Hi, this summer we’re going to embark on our first motorhome adventure with our three children…five weeks around France and Spain. We’ve never been in a motorhome before but thought why not. We may or may come back still speaking! I’m looking at ferry crossings as we’d like to start in the north of France and then finish in Bilbao or Santander. The crossing back from Spain to the UK is way more expensive than we imagined but then it’s a long crossing I suppose! My question is, are Brittany ferries our only option for the return leg? I can’t find an alternative by googling. And if so does it pay to join BF or not worth it for only two journeys? Thanks for any advice? Lorna
First time motorhome adventure!
- Thread starter phippsl
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I don’t know the answers to the return crossing, but welcome and I hope you all have a fantastic trip!
We use the tunnel out, and have just used it to do “all” of northern France and are currently pootling down the Atlantic cost. Parked up tonight in a deserted vineyard in St Emillion.
Moho life is simply the best. Hope the kids love it.
We use the tunnel out, and have just used it to do “all” of northern France and are currently pootling down the Atlantic cost. Parked up tonight in a deserted vineyard in St Emillion.
Moho life is simply the best. Hope the kids love it.
- Nov 9, 2019
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Sapper520
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Hi and welcome to FUN. 
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Thank you! Perhaps this needs a separate post but is there a particular app that you use to find safe places to park overnight please? A friend recommended park4night but I then read that it’s not always accurate or current. The vineyard sounds perfect!
MisterB
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Have a look at the books called 'All the Aires' - they really are useful when planning to use Aires in France, Spain and Portugal, even more so if you can't get an internet connection or are low on data ( McDonald's is a good place to get free WiFi if needed)
Irrespective of which app you use or which book, when you arrive at your destination, you can always move on to a different location if you're not happy.
We use P4N and All the Aires and have never had an issue, we always plan to have around 3 potential stopovers for any area we visit in case our preferred option doesn't look suitable.
Take the time to loosely plan and read some of the blogs on the forum and you will get some great information on potential stopovers. You will also be able to see how they found the location whether it be via an app, book or lucky find. You tube is also a good source of information re stopovers at Aires. There are sections on this forum that might help provide additional first hand information on potential places to stopover/visit.
I would also add in a couple of stops at camp sites every now and again to use their facilities of showers, swimming pool, play areas for the children to let off some energy and washing machine facilities (though there are lots of public washing machines sited in supermarket carparks!)
Lots of forum members will be happy to share their Brittany Ferries discount code with you, so no need to join if you don't want to.
Best wishes and enjoy your travels.
I believe if you ask on here, someone will give you a code for BF which gives a bit of a discount, as stated above.
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TerryL
LIFE MEMBER
http://www.i-campingcar.fr/accueilcartes.htm Excellent site covering every aire in France with full details of each. It's in French of course but easy to follow.
Thank you all for taking the time to reply. We’ve booked the ferry crossings now so all systems go!
I’ll have a look at the resources suggested for finding places to stay.
The mention of WiFi made me think. Do people tend to just use mobile data when there is no WiFi available or is there something like a dongle that we could buy?
Also…and I’ll make this my last question!…the motorhome we’ll be in is big (Adria Coral Plus XL). We’ve heard of campervan sat nav where you can load the dimensions of your vehicle and it suggests routes that are accessible. Does anyone have experience of these and, if so, are they worth it? I have visions of being stuck in beautiful but tiny French village roads.
Thanks again, what a helpful site this is!
I’ll have a look at the resources suggested for finding places to stay.
The mention of WiFi made me think. Do people tend to just use mobile data when there is no WiFi available or is there something like a dongle that we could buy?
Also…and I’ll make this my last question!…the motorhome we’ll be in is big (Adria Coral Plus XL). We’ve heard of campervan sat nav where you can load the dimensions of your vehicle and it suggests routes that are accessible. Does anyone have experience of these and, if so, are they worth it? I have visions of being stuck in beautiful but tiny French village roads.
Thanks again, what a helpful site this is!
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I use searchforsites, there is an app but there is also a website, it's proved excellent so far. With regard to navigation i use copilot gps caravan version, this will allow you to enter your vehicle dimensions and weight, so far it hasn't sent me anywhere i shouldn't go. From the searchforsites app when you've found a place you want to stay, tap navigation options and chose which one you want to use, if you installed copilot it will be amongst your navigation choices and will take you to where you're going.
Edit: regarding wifi, i use a mifi device with a tesco mobile unlimited sim in it, this will allow you unlimited data in the uk and unlimited data in the eu for a maximum of two months in every four.
You may wish to subscribe to this forum, it's money well spent as if you're not subscribed you're limited to five posts and you will probably find you have a few more questions as you travel. Enjoy your trip.
Edit: regarding wifi, i use a mifi device with a tesco mobile unlimited sim in it, this will allow you unlimited data in the uk and unlimited data in the eu for a maximum of two months in every four.
You may wish to subscribe to this forum, it's money well spent as if you're not subscribed you're limited to five posts and you will probably find you have a few more questions as you travel. Enjoy your trip.
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We settled on Park4Nights after trying a number of the main apps and one of the books.
Although the app occasionally has glitches, generally it is very good. Park4Nights works very well for us as we much prefer to use free/cheap Aires and wild camping spots than paid sites.
It also sends directions straight to our preferred satnag, Sygic Truck, which just makes it easier. Sygic Truck (not Sygic GPS) is a dedicated truck/Moho satnag that has your vehicle dimensions and routes you appropriately).
The vineyard is great - 5 euros a night but free if you buy some of his Saint Emillion. And you don’t need much of an excuse really, do you!
Edit: as said above, just bung your existing (or a data sim) into a spare router (wired into the 12v supply) or buy a mifi. Or just hotspot it off your phone.
And definitely subscribe to this forum. It is the best Moho forum by a long chalk and the best small investment you can make.
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In all honesty, with a bit of common sense, there are very few places you can’t take your motor home. French drivers are generally much more patient and courteous than UK drivers*, and if you think you’re big, we’ll your no bigger than all of the delivery and service vehicles that go down those lanes.
And the village roads are where all the nice places are!
*in fact that’s French/Europeans all over in my experience - normally courteous and friendly. The worst thing about a Moho holiday on the continent is coming home - as you see how knackered and dirty the UK is and how rude, impatient and inconsiderate many Brits are. (Dons tin hat)
HKF
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Thank you for this link
I didn't know about it. I opened it and used Google Translate and it translates the whole page and everything you click on, too....not often that happens with GT, it usually reverts back to the original language on each click. Thanks Subscribers do not see these advertisements
Hi and welcome. As you're an Adria owner you might like to join our Adria Owners Club UK. We have a website where you can join for £5 and then £15 per year. http://www.clubadria.co.uk/
We also have a member's Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/488094671524673
For overnight stops anywhere in Europe we use ACSI and Campercontact https://www.campercontact.com/en
Good luck.
Going to Europe for 5 weeks in summer: not likely to get much use of ACSI!
Gordon
Gordon
Hi
We took our 2 kids for 3 weeks around France a couple of years ago and will be heading there again this year and we used the Campercontact app. We found it invaluable and more reliable than Park4night.
Have a great time, the time we’ve spent in the camper with the kids has been some of the most memorable for us all.
We took our 2 kids for 3 weeks around France a couple of years ago and will be heading there again this year and we used the Campercontact app. We found it invaluable and more reliable than Park4night.
Have a great time, the time we’ve spent in the camper with the kids has been some of the most memorable for us all.
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