|
 Topic: New to travelling abroad
|
Page: 1 2
  |
27/2/2019 at 8:24pm
Location: Neuvic_Entier France
Outfit: Rapido 7087
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 15/1/2012 Platinum Member 
Forum Posts: 506
| Site Reviews Total: | 0 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
Head for Haute Vienne, one over nighter on way down from Calais, we have great campsites, lakes for swimming with campsites within walking distance. We live here and still love the scenery.
|
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
04/3/2019 at 12:55pm
Location: Northern Ireland
Outfit: Sterckeman Alize Concept CP480
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 21/4/2011 Diamond Member 
Forum Posts: 7966
Tent Reviews: 1
| Site Reviews Total: | 93 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 8 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 9 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 8 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 50 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 49 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 52 |
|
I presume you're talking about a two week break?
To find the best combination of beach/weather, you might look at the Vendee/southern Brittany ... probably a little more secure sunshine hours, though nowadays climatic conditions seem to be making forecasting less secure than it used to be!
It might be better to consider a ferry crossing from Portsmouth or Newhaven, so as to cut down the mileage in France ... though of course, the crossing will be more expensive than Dover/Calais.
We took our Pennine all over Europe (when we had it), and towing was never a problem ... or driving on the right ... the first couple of roundabouts you meet will be 'odd', but then you'll quickly acclimatise.
As others have said ... use Via Michelin to calculate rough distances and times (don't forget to tick the 'caravan' box in the left hand options pane, to provide more accuracy for towing times) ... and explore sites with the search facility on uk campsite ... and look for reviews that reflect young families, to, probably, be nearer what you will be seeking.
Guarantee you'll never camp in UK again ... well, for longer than a weekend break! We ended up storing our FC in France so as to avoid the ferry costs and towing fuel figures ...
|
04/3/2019 at 2:06pm
Location: Bucks
Outfit: Used to have a Pennine Fiesta
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 07/8/2009 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 1694
Tent Reviews: 4
| Site Reviews Total: | 28 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 2 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 8 |
|
I agree with everything Kelper says above, but (sorry Kelper), bear in mind that if you use the 'caravan' option on Via Michelin, it will quote you the higher tolls that you pay on height. With a FC you pay the standard car tolls. For example, its around 70 euros for a car from Calais to Montpellier, but with a caravan you'll be paying around £110 euros.
|
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
04/3/2019 at 2:15pm
Location: Wirral
Outfit: Swift Freestyle 520 on seasonal pitch
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 03/5/2005 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 4679
| Site Reviews Total: | 12 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
Not sure about the Viamichelin "Caravan" tick.
I thought it was only to calculate tolls as caravans obey the same speed limits as cars.
|
04/3/2019 at 2:35pm
Location: Dartford Kent
Outfit: VW+T6+conversion
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 06/5/2008 Platinum Member
Forum Posts: 991
| Site Reviews Total: | 48 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 7 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 1 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 2 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 1 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 21 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 2 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 12 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 14 |
|
Viamichelin seems to adjust speeds for caravan, and will add about 15% time for caravan - mind you, with a FC I used to get a good wiggle on. If the OP is the same, then don't check the caravan box.
|
04/3/2019 at 2:53pm
Location:
Outfit:
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 16/10/2007 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 6716
Tent Reviews: 1
| Site Reviews Total: | 116 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 4 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 40 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
Add extra time for "comfort" stops, unless your grandfather was a camel.
The driving is very easy. Start off by using a motorway or large dual carriageway to get your eye in and then graduate to any road.
|
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
04/3/2019 at 4:59pm
Location: Wales
Outfit: 2BVolvo2BXC602BR
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 13/3/2011 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 2045
| Site Reviews Total: | 61 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 4 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 5 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 2 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 5 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 1 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 8 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 5 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 25 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 14 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 28 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 14 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 38 |
|
Have a look at Camping Le Lac d'Orient, nice site, nice lake with beach. about 245 miles from Calais, easy run down autoroute. Plenty of reviews on here, we enjoyed our jaunt there.
-------------
74,going on 25
Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder
|
05/3/2019 at 10:52am
Location: Northern Ireland
Outfit: Sterckeman Alize Concept CP480
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 21/4/2011 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 7966
Tent Reviews: 1
| Site Reviews Total: | 93 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 8 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 9 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 8 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 50 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 49 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 52 |
|
Thanks, guys!
To clarify ... I only ticked the caravan box for the closer time estimate ... not for costs ... which I have always ignored ... after all, if you're going, you're going ... whatever the cost!
One of the big advantages of the FC/TT over a caravan is the Class 1 toll charge ... as well as reduced wind resistance ... so much cheaper to tow than a caravan.
And ... "caravans obey the same speed limits as cars"?? In theory, sometimes, maybe ... but I'd never tow at the car limit on a motorway!
|
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
|
via mobile 04/3/2019 at 10:22am
