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Topic: New to Motorhoming

Carol Terry

04/12/2023 at 8:49am
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Hi all
We have just brought our first Motorhome and are planning a trip to Athens next year. Our route will be. France 🇫🇷 Switzerland 🇨🇭 Italy 🇮🇹 (ferry Bari) Greece 🇬🇷 then to Athens. Has anyone done any part of this route.
Also is there any advice on what we should do to the Motorhome this winter.
Thank you.

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

Netherton

04/12/2023 at 1:24pm
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It’s an ambitious first trip and I wish you well. But it might be better to split the plan in half - to tour France, Switzerland and Italy with your splendid new motorhome - and separately to fly from UK to Greece which will cost about £125 pp. return - and get out to some of the islands. I hope it all goes well whatever you decide.

MrWez

04/12/2023 at 5:11pm
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Can't help you with your big trip although I have found driving the motorhome in France a much more pleasurable experience than driving in the UK (less traffic density unless you get close to a major population centre).

I can advise as to what to do with your motorhome during the winter though, the short answer is use it! There are plenty of campsites open all year, get yourselves onto one with hardstanding and electric hook-up, get the heating on and make the most of it!

We try and get out once a month during the winter season, we don't always manage it but it's always the ambition. It gets everything turning and you get to keep an eye on things.

This time of year it shouldn't be too difficult getting onto a site so you can keep an eye on the weekend weather forecast and book onto one fairly last minute if needs be.

lizzie

via mobile 04/12/2023 at 6:32pm
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We don’t always stay in our van for 3 months or so during November to February but then will take it out for a day trip or even just a drive every three weeks or so.
As far as your trip is concerned, you can look at various videos on YouTube of people taking their vans on pretty long trips. Laikalikers are currently in Turkey having come through France, Italy and Greece. I haven’t watched them all but they can be informative. There are others too whose names I cannot recall atm but just do a search.
What time of year are you planning your trip?

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lizzie

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Carol Terry

04/12/2023 at 7:28pm
Location: Essex
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Hi
I no it’s a big trip. But we will only be able to do this trip once. We have been planning this for 2 years. Was going to turn our old van into a camper but brought one instead. We are planning on leaving the UK on the 1st June. And have planned to take 5 weeks off work and planning on using 4 to travel. the extra week for a just in case.
We have managed 1 night away so far and plan a few more before June. I’m hoping we can find places to stay on route.

DaveS1

via mobile 06/12/2023 at 5:03pm
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That's around 4,500 miles. Even if you manage 300 miles a day you will be driving for 15 days so you will only be seeing most of the scenery through the windscreen.
Each to their own but if it were me I would concentrate on one or two countries and, as mentioned above, fly to Athens.
Whatever you choose, good luck
DaveS1

David Klyne

06/12/2023 at 8:17pm
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I also think it is an ambitious trip in five weeks. When we have gone to Italy we have always gone via France/Germany/Austria and usually over the Fen and Brenner passes into Italy. Have you thought about going to Venice and getting the ferry to Greece that way. You can camp on board and I think they have EHU's. It might allow you more time in Greece.

All very well people suggesting you fly but not everyone likes that form of transport

David

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Carol Terry

via mobile 06/12/2023 at 9:19pm
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That is food for thought. We have flown all over but really want to drive. But the tips we have been given perhaps it’s a bit ambitious for 4 weeks

Carol Terry

via mobile 06/12/2023 at 9:43pm
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Fiona W

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I see why you think we’re being pessimistic.
For that map, you might as well drive your car & stay at a lovely hotel or a glamping pod en route & at the destination. Not sure what the MH is bringing to the party.
Our MH trips involve a 2 hour drive in the morning (pack up & leave by 10, stop for lunch & look around at 12) & 2 hours afternoon (2-4, pitch up & have a nice walk / pub etc); 200 miles a day max. It’s not a straight hammer A to B and stop at 8pm dinner time, unless you’re using the MH as a hotel substitute: there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that at all, not sure it’s camping, but that doesn’t matter if it suits you.

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lizzie

via mobile 07/12/2023 at 8:58am
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At that time of year it could also be extremely hot. We were in the Italian lakes two years ago in June and temperatures were around 32 degrees and more plus very humid. I was extremely glad to have an air con room in hotel for that trip. It is quite useful when travelling by motorhome to be able to be pretty fluid with plans so that you can change direction to suit the weather.
There are YouTube videos which cover camping on board the ferry from Italy to Greece.

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longcol

08/12/2023 at 12:26am
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Quote: Originally posted by Carol Terry on 04/12/2023
Hi all
We have just brought our first Motorhome and are planning a trip to Athens next year. Our route will be. France 🇫🇷 Switzerland 🇨🇭 Italy 🇮🇹 (ferry Bari) Greece 🇬🇷 then to Athens. Has anyone done any part of this route.
Also is there any advice on what we should do to the Motorhome this winter.
Thank you.

Personally I'd give it a go.

OK - not a motorhome owner but did a 3 week trip through France and east Italy as far S as Urbino and back a few years ago in Sept, - pre booked statics on sites and using a pop - up tent. Citreon Berlingo's are reliable, hold a lot of gear but not exactly sports cars.

Down from Sheffield via the tunnel to Beaune (one night). Month Blanc tunnel to Val Veny (2 nights). Across to Venice (3 nights), Down to Urbino (3 nights). Across to San Gimignano (3 nights). Up to the Pisa and the Cinque Terre (3 nights). Back into S France for 5 nights on the Med near Port Grimaud / St Tropez. Back up the Rhone valley with a stopover and on to Bruges for a couple of nights before ferry back to Hull.

Go for it while you can. After early retirement we moved to France 5 years ago with all sorts of plans for touring - then came covid, then my wifes two cancers (thankfully all clear) - so our further trips to Spain / Italy / Greece put on hold - and I ain't getting any younger.

Carol Terry

09/12/2023 at 9:54am
Location: Essex
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Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 06/12/2023
I see why you think we’re being pessimistic.
For that map, you might as well drive your car & stay at a lovely hotel or a glamping pod en route & at the destination. Not sure what the MH is bringing to the party.
Our MH trips involve a 2 hour drive in the morning (pack up & leave by 10, stop for lunch & look around at 12) & 2 hours afternoon (2-4, pitch up & have a nice walk / pub etc); 200 miles a day max. It’s not a straight hammer A to B and stop at 8pm dinner time, unless you’re using the MH as a hotel substitute: there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that at all, not sure it’s camping, but that doesn’t matter if it suits you.

Thank you for your reply. We haven’t just spent our savings on a MH to drive a car and stay in hotels.
We bought it to drive and use.

Mrs. Bonce

via mobile 09/12/2023 at 10:20am
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Makes me exhausted just reading about it.

Netherton

09/12/2023 at 11:48am
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Quote: Originally posted by Carol Terry on 04/12/2023
Hi all
We have just brought our first Motorhome and are planning a trip to Athens next year. Our route will be. France 🇫🇷 Switzerland 🇨🇭 Italy 🇮🇹 (ferry Bari) Greece 🇬🇷 then to Athens. Has anyone done any part of this route.
Also is there any advice on what we should do to the Motorhome this winter.
Thank you.

Carol, from your Essex address I suggest an overnight ferry from Harwich to Hook of Holland. Then three days motorway driving at 300 miles per day gets you to Ancona in Italy. From there you can get a ferry to Greece by the end of Day 4. - and that saves you another day’s driving down to Bari . But what’s your own plan?

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