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Topic: Advice Needed...And Greatly Appreciated!

samandsabine

09/9/2014 at 7:49pm
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Hi All,

As you will see, this is our first post. We're really in need of some advice from any kind people that have knowledge and experience of travelling and staying in campsites/caravan sites within France.

My partner and I are looking to start a new (somewhat nomadic!) life from a campervan, and are initial looking to travel around France to get a feel, eventually travelling the rest of Europe, with no immediate intention of travelling back to the UK.

The biggest question for ourselves is how to self fund this whilst travelling around.

My partner is a hairdresser/barbour and an initial thought is to carry out said services at the campsites/caravan sites we will be staying at.

Have you ever experienced this? Would this be something that whilst travelling you would use?

We would also look at caravan and motorhome cleaning as well. Again is this something that you have encountered or would it be a service that you would be interested in.

Your thoughts and ideas would be greatly received.

Many thanks,

Sam and Sabine

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

LYDIAK

09/9/2014 at 7:53pm
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As someone who always has to find a Hairdresser to cut my hair when we are away for up to 12 weeks at a time I would love to find an English-speaking Hairdresser on site. I always venture into a strange Salon abroad with fingers crossed!!! Luckily only had 1 bad experience (so far)

samandsabine

09/9/2014 at 7:58pm
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Quote: Originally posted by LYDIAK on 09/9/2014
As someone who always has to find a Hairdresser to cut my hair when we are away for up to 12 weeks at a time I would love to find an English-speaking Hairdresser on site. I always venture into a strange Salon abroad with fingers crossed!!! Luckily only had 1 bad experience (so far)

Thank you for a prompt response.

What you have said is exactly what I was hoping to hear!

Do you caravan or motorhome?

Thanks,

Sam and Sabine

millermicm

09/9/2014 at 8:02pm
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Barber. Personally I would not use this service as Mrs Millermicm does mine. I enjoy cleaning my own car/caravan (yes I do) and would not use that service either.

foreign camp sites can be pretty quiet out of season and not everyone will speak English. How are your linguistic skills?

I would have thought the majority of campers will be on short holidays and prepared in advance with a barnet makeover.

You may also meet opposition from site owners or they may want a cut. (cash wise not hairwise). They may also breach there licence terms.

I think you may get some work but you will need to be much more flexible and take anything that's going.

-------------
Steve

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samandsabine

09/9/2014 at 8:08pm
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Quote: Originally posted by millermicm on 09/9/2014

foreign camp sites can be pretty quiet out of season and not everyone will speak English. How are your linguistic skills?

I think you may get some work but you will need to be much more flexible and take anything that's going.

I was concerned about the length of time people may be on the sites out of season, therefore reducing the requirement for hair cuts etc.

My linguistic skills are pretty good to be fair and the flexibility of what we'd be happy to do is very open. I suppose my main concern is if indeed there is the potential to self sustain living through working whilst travelling!

Thank you for your response,

Sam and Sabine

Ludovine

09/9/2014 at 8:10pm
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Most campsites forbid car or caravan washing on their premises, as for hair cutting it might work. I've been accosted on beaches & offered reki massage for 20€. Some sunbathers do actually take up the offer so haircuts may have takers. Hows his French? The French are pretty particular about their hair & like to talk about it.

Some campsites will offer a free long term pitch in exchange for a couple a hrs a day cleaning toilets etc, no pay though. The UK rentatent companies such as Canvas Holidays offer seasonal work on their French campsites as well but you have to apply beginning of yr, I think.

Also be aware that a UK reg vehicle over 3yrs old must be returned to UK for mot test once a yr, no way around that.

-------------
Freeman on the land.

Berriow

09/9/2014 at 8:16pm
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My son and girl friend worked their way around Australia, New Zealand and into Hong Kong - and did do a bit of hair cutting on the street outside backpacker hostels - but their money earners were picking apples, planting palm trees, selling rugs, bar work, waitressing, cleaning the hostels, scavenging clothes and boots from skips to re- sell them, temp. office work, and a lot more that I've forgotten. To be really self funding is hard work.

