Member Since: 01 Jan 2008
Location: wiltshire
Posts: 5781
Motorhome virgin going to south of france?
your help is required ladies and gents.
After some five years without a decent holiday, the family are off to the south of france in a motorhome (six berth we've hired out).
The family will be me and SWMBO and two small adults (son 20, daughter 18 ) and the TWO dogs (the main reason for not having a holiday has been these two).
we leave the UK by Eurotunnel on Saturday 15th august (15:15) and have booked an overnight stay at just south of Paris as we know there will be delays with the Eurostar, but need your on the following suggestion:
SECOND STOP OVER - will need to be around 400 - 500 miles south of paris, have hook up for electrics/water/toilets/showers
ANY BITS OF KIT WE NEED TO TAKE WITH US AS MOTORHOME VIRGINS (the motorhome will be fairly sparse, so please feel free to add WHATEVER even if it seems logical, I can then do a list accordingly)
LEGAL BITS/HELPFUL HINTS WHEN USING FRENCH ROADS WITH A 6 BERTH MOTORHOME
cheers for yer imput
matthew
24th Jul 2015 11:13 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72910
Don't stop overnight in service stations, too many horror stories of peeps being gassed with ether and everything nicked. It's going to be busy, thought about avoiding tge peages and just using the N roads? Will take more time but much nicer trip.
24th Jul 2015 11:20 am
Russell
Member Since: 24 Aug 2007
Location: Kent
Posts: 10564
Most towns have municipal sites which are cheap and usually good, we have used them loads of times and not had a bad one. From memory there is a Michelin book available which tells you where they are and what they are like. May be check on line.MY17 D5 1st Edition Namib Orange
MY15 D4 HSE Kaikoura Stone
MY12 D4 HSE Nara Bronze Sold and gone
MY11 D4 HSE Stornaway Grey Sold and gone
D3 S spec Silver Sold and gone
Tow bar, full length roof bars, side steps, tow bar storage unit, surround camers.
D4 camera club
24th Jul 2015 12:13 pm
karlosbu
Member Since: 02 Sep 2008
Location: Worcestershire
Posts: 335
We regularly do the trip to the south of France with the caravan (here now in 35C with a beer typing this ðŸ‘) and swear by the caravan club campsite book for France. We never book ahead as its too hard to know where you will be with tunnel/ferry delays and traffic etc. So get a copy and take it with you, an hour or so before you think you need to stop take a look and find a site, phone ahead to check they have space and plumb it into the sat nav. We have done it this way for the last 6 years and never failed to get into our first choice. There are loads of sites in France, many more than at home, municipal sites are great for one night stops and can have some of the best facilities.
Ditto the never sleep in the service areas on the autoroute advice as too many horror stories of robberies etc. Owner of the site we are on now (caravaning St Clair, near Le Lavendou east of Toulon, excellent spot !) warned us too so a definite no no.
Take a French 2 pin adapter for your hookup as some sites still have these rather than the standard ones. Not many now but I used mine on the way down at the municipal site at Challon de Champagne.
Other than that just have fun, it's a piece of cake...oh yes and try and speak a bit of French, they may have a laugh (think policeman in 'ello 'ello) but it will get you along way !!!
Safe trip...
Karl
24th Jul 2015 12:23 pm
character
Member Since: 01 Jan 2008
Location: wiltshire
Posts: 5781
what the issue re sat navs and speed camera warnings - are they legal?
24th Jul 2015 2:06 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
Not legal no but driving in France is stressless when compared to the UK.Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 27 Jun 2005
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 2702
Legal wise what's the weight of the motorhome...many restrictions and interesting rules over 3.5t
Kit wise where to start, ramps are useful
We have a 7 birth motorhome but try and avoid France like the plague - hate the place, hate driving there too.Mike
25th Jul 2015 12:19 am
MGCarr
Member Since: 15 Jul 2014
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 703
Russell wrote:
Most towns have municipal sites which are cheap and usually good, we have used them loads of times and not had a bad one. From memory there is a Michelin book available which tells you where they are and what they are like. May be check on line.
+ 1 for the recommendation for municipal sites, we have never had a bad one but don't forget that the big advantage of a motor home in France is that, unless there is a sign specifically banning camping cars, as they call them, you can stop overnight anywhere. If you go to somewhere like the Cherbourg peninsula, for example, you will find one or two motor homes tucked up for the night in almost every quiet beachfront car park enjoying the view for free.
Have a great holiday.
1997 Defender 90 for the kids and I to have a go at some competitive off road RTV and Tyro trials, daughter picked up her first trophy over the August Bank Holiday.
Previous Land Rover history
1996 P38 4.6 V8 Autobiography
1996 Discovery TDi 300
1972 Range Rover 3.5 V8
LWB Hard Top Series 3
LWB Truck Cab Series 2A
Not been without a Land Rover for over 40 years - I must need therapy!
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
