Driving tour of Western europe

ScreenName52898AE0F6
ScreenName52898AE0F6 Forum Participant Posts: 1
edited March 2016 in Overseas Campsites & Touring #1

Hi.  I am a new member and pick up a 7 year old motorhome at the beginning of April.  It's a low profile vehicle with 2 berths.  At the beginning of May we've got plans for a 3 month (fairly leisurely) tour.  We've toured parts of France (in a car) on many occasions but this trip will be different.  My initial thoughts are for a drive down the west coast of France in May, June in the south of France and July driving back north, perhaps to Dijon and then east to Bavaria and back up through Netherlands and Belgium. Interested in any views on routes or any other aspects of this tour. Haven't booked any sites will will have guides with us for sites etc.  Is this reckless?  Thanks.    

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  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,145 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #2

    Seems reasonable and doable to me.  We have limited time, 5 weeks and we are going to Germany then through Austria to Hungary and returning via the Czech Republic, Germany and Netherlands

  • MaggieR
    MaggieR Forum Participant Posts: 50
    edited March 2016 #3

    Get an ACSI card and book, then just go and enjoy!

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,696 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #4

    Seems reasonable to me too.  In 7 weeks we are doing: Home > Dover/Calais >Mosel (Germany) > Black Forest > Central Rhone Valley (France) > N. Provence, near Carpentras > Frejus > Tuscany (Italy) > the French
    side of Geneva > Chalon-en-Champagne > Calais > Blackhorse Farm, Folkestone > Home

    You'll be fine.

    David 

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited March 2016 #5
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • Longtimecaravanner
    Longtimecaravanner Forum Participant Posts: 642
    edited March 2016 #6

    Although in this country we prefer the idea of a caravan I always wish on going abroad we had a motorhome. The freedom over there and the way they have aires for motorhomers is wonderful. To just be able to move on ten or twenty miles down the road must
    be fantastic. In three months you will have plenty of time to cover your route. As others have said you don't need to book sites at this time of year. I don't know if these three blogs would be of any use to you.

    https://motorhomemoments.wordpress.com/

    Richard also has several videos on Youtube of aires he has stayed on and what the way to them is like which may help you.

    http://www.davidklyne.co.uk/

    I always have a look at David's blog when planning my own trips

    https://jennyandjohngocaravanning.wordpress.com/

    Lastly mine. I caravan but there is some information on some of the areas you are planning to cover.

    Have a wonderful time.

  • Wayne and Judie Seaborn
    Wayne and Judie Seaborn Forum Participant Posts: 181
    100 Comments
    edited March 2016 #7

    We did a very easy trip in 2015 from Uk via Germany, Austria, northern Switzerland,Slovinia, Croatia, Italy and again Austria before heading north. 17 sites in 64 nights some with a Escorted tour, some by ourselves. It was realy good and worked in our caravan.
    Mind we had all sites pre booked

  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004 ✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #8

    Like others have said, it should be doable, enjoyable, and affordable!

    Get the ACSI card here www.campingcard.co.uk for a range of sites, some as little as 11 euros.  Aires are a modest price, or free, and even wild-camping is tolerated on supermarket car parks and the like, in some areas.  Absolutely no need to book sites,
    indeed that is one of the joys of France especially - the fact you can stay for as long as you like, or leave after one day, paying for your stay at the end of it not at the beginning.

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #9

    Hi Alistair, I know some motorhome owners who would be round that circuit in a fortnight. They are relentless - stay one night in an Aire  and off on the road again in the morning. 

    Take care and have a good time. 

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #10

    Just a post in support of all that has been said.  ACSI and go for it.  Have a great time.

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #11

    Alistair , Lots of the replies you have had praising ACSI card sites have been from caravanners, but the campsites closest to town and village centres in France, which motorhome owners find are the most convenient for them, are often the municipal sites
    - and they are very rarely members of the ACSI card scheme. 

  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004 ✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #12

    Alistair , Lots of the replies you have had praising ACSI card sites have been from caravanners, but the campsites closest to town and village centres in France, which motorhome owners find are the most convenient for them, are often the municipal sites
    - and they are very rarely members of the ACSI card scheme. 

    Good  point - so here is the website for looking up municipal campsites:  http://www.camping-municipal.org/

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #13

    Agree, ACSI is great but Municipals are often very near towns/villages (that's why the local authority has them).  Use your common sense.  We go armed with the ACSI book, the CC Overseas Books and the Michelin Book (must get a new one!). We have built up a list of sites within walking distance of towns/villages, afraid too long to post here, but here's a few not ACSI:  Ciudad Rodrigo in Spain, near the Portugese border, St Chinian (not Municipal any more), Cessenon sur Orb (short season)  and Martel in France, all these have excellent eateries within walking distanceHappy

  • DianneT
    DianneT Forum Participant Posts: 521
    100 Comments
    edited March 2016 #14

    Hi We have done 12 tours of Europe visiting 14 Countries overall,  You may get some ideas from our trips and information on
    here  if you need any help please ask I will be pleased to help.

    DianneT

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