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

samandsabine

09/9/2014 at 8:18pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Ludovine on 09/9/2014

Some great information... I didnt realise that some sites wouldn't allow cleaning on the sites. Thats a bit rubbish! (well, for us anyway!)

Also didnt realise about the MOT aspect. Again, thank you for the information. Some great help already from the forum.

Thank You!

Sam and Sabine

samandsabine

09/9/2014 at 8:24pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Berriow on 09/9/2014

Thank you for your reply...

yeah, the hard work thing is certainly something that we're expecting. To be honest, we live quite a simple life in the UK, so hopefully the cost of living for us shouldnt be too great! But still, there is a cost and an aspect of serious consideration.

thank you,

Sam and Sabine

Mrs. Bonce

09/9/2014 at 8:41pm
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Another thing that hasn't been mentioned is that a lot of sites are not open all year round. Good luck anyway, can't help with any suggestions.

Anne

Berriow

09/9/2014 at 8:45pm
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Follow the harvests. Here in Cornwall we see European temporary workers cutting cauliflowers, picking strawberries, and bunching daffodils at different times of year. In Devon the cider orchards are employing temporary workers right now. There will be jobs like that in Europe and grapes to be picked too. Good luck.

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

samandsabine

09/9/2014 at 8:50pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Mrs. Bonce on 09/9/2014

Thank you for your response.

Quote: Originally posted by Berriow on 09/9/2014
Follow the harvests. Here in Cornwall we see European temporary workers cutting cauliflowers, picking strawberries, and bunching daffodils at different times of year. In Devon the cider orchards are employing temporary workers right now. There will be jobs like that in Europe and grapes to be picked too. Good luck.

Great idea. I suppose I should get on google looking for areas in which to get potential seasonal harvesting jobs.

My biggest concern is the winter month as tourism I would assume is lower. However, having not been in the country at this time Im not actually sure of that.

Thank you,

Sam and Sabine

LlaniDavis

09/9/2014 at 10:42pm
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How are you going to insure you vehicle? UK based insurance may have a return to UK ruling. You might have to look at insuring in the country you are working.

FionaW1971

10/9/2014 at 7:28am
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I answered on your other post with something else but was thinking that creative hairdressing and braiding are massively popular if you can train yourself in that area my daughter always looks for this and we queue for ages at site or street markets - turn up on the 'market' evenings at the big commercial sites and get between €7-€20 per head depending on if single or full head. Another one this year is glitter tattooing, I don't know how much the initial set up costs are but they are through a template so with the right stuff anyone can do it, cost me €7 and took literally 5 mins! Obviously these things are seasonal but something to consider.

jasie

10/9/2014 at 8:52am
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would your driving licence remain valid?....ie..for anyone coming to the UK, their licence is only valid for 12 months then they have to take a UK test.

Although your return to do MOT's might negate this....also your insurance premium might be quite high to remain in Europe.

Ludovine

10/9/2014 at 9:07am
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A UK reg vehicle can only be insured by a UK based insurance co, it cannot be insured by, say a French ins. co. unless vehicle is re-registered in France & this can only be done if you have a French address. All countries have laws that state if you are resident in that country for more than 6mnths then you must register your car there. Not applicable if you are a tourist with no address in that country. Driving licences issed by any EU country remain valid at all times for those resident in another EU country, you don't need to retake a test in your new country of residence.

A UK insurance co. will not insure a vehicle permanently based abroad even if, like Saga they offer European insurance all year. Most insurance co's though only offer max 90days abroad per trip. So in theory a vehicle must return to UK once a year although until it is 3yrs old & must actually return for mot test you could get away with keeping it abroad. Even easier next month when tax discs finish.

Some Brits living in France/Spain seem to beleive they can keep an untaxed UK reg car indefinitely & drive it legally. They cannot. If a car is not legal to drive in it's EU country of registration it is not legal to drive in any other.

-------------
Freeman on the land.

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