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Having lost my father a couple of years ago, I decided to do the thing he had wished all his married life which was to have a campervan. Motherand I took the bull by the horns and bought a Hymer. We love it! I have taken my Mother out for a couple of long weekends to get the feel of it and to make a list of all the things we wish had remembered to take with us and also things which were a complete was of time. Taking tins of beans etc. to Scotland from Norfolk - don't laugh, I bet you all did once!

Anyway I have managed to get 2 weeks at the beginning of June to go over the channel and tour round France. I have done a bit of driving there before but never with a camper. We would like to get to the south coast, Nice, or somewhere like that. I'm sure many of you seasoned campers have done this many times. Is it a realistic time frame two weeks, a total of 16 days? I have made a sort of itinery travelling 200 miles or so every other day. I know this sort of thing is very much down to personal taste as to how far you travel and how long you stop in any one place. I just wondered if anyone had done a similar trip and regretted bits and loved bits and would be kind enough to share them with me.

We really are completely new to this way of holiday, but are loving it already. We don't want to plan things down to the minutest detail and guess that some places are worth staying for longer than planned and it is best to be flexible.

Any advice etc. regarding gas/water/campsites/camping in the 'wild' would be more than gratefully recieved. As would any etiquette which we should adopt to be as courteous as possible to fellow campers.

Kind Regards

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revid=3638

If you are going at the beginning of June why not join the C &CC rally at the above site at Sarzeau in Brittany

You will find lots of experienced caravaners to give advice and helps as well as organised trips /meals etc that you can join in with(not compulsary)

We go every year and love the area 

Hi, you will find France very motorhome friendly. I would suggest that you keep off the motorways if you want to get a feel for France and they can also be a bit expensive as they are mostly tolls. If you are taking gas with you make sure you have atleast one full bottle as you will not be able to refil your british bottles over there. You will find that if you take camping gaz these are widely available.

Regarding wild camping just remember you are two females on your own and if the place you are parking in doesnt feel right move on. You will however find lots of aires which are safe enough.

Have great time and just enjoy.

I wouldn't stay overnight on Aires

We have several friends who have been robbed on Aires

For what it costs go on a campsite

Thanks guys!

I love this website. Have spent hours reading other questions and picking up lots. Will definately check out the C and CC Rally in Brittany.

Bit worried about the robbery thing in Aires John, I have to say. We hadn't planned on staying overnight in Aires but hadn't thought about being robbed. I had planned on staying in quiet back lanes layby for a few stops, but having read your reply John will certainly think carefully, and at least lock us in at night and stow everything away. This is why we opted for a camper and not a caravan. Like you say tho, it makes a lot more sense to stay in a campsite and leave chairs and tables etc. out under the awning worry free.

Thanks for concern simon, but I am in fact male! Can see now reading my initial question why you might have thought otherwise tho, sorry! But it does make you think about women travelling alone (and I honestly do not mean to sound patronising when I say that). I think anyone holding up us would be making a big mistake taking on my Mother.

Will try to keep to more scenic back roads and see the real country which is why we are going there, rather than miles of lovely toll road. Just wondered if 200-300 miles every other day is a bit much. Knowing us we will find a nice village with great wine by the gallon close by and stay there for a fortnight!

Thanks again for feedback. If you can think of anything which may help, always grateful.

Thanks for that 'twooks'. This forum is fantastic! I am getting quite excited now and really can't wait to get going. I guess half the fun is finding out what works and what doesn't. I am beginning to count the days to when I retire and go off for months at a time - which is quite frightening since I am not 40 yet!!

Now heading to France Passion site for the wine. Is there no end to the usefullness of this site!

Just one other thing.... do I need an adaptor for my electric hook up cable to work on the continent (I told you we were complete novices - sorry!)

This is from a previous thread

It depends on whether the French site has the older domestic type of site socket (ie two pins and an earth socket on the plug you put in)

OR if it has the newer and increasingly more common Euro blue type of socket.

SO what you need is one adaptor to cover the first situation that converts the old type French socket to the newer Euro blue socket and thus your existing van lead.

If when you plug in the polarity tester in the van etc you have reversed polarity you then put in your reversed lead (clearly marked) which has a blue Euro plug at one end and a blue Euro socket at the other

When confronted by the Euro socket on the site electrics follow  the same  procedure but without the first adaptor.!! 

C55 SRP £2.45 Our Price £1.85 View Details	Caravan Mains Socket (Blue) C56 SRP £2.45 Our Price £1.85 View Details
Continental Mains Converter Lead C59 SRP £5.95 Our Price £4.35 View Details	Mains Polarity Tester Plug M56 Our Price £8.85 View Details

You can use the UK type blue plug on many sites in France but many still have the older domestic type of plug which need this adaptor

Continental Mains Converter Lead

C59
SRP £5.95
Our Price £4.35
View Details

For reverse polarity you then need a short length of cable with the blue plug on one end and a blue socket on the other.

This is like a short hook up lead but with live and neutral reversed.

You can't buy one but have to make one up or get a competent friend to do it for you.

C55 SRP £2.45 Our Price £1.85 View Details

Caravan Mains Socket (Blue) C56 SRP £2.45 Our Price £1.85        You find out if polarity is reversed by   plugging   this into the van internal 13 amp socket.  Polarity Tester Plug M56 Our Price £8.85 View Details

i have been to france for the last 2 years best part of 3 weeks at a time. we just use the A roads and stop where we want. the great thing about france and having a camper is you can just pull over and stop the night, in almost any place. laybys, car parks, any place that you think is safe. the locals like to have you stop as you spend a bit of money. use the local bar/pub/eating house. its great and you see the real france doing it that way. hope that helps.

floppy