Another first ever trip....to book or not to book

janeerica

janeerica

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I'm a newbie
Bought our first ever motorhome in the autumn and have driven quite a few miles to get the hang of it (at the cost of two broken rear lights, one each side!) but for various reasons have yet to spend the night in it! Jumping in the deep end and booking Eurotunnel for a month or six weeks in France and Spain leaving in early June. Reached old age without ever having camped/caravanned or motorhomed before, and having made the decision am now feeling distinctly nervous about everything - fear of the totally unknown. My husband never worries about anything and so I have to do it for us both!!! My question is, since we are outside the school holidays will we be ok not booking anything? I am reluctant to book as it kinda takes out the spontainiety of the trip, which it seems to me is the whole point of the expedition, and I will no doubt be consulting guide books as to what to see en route right up to the last minute!!! Regards Jane
 
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We booked a site once, we found that having made commitment to be at a certain place at a certain time puts pressure on you when you should be relaxing and enjoying the journey. The only thing we book now is the crossings, then we have two or three intended routes worked out depending on the weather. Once we arrive in France, we make a decision and follow one of the prepared routes or do something entirely different!
 
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If you have never camped or caravanned before, why not go on a short practice trip in this country first? It will give you the chance to see how everything works and may flag up items you need to take or ones you can manage without?
 
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calion said:
If you have never camped or caravanned before, why not go on a short practice trip in this country first?
Click to expand...

Boring !

Nothing they can't sort out easily in France. France has proper job hypermarkets which also sell cheap fuel.
 
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hilldweller said:
Boring !

Nothing they can't sort out easily in France. France has proper job hypermarkets which also sell cheap fuel.
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Yes, in red/white & rose!
Some sell diesel for the van!

Relax, enjoy... France is fantastic for motorhoming.
Get the aires books before leaving, good road map and let the GPS do the final 5 kms.
 
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I agree with Brian (hilldweller) the French Aires book is a must. No need to book just pick an Aires and go for it. If you see something interesting on the way.....stop there and chose another Aire. Simples!!!
Good luck with your first trip. I'm Sure you will enjoy it as you have the right spirit. (y)

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What I would suggest is have a short trip here in the UK before you go to France. Even one night away might reveal something you are missing! But as others have said, no need to book.
 
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DevonBeekeeper said:
What I would suggest is have a short trip here in the UK before you go to France. Even one night away might reveal something you are missing! But as others have said, no need to book.
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Theonlysue said:
If you can, camp outside your home for a couple of nights.
Then you'll find out what you've forgotten lol
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As you have never camped at all agree with the above
 
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Get the Aires book and park4night app and France Aires app for your tablet or phone then when you are ready to stop get them up on your tablet and they tell you the nearest one to you and all the others at farther distance then you can check which looks the best in your book .when you have decided ,click on the one you like and your tablet will guide you to the gate, no need for sat nav or any planing , just go, simples
 
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France?... Yes! Easy? ...Yes! First time ever camping?................ I would suggest a couple of trips in the UK first, it will be easier to put your mind at ease in your own land and your mother tongue (unless of course you are French or French speaking!).

You mentioned fear of the unknown............. do a couple of short trips and you will be good to go (y) (unless of course you find you hate it!!).

:D

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Thank you all for that - most reassuring - I've ordered the Aires books this afternoon, and arranged to sleep in my friend's drive over Easter - well in the motorhome in my friend's drive down in Somerset, which is a bit of a cop out, but her brother can help with a couple of mods I want done (outside shower for muddy dog being one vital one !!) Will check out the ASCI book too, and download the two apps Chaser suggested which sound good. Can't wait !!
 
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chaser said:
Get the Aires book and park4night app and France Aires app for your tablet or phone then when you are ready to stop get them up on your tablet and they tell you the nearest one to you and all the others at farther distance then you can check which looks the best in your book .when you have decided ,click on the one you like and your tablet will guide you to the gate, no need for sat nav or any planing , just go, simples
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What a superb app park4night is, a million thanks for sharing.
After loading it and watching it populate the area in North france was amazing.
Maybe that listed in our resources would be an idea.
MH fun...... What can I say... The best (y)
 
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Couple of good bit of advice up there - I would certainly try a few weekends in GB first. Don't be afraid of the language, my extremely poor schoolboy French gets me through most things (except when I tried explaining hat the cam belt on my car has broken and the car is towing a caravan some years ago before I saw the light!)

Go out and enjoy it!
 
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All sounds very inspiring ..we also pick our new motor home up in 2 days..as complete newbies we plan to take a few short breaks first in this country before setting off on an adventure further a field ... Can't wait .
 
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Well as complete MH newbies, we had three 'local' trips (50 miles or so from home) to see (a) how everything worked and (b) to see what we thought we needed was accurate and to discover what we actaully needed and hadn't brought. Of course every list is dependent on season and location one is travelling to but there are plenty of packing lists out there to help get started.
I'm with you all the way on the spontenaiety thing, but we found the practice trips reassuring.

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We did out first (and only) trip to France last year for two weeks after buying MH.
Advice on a couple of short breaks is spot on. Will teach you what you need a more importantly don't need.

