First trip to Europe - recommendations
Discussion
Hi all,
Hoping to take the caravan to Europe for the first time next summer. Will aim to go for 3 weeks and try to avoid the school holidays l, so probably go in June to early July.
We have 2 children who will be 2.5 years and 9 months old.
Any recommendations on the following?
- Where to go? Thinking south or France and/or Italy and/or Switzerland but not done any research yet. Thoughts?
- travel advice? What do I need to do to prepare for travelling abroad?
- Any other practical advice?
Hoping to take the caravan to Europe for the first time next summer. Will aim to go for 3 weeks and try to avoid the school holidays l, so probably go in June to early July.
We have 2 children who will be 2.5 years and 9 months old.
Any recommendations on the following?
- Where to go? Thinking south or France and/or Italy and/or Switzerland but not done any research yet. Thoughts?
- travel advice? What do I need to do to prepare for travelling abroad?
- Any other practical advice?
JapanRed said:
Hi all,
Hoping to take the caravan to Europe for the first time next summer. Will aim to go for 3 weeks and try to avoid the school holidays l, so probably go in June to early July.
We have 2 children who will be 2.5 years and 9 months old.
Any recommendations on the following?
- Where to go? Thinking south or France and/or Italy and/or Switzerland but not done any research yet. Thoughts?
- travel advice? What do I need to do to prepare for travelling abroad?
- Any other practical advice?
obvious one is to say look at the AA site - they'll advise everything you'll need for the various countries you may wish to visit. I'd have thought a caravan club would be a good place to look for camping recommendationsHoping to take the caravan to Europe for the first time next summer. Will aim to go for 3 weeks and try to avoid the school holidays l, so probably go in June to early July.
We have 2 children who will be 2.5 years and 9 months old.
Any recommendations on the following?
- Where to go? Thinking south or France and/or Italy and/or Switzerland but not done any research yet. Thoughts?
- travel advice? What do I need to do to prepare for travelling abroad?
- Any other practical advice?
I guess the first thing would be to think about what type of holiday you want: a beach one for the nippers or will they just be happy doing 'stuff' as long as you are there?
If its a beach one then the SoF is very doable...especially if you time your crossing and perhaps share the driving.
If not a beach one then you can look at other options across Europe. Don't discount sites with lake swimming as we personally find this a much better option than sea swimming tbh.
If you are travelling out of the main season, invest in ACSI books and card...or even get an ongoing subscription as it will heavily discount sites that may well tick your boxes. If you can find the sites that you like it can mean at least 50% off!
...and don't forget your budgie smugglers if you want to go swimming on a campsite with a pool in France
If its a beach one then the SoF is very doable...especially if you time your crossing and perhaps share the driving.
If not a beach one then you can look at other options across Europe. Don't discount sites with lake swimming as we personally find this a much better option than sea swimming tbh.
If you are travelling out of the main season, invest in ACSI books and card...or even get an ongoing subscription as it will heavily discount sites that may well tick your boxes. If you can find the sites that you like it can mean at least 50% off!
...and don't forget your budgie smugglers if you want to go swimming on a campsite with a pool in France
How well do your kids travel? Do they just sleep in the car? Or will you be stopping for frequent toilet stops/ feeding stops?
For me it would dictate how far we would travel. Also, do they cope with very hot weather?
Ours (when younger) like to sleep in the car/ van, generally. They are now six and ten and so entertainment on-the-go is a necessity to make the journey less stressful. With the UK travel and ferry crossing(s) as well, I prefer to limit the distances travelled - the experience of going abroad is just the same in Normandy as Nice - just different places (and maybe a little warmer...…)
We enjoy the beaches on the West Coast of France a lot. We have been camping there for the last couple of summers (plus many times before we had kids too). A touring trip through the Loire Valley (Angers, Tours, Saumur) and then onto Vendee (La Rochelle, Ile de Re, Ile de Oleron, Tranches sur Mer, St Jeans de Monts etc.) would be my first stab at three weeks in Europe.
We have used AirBNBs as stop overs for a night to good effect - it saves setting up temporary camp for a night and breaks the journey up too. Last time we went from Poole to St Malo, stopped over in St Malo and then drove South the following day.
We do go at a slower pace in our 1982, 70 Bhp, VW camper - but towing a caravan would also limit speeds. We have driven and camped in Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Holland in the past but I imagine the drive with two young kids in tow would be 'challenging' for the further destinations.
As someone else said just check the motoring websites (AA or RAC) for advice on travel essentials - otherwise you might get conflicting advice from us amateurs. (I think we meet all the requirements needed now )
Mike
For me it would dictate how far we would travel. Also, do they cope with very hot weather?
Ours (when younger) like to sleep in the car/ van, generally. They are now six and ten and so entertainment on-the-go is a necessity to make the journey less stressful. With the UK travel and ferry crossing(s) as well, I prefer to limit the distances travelled - the experience of going abroad is just the same in Normandy as Nice - just different places (and maybe a little warmer...…)
We enjoy the beaches on the West Coast of France a lot. We have been camping there for the last couple of summers (plus many times before we had kids too). A touring trip through the Loire Valley (Angers, Tours, Saumur) and then onto Vendee (La Rochelle, Ile de Re, Ile de Oleron, Tranches sur Mer, St Jeans de Monts etc.) would be my first stab at three weeks in Europe.
We have used AirBNBs as stop overs for a night to good effect - it saves setting up temporary camp for a night and breaks the journey up too. Last time we went from Poole to St Malo, stopped over in St Malo and then drove South the following day.
We do go at a slower pace in our 1982, 70 Bhp, VW camper - but towing a caravan would also limit speeds. We have driven and camped in Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Holland in the past but I imagine the drive with two young kids in tow would be 'challenging' for the further destinations.
As someone else said just check the motoring websites (AA or RAC) for advice on travel essentials - otherwise you might get conflicting advice from us amateurs. (I think we meet all the requirements needed now
)Mike
We've done Italy a few times in the motorhome, Albeit from Poland so a ferry crossing saved.
Italy is very well set up for campers and caravans. (Sleeping at service stations on the Toll motorways is seen as safe) Road tolls in Italy are pretty expensive however after trying the "free roads" worth every penny. It was a last minute rush of a holiday for us so we did around 2500KMS in 2 days (Not much fun at all in a 26 year old fiat)
We stayed in Gargano the year before last and paid 19EUR per night + EHU for a pitch right on the beach. The whole peninsula is set up for camping and caravanning but bear in mind English isn't really spoken at all. Compared to Spain if you ignore the random rubbish bags it really is stunning.
You'll need a Vignette for Switzerland 50EUR and also for Austria (12 EUR for a week) Don't overlook these as the fines can be huge and don't speed in either.
Take all the documents you can for the Car and for the Caravan. An acquaintance got fined in Austria because his UK registered Towcar and caravan had the same registration plate. They are registered independently in most of Europe and the Austrian police couldn't figure this out