First ever EU camping trip in France done (campsite review submitted)!
What an adventure! Most notable was the differences in road quality - French ones were so much better! Perhaps having to pay to use some of them makes a difference!
High points :
- French roads as mentioned. I was able to use the cruise control with ease as there were fewer vehicles on the roads!
- Grocery shopping at the Auchan Hypermarket, twice! I spent a small fortune on food and drink shopping. However, I shan't buy much food and snack wise except for salad stuff!
- The return of duty-free shopping!
- Ciders, the low alcohol ones at 2.5% that were available at the campsite, very quaffable!
- Also Calvados that was available at the campsite, very nice!
- The campsite Camping Sous Les Étoiles in Normandie was lovely, highly recommended.
- Emovis tag for toll roads worked like a dream. However, I had to remember to find a booth without height restrictions!
- Google Map was easy to use compared with Via Michelin which I did not bother when I found the search function of the latter tedious.
- Going to the vets for Bean's worm treatment was a breeze. However, I did have to go and fetch some ham from the van in order to bribe him to take the tablet - the vet tried his best to give it to him with no luck.
- Omaha Beach was definitely worth a visit. However, be warned that the kitchen of the main restaurant in the area closes in the afternoon for breaks.
- I am glad I stayed at the 2-star B&B Hotel in Cité Europe on my outbound journey on Friday night to break up the journey. I may plan future trips differently and stay overnight at campsites or aires (got the Best Aires book 2021/22 version already).
- Travelling with Bean using Channel Tunnel was very straight forward with no reported issues.
- The nice UK Border Control officers who commented they liked my van.
- No issue with POAO in that there was no search . On the way back the UK Border Police wanted to see the back of my van - no space in there except food, officer!
Low points :
- The long journey there and back, it was worth it. I shall stay for longer involving more than one site to break up the journey.
- The Animal Health Certificate at 180.00 GBP - I shall stay for longer in future to make the most of it.
- My return leg of Channel Tunnel was cancelled, and was put on the next available train 33min later.
- I had to get out of the van in order to get the Channel Tunnel ticket, and have not worked out how to avoid doing that yet.
- Both meals at Flunch were a tad disappointing. Perhaps I arrived outside of busy meal times, and they had packed away some of their cold savoury food to minimise wastage, hey ho!
- I arrived at one service station with a Flunch to find it was closed , must remember to check opening times and do not assume they open all day!
- Need brushing up on my French for future trips - I was unprepared for this one, and shall definitely work on it before my next trip to the Netherlands via France in 2024! Good job the campsite owners are expats!
- I left my salt and pepper shaker behind on the breakfast tray at the B&B Hotel in Calais.
- Bean managed to break one of his PVC covered steel wire tethers, probably due to poor design/construction. One end of the wire was pulled out of its ferrule when he tried to run off to play with other dogs while tethered to the van. I shall make them myself, with 2 ferrules for added security, and shall crimp the opened end with a closure to avoid being pulled out.
- Having to find spaces for all the French edible and drinkable goodies I bought back!
All in all, a good trip, and I would definitely go to Europe once every year from now on, in mid-May. Next trip will be the Netherlands to visit friends and colleagues, and then Eastern France near the Swiss border to visit my ex-boss and his family in Basel in 2025.
Lastly, I have added a regret in life and I don't have many, in that this trip reminded me I never got round to taking my ESVO Bedouin 340, a genuine Dutch canvas pyramid, and camp in the Netherlands. Hey ho!
A few pics of the good times in France.
Set up with the awning out:
Bean sunning it:
Bean looking very handsome, all grown up:
Breakfast croissant (it was huge) with Camembert, thinly sliced salami and garlic crisps:
French fried up with smoked sausage, thin and crispy smoked bacon, and Boudin Noir, yum!
Steak Tartare (shop-bought, vacuum packed), possibly my favourite French dish, and I mixed my own as I found the sauce that came with the packet too sweet), the gherkin, silver-skin onions and red onions were chopped up in advance at home for ease of transport:
Snacky lunch, the celeriac remoulade was shop-bought, and I could make a better one myself:
First use of the Cobb this season:
First camping BBQ with a minty lamb leg chop, Merguez sausages and grilled vegetables:
Omaha Beach Memorial:
The other Omaha Beach Memorial:
DK
Post last edited on 22/05/2023 10:45:26
Post last edited on 22/05/2023 10:46:21
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Looks like a good trip, mid May should be ok for uk outward travel early May and late May may have Eurotunnel or ferry delays due to Bank Holidays and school half terms. Also watch out for ascension day traffic in France. That French site looks familiar. Looking forward to mine in early June.
