Trip to Europe

[funkyegg]

Hi all,

My wife and I are planning for our first camper van trip to Europe in our MP. We have about a week (10 -18 Feb) and we have never driven outside of the UK. We are both excited and nervous at the same time as we are still learning our MP. Please can anyone share any useful tips or recommendation (e.g. routes, camp sites, etc.)

Cheers

 

[WILLH]

I can't contribute anything re campsites etc but I have recently returned from a Christmas trip to Disneyland Paris in my MP-a journey of around 1200 miles.I must say that this journey felt like a trip around the block-the MP is such a lovely comfortable and spacious way to travel, it covered the miles with ease, with a full accompaniment of all our christmas presents, clothes,food and drink etc.It all fitted in the cupboards and rear section of the van.This is a journey I have completed most years since my daughter was born in a variety of vehicles from a brand new Range Rover,a mini convertible and my trusty Land Rover Defender and this latest trip in the MP was by far the most enjoyable.

 

[WILLH]

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Wilnx005]

 

[funkyegg]

I can't contribute anything re campsites etc but I have recently returned from a Christmas trip to Disneyland Paris in my MP-a journey of around 1200 miles.I must say that this journey felt like a trip around the block-the MP is such a lovely comfortable and spacious way to travel, it covered the miles with ease, with a full accompaniment of all our christmas presents, clothes,food and drink etc.It all fitted in the cupboards and rear section of the van.This is a journey I have completed most years since my daughter was born in a variety of vehicles from a brand new Range Rover,a mini convertible and my trusty Land Rover Defender and this latest trip in the MP was by far the most enjoyable.

Thanks WILLH, that's really encouraging
How long were you away for and did you sleep in your MP?

 

[WILLH]

I went for 6 days and as tempting as it was to stay in the MP,in the end the Hotel Disneyland was a slightly better option!

 

[alisonk]

Not all French campsites have the usual euro blue socket so its an idea to carry something like https://www.winfieldsoutdoors.co.uk/kampa-continental-conversion-lead/

 

[funkyegg]

Not all French campsites have the usual euro blue socket so its an idea to carry something like https://www.winfieldsoutdoors.co.uk/kampa-continental-conversion-lead/

Thanks! Very helpful tip. Do you think I can carry a stock converter instead or do you think that won't be weather proof?

 

[The.dunnster]

Hi.

Some ramblings that may or may not be of use.... but .....in the kids autumn half term we drove down through France to Alicante and back. Plan was for gentle saunter down and back stopping off as we saw fit. And if we made it to southern Spain then that would be a bonus.

We found many of the French Campsites had just closed or only had chalets available. So worth checking out as you plan your route. Ones we stopped at were really good and had great facilities. Pretty much empty though.

In the end the weather in France was similar to the uk so we hot footed it to Alicante where weather was 25 degrees and v sunny and joined a bunch of folks who seemed to head south for winter in their v expensive caravans and mobile homes.

We were travelling with kids so main challenges we had were moving car seats and clobber about to eat or convert to a bed.

Driven thru France a few times and finding fuel on a Sunday is not the easiest.

Toll roads are speedy but can be expensive and you miss a load of nice villages and local restaurants.

Our satnav (not the command ) kept having senior moments so we kept google to hand.

They love a speed camera, front facing so beware.

We bought the power converter off amazon for a few quid and that worked great.

Bought one of those pop up tents to dump stuff in overnight - kids car seats and other stuff we didn’t want cluttering up the van.

Make sure you have all of the stuff you need to abide by French law. Hi vis, spare bulbs etc.

Anyway enough waffling..... Hope you have a great trip and be sure to share how you get on!!!

Andy

 

[funkyegg]

Hi.

Some ramblings that may or may not be of use.... but .....in the kids autumn half term we drove down through France to Alicante and back. Plan was for gentle saunter down and back stopping off as we saw fit. And if we made it to southern Spain then that would be a bonus.

We found many of the French Campsites had just closed or only had chalets available. So worth checking out as you plan your route. Ones we stopped at were really good and had great facilities. Pretty much empty though.

In the end the weather in France was similar to the uk so we hot footed it to Alicante where weather was 25 degrees and v sunny and joined a bunch of folks who seemed to head south for winter in their v expensive caravans and mobile homes.

We were travelling with kids so main challenges we had were moving car seats and clobber about to eat or convert to a bed.

Driven thru France a few times and finding fuel on a Sunday is not the easiest.

Toll roads are speedy but can be expensive and you miss a load of nice villages and local restaurants.

Our satnav (not the command ) kept having senior moments so we kept google to hand.

They love a speed camera, front facing so beware.

We bought the power converter off amazon for a few quid and that worked great.

Bought one of those pop up tents to dump stuff in overnight - kids car seats and other stuff we didn’t want cluttering up the van.

Make sure you have all of the stuff you need to abide by French law. Hi vis, spare bulbs etc.

Anyway enough waffling..... Hope you have a great trip and be sure to share how you get on!!!

Andy

Cheers Andy, much appreciated for the advice

 

[BabaJen]

France is a Campervanners - and motorhomers dream.

February a lot of sites will be closed so plan your stops in advance. Searchforsites, ukcampsites and the caravan club are all good sources of sites that are open with links to websites etc.

