To France for thefirst time

Miller9
Miller9 Forum Participant Posts: 4
edited May 2016 in Overseas Campsites & Touring #1

We are travelling to France via Portsmouth/Le Havre and wondered, can we leave the fridge on, gas or battery? and is a Camping Card International needed?

Miller

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  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004 ✭✭
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    edited May 2016 #2

    Hi Miller9 - you can't leave the fridge on gas when on the ferry, and it will run your battery down rapidly if you leave it switched to 12v when it's not attached to the car.  The usual tips offered on here about fridges is to cool it down before setting
    off, pack your fridge, and then fill every small remaining space with frozen items (such as small packs of orange juice which you can use when they thaw) and not to open the door until you get to site.  You'll find everything stays perfectly OK..

    You won't 'need' a Camping Card International - but if you've been given one with your ferry booking then take it with you.

    Where are you heading and when?  There may be other things we can suggest to ensure you have a great holiday.

  • Fozzie
    Fozzie Club Member Posts: 551 ✭
    500 Comments
    edited May 2016 #3

    M9 Neither! The ferry loading crew may check your fridge heating vents to make sure it is not on and battery would run down quite quickly if left on battery.As its only a 4 hour crossing this should be ok just to leave.It has been know to put ice packs in
    the fridge to keep temp down.

     I have not been given a camping carnet for my trip to France later this year.

  • Miller9
    Miller9 Forum Participant Posts: 4
    edited May 2016 #4

    Hi ValDa, and thanks

    We are heading to a site near Angers for the first 2 nights, then down through Dordougne, but not sure of exact destinations yet as my daughter, who lives there, has recently bought a motorhome and we are planning a convoy(of 2). This is our first time abroad
    with a caravan, only our 3rd outing with this caravan and our last caravan we sold about 20 years ago. We are hoping to have "fun"

  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004 ✭✭
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    edited May 2016 #5

    Have you got your ACSI Card, site guides, etc., Miller9?  See www.campingcard.co.uk if you're not already aware of the card (which offers you some good discounts on all the sites in the scheme during 'low season').  High season in France is really only about four to six weeks, depending on area, in July and August.  Outside that time you don't need to book anywhere really, just go with the flow.

    There are lots of other helpful bits of information on the post at the top of this section of the forum - First Time Touring Overseas.

  • Miller9
    Miller9 Forum Participant Posts: 4
    edited May 2016 #6

    Thanks Fozzie, ice packs sound a good idea. our crossing is 8 hours according to ticket

  • Miller9
    Miller9 Forum Participant Posts: 4
    edited May 2016 #7

    Thanks ValDa,

    We ship out on Thursday, so it looks like our stay will all be in the low season

  • Longtimecaravanner
    Longtimecaravanner Forum Participant Posts: 642
    edited May 2016 #8

    We did Portsmouth/Caen last week and added to the time we were on the dock our fridge was disconnected probably for about seven or eight hours. In the main body of the fridge was a two pint plastic bottle of frozen milk. Three days later it still had large lumps of ice in it.

    We have been staying at Les Iles at Beaulieu sur Dordogne which I can thoughly recommend if you are coming this way. It is an ACSI site although we chose to pay a supplement to have a riverside pitch.

  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004 ✭✭
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    edited May 2016 #9

    Here's a link to the site
    Longtimecaravanner suggests     (click for link) which is actually in the Limousin, despite being on the Dordogne river itself!  You can have a look at all the other ACSI Card sites (change the search criteria) at the same time.   There are 57 ACSI Card sites
    in the 'Departement' of the Dordogne - two of which are just 11 euros per night for pitch, two adults, car and caravan (or motorhome), awning, and electricity.

    If you are convoying with your daughter then they will need their own card. 

  • Chris1966
    Chris1966 Forum Participant Posts: 27
    edited May 2016 #10

    In our experienes of travelling to France the 8 hours or so the car is disconected from the van on the ferry crossing will be fine as long as the door is left closed it should remain pretty cool we usually have some freezer packs we place in the fridge which
    also helps keep temperature.

  • Murdy
    Murdy Forum Participant Posts: 73
    edited May 2016 #11

    Hi, 

    We frequently use the 12+ hour north sea crossings and following advise on this forum we have never had a problem!

    Last year l froze a ready meal one of the two pints of milk and lots of those little orange juice carton.  When we arrived down at the hold ready to leave the ambient temperature was 20c.

    When we stopped for coffee everything was fine just as l had left it.

    Go and enjoy yourselves.

    Mrs Murdy.

     

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,673 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2016 #12

    Just for information.....

    The 12v on the fridge should only work while you are actually towing if your car and caravan are correctly wired.

    So it would not be possible to run the fridge off the battery.

    If it is possible, then there is a problem somewhere.

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