Quote: Originally posted by Geoff48 on 22/5/2023
Looks like a good trip, mid May should be ok for uk outward travel early May and late May may have Eurotunnel or ferry delays due to Bank Holidays and school half terms. Also watch out for ascension day traffic in France. That French site looks familiar. Looking forward to mine in early June.
My plan is to avoid the late May weekend in UK as well as in France, so mid-May would be my choice - I avoid school holidays as much as I can as I am childless by choice and not keen on critters and ankle biters.
I would avoid travelling on Ascension Day too - hence I went to Omaha Beach on Friday and not on Thursday.
Enjoy your upcoming trip!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Looks like you had a great trip with only minor hiccups, well done.
There are a few things that catch you out in France if you are only familiar with UK living, eateries and food shops closing for lunch (and a VERY long one at that!) ... and not many shops opening on Sundays, even Hypermarkets only for a few hours! .... whereas in UK it's probably more like the reverse!
French roads are a joy to drive, between the quality of the tarmac (their worst roads better our best roads it seems!!!!!) and the lightness of traffic. Unless time is critical, taking the scenic route in preference to the toll roads is no hardship.
If you have an interest in D Day, then there are endless sites and museums that are worthy of a visit. We've done a great many of them over the years, and they never fail to bring a bunch of normally robust irreverent 'blokey' blokes to silent inner thought and usually a tear or two for those that endured those terrible days, even though none of us have any relatives directly involved, just respect and gratitude for those that were there.
To me, it's a wonderful part of France, and I think you could spend a lifetime exploring all it has to offer, and by and large, find the people lovely too.
Better start planning your next trip there.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Quote: Originally posted by Monty15 on 22/5/2023
Better start planning your next trip there.
I would like to explore Dunkirk next, in 2026, as next year is the Netherlands, and the following year in eastern France near Basel, both for visiting friends etc...
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Quote: Originally posted by dk168 on 22/5/2023
What an adventure! Most notable was the differences in road quality - French ones were so much better! Perhaps having to pay to use some of them makes a difference!
Glad you enjoyed your trip, France is a great country to discover the joys of continental touring.
Me and the Wonderful Mrs Wez took the car and went across the Channel and stayed for 5 nights in a hotel in Tours over the May Day holiday weekend. That was our first hotel holiday for years - although we enjoyed it we missed the flexibility the motorhome gives us.
Anyway, back to the roads, they were a delight, I hadn't realised how good they were until I drove to work up the M3 the day after we got back. I couldn't understand what the roar was as I drove along at 70mph, I turned the radio and aircon off thinking there was something wrong with the car, it was only then I realised that the roar was road noise, something I hadn't noticed in France.
Glad you enjoyed your trip as your outlook is very similar to ours except for the French cider which was far too sweet and tasted horrible. We are used to Thatchers style of cider.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Quote: Originally posted by iank01 on 23/5/2023
Glad you enjoyed your trip as your outlook is very similar to ours except for the French cider which was far too sweet and tasted horrible. We are used to Thatchers style of cider.
I tried some of the drier ones and preferred the sweeter ones.
The ones on sale at the campsite were 2.5%, and were like pops compared with the box of good stuff that is 8.4% currently sitting in the fridge at home!
I found I can drink very sour or medium to sweet, but not the dry ones, even in UK!
Very much looking forward to the local CAMRA's Beer and Cider Festival, as I am a member and shall be helping out on the day, and the cider and perry list is looking very tempting!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
We always struggle to find just the right cider in France too, as prefer Inch's and Thatchers stuff, not the dry, high percentage type.
Very glad to hear - and see - your first road trip to France went well, DK. Like us, you seem to enjoy the food shopping and cooking as part of your hols.
I have started to plan for next year's event, and am spending longer in France and the Netherlands to make the most of the costs of Channel crossing and Animal Health Certificate.
I am planning to start Day 1 by crossing the Channel in the afternoon, and drive to a campsite in Dunkirk with a quick shop for provisions en-route for a 3-night stay.
Day 4 to 13 in the Netherlands at 2 sites, to visit friends/colleagues and ESVO/Karsten factories etc...
Day 14 will be back to Dunkirk staying overnight at the same campsite as the outbound journey. I shall stock up on French goodies if schedule allows. Otherwise I shall do that on Day 15 on the way back home.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Thrilled to see it went so well, DK. Really chuffed for you, and you're right... young master Bean is indeed looking so grown up!
Thanks for your write up, and great pics.
It all puts me in the mood, as we're off over there ourselves a week on Saturday.
