First trip abroad! (1 Viewer)

Jun 12, 2019
44
167
West Malling Kent
Funster No
61,597
MH
Pilote G740
Exp
2020
Hi
We are newbies and have never made a post, even though I’ve been a member for a few years. We bought our motorhome earlier this year after taking early retirement. We’ve been on a few trips in the uk but for a maximum of 2 weeks, but we were waiting for the all clear to travel to Spain. Once the testing became easier we decided to go for it. As we are now in Spain at Camping international Calonge I thought I’d share some photos of the places we stopped of at on the way down. We live in Kent so have the advantage of only being 30 mins from euro tunnel/ferry.
On The first day after the crossing we made our way to Epernay where we stayed at a municipal campsite on the river.

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Next we travelled on to Never and again stayed at a site on the river Loire which had great cycle tracks leading both ways.

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Next stop was Millau, famous for the Sir Norman Foster designed bridge.

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From Millau we made our way down to a campsite just outside Collioure in France, just short of the Spanish border. Lovely views of the med from our pitch.

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and fantastic sun set
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last leg of the outward trip was to Camping international Calonge where we are staying for 3-4. Me taking a well earned nap after drive down.
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Not sure where we are going to stay on the way back, any recommendations in France would be welcome.
Also wanted to say thanks to everyone for all the invaluable information and guidance that has been posted on the forum.
 
Jul 13, 2020
638
2,328
Leicester
Funster No
72,995
MH
'Inbetweeners'
Exp
Newbie. Motor home experience began on 1/8/2020.
Well done and enjoy. Still waiting on my wife to stop working so we can do the same.. That site north of Collioure is a beautiful place.
 
Feb 16, 2013
19,735
52,032
uttoxeter
Funster No
24,713
MH
ambulance conversion
Exp
50 years
Can't fault your first trip down, my recommendation for your way back is get park4night app on your phone and try the Aires ,you can travel to where you fancy then just kick it up and you will find a place near by for free or very little.

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Jan 20, 2019
844
1,858
Bristol
Funster No
58,131
MH
Pilote G740
Exp
Since 2019
Thanks for posting looks great!
Can't wait to get into France or Spain next year for our first trip abroad!
At the moment work still gets in the way!!!(n)

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Dec 30, 2015
1,428
1,272
Bury
Funster No
40,920
MH
Pilote G650L
Exp
Three years
Looks great! What model is your Pilote? How are you getting on with it? We have a G650.
 
OP
OP
G
Jun 12, 2019
44
167
West Malling Kent
Funster No
61,597
MH
Pilote G740
Exp
2020
Can't fault your first trip down, my recommendation for your way back is get park4night app on your phone and try the Aires ,you can travel to where you fancy then just kick it up and you will find a place near by for free or very little.
Many thanks for the tip!
 
OP
OP
G
Jun 12, 2019
44
167
West Malling Kent
Funster No
61,597
MH
Pilote G740
Exp
2020
Can't fault your first trip down, my recommendation for your way back is get park4night app on your phone and try the Aires ,you can travel to where you fancy then just kick it up and you will find a place near by for free or very little.
Many thanks for the tip
Looks great! What model is your Pilote? How are you getting on with it? We have a G650.
hi
Ours is a G740 sensation. Generally happy with the MH, just some little niggle problems/faults that I’ve fixed, but also have problem with Remis roof light and Thule electric step. Otherwise it perfect and fits our needs.

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Feb 16, 2013
19,735
52,032
uttoxeter
Funster No
24,713
MH
ambulance conversion
Exp
50 years
Your first trip abroad is always a great adventure
As chaser has said try some Aires on the way back we always look for one in small. Villages or near water
Not to be confused with motorway Aires
Yes, even if you book a site or two, use the app to go and have a look at some Aires to get the feel of them.
 
OP
OP
G
Jun 12, 2019
44
167
West Malling Kent
Funster No
61,597
MH
Pilote G740
Exp
2020
Yes, even if you book a site or two, use the app to go and have a look at some Aires to get the feel of them.
Thanks for the help, we’re not weather we should blitz home or take our time on the route national in France stopping off in smaller places. Decision will be based on weather as well

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Jan 20, 2019
844
1,858
Bristol
Funster No
58,131
MH
Pilote G740
Exp
Since 2019
Many thanks for the tip

hi
Ours is a G740 sensation. Generally happy with the MH, just some little niggle problems/faults that I’ve fixed, but also have problem with Remis roof light and Thule electric step. Otherwise it perfect and fits our needs.
We have the same model also had issues with the step but sorted now!
Also took out the massive table that was a pain!! Apart from that I think they are pretty good vans.
 
