Jules Norton
Free Member
Hi all long time lurker first time poster.
Bit of back ground, we are a family of 4, 2 boys of 9 and 11.
We were going to have a loft conversion but opted to buy a motorhome and go on holiday instead! We've got an Autotrail Apache 700, we did lots of research before buying and read lots of posts etc about layout being key and not getting it right until the 3rd van but fingers crossed we've got it right time time will tell I suppose.
We got the van last august and have used it every month for at least a weekend away, 33 nights in it last year and up to 38 so far this year, not bad I think.
Anyway the trip.
Having been told France is THE PLACE we decided that should be our first foray into Europe.
We booked a campsite for 10 nights down beyond Bordeaux, we wanted to guarantee the weather which to a certain extent we did, and gave ourselves 2 days to get there and 2 days to get back.
First impressions is that France is MASSIVE. As we hail from Kent we went via Calais on the ferry, wife doesn't like the tunnel but I'm working on her.
So first night we ended up on an Aire in a village called Marboue right next to a park the obligatory bakers at the end of the road. €2 to fill with water and we were set. Having read on here that they do like to squeeze in on aires I was prepared for the tightness of the parking, but no issue, just don't expect caravan club spacing.
It felt safe though so all good.
We then moved on to Arcachon and parked up next to some other MHs in a layby near the beach not sure how legal that was but everyone else was there for the night it was free, not our main criteria but it helps! again felt safe.
We then moved on to our campsite by the side of Lac Leon which was nice, massive site and I understand why people aren't keen on big sites but it was fine for us. Paid extra for pitch by the lake which meant the kids could play in the lake in view. Lovely safe lake which was shallow up to about 200m away.
The return.
Stayed on an Aire in a town called Bayonne, this one was free! Plenty of other MHs
there, right next to river.
Then on to Gravelines via a closer view of Paris than I would of liked! I know we all complain about the M25 but I'd have liked it if Paris had something similar.
€7 for the night.
Plenty of others there but this is where we had our only issue.
Other than the migrants at Calais wine superstore sniffing round the van, luckily I had left the wife and kids inside and they had locked themselves in. I don't particularly have an issue with the migrants, they are obviously desperate to get here. I don't know what the answer is but that's a debate for other people to have.
Back to Gravelines, went out for a nice meal in the square came back went to bed all was ok. Got up in the morning to turn gas off and do a general check etc and noticed that my bike seat had been stolen, bugger. All the way through France with no issues mechanical, driving or otherwise and some little bugger nicks my seat on the last night. Soiled our memory of Gravelines but at least the bikes were locked on and a reminder to myself and others. We know it happened there because my wife heard something in the night but wasn't awake enough if you know what I mean.
In conclusion a successful trip.
We had joined France Passion and had expected to use them on the way down and back but found the Aires perfect for our needs. We may do a trip later in the year using FP but found we didn't need them this time.
We have spoken about doing a whole trip on Aires etc but seeing this was our first time we thought we needed to 'head' somewhere.
Although this is my first post I have used this site a lot and any questions I've had have always been answered, so thanks for that.
Thanks for reading, if it's in the wrong place feel free to move it.
Kind regards
George.
Bit of back ground, we are a family of 4, 2 boys of 9 and 11.
We were going to have a loft conversion but opted to buy a motorhome and go on holiday instead! We've got an Autotrail Apache 700, we did lots of research before buying and read lots of posts etc about layout being key and not getting it right until the 3rd van but fingers crossed we've got it right time time will tell I suppose.
We got the van last august and have used it every month for at least a weekend away, 33 nights in it last year and up to 38 so far this year, not bad I think.
Anyway the trip.
Having been told France is THE PLACE we decided that should be our first foray into Europe.
We booked a campsite for 10 nights down beyond Bordeaux, we wanted to guarantee the weather which to a certain extent we did, and gave ourselves 2 days to get there and 2 days to get back.
First impressions is that France is MASSIVE. As we hail from Kent we went via Calais on the ferry, wife doesn't like the tunnel but I'm working on her.
So first night we ended up on an Aire in a village called Marboue right next to a park the obligatory bakers at the end of the road. €2 to fill with water and we were set. Having read on here that they do like to squeeze in on aires I was prepared for the tightness of the parking, but no issue, just don't expect caravan club spacing.
It felt safe though so all good.
We then moved on to Arcachon and parked up next to some other MHs in a layby near the beach not sure how legal that was but everyone else was there for the night it was free, not our main criteria but it helps! again felt safe.
We then moved on to our campsite by the side of Lac Leon which was nice, massive site and I understand why people aren't keen on big sites but it was fine for us. Paid extra for pitch by the lake which meant the kids could play in the lake in view. Lovely safe lake which was shallow up to about 200m away.
The return.
Stayed on an Aire in a town called Bayonne, this one was free! Plenty of other MHs
there, right next to river.
Then on to Gravelines via a closer view of Paris than I would of liked! I know we all complain about the M25 but I'd have liked it if Paris had something similar.
€7 for the night.
Plenty of others there but this is where we had our only issue.
Other than the migrants at Calais wine superstore sniffing round the van, luckily I had left the wife and kids inside and they had locked themselves in. I don't particularly have an issue with the migrants, they are obviously desperate to get here. I don't know what the answer is but that's a debate for other people to have.
Back to Gravelines, went out for a nice meal in the square came back went to bed all was ok. Got up in the morning to turn gas off and do a general check etc and noticed that my bike seat had been stolen, bugger. All the way through France with no issues mechanical, driving or otherwise and some little bugger nicks my seat on the last night. Soiled our memory of Gravelines but at least the bikes were locked on and a reminder to myself and others. We know it happened there because my wife heard something in the night but wasn't awake enough if you know what I mean.
In conclusion a successful trip.
We had joined France Passion and had expected to use them on the way down and back but found the Aires perfect for our needs. We may do a trip later in the year using FP but found we didn't need them this time.
We have spoken about doing a whole trip on Aires etc but seeing this was our first time we thought we needed to 'head' somewhere.
Although this is my first post I have used this site a lot and any questions I've had have always been answered, so thanks for that.
Thanks for reading, if it's in the wrong place feel free to move it.
Kind regards
George.
