Advice and tips for an apprentice FLT

[WESTY66]

Hi all, I am due to set off for Croatia for a three week trip (I know it’s not long enough but I’m still working to pay all your pensions) and im getting a bit twitchy with everything that’s going off (won’t get paid if I have to self isolate on return) so I am planning a plan B,C,D etc.
Last resort I will go to France, I have read the trips from Lenny HB And DBK etc, and I’m just struggling with the concept of just “setting off“ With no place to aim for or rest my head. After years of touring on the Harley I’ve always had a destination to aim for with a hotel in the vicinity. The problem is I have an uncanny knack of stopping off somewhere be it for a coffee or the night somewhere crap and round the corner is usually something 100 times better.
How do you guys find all these wonderful canal side free aires and interesting places to stay? All tips and recommendations will be gratefully received, bear in mind that eventually I want to aspire to be the ultimate FLT for when I retire

 

[Just smiffy]

The apps... park4night, Campercontact and searchforsites.... but in Croatia wild camping is illegal but some places are quite
Campsite are cheep but don’t know about this time of the year, I went spring time and had one of my best trips along the coast...

I headed for lake bled first of all and went from there along the coast...
As usual for me I had plenty of time and for me was no tolls or vignettes...
Have a great time..

 

[WESTY66]

Sorry Just smiffy i should have made myself a bit clearer, I have a site booked in Croatia (I know that’s contradictory for a FLT but I know wild camping is forbidden there) I was mainly after tips for France, I just don’t know where to go or what to look for other than WW1+2 sites (done em) and area round St Tropez (been, but would revisit) hence the ask for tips etc mainly for France

 

[Just smiffy]

Sorry Just smiffy i should have made myself a bit clearer, I have a site booked in Croatia (I know that’s contradictory for a FLT but I know wild camping is forbidden there) I was mainly after tips for France, I just don’t know where to go or what to look for other than WW1+2 sites (done em) and area round St Tropez (been, but would revisit) hence the ask for tips etc mainly for France

Hmmm, you will be a bit short of time if your wandering around France before getting to Croatia....? How long do you intend to stay in Croatia..?

 

[thebriars]

Croatia has a rising rate of CV and is on the watchlist for removing from the exemption list as Spain has just been. This means you may have to self isolate on return to the UK.

If you have been to the WW1 and WW2 sites check out the Verdun area of France, just as much to see as in the UK sector of WW1, with some spectacular forts.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Figaro]

With three weeks you're going to want to make a swift transit through France / Switzerland / Italy. Just plot a route and use the apps mentioned to find a stop over.
Metz has a good aire. Lake Lucernne has a fab aire on a lakeside marina close to beautiful town.
Lots of Sostas in Italy around the lakes depending on your route.

 

[WESTY66]

Hmmm, you will be a bit short of time if your wandering around France before getting to Croatia....? How long do you intend to stay in Croatia..?

Aaaarrrgghhhhh sorry again Just smiffy Im only going to France if I can’t go to croatia for whatever reason, lockdowns, quarantines etc. If all goes well I’m going to Croatia via Eurotunnel, Belgium, (Luxembourg???) Germany, Austria, Slovenia Croatia but I realise it’s a bit optimistic at the moment
France is a last resort

 

[Figaro]

Ah, France then, just use the apps, lots of choices. You can filter aires to just those that appeal, lakeside / forest / town etc

 

[Just smiffy]

Aaaarrrgghhhhh sorry again Just smiffy Im only going to France if I can’t go to croatia for whatever reason, lockdowns, quarantines etc. If all goes well I’m going to Croatia via Eurotunnel, Belgium, (Luxembourg???) Germany, Austria, Slovenia Croatia but I realise it’s a bit optimistic at the moment
France is a last resort

To be honest for just 3wks and I say that in jest for someone who works.. I’d probably stick to France and have a less stress free holiday.... Croatia isn’t going anywhere and it deserves a lot more time there and when you see it there you will kick yourself for not staying longer....

France is great and lots of things to do and see... bonus is it’s ideal for FLT...

 

[Just smiffy]

Plus you need to travel around Croatia... a few days here and there, not staying at one site ....

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[FIDGET]

Hi, if you stay in France , or where ever , make sure you have mifi or phone , ie internet , if you can't sort yourself out a suitable aire on camper contact or similar , then just ask away on here , I'm sure one of the regulars will come up with a good spot they can recommend near you ,
Terry

 

[suavecarve]

Sorry Just smiffy i should have made myself a bit clearer, I have a site booked in Croatia (I know that’s contradictory for a FLT but I know wild camping is forbidden there) I was mainly after tips for France, I just don’t know where to go or what to look for other than WW1+2 sites (done em) and area round St Tropez (been, but would revisit) hence the ask for tips etc mainly for France

I ve got 23,500 sites (mostly free) in Europe which have been downloaded onto maps.me

