Preparation for our first Motorhome trip abroad...

[March Hare]

Hi, a newbie question here I’m afraid!

We are planning on having a trip down through France to Spain in the spring and hope to stay on a mixture of Aires and Sites in France and on Sites in Spain (which we will book before we leave).

So far we have just joined the Caravan & Motorhome Club and have ordered an ACSI Card (& App), so we’d be grateful for any suggestions on what other memberships / Apps / books / cards / tokens would be useful to purchase in preparation for our adventure - or any other advice for our first trip abroad in our Motorhome - all advice would be very gratefully received!!

Thanks in advance! ?

 

[138go]

Yes definitely use Aires in France, we always use the ones away from motorways and towns. These ones are safer.

There are some nice Aires in Spain, usually ones you pay for although some free ones are nice. So don’t discount them.

Campsites in Spain vary considerably. We would never book without seeing the site first, what’s more, you don’t need to. If you book the C & MH C you lose your money if you cancel.

 

[mikebeaches]

Agree with Vicky, no need to book campsites in spring - normally lots of space available.

Booking just cramps your flexibility, and as already mentioned, you don't know if you're going to like the site anyway.

We use Aires (not the motorway ones) for convenient overnight stops in France. Less so in Spain, but that's just a personal thing.

 

[davidbaldam]

Campercontact and Search for Sites are two good Apps along with ACSI. You’ll love France and wonder why you didn’t go before, it’s ideal for Motorhomes.

 

[Masman]

Get search for site's app.A great app.

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[Riverbankannie]

In addition to ACSI, I use the app Camper Contact. It’s worth the paid version and gives you lots of alternatives of places to stay.

 

[138go]

Another vote for Campercontact.

 

[Captain Pants]

In addition to ACSI, I use the app Camper Contact. It’s worth the paid version and gives you lots of alternatives of places to stay.

Agreed, the two of them will get you everything you need 95% of the time, and booking is a constraint you don’t need at that time of the year.

 

[Just smiffy]

Another vote for not booking .... France can take you to place’s you wouldn’t expect... travelling to your final destination is half the fun... and less stress trying to get to a site you’ve booked.... there will be plenty of room at that time.. enjoy ??

 

[simsy56]

Campercontact is good, as is all the aires in France and Spain. No need to book.

Craig

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[Pekepal]

We only book our crossing. However, have noticed over the last couple of years that we need to be getting into our sites, especially in popular areas, earlier rather than later as sites do seem to be a lot busier than they were. Have only tried one aire so far so not really able to comment but do like the space, size and security offered by most sites.

 

[denisejoe]

Another vote for Camper Contact app. Definitely worth getting the paid for version, only about £5.

 

[scotzsue]

We have only ever booked if meting up with others and all want to get on the same site and once when John was convalescing. do sometimes phone ahead the day before, but love being able to just move on, site not quite as it seemed, bad weather, neighbours with an unfiltered SOG
great to be able to extend the stay too if having a real fun time.

 

[Phill D]

a quick check, you say you have ordered the ACSI card is that the discount card ( to get site fixed price where applicable. or the Club Id ( camping carnet ) in liue of your passport at sites book in.

you wont get the site price discount with the Club ID only. ( or at least you will be lucky if you do ).

 

[hilldweller]

>>Preparation for our first Motorhome trip abroad...

Don't do it, you'll get over there and find the place full of foreigners.

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[Sunlovers]

Make sure you carry a spare 5 litre container of water. Some of the Flot Bleu/Chem WC's are notorious for not having a working supply for rinse water which can make emptying the potty a bit less than satisfactory We keep an old spring water bottle in the Thetford locker and call upon it if needed. Ideal for a good rinse, swill and repeat manoeuvre in times of need! You can thank me later

 

[mitzimad]

Make sure you carry a spare 5 litre container of water. Some of the Flot Bleu/Chem WC's are notorious for not having a working supply for rinse water which can make emptying the potty a bit less than satisfactory We keep an old spring water bottle in the Thetford locker and call upon it if needed. Ideal for a good rinse, swill and repeat manoeuvre in times of need! You can thank me later

we just use some grey waste to rinse the cassette if theres no water available

 

[Stealaway]

As above but with bio liquid there's even no reason to rince at all

 

[denisejoe]

We use an empty milk container which we fill up from in the van to rinse the cassette.

 

[froli's]

All good tips... Don't forget to check out the environmental green zone app.

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[March Hare]

Hi everyone, thanks SO MUCH for all of your replies - that’s all really great information, hints and tips, and ref the sites in Spain you’ve given us the confidence to venture south to Spain without booking the sites first, so thank you! ?

 

[GSD]

Its well worth buying "Go Motorhoming and Campervanning from Vicarious Books which will educate you about a whole new world that awaits (yes really) !
We almost never book any sites in Europe (exception Oslo) . In general there are lots and booking restricts flexibility. We have never been turned away on availability.
Watch out for new French speed limits and remember that limits start at entry to towns (signs or not) .
Have a great and relaxing time.

 

[peterc10]

we just use some grey waste to rinse the cassette if theres no water available

Yep, that is what we do too.

And I agree with others when they say you will not need to book in the spring (or autumn). We made the mistake of booking on our first trip out and were surprised to turn up to half empty campsites. We now go in Spring and Autumn to places like France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Germany and we never book anything except our crossing. We now mainly uses Aires with a few campsites and have never failed to find a place to stay. Just get the paid for version of Campercontact on your smart phone.

 

[Allanm]

We use Campercontact and Camperstop apps as well as All the Aires book, though the book is a last resort.
Be careful which Aires you use. The French use the word Aire, which just means an area to park You need to spend the night only on Aires de Camping Car in France, not motorway Aires where some people have reported thefts and damage.