I quite often use Aires. Cost next to nothing or a couple of euro's. Often few facilities so make sure you have your own arrangements well thought through. Upside is there is an Aire in almost every town, drop in, drop out... no fuss and often a good way to get the feel of a nice local place. Most of the aires are located on sites such as searchforsites although as I am in France most months I have found it worthwhile to buy the definitive guidebook "All the aires" from vicarious book. you hear a lot of reports of robberies etc... avoid autoroute aires and you are normally quite safe. I am a solo traveller but have never felt threatened or unsafe.

Driving is superb, whether on local D roads or Autoroutes. If you plan to do a lot of autoroute driving, which means a lot of tolls, it may be worth thinking about a Sanef tag. Fits just behind the rear view mirror, auto entry through the tolls, no fiddling with toll booths, statement from Sanef at the end of the month and also you can enjoy the quite smug joy of breezing through the 30kmh non-stop lane with a 2 metre height restriction

In terms of legality, there are a few websites, the AA included, that will sell you a pack of everything, High-vis vests, spare bulbs, warning triangle etc. On the subject of high viz vests keep them either over the seat or in a door pocket. It is illegal to exit a vehicle on a major french road without wearing one and if the police see that you will have to get out of the van to get to your high-vis vest, it's a few euro's contribution to the French economy.

Weather in Northern France is the same, or often worse, than here. Depending on where you intend going, and when you have a plan do come back and let us know as almost certainly someone will know the area, you may want to be snow prepared. Easy enough though to plan to avoid that contingency, just check the forecast. France is a big country.

As for the people, well, like anywhere you can get difficult people but I must admit to being a Francophile. I have always found them to be welcoming, helpful and hospitable. Helps to be able to speak a few words, but English is quite widely spoken,

 

[funkyegg]

France is a Campervanners - and motorhomers dream.

February a lot of sites will be closed so plan your stops in advance. Searchforsites, ukcampsites and the caravan club are all good sources of sites that are open with links to websites etc.

I quite often use Aires. Cost next to nothing or a couple of euro's. Often few facilities so make sure you have your own arrangements well thought through. Upside is there is an Aire in almost every town, drop in, drop out... no fuss and often a good way to get the feel of a nice local place. Most of the aires are located on sites such as searchforsites although as I am in France most months I have found it worthwhile to buy the definitive guidebook "All the aires" from vicarious book. you hear a lot of reports of robberies etc... avoid autoroute aires and you are normally quite safe. I am a solo traveller but have never felt threatened or unsafe.

Driving is superb, whether on local D roads or Autoroutes. If you plan to do a lot of autoroute driving, which means a lot of tolls, it may be worth thinking about a Sanef tag. Fits just behind the rear view mirror, auto entry through the tolls, no fiddling with toll booths, statement from Sanef at the end of the month and also you can enjoy the quite smug joy of breezing through the 30kmh non-stop lane with a 2 metre height restriction

In terms of legality, there are a few websites, the AA included, that will sell you a pack of everything, High-vis vests, spare bulbs, warning triangle etc. On the subject of high viz vests keep them either over the seat or in a door pocket. It is illegal to exit a vehicle on a major french road without wearing one and if the police see that you will have to get out of the van to get to your high-vis vest, it's a few euro's contribution to the French economy.

Weather in Northern France is the same, or often worse, than here. Depending on where you intend going, and when you have a plan do come back and let us know as almost certainly someone will know the area, you may want to be snow prepared. Easy enough though to plan to avoid that contingency, just check the forecast. France is a big country.

As for the people, well, like anywhere you can get difficult people but I must admit to being a Francophile. I have always found them to be welcoming, helpful and hospitable. Helps to be able to speak a few words, but English is quite widely spoken,

Wow, GrannyJen, thank you for taking the time to write such a comprehensive guide! I have saved it in my favorites so I can refer back to it later. I'm having second thoughts about making a trip to Europe now given recent bad weather unless I go further south, but I only got 9 days...May end up exploring a few camping sites in the UK which again not necessarily a bad idea.

 

[Spekky]

Just on the extras needed for France - we are planning our trips from June once our MP arrives.

I assume there is a triangle supplied as part of the spec of the vehicle.

The manual says that the LED lights are not user serviceable, so presumably you can't take spare bulbs, as you can't fit them anyhow. The alco testers aren't compulsory. The GB is on the number plate and the headlights can be "converted" from the user menu.

So all that is required are the jackets? Unless anyone knows differently.

 

[BabaJen]

Just on the extras needed for France - we are planning our trips from June once our MP arrives.

I assume there is a triangle supplied as part of the spec of the vehicle.

The manual says that the LED lights are not user serviceable, so presumably you can't take spare bulbs, as you can't fit them anyhow. The alco testers aren't compulsory. The GB is on the number plate and the headlights can be "converted" from the user menu.

So all that is required are the jackets? Unless anyone knows differently.

You need indicator bulbs and sidelights (if they are separate from the headlamp LED's). If you have LED's you might want to check that they are owner changeable, from RHD to LHD roads. normally part of the user settings menu. No radar detectors, they are illegal. Otherwise, get the jackets and go. Bon voyage