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Topic: Advice for continental first-timers

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Message posted by scrummymummy on 08/7/2013 at 9:28pm View Profile Reply Quote Tell a friend
scrummymummy Standard Member Outfit: Relum Khios Metallica and 1972 VW T2 Location: Essex Joined: 01/8/2005 Posts: 61 Site Reviews: 2 Gallery Images: 0	Thank you for this. We are planning on heading down to the South of France in a few weeks time. It'll be our first trip abroad with our vw campervan. The info and tips are very much appreciated.

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Message posted by emmitdb on 16/7/2013 at 8:49pm

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Greetings,
Val A, that doyen of all things "Good Advice" suggested that I C and P the below thread re getting the best out of your fridge before you do a long ferry crossing.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Every year at about this time there are questions from folks about to set off to the Continent wondering how the fridge will cope on a long ferry crossing.

With this in mind we tried out the following on our last journey and I hope, at least for those crossing the long ferry journeys across the Channel it will come in useful.

We packed the fridge as full as we could after having it on the highest setting for 24hrs. Included in that was a nearly full 4 pint milk bottle which had been frozen over the previous 48hrs. We also packed the freezer so that it was in effect one deep frozen mass.

We stayed on the dock at Plymouth for the night before the ferry (Thursday) and took with us enough 'Now' supplies so that we didn't open the fridge door until we got to France.

I have been assured by the Chief Cook that everything that should have been frozen, stayed frozen with the added advantage that the milk took until Tuesday to fully thaw out and in the meantime provided the cereal milk each morning. Don't know about you but although I can use the UHT Milk, I still prefer 'Fresh' milk on the Porridge.

Quite rightly some people will say that when in France part of the fun is shopping in France and we're no exception. However the Chief Fairy pre-prepares meals that we both like and freezes them for our use. This came in handy for the trip.

We hope the above is of use to those heading off to France (and further) in the next few weeks.

-------------
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Message posted by larkspeednl on 15/5/2014 at 12:39am

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A couple of small points I did not see mentioned which could save people some hassle if coming over to the continent.

France requires by law that all cars carry a breath tester.

This can be cheap pound shop disposables or even a 5 quid digital one off ebay, either is fine but you must have one.

Also a fair warning if you drive here in The Netherlands or in fact most of the continent.

Unlike the UK speed cameras here do not need to be visible and they can actually hide them. They put them in rubbish bins or tuck them away in bushes or worse.

And of you get pulled over for speeding here in The Netherlands you are expected to pay the fine right there on the side of the road, if you can't pay it the officer, at his discretion, can actualy impound your car until you do.

Message posted by Barb2602 on 30/8/2014 at 12:39pm

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Great guide. Just a couple of points that people might find useful.

You can take gas bottles on eurotunnel if they are fitted as per a motorhome or caravan. They will check that the gas is turned off at the bottle when you check-in. It might be worth checking on their web site to see what the position is with standalone bottles though. We carry a spare in our under bed garage as the gas locker on our motorhome will only hold one unfortunately. This was checked as well on check-in and we were not asked to remove it.

Also, you can buy the reverse polarity adapters for your electrical cable if you are not confident on making one up yourself. These are available on ebay generally.

Lastly if you are travelling in a motorhome or campervan, Vicarious Books (they have a web site) have many guides to motorhome 'aires' across Europe. France particularly has a wide network. These should not be confused with the 'aires' found on motorways and main trunks. We have used them extensively and generally they are great.

Thanks.

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Message posted by Hacksaw Bob on 30/8/2014 at 1:04pm View Profile Reply Quote Tell a friend
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Message posted by Val A on 15/11/2014 at 12:22pm

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Someone has mentioned that this thread, somewhere, says that gas bottles are now allowed on Eurotunnel. This is incorrect. Gas bottles for cooking stoves, etc., are allowed. This in from information from Eurotunnel's own website.

Gas used for domestic services

If travelling with a campervan, caravan or any other vehicle fitted with cooking facilities, any flammable gas container must be declared when asked and will be checked at the appropriate checkpoint by Eurotunnel Le Shuttle

Flammable gas containers may be transported with the following restrictions:

Maximum quantity allowed

Maximum capacity

	Kg	L	%	L
1 portable container	47	+/- 93	-	-
Several portable containers	50	+/- 99	-	-
1 fixed container	47	+/- 93	80	+/- 73
Several fixed containers	50	+/- 99	80	+/- 79

In all cases, transport of gas containers to power domestic services (e.g. cooking, lighting & heating, etc.) are restricted as outlined below:

Portable gas containers (cylinders/bottles, etc.)

