We've done this several times and always end up taking too many clothes (I tend to forget that sites have washing machines). You will need one set of cool/wet weather clothes for the UK and for northern France. Then, depending on how far south you are going, hot weather clothes, with, perhaps a fleece or cardi for cool mornings. I tend to take shorts and vests/T shirts, with a dress and one pair of decent crops for site seeing and eating out. Despite taking many pairs of shoes, I seem to only wear trainers or flip flops. you might want a hat, but you can easily buy one in a market somewhere. Oh and I take one of those lightweight multi-coloured pairs of trousers for travelling, since the seat material can irritate or stick to the backs of legs otherwise.
------------- Freedom is a light caravan and an open road.
Quote: Originally posted by SamP on 11/5/2019
Gas:
Think about what type of gas cylinders you use & can you get them in <insert name of country here>?
I would say two different credit cards - if there was a problem and you had to cancel one card, you have a back up.
On the credit/debit card issue I suggest you segregate by provider, so if one gets lost, stolen and so cancelled there is at least another hidden away somewhere. Experiencing this is a harsh lesson!
We both personnally carry our dual cards of provider "X".
But hidden away somewhere I am not telling are a pair of provider "Y's", and totally elsewhere are a pair of provider "Z's".
Plus with each is a slip with the emergency contacts for X, Y and Z's recorded.
Re clothes, we have a big wardrobe and it is always stuffed for every event, even to cover an unexpected wedding invitation should the neighbouring couple decide to formalise things; I have been allocated a small locker!
We needless to say bring back more unused than used; in France quick dry clothes dry even quicker, that including microfibre towels is the way to go.
I agree with Joanna. We always pack a full set of thin waterproofs and waterproof shoes/trainers in case of wet days, then at least you can go for a walk. We do laundry once in our 3 weeks, I take 2 washing tablets, saves buying or storing a full pack of anything. And a washing line and pegs.
Comfy elastic long trousers for the long drives, also to protect legs from hot sun whilst sitting in the 'van.
Mosquito repellant, candles etc and sting relief. First aid kit. I know you can buy all these things, but you don't need them all the time and they don't take up a lot of space. Stuff like cracked heel cream, sandals let the skin dry out more.
Great idea the credit cards.
Get your clothes out and then put half back.
Make the conscious decision if there is a problem, throw money at it.
Leave the stress and worry behind!
We go to the Netherlands for between 3 and 6 weeks every year. Each time I reduce the amount of clothes we take and still come back with unworn ones! I take a tube of travel wash for any hand washing and use the site laundry for the rest. I too also take Bacon and Teabags -although a no deal Brexit might change what we can take!
Yes, I take teabags too, plus anything remaining in the fridge at home. If we are leaving the UK at the weekend, I usually carry enough stuff to make a scratch meal - it can be difficult finding supplies on a Sunday. Over time our locker has acquired a few tins of this and that which live in the van throughout the season.
I'd forgotten about anti-mozzie and bite relief products -as a fair-skinned redhead, I need those!
------------- Freedom is a light caravan and an open road.
We take about 10 days worth of clothes, then use site washing machines. We keep a couple of brushed cotton tracksuits and some crocs in our van,useful for going to shower if cool!
I have lightweight trouserswith zip off legs to make shorts!
Extra set of bedding and towels,plus lightweight folding airer
I fitted a small safe under the front box in the van, secured with a steel plate underneath bolted through floor
with coach bolts. Handy for spare credit xards house keys etc.
Easily obtainable from diy outlets or online.
We have scanned our passports and licenses and have them on usb stick and micro sd card.
We also have a couple of credit cards. We use prepaid mastercards from Post Office for euros.
I have a small toolkit, some duct and electrical tape and small multimeter.
It did come in useful on a previous van when we lost power once.
Post last edited on 12/05/2019 16:28:06
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
We tend to go to France for 3 months+ at a time.
On list
*1000+ tea bags
*duvet that is 9 tog buttoned on to 4 tog
*2 sets of bedlinen
*Cous cous, pasta and rice
*Couple of stir in pasta sauces and stir in curry sauces.
*Hill farm mustard salad dressing ( can't find anything in France to equal it)
* English mustard
***cork screw***
Quick dry clothes and underwear ( Brands like Rohan,Tilley, expensive but worth it)
Wet weather shoes
Wr have just come back from 3 months in Europe and my list of things to take include.
duck tape and small toolkit, pills ect pain killers are expensive what is 60p a pack here is over 2 euros. If you have prescribed drugs take at least 7 to 10 days extra.
Packs of rice ect that are 50p here are over 1 euro there so I take a few of those. If you have any food allergies you will need to take food from here. My husbands a coeliac I took biscuits for him that were made in Spain I buy them for 99p here but the same biscuits cost 3 euros in Spain so I take that kind of thing from the UK.
We also like brown sauce cant get that in Europe. We also found food is expensive in France , Spain ect not so.