Here are my tips

  • Don't take too much, you can always buy in French supermarkets. They are cheap and easy.
  • They don't sell "proper" cider. If you like your cans of Strongbow or Stoford Press on a sunny evening, make room for them before you leave.
  • Get the Aires book.
  • Get a sat nav with French maps, make sure they are up to date and learn how to correctly program gps coordinates. The Aires book gives you spot on gps but there are two ways of entering them. Make sure you get it right. Normally if you get it wrong it's hundreds of miles off but in Ireland it took us 20 miles wrong into the middle of a peat farm in Doolin.
  • Make sure all your appliances that run on gas work and you know how to use them. Take full gas bottles ( yes two). Finding gas in France might be difficult and you'll need gas for the fridge and water on Aires as most do not have ehu.
  • Make sure your leisure battery is a good one, think about solar panels, we didn't have them but lack of battery power on Aires is a pain.
  • Split your trip between Aires and campsites. Aires are great but very basic with no facilities. Sometimes a little comfort to break this up is nice.
  • If you need Internet, get something like the 3 SIM card as the data is free in Europe. You can buy a month pay as you go for about £25
  • Get a credit card that does not charge for overseas transactions. We got a post office card and got a better exchange rate that we would if we changed cash. You can use this almost everywhere.
  • Don't get stressed if you can't find space on an Aire, there is always one a couple of K's down the road.
  • Make sure you know what documents you need to have with you. Get the AA France kit with bulbs, hi-vis etc.hopefully you won't need it but it's a legal requirement.
Now places to go, very personal so here's where I really liked.

  • Dinan. Nice town with history, on a nice river. There is an Aire there, we stayed in a campsite just up the road in Taden, wife would only do 2 nights in Aire before she wanted big showers and swimming pool and bar/restaurant.
  • La Rochelle. Loved it, stayed on the park and ride Aire as the port one was busy and noisey. Park and ride Aire parking comes with park and ride ticket into centre and runs late into the night. Fantastic place, the harbour in the evening with the music and stalls reminded me of La Rambler in Barcelona but without the lookie men selling cheap tat everywhere.
  • Saint Emillion. Wine wine wine wine wine.... Stayed at Yelloah campsite. Was holidays so full of kids but nice pool and restaurant.
  • Biarritz. Where all the beautiful people go...... We could not get on the Aire in Biaritz but it was crap anyway, we found one up the road in Onglet. Was right on the beach, there are bars and restaurants just down the road and a bus service into Biaritz, we have a scooter so did not need the bus but being on the beach made up for it and Biaritz is a nice place to visit but not stay. Too expensive in the centre.
Most importantly, enjoy France, it's great.
 
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Can't really add to all the above great advice,
You will have a brilliant time in France, THE place for a motorhome :france:
 
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It might be an idea to see if you can tag along with someone else going that way. Or possibly look at the camping and caravan club who do escorted tours.
Once you've overcome your initial worries you're going to be fine and you'll be counting the days to your next holiday.
A few days away in the UK would be essential though to get to know your van properly and how it works when "living" in it.
(Esp with a wet dog .. we reccomend a doggy bag)
 
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While i agree theres nothing available in uk you cant get in france i would definitley do a shake down trip close to home, problems are easier to solve at home
 
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Spawn_e_git said:
We did out first (and only) trip to France last year for two weeks after buying MH.
Advice on a couple of short breaks is spot on. Will teach you what you need a more importantly don't need.

Here are my tips

  • Don't take too much, you can always buy in French supermarkets. They are cheap and easy.
  • They don't sell "proper" cider. If you like your cans of Strongbow or Stoford Press on a sunny evening, make room for them before you leave.
  • Get the Aires book.
  • Get a sat nav with French maps, make sure they are up to date and learn how to correctly program gps coordinates. The Aires book gives you spot on gps but there are two ways of entering them. Make sure you get it right. Normally if you get it wrong it's hundreds of miles off but in Ireland it took us 20 miles wrong into the middle of a peat farm in Doolin.
  • Make sure all your appliances that run on gas work and you know how to use them. Take full gas bottles ( yes two). Finding gas in France might be difficult and you'll need gas for the fridge and water on Aires as most do not have ehu.
  • Make sure your leisure battery is a good one, think about solar panels, we didn't have them but lack of battery power on Aires is a pain.
  • Split your trip between Aires and campsites. Aires are great but very basic with no facilities. Sometimes a little comfort to break this up is nice.
  • If you need Internet, get something like the 3 SIM card as the data is free in Europe. You can buy a month pay as you go for about £25
  • Get a credit card that does not charge for overseas transactions. We got a post office card and got a better exchange rate that we would if we changed cash. You can use this almost everywhere.
  • Don't get stressed if you can't find space on an Aire, there is always one a couple of K's down the road.
  • Make sure you know what documents you need to have with you. Get the AA France kit with bulbs, hi-vis etc.hopefully you won't need it but it's a legal requirement.
Now places to go, very personal so here's where I really liked.

  • Dinan. Nice town with history, on a nice river. There is an Aire there, we stayed in a campsite just up the road in Taden, wife would only do 2 nights in Aire before she wanted big showers and swimming pool and bar/restaurant.
  • La Rochelle. Loved it, stayed on the park and ride Aire as the port one was busy and noisey. Park and ride Aire parking comes with park and ride ticket into centre and runs late into the night. Fantastic place, the harbour in the evening with the music and stalls reminded me of La Rambler in Barcelona but without the lookie men selling cheap tat everywhere.
  • Saint Emillion. Wine wine wine wine wine.... Stayed at Yelloah campsite. Was holidays so full of kids but nice pool and restaurant.
  • Biarritz. Where all the beautiful people go...... We could not get on the Aire in Biaritz but it was crap anyway, we found one up the road in Onglet. Was right on the beach, there are bars and restaurants just down the road and a bus service into Biaritz, we have a scooter so did not need the bus but being on the beach made up for it and Biaritz is a nice place to visit but not stay. Too expensive in the centre.
Most importantly, enjoy France, it's great.
Click to expand...
What fantastic advice @Spawn_e_git ! I wish we had all that info when we first crossed the channel! We love France:france: and even after years or travelling there still find new places as well as favourites! Thankyou!
 
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