In some ways we have the best of both worlds. For years we have used a VW Caravelle as transport for holidays either camping with a tent or towing a caravan. With the pop top caravan the low unit height means we can get under the 2 meter limits in some car parks and get car rates on the French peages. Easy enough to park and manoeuvre the VW in town but enough space to set up for a brew or see out rainy weather when away from the caravan. Fuels consumption when towing or not is reasonable too. The one big disadvantage to us is that when towing the caravan we do not get access to the much cheaper motorhome facilities in France, also there are sites that will not accept caravan either.
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"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt." - Bertrand Russell
We are on our third van. All of them have been well under 6m.
Apart from height restrictions they have been no more difficult to drive/park than a large people carrier. We do plan ahead in the UK as many car parks do have height barriers, but a quick Google/phone call can usually sort this out - for example most cities have at least one Park & Ride that
Is accessible.
The continent is much more motorhome/camper van friendly and there are literally hundreds of Aires/stellplatz etc where you can not only park but camp overnight in towns and villages.
We do use campsites a lot as well and don't find it a problem. We can have the van packed up and ready to go out in less than 15 minutes. We leave the chairs/tables etc on our pitch so it's only winding in the awning and putting the odd thing away really. Alternatively we use public transport or the bikes. It depends on where we are.
The van suits us down to the ground and gives us so much freedom we wouldn't be without it, but I suspect it wouldn't suit everyone. My only advice really would be to try one and see if it suits you.
We have a very old VW T4 pop top camper an.Alfie by name! we love it. At home it's a second car, no longer than our old Volvo estate and easy to park anywhere. We holiday for upwards of 3 weeks in France each year and have no problems on narrow roads or car parks with barriers.
We have the packing down to a fine art and have cup hooks hanging for ....cups, the non slip matting cut to length for the small shelves every available space is used. We don't carry water so the sink becomes another storage space. Life is so simple !!
I had caravans and motorhomes when the kids were younger and found a caravan was best with them, but now they've grown up and there's just me and the dog a small motorhome is much easier to live with.
Without their help I find hitching up etc is all too much bother; I can just get in the Romahome and off I go. If I want to go off site I can walk or catch a bus, I also carry a folding bike. Or I may drive off - it only takes minutes to pack up now I don't have the kid's belongings and mess to worry about.
I know a large motorhome would be awkward in towns but my little Romahome goes in car parks (providing there are no height barriers).
Horses for courses.
------------- Caz
If you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, just keep going till you go round the bend.
We also treat our motorhome like a car, (7m) never had a problem yet. Always going out from places when away and up to now could not be bothered with towing a car.
------------- Love an all over tan
Naturists have nothing to hide
For us the campervan is the very best means of camping:
- cheaper than a caravan/motorhome on ferries and tolls
- can be used readily as a car when you reach your destination
- you get where you're going at reasonable speed.
- sets up very quickly and you can use awnings/pop up tents living space.
Motorhomes and caravans are great and we may well end up with one or the other in the future but for convenience, cost and useability, we've found a campervan, even with kids, pretty hard to beat.
------------- John
May/June.....France
Aug.......somewhere else in France
we tow a smart car when we go for a few days, this means we can get down small lanes visit towns etc, it is towed by an A-frame and the brakes are electronically controlled by a RVi brake buddy. I used to have a motorcycle and sold it, so I bought the smart which is a cabrio and I use it to go to work and now the Renault scenic is only used for shopping. the smart is cheaper to tax and insure than the bike was, and gets more mpg.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Campervan and Getting About