OP
OP
G
Jun 12, 2019
44
167
West Malling Kent
Funster No
61,597
MH
Pilote G740
Exp
2020
We have the same model also had issues with the step but sorted now!
Also took out the massive table that was a pain!! Apart from that I think they are pretty good vans.
It’s our first mh, so have nothing to compare it to really. Looked at loads, some way to expensive, but nice, others just didn’t fit the bill. Generally very happy, dealer we bought from has been very helpful and is dealing with problems once we are back in uk.
 
Jun 26, 2018
1,009
5,413
North West
Funster No
54,605
MH
Florium Wincester
Exp
Europe & USA since April '21
This motorhoming lark is great, isn't it? Mind you so is retirement. Some great places there, may even try one or two on our trip through France to Spain.
 
OP
OP
G
Jun 12, 2019
44
167
West Malling Kent
Funster No
61,597
MH
Pilote G740
Exp
2020
This motorhoming lark is great, isn't it? Mind you so is retirement. Some great places there, may even try one or two on our trip through France to Spain.
After 20 years + of camping I’m certainly enjoying the comfy bed, just wish we’d done it sooner. Retirement not to shabby either, seem to be doing lots of DIY when not in mh!

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May 7, 2011
5,960
31,654
East Anglia
Funster No
16,302
MH
Kontiki 669
Exp
Since 2010
Looks lovely where you have stayed so far. As chaser Says use park4nite app and you will find some interesting places you wouldn't do with campsites. We are on one now in France right next to the sea in Cavalier, even though its expensive for an aire, but you pay for the location sometimes. 😉
 
Jun 8, 2019
4,931
18,760
Bexley Kent
Funster No
61,505
MH
Given up Motorhoming
Exp
May 2019
Greetings peeps welcome from Bexley

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OP
OP
G
Jun 12, 2019
44
167
West Malling Kent
Funster No
61,597
MH
Pilote G740
Exp
2020
Who says you can’t have a nice meal while camping, meatballs and pasta, 😋
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Jan 2, 2015
2,472
8,629
Cumbria
Funster No
34,615
MH
Burstner Solano t725
Exp
since 2014
If you fancy a day in Barcelona, I can recommend this site just down the coast from you at Mataro.....


They have a free bus that leaves the site at 9am and returns about 5pm every day.

Great pictures!(y)
 

Sapper520

Free Member
Jan 22, 2020
2,879
4,506
North Somerset
Funster No
68,245
MH
No longer own one
Exp
September 2020
We’re in Millau at the moment, considering which way to go next. What’s the name of the campsite near Collioure please?

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OP
OP
G
Jun 12, 2019
44
167
West Malling Kent
Funster No
61,597
MH
Pilote G740
Exp
2020
If you fancy a day in Barcelona, I can recommend this site just down the coast from you at Mataro.....


They have a free bus that leaves the site at 9am and returns about 5pm every day.

Great pictures!(y)
Thanks for the tip, we’ve been looking for other options along that part of the Spanish, so good to have a recommendation 👍
 
OP
OP
G
Jun 12, 2019
44
167
West Malling Kent
Funster No
61,597
MH
Pilote G740
Exp
2020
Now back in the uk, so some photos of where we stayed on way back.
First stop was just south of Toulouse, camping Du Lac de la Thesauque. Nice location, but everything shut so very quiet.

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I was impressed with some covered parking that had been provided for visitors to the lake which had a roof constructed out of PV panels!

Next stop was in Souillac, where for the first time we stopped at a camping car park aire in the centre of town. We had been apprehensive about staying on an aire, but were very comfy here, especially as we had electrical hook up all for 10 euro. It was nice to stay somewhere where we could walk into town for a beer/food. Ended up having a kebab which was more like a panini 😁
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Our next planned stop had been Le Mans, but after purchasing our supper of rotisserie chicken we arrived at the campsite to find it closed even though on its website it showed as open. Note to self, call before arrival. Quick change of plans and we headed to Fresnay Sur Sarthe. Municipal campsite was lovely and only 12 euro with açsi card. We never got into the medieval town centre due to time constraints, so we will head back as it looked lovely. The morning brought the first morning frost we had experienced for some time, no more shorts and flip flops!
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The final leg of our journey home was to take us to Le Crotoy where once again we stayed on another aire, no electric hook up either, what adventurers we are! It was a glorious Sunday afternoon so we treated ourselves to moules et frites with prawn starter for a staggering 12 euro each! Then a nice walk around the town where Joan of Arc apparently stayed for a while.
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Traveled to Calais the following morning to catch our trouble free ferry crossing back home.
If there are any lessons learned we would:-
Don’t need to take as many clothes
Bring back more wine
Allow more time for journey back, felt a bit rushed.
Give more aires a try
Get bike rack, real faff getting bikes in and out of the garage.

Now have to plan trips for next year, already having skiing planned in Austria😁

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