Will be pootling along the D-Day beaches westwards from Ouistreham on the 6th, on our fancy new Dutch e-bikes! Hoping to get at least as far west as Ver-sur-Mer/Gold Beach, before looping back to site at Ranville, for a 40+ mile round trip... our longest yet, if we make it!
Thanks again for a great trip report.
Luv to yer both, from us both.
xxx
Quote: Originally posted by lidds0 on 23/5/2023
We always struggle to find just the right cider in France too, as prefer Inch's and Thatchers stuff, not the dry, high percentage type.
Very glad to hear - and see - your first road trip to France went well, DK. Like us, you seem to enjoy the food shopping and cooking as part of your hols.
Tonight, we'll be eating in France. Can't wait!
I have spent a small fortune on food and drink, probably don't need to buy much except for salad stuff for a month or two!
I would have gone out to eat another meal had I been able to find a restaurant that was opened in late afternoon when I was ready to eat, as I have breakfast and a main meal late in the afternoon, with snacks in between, hey ho!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Quote: Originally posted by Mucker1884 on 23/5/2023
Thrilled to see it went so well, DK. Really chuffed for you, and you're right... young master Bean is indeed looking so grown up!
Thanks for your write up, and great pics.
It all puts me in the mood, as we're off over there ourselves a week on Saturday.
Will be pootling along the D-Day beaches westwards from Ouistreham on the 6th, on our fancy new Dutch e-bikes! Hoping to get at least as far west as Ver-sur-Mer/Gold Beach, before looping back to site at Ranville, for a 40+ mile round trip... our longest yet, if we make it!
Thanks again for a great trip report.
Luv to yer both, from us both.
xxx
Thank you! Enjoy your trip with Muckerette!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
The tolls came to 78.8 EUR, well worth it for the joy of driving on French roads!!!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
We find the autoroute are well worth taking if you want to get to a specific location quickly. If ever you have a bit more time for travel, it's worth taking the non-toll roads and seeing more of the villages, towns and countryside. That's how we've often found campsites (and boulangeries!) Which we'd never otherwise have seen.
I'm so glad you had a successful road trip, DK. Was it easier than you'd anticipated?
Quote: Originally posted by lidds0 on 31/5/2023
We find the autoroute are well worth taking if you want to get to a specific location quickly. If ever you have a bit more time for travel, it's worth taking the non-toll roads and seeing more of the villages, towns and countryside. That's how we've often found campsites (and boulangeries!) Which we'd never otherwise have seen.
I'm so glad you had a successful road trip, DK. Was it easier than you'd anticipated?
I had done that before on road trips in my car, avoiding the toll roads and drove leisurely Sancerre and Bordeaux. Definitely more scenic, however, it did take longer.
Driving in EU was not an issue as I had done that extensively in the past in my car, being part of a car club (MINI) with affiliates in EU and rest of the world.
I was not concerned about driving my van even though she is larger than a car. I chose a MWB VW Crafter as the base van for its compact size, and had a 2h professional driving lesson before I took delivery of my van. Being in the 3rd season this year with the van, I believe I am sufficiently proficient in driving her by now.
Using the Tunnel was a doddle as before, that's why it is my prefer method of crossing the Channel.
The only concern I had for this first EU trip, was taking my dog with me, as I had never taken a pet across to EU and back before.
Checking in the dog at the Tunnel at both terminals was a doddle once I have found out where to go etc...
Finding a vet and having to go to a vet for worm treatment was easy, thanks to the very helpful campsite owners. However, it required careful planning.
Good job I went on Friday afternoon, as I forgot the worm treatment needed to be administered at least 24h prior to returning to UK, and the crossing was 19:20 on Saturday! Had I went on Saturday morning, then I would have to stay another night in France!!!
Vet visit was originally scheduled for Thursday; however, I did not realise it was Ascension Day and a public holiday, and the vets were closed, DOH!!!
So the lessons learnt from this first trip are: (a) check for public holidays at the destination countries; and (b) plan for the vets visit at least 24h (and not more than 120h) prior to the Tunnel crossing home.
I shall plan to stay overnight en-route at campsites in future, as it appears to be the norm and no one bets an eyelid, as long as one does not arrive too late in the day.
It was fun, and I highly enjoyed it except for the very long day coming home, which I shall plan differently in future.
Thanks for asking.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: First EU Trip in France done!
. On the way back the UK Border Police wanted to see the back of my van - no space in there except food, officer!
:
, must remember to check opening times and do not assume they open all day! 
via mobile 23/5/2023 at 10:06am
