First time touring in Europe

5vanfan
5vanfan Forum Participant Posts: 3
edited November 2018 in Overseas Campsites & Touring #1

We are starting to plan a 2 month tour of Europe. I am a caravanner but will be buying a motor home for the tour.

We have some ideas of destinations we would like to visit but would welcome any suggestions.

We are not fans of large club sites, so does anyone recommend CL type sites, or do we just use Aires. Again can anyone recommend particularly good ones.

What is the best way to manage money, I was thinking of a pre pay debit card, has anyone used one?

Lastly, what about driving permits in some countries, and toll charges. What are the easiest way to do this.

Any suggestions welcomed.

Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited November 2018 #2
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,829 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2018 #3

    Yes, I can recommend some small sites - but could you please say where you would like them to be. Others will no doubt recommend Aires if that is what you wish, but again will want to know where you would like to go. 

    For money I personally use a no fee Halifax Clarity credit card and am able to pay it off every month, but certainly pre paid cards have their supporters. 

    There are no driving permits required at the moment in EU countries - at present a British driving licence still suffices.

    Tolls vary from country to country - as do the methods of paying them. Portugal is completely different from France, Switzerland and Austria have pre pay vignettes,  whereas Germany remains toll free. Do please click Overseas Holidays at the top of this page and see if the Useful Advice section there is helpful to you. 

    I hope it all goes well. 

  • montesa
    montesa Forum Participant Posts: 168
    edited November 2018 #4

    Lots of advice on this website and on others such as C&C Club and would also recommend the very much more popular and active  Caravan Talk Forum under Caravan Holidays Abroad section. Do a search.

    Your general queries you ask are answered on a very very regular basis so  suggest you narrow down your questions and be a bit more specific as said above. Do a website search.

    French Passion sites are one that is a bit more off the beaten popular track.

    We and friends use and are fans of the Revolut pre-loaded Card system, excellent live exchange rates.

  • 5vanfan
    5vanfan Forum Participant Posts: 3
    edited November 2018 #5

    Thanks for the replies, at the moment I am thinking of France Italy and Switzerland. I need to be careful I don’t bite off more than I can chew, I don’t want the be driving I hours a day.

    if any knows of aires in the french mountains, Ventoux and Alp dhuez

    thanks

    stuart

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
    1000 Comments
    edited November 2018 #6

    https://www.campingcar-infos.com/  and https://www.campercontact.com/en/default.aspx?fromsso=1  will give you an extensive list.

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,829 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2018 #7

    Stuart, when you mention Mont Ventoux and Alpe dHuez it sounds as though you are ambitious cyclists. Yes?  

    So basically the important thing is not searching for a 5 Van site there - you just want a site (or an Aire) at the foot of the mountain. It need not be 5 van or 5 star star either, but a campsite with a pool might be more welcome than an aire at the end of the day if you are going in summer. 

    Have you got the Club's Touring France site guide ?  Or the one covering Switzerland and Italy if you are going there. They have their faults but are still useful.

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,669 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2018 #8

    We did Germany, France, Italy in 2016 and really enjoyed our trip.  

    Mt Ventoux is one of my favourite places.  When we go to the area we usually stay at Camping Le Bregoux at Aubignan, just N of Carpentras and have had some good stays here.

    Although we didn't actually stay in Switzerland, we stayed at La Columbiere, Neydens, just outside Geneva, but in France.  Also quiet possible to visit Annecy from this site too.

    We stayed for a time just outside Frejus near St Aygulf.  Plenty of sites around here.  We used L'Etoile d'Argens, but it was a large commercial site which didn't particularly appear to us.

    In Italy we stayed near Montecatini Terme at Camping Belsito.  A nice site up in the hills, but some small pitches, so it was worth booking a 'large' pitch in advance..

    David

  • KeithandMargaret
    KeithandMargaret Forum Participant Posts: 660
    500 Comments
    edited November 2018 #9

    If you have your own facilities (toilet, shower) you will have a greater choice of stopovers and with a Solar panel and a refillable gas system the World will be you lobster.

    Without any or all of them travel will be more restricted.

    You don't say which part of the year you are travelling - in or out of high season will make quite a difference.

     

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