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 Topic: First Camping Trip Abroad
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15/2/2015 at 11:24pm
Location: Birmingham
Outfit: Yukon River 4 & Quechua 2 Secs XXL
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Hi Everyone,
Having camped in UK since 2011 I feel it's time to venture a little further afield so am planning to take the family to the South of France in the summer. Having not embarked on anything like this before or even ever driven abroad, I think seeking some valuable advice would be a good idea.
I'm thinking of travelling from Birmingham to Ceyreste on the south coast of France, stopping over in a travel lodge or similar halfway. This is the main area of my concern because I really have no idea how long this drive is going to take or how knackered I'm going to be doing it. It says about 950 miles on Google Maps and 13.5 to 15 hours but I'm wondering what the reality will be.
I thought of stopping in Troyes, thus splitting the journey in two. Has anyone else done a similar journey; is it feasible to drive from Midlands to Dover, through Eurotunnel and onto Troyes in one day and then stop overnight and go onto the south coast the following day arriving in time to pitch a family tent?
Any advice much appreciated - if I can confirm how to do the journey, I can book the campsite and chunnel dates. I expect then, I'll have a few more questions on some of the finer details like driving on French roads!
Many thanks,
Marc
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16/2/2015 at 12:48am
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Last year we did our first french trip so had the same dilemmas you are facing. We went on a really early ferry from Dover 3am I think and drove down to the vendees. Ok we are about an hour from Dover so didn't have the long journey in the uk and also I do shift work so I adjust easier to getting up in the middle of the night as its the norm for me.
It took us about 8 hours going toll roads to the vendees. The driving is nothing like the uk and a lot easier but do not underestimate how far you are travelling, looking at maps can deceive. I wasn't massively tired from the journey because I do 8 hour shifts driving for a living but i did feel it. Maintaining concentration levels for long periods of time will hit you if you aren't used to it.
Then you have to pitch the tent etc.
Our biggest concern was how far and long a journey the kids would cope with, I think we were at their limit at 8 hours.
Will you share the driving ? I was able to let my wife do a stint while I napped, makes a big difference to your concentration levels as do regular breaks.
We are totally converted to camping in France now and can't wait for this years trip, just loved it.
Plan well and you too will have a good time.
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16/2/2015 at 8:51am
Location: Cambs
Outfit: Nowt.
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I'd say that for Brum to the Med you need two stops to avoid killing yourself or other road users, especially if you've not done it before. We find about 400 miles to be a doable distance on a day without ending up exhausted at the end, especially if you have a tent set up to erect when you get there! I'd suggest stopping at around Troyes and Dijon or just beyond. Traffic around Dijon can be very slow, so you need to allow extra time anyway for that leg. If you leave yourself 200 odd miles for the last day, you can arrive just after lunch all ready for a slow set up.
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Amanda
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16/2/2015 at 9:05am
Location: North Essex
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As all truck drivers will know, an hour before breakfast is worth 2 afterwards. If you only have a fortnights break then you would probably like to do the journey in 2 days. Go for it about 4am on day 1 for a Eurotunnel booking of around 8.30am then get as far as you can.
If you have a popup tent then an overnight stop on a camping municipal on the way down would be cheaper than a hotel & has the advantage of flexibility as there is no need to book campsite & you can take a list of possible stops. Even if you do want to hotel it, if you stop early then you should be able to get in without booking allowing you to get as far as poss. if you are not tired. Then early to bed, early to rise should get you to your destination early afternoonn on day 2.
Post last edited on 16/02/2015 09:12:53
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16/2/2015 at 9:13am
Location: Dartford Kent
Outfit: VW+T6+conversion
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It's do-able, so long as the kids are set up with entertainment systems. France is much easier to drive than the UK, for the most part, and well set up with rest areas. Most service stations have brilliant coin-op bean-to-cup espresso machines! Makes a stop and a stretch very two ours a pleasure.
On one of our early trips another driver posted out how good it was for the kids to see the landscape change on the way south: award points for the first pantile roof, the first vineyard, the first pencil pine and so on.
As for route, may I suggest a hotel stop along the N4/N67 - takes you off the autoroute for a while, on the old road south, and you get to see another bit of France. Also, take the A39 as an alternative way round Lyons.
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16/2/2015 at 8:59pm
Location: Birmingham
Outfit: Yukon River 4 & Quechua 2 Secs XXL
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Hello everyone,
Thanks so much for such brilliant responses, all really relevant and all give me a real feel for what it will be like.
Lockie, Mwooly & Billy, I would like to do the 2 day trip to get the most out of my 2 weeks in the sun.
That said, considering the littlun in the back and reading the info in the stickies, I'm feeling the two-stop option and getting set up on-site early would prob be for the best (thanks Amanda). Lockie OH wouldn't drive in France, hard enough getting her behind the wheel in UK!
Is booking stop-off hotels in advance the best option? Or as Billy suggests, take small tent and find camp-site and/or motels en-route and see where the adventure takes us?
Much love,
Marc
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16/2/2015 at 9:12pm
Location: West - North Yorkshi
Outfit: Swift+Speedbird+490+
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I would do cheap hotels - for not much more than a campsite you can arrive and fall into bed, get up and have breakfast with someone else washing up, and set off much earlier. It would take much longer if you had to get up, cook breakfast, wash up, go to the ablutions, dress, pack the tent and bedding, and all your overnight stuff back in the car, and set off again. There are plenty of places you can overnight - some for as little as 28 euros per night - mind you breakfast is generally on top.
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17/2/2015 at 1:23pm
Location: Birmingham
Outfit: Yukon River 4 & Quechua 2 Secs XXL
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Thanks Val - we're going at peak time last two weeks of July - do you think there will be plenty of room to just drop onto hotels on spec at that time of year (ie not pre-book before we set off)? That way, I can drive until I get too tired and stop then.
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17/2/2015 at 1:37pm
Location: Cambs
Outfit: Nowt.
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Definitely hotels, not tent. I'd definitely prebook, it reduces the temptation to just keep going until you drop, and that time of year some of them will definitely be approaching full. Last thing you need is to get to as far as you can safely drive, then spend ages frantically looking for a hotel.
We tried the tent over nighters once but getting the sleeping bags and tent and pegs and stove etc out of a carefully packed car for one night wasn't worth it, even with little extra tent. We pack an overnight bag and have it at the top of the boot and just take that into the hotel. The hotels aren't great at the budget end, but clean and the breakfasts are good.
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Amanda
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17/2/2015 at 4:28pm
Location: Northern Ireland
Outfit: Sterckeman Alize Concept CP480
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With two weeks hols, I'd really consider not going all the way down to the south of France. Dordogne, Ardeche, Lot, Rhone-Alps, Tarn ... all great areas with good weather (usually) ... and, more importantly, a few hours less driving.
Whilst that may not impact too much on the way there ... coming back, you'll get home and feel like a couple of days to recover.
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