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Subject Topic: First time in France Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonGeorge Family
03/2/2014 at 10:54am
 Location: Staffs
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We have booked our first trip to France this year taking the Caravan. We went last year but went in a pre-erected Euro camp tent.

We have booked with Euro camp Independent so we get use of the kids clubs etc. Does anyone have any experience of these?

Were booked on the over night ferry from Portsmouth to St Malo.

Any tips on towing abroad?


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


Persongreenhill
03/2/2014 at 11:15am
 Location: Norfolk
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You'll prob get more replies posting this on the abroad forum. There are so every experienced and helpful people on there. This will be our first time abroad with our caravan, took trailer tent last year. We too are going euro Indep for the kids clubs this year. The clubs are great, run to uk standards.

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From tents to trailer tents to a tin tent to an air tent to trailer tent and back to tin tent!


PersonVal A
03/2/2014 at 11:48am
 Location: West - North Yorkshire
 Outfit: Swift Speedbird 490 Mondeo Estate View Val A's Profile View Profile   Reply to Val A Reply   Quote Val A Quote  
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Towing abroad - firstly, much easier than towing in this country.  Have a read of the pinned topic 'Advice for continental first-timers' - above the posts on this forum, and print out any sections you think are important.

There is much less traffic in France, and more 'caravan-friendly' places to stop, both on the autoroutes, and on the N roads.  If you use the 'Peage' autoroutes then you will pay more towing a caravan than driving solo. 

Fill up with fuel on your overnight stops - unhitch, set up the caravan, and then use the 'French Government Fuel Prices' website to find the nearest cheap fuel, so that you can fill up without the caravan on the back.

And 'Don't worry' - it really is easier than in England!


Personsunshinetours
03/2/2014 at 2:48pm
 Location: sunny south east!
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Quote:

Any tips on towing abroad?




Drive on the right

As Val says huge amounts of similar posts on here and some pinned at top all with useful information

Enjoy, its a pleasure holidaying in France with a caravan


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


Personverona13
03/2/2014 at 4:23pm
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We have used Eurocamp Independent, had a very good experience with them, have no complaints. Kids club was well run and very good.


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Persondixon72
03/2/2014 at 4:31pm
 Location: Tamworth Staffs
 Outfit: Bailey Unicorn 111 Valencia 2017 View dixon72's Profile View Profile   Reply to dixon72 Reply   Quote dixon72 Quote  
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Its less stress and less traffic than the UK.Also the road surfaces are alot better, they even put signs up on motorway stating when next service station is in KMs and how much fuel is there.
There tolls can be abit of a pain but if you intend to visit France every year then get a toll like we have.
No queing or worrying about euros just follow fast lane/Hgv and straight through no delays.Its even better because they don't bill you until 30 days after use


Personsteve mx
03/2/2014 at 5:24pm
 Location: glos
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Quote: Originally posted by dixon72 on 03/2/2014
Its less stress and less traffic than the UK.Also the road surfaces are alot better, they even put signs up on motorway stating when next service station is in KMs and how much fuel is there.
There tolls can be abit of a pain but if you intend to visit France every year then get a toll like we have.
No queing or worrying about euros just follow fast lane/Hgv and straight through no delays.Its even better because they don't bill you until 30 days after use

did you mean there is a toll card ? where can I get imfo on this, as would be useful being r/h drive when everybody else is asleep


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Personwelshwyn
03/2/2014 at 6:15pm
 Location: essex
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I purchased a SNEF tag which I bought via a link through the Eurotunnel website. It makes driving through the tolls so much easier.


Personbatt
03/2/2014 at 7:45pm
 Location: west mids
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my top tip is stick your sat nav in Kms so you can tell the speed easier and the distances match the signs

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Courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to carry on in spite of it.


Persondixon72
03/2/2014 at 7:50pm
 Location: Tamworth Staffs
 Outfit: Bailey Unicorn 111 Valencia 2017 View dixon72's Profile View Profile   Reply to dixon72 Reply   Quote dixon72 Quote  
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Our tag is liberty tag, i ordered it from france as alot cheaper than uk site


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PersonArds Boy
09/2/2014 at 8:07pm
 Location: Newtownards
 Outfit: Jaguar FPace View Ards Boy's Profile View Profile   Reply to Ards Boy Reply   Quote Ards Boy Quote  
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For The George family. I endorse the comments made by other members. Don't feel rushed, the French have relaxed attitude to caravans compared to Brits. If there is one piece of advice I can pass on it is put a card in front of your dash saying "DRIVE ON THE RIGHT" it might seem elementary and dont be put off by other peoples comments. on our first trip to France with our own caravan I exited a campsite early one Sunday morning onto a deserted Route National, I fortunately the road was very straight as I travelled about 1/4 to 1/2 mile before realising my error, be warned this i a very easy thing to do in the absence of local traffic to remind you which side to drive on. It'll be great just check up on the speed limits relating to your outfit.
Take care. AB

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A. B.


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PersonVal A
10/2/2014 at 6:42am
 Location: West - North Yorkshire
 Outfit: Swift Speedbird 490 Mondeo Estate View Val A's Profile View Profile   Reply to Val A Reply   Quote Val A Quote  
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I'd agree with Ards Boy - these days we say 'Keep your bum in the gutter' - and it becomes second nature, but there's always the occasion, coming out of a petrol station, turning into a quiet lane, or just a lapse in concentration, when you realise you're on the wrong side.

AND don't be complacent when you come home.  Coming out of my Aunt's house, on a quiet lane in Kent, I started driving on the wrong (French) side of the road!


Personexessexmum
10/2/2014 at 6:53am
 Location: Cambs
 Outfit: Nowt. View exessexmum's Profile View Profile   Reply to exessexmum Reply   Quote exessexmum Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by Val A on 10/2/2014

I'd agree with Ards Boy - these days we say 'Keep your bum in the gutter' - and it becomes second nature, but there's always the occasion, coming out of a petrol station, turning into a quiet lane, or just a lapse in concentration, when you realise you're on the wrong side.

AND don't be complacent when you come home.  Coming out of my Aunt's house, on a quiet lane in Kent, I started driving on the wrong (French) side of the road!




We have a song. Well, the kids do, they made it up about 7 years ago. They sing it every time we set off in France, even after short stops. These days, we get it in three part harmony LOL! It's not long, not complex, but it's effective.




-------------
Amanda


PersonGeorge Family
10/2/2014 at 12:18pm
 Location: Staffs
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Thanks for all your replies, we have driven in France before just never towed. How easy is getting on and off the ferry? Last time we had quite a squeeze getting out the car and couldn't open the boot because of the car so close behind us. Im guessing we will be on the lorry deck with the caravan on??


Person664DaveS
10/2/2014 at 12:29pm
 Location: Shropshire
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No problem,just follow the crews directions.Take it slow going on and off as the jockey wheel might touch the ramp. We fold the car mirrors once on the ship,as people will be walking past.
Take it easy sur le continent,its great as roads are generally quieter.

-------------
DS-There's more to life than football!!!


Personcaptainevo
10/2/2014 at 12:41pm
 Location: BlackCountry
 Outfit: Honda CRV & Bailey Pageant Provence View captainevo's Profile View Profile   Reply to captainevo Reply   Quote captainevo Quote  
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Hi, exiting the ferry is painless as you are normally with the HGV's. We have never done your crossing but both Calais and Dunkirk were simple, both theses ports exit directly onto dual carriageways.

One bit of advice is if you are going to use the fuel price web site that Val A provided whilst en-route (i.e. Tintent still attached) I would check Google Earth for access and exit from the forecourt.

Other than that towing is stress free.



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