We have recently purchased our first motorhome and are thinking of travelling to the south of France in the summer with family, we would greatly appreciate any hints, tips, information and advice for complete beginners, also what documentation e.t.c do we require.
Thanks
Post last edited on 10/03/2009 21:48:23
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Well done, welcome to this sometime a little crazy forum, well the most important documents is your passports,camper's insurance, travel insurance for everybody(optional but recommended) even for a short period. You don't have to use motorways in France, A roads are far better to enjoy the scenery and rural France, and also you will save quite a bit of money there and back, you don't say what part of France you are visiting, but who cares, enjoy the experience and many many thousands of miles of happy motorhoming.
Avoid 3rd and 4th week of July / 1st and 2nd week ouf August, the entire country goes on holiday then, and most decent places will be full to bursting.
I`d recommend booking in advance no matter where you go and whatever time of year, nothing worse IMO than not knowing if you`ll get a pitch when you arrive somewhere. Most sites nowadays will take online bookings or requests.
Alan Rogers campsite book well worth the money. WH Smiths sell it, or order online direct from Alan Rogers
------------- Life is one big holiday, only broken up by as little work as possible
Well done you, join the thousands of us that have tackled France and survived. The advice on here has been excellent and I only wish I had found this site before I went. But A few things from my vast experience "one trip".
1.Take your time, it's a big country
2. Remember Bonjour makes you a lot of friends
3. It's not true what they say about French drivers, there worse than that.
4 Gendarmmes hide in the bushes with speed guns. everywhere so keep to the speed limit
And last of all have a super time.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
But if the Gendarmes do hide in the bushes, then every on-coming driver will warn you that they are there - so if drivers flash their lights, then this is a warning that there may be a speed trap so slow down. Gendarmes also wait at crossroads, with Stop signs, to make sure you actually do pull up to a full stop - but again other drivers will warn you. The local papers even give locations of mobile speed cameras and the dates they will be operating, so that you know in advance to make sure you're travelling within speed limits (that's if you read the French papers, of course!!)
Have you read the posting 'Advice for Continental First-Timers' pinned above - which contains all the information you could possibly need.
You need an EHICS card, you get them free form DHSS but they don't replace insurance!
...........
This may not be the thread to discuss it but how many of us pay vastly over the odds for insurance? We costed this the other year and found we were paying for lots of cover that we didn't need.
In EU, EHICS covers your helath care; your home contents insurance covers most of the things you would normally travel with (clothing, camera &c); your motor insurance, if you've chosen well, covers breakdown and repatriation &c.; if you've made payments by credit card then the card company isat least partly responsible for any location difficulties and faulty purchases and so forth.
There are some dubious areas and none of this applies outside EU but it might be good to have a discussion on it somehwere?
We chose to go with Select Sites first time we went in our camper van, 3 years ago..and have stuck with ever since as a) they get you good ferry deals and b) if you like to know where you're staying they have some really good sites at good prices..never had a duff one yet. Always carry photocopy of passports hidden in camper van...after losing passport first time we went..copy was fine.Also carry(hidden) copies of insurance certificate and MOT certificate.Hide passports and extra cash/ferry tickets/camp site bookings in unlikely places in camper when we're at camp site.
Take enough (in fridge or tinned) for first meal so you can just chill out when you get to first site.We tend to live on French market produce...also very healthy!
------------- bridie
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
We've been going since our hitch hiking days. Just go, you'll love it. We didn't book till we got a kid, there are thousands of sites you can just turn up at. But if you've got little ones and if you're going in the summer holidays you had better book. And remember in France not all holiday destinations are by the sea.
We have never been on the ferry always the tunnel and it's great have seen pictures of vans crammed so close together didn't fancy the ferry.
France is a fantastic place to take a motorhome, we always stop at Disney parking is 13 euros a night for a motohome and it's only 3 hours away from Calis so a good overnight stop as we have anual passes we park overnight for free.
Remember to have all you insurences with you just in case and all van documentation.
But most of all take your time enjoy France and have a great holiday.
We are off to Spain in the summer but will have a few days in France on the way there and the way back.
It's all those fantastic French pastries I just can't resist
Quote: Originally posted by maxandpaddy09 on 10/3/2009
We have recently purchased our first motorhome and are thinking of travelling to the south of France in the summer with family, we would greatly appreciate any hints, tips, information and advice for complete beginners, also what documentation e.t.c do we require.
One lesson that I learned is that whatever the Gendarmes accuse you of, agree and apologise and grovel, even if they say you ran a red light, when you know it was green, if you contest them, you will still get fined, difference being 150 Euro instead of 30Euro, trust me I have gotten the "T" shirt!. they have targets to achieve, and forigne motorists are easy targets. I even know of ex-pats who have been fined because thier number was screwed on, and not pop-riveted on (French Law), after going to all the trouble of re-regerstring thier UK reg car into the French system, like I say, targets to be achieved.
dead easy trip, don't worry like we all do when its new, within 5mins of being over there you will be blowing your horn like the rest of em! Don't take any prisoners, that shows weakness, remember we're brits! they give up just before the paint gets scratched (if they are awake!) anyway its the passenger that gets the dirty looks, until they realise they dont have a steering wheel, then its just a confused look!!
If heading south take fans for sleeping as it gets hot, take lots of empty bottles for filling with cheap vineyard wine.
BIG HINT to all caravanners going south, take a fan for blowing air through the fridge vents (bottom to top) it helps it work a little better when the outside temp is 38deg! we had our bedroom fan sat on a table cooling the fridge vents!!
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: travelling abroad
