping,getting and paying for fuel ,tolls etc ..i am not stupid just wary of upsetting the system and making an ass of myself..so for me a couple of days with another knowledgeable funster would reap great benefits..Roy
 

Clickem

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I also do not like the idea of travelling in a convoy, but perhaps there is scope for anyone who is willing to "buddy up" with someone who feels the need for a bit of help

So, if for example, someone was travelling down to Spain, they could offer their services and others interested could join up and they would keep in touch on the journey, follow the same route and meet up at night

We tend to do long distance journeys using pre-arranged stops so I suppose that the idea does not lend itself to those that like to use aires and stop where and when they like
 

hilldweller

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I don't mind acting as a guide.
It was due to @hilldweller 's Italian job that I first went abroad. Been loving it ever since :)

What sticks in our memory is abuse because I did not organise entertainment at the stops and just one person, chrisboyo, actually said thanks. Add in idiots who did not even bring a map and the experience was not to be repeated.

I do remember you and your map Sue.

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flatpackchicken

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Just done a mini convoy to Sicily and still here. Another Mher wanted to go to Sicily but was to apprehensive to go alone so I agreed to show the ropes all the way here and will now be quite confident and able to go home on own via a different route ie Sardinia Corsica and France. It does work as long as the other Mhers listen and take heed what you tell them.
Regards Flatpackchicken
 
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I am also in the no convoy camp, but quite willing to guide anyone through the tunnel and on to the motorway at the other end, and along to gravelines for a first experience of a good aire, and a start to a tour and would also be available on a meet you here basis, but I think following right behind someone is positively dangourous, it's bad enough driving on the wrong side and following unfamiliar signs without having to wonder where the leader has gone or if you will make the lights before they change, etc

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