If you have maps.me and wanted them. A message to me requesting them and then i can text or whattsapp them to you.
I think what happens from there is you are given a choice of opening the attachment with maps.me and they magically appear on your app.
I ll add a screenshot or 2 in a minute

 

[suavecarve]

Also the beauty of maps.me is you use it without wifi but still have gps and it zooms in superbly. Use it as a sat nav or walking or cycling and its free

 

[suavecarve]

This Gravelines aire zoomed right in with footpath showing

 

[WESTY66]

Just putting it on my phone, it’s asking to download regions of whichever country, is that right? Can’t you just download the whole country? I’ll be here for hours

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[suavecarve]

Just putting it on my phone, it’s asking to download regions of whichever country, is that right? Can’t you just download the whole country? I’ll be here for hours

You shouldnt download a whole country unless you need it.
I downloaded the whole lot once then got rid of it and reuploaded.
If you do want to download the whole lot, that is a lot of memory you are using.

When planning from home I use search for sites, when away I use maps.me for quick referencing

 

[Landy Andy]

You can get to Croatia in a couple of days.
You need to pick what sort of adventure you want.
We only have limited holidays like yourself, but have managed Croatia 3 times, but you will struggle to ”see” Croatia AND tour France in the same trip.

 

[suavecarve]

Just putting it on my phone, it’s asking to download regions of whichever country, is that right? Can’t you just download the whole country? I’ll be here for hours

I should also add that when you have it and you zoom in, it asks you if you want to download that area. You can click yes or zoom out and move to another area.
Always best to download when you have wifi but doesnt take up much of your GB allowance for different areas.
We also use it to mark where we have left the motorbike in major towns as easy to get lost. Then just use the "route to" by foot and it takes us back. Good for searching tourist information parking toilets etc and using footpaths as you can see where you are in the middle of forests and then notice a belvedere to look from. Its an all round good tool in my view

 

[thebriars]

That purple aire in the middle is superb.

 

[DBK]

I find the DK Eyewitness Guide books perfect for getting ideas for places to go. This is the one for France but you can find second hand copies of older editions at cheaper prices and they will be fine. France hasn't changed that much.

Amazon product ASIN 0241365368
www.amazon.co.uk/DK-Eyewitness-Travel-Guide-France/dp/0241365368

DK also do one called Backroads France.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[WESTY66]

I ve got 23,500 sites (mostly free) in Europe which have been downloaded onto maps.me

If you have maps.me and wanted them. A message to me requesting them and then i can text or whattsapp them to you.
I think what happens from there is you are given a choice of opening the attachment with maps.me and they magically appear on your app.
I ll add a screenshot or 2 in a minute

Thanks for that, if we ever meet I’ll get the beers

 

[Howard H]

1. Thanks for that, if we ever meet I’ll get the beers

   That will be a first

 

[WESTY66]

1. 
   That will be a first

I’ve offered you many a beer you tart

 

[Howard H]

Offering and giving are very different

 

[bobandjanie]

My advice is stick to France loads of Aires to choose from travel as far as you wish, Croatia is a long way but we liked it at first but it got so busy with cruise ships coach tours plus we live 150m from the mediterranean sea, and our beaches are better.

Can't advise on flt but we left Spain on the 24th July and up until today spent €9 then today we lost the plot and doing two nights €18 with electric. Bob.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Just smiffy]

Also the beauty of maps.me is you use it without wifi but still have gps and it zooms in superbly. Use it as a sat nav or walking or cycling and its freeView attachment 412101View attachment 412102

And I thought my google maps collection of Aires was impressive....... I need to get out more...

 

[WESTY66]

Offering and giving are very different

The reason I “offered” it to you is because I was unsure whether it was too strong for you??

 

[suavecarve]

Just an update about sending my files.
It has basically mucked up my phone.
I am as certain as i can be that this is my incompetence at storage and i have been trying to clean up.
I managed to succesfully send 4,000 to WESTY66 who got them onto the map and was going to send him another 14,000 (I only have 18,000 for some reason) but i cant at the moment.
I am fairly certain that i have the files saved in the correct format on my old laptop so they are not lost, (yet)
I just have to wait for a tech savvy member of staff to mend my phone so i can download maps.me again.
So to those who are awaiting them, You hav enot been forgotten and i have to make a work around.

 

[PhilandMena]

It's not quite correct that FLT's never use campsites or paid facilities. We all, including me use them when it suits. Safe Travels.

 

[PhilandMena]

I ve got 23,500 sites (mostly free) in Europe which have been downloaded onto maps.me

If you have maps.me and wanted them. A message to me requesting them and then i can text or whattsapp them to you.
I think what happens from there is you are given a choice of opening the attachment with maps.me and they magically appear on your app.
I ll add a screenshot or 2 in a minute

I'm another Maps.me convert. I have loads of booked marked free stops and exchange with other members. A great Sat Nav back up and superb when on foot in cities to get from a to b.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}