For the purposes of this text, this means cylinders/bottles containing flammable gas that can be moved from the vehicle for replacement or re-filling.

The quantity of gas is limited to 47kg (or approximately 93 litres) maximum for a single container and to 50kg (or approximately 99 litres) maximum in the case of several containers.

I hope this makes it quite clear the gas bottles are allowed.

However LPG powered vehicles cannot travel on Eurotunnel.

Message posted by Nellie72 on 21/6/2015 at 10:42pm View Profile Reply Quote Tell a friend
Nellie72 Gold Member Outfit: Bailey Pageant Bordeaux Location: S.Wales Joined: 03/8/2010 Posts: 301 Site Reviews: 13 Gallery Images: 2	Fab. Thank you. ------------- Doing whatever the rice krispies tell me to.

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Message posted by GEORGEBB on 22/3/2016 at 10:27pm View Profile Reply Quote Tell a friend
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Message posted by Mimi And Bob on 01/4/2016 at 1:46am

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taking the plunge to leave Glasgow to tour Europe departing 20/4/16.I have thought the drive to dover during the night would give a clear run with appropriate breaks and prep.Within the three weeks im happy to drive and explore but my dream is to see some of the south of France subject to advice. I will be trying to get to estartit in Spain and lake Como or the Amalfi coast in Italy as my desired dream come true. Now who would like to start the bidding for this baby.im well versed on driving abroad but I need the best routes with the least tolls etc.but it will be our honeymoon so we will be happy to sacrifice a lot for the best sites and of course the best beauty spots.
all your help is required as you have the experience. I in return will gladly help anyone touring Scotland.

Hope to hear soon

Message posted by lidds0 on 28/4/2016 at 3:40pm

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It's just maybe worth mentioning that, for anyone who breaks down on the autoroute in France, your usual recovery insurance CAN'T faciliate recovery, it has to be arranged via an authorised agent (use the SOS phone by the side of the motorway).

However, you CAN claim reimbursement of fees paid (in our recent case, almost 250 euros) from your recovery insurer. Not all policies include this information (ADAC policy doesn't) so prior knowledge does help!

Safe driving, everyone.

Message posted by Kelper on 14/5/2016 at 12:09pm

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Quote: Originally posted by larkspeednl on 15/5/2014
A couple of small points I did not see mentioned which could save people some hassle if coming over to the continent.

France requires by law that all cars carry a breath tester.

This can be cheap pound shop disposables or even a 5 quid digital one off ebay, either is fine but you must have one.

This is no longer necessary ... though still remaining on the statutes book, it is not enforced, and never checked ... no-one in France carries them ... some unscrupulous sellers, who have been left with large stocks, still attempt to 'scare you' into purchase ... DON'T BOTHER!

Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!

Message posted by Val A on 07/7/2016 at 5:00am

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For those who plan to tour in Europe, with their cat, rather than with a dog, I suggest you don't assume that if it says in the site details, or in the ACSI or Camping Cheque guides, 'Pets allowed' it means cats are allowed. The wording in the site descriptions is very ambiguous, and may say something like 'Pets allowed, dogs only max 1 on a leash', which we always assumed meant that one dog was allowed, and needs to be kept on a lead but assumed it also meant other pets allowed, and that other pets didn't need a lead. On some sites this apparently means Pets allowed, but only dogs!

I would suggest, that it's always worth an email or a phone call to check. We found this out the day before yesterday, when arriving on a site on the Mediterranean, where we were told 'Sorry we only allow dogs, no cats'.

I don't know quite how this affects those travelling with parrots and ferrets (we've seen both recently!).

Message posted by PaulineBrandon on 27/4/2017 at 11:24am View Profile My Homepage Reply Quote Tell a friend
PaulineBrandon Standard Member Outfit: Vango Nile 800 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne Joined: 12/3/2017 Posts: 6 Site Reviews: 0 Gallery Images: 0	Hi, This is really useful, thank you. We are camping in our own tent in the South of France - Gorges du Verdon, Mandelieu, and the Cevennes region. Advice on sleeping comfortably in August, and keeping food cool would be greatly appreciated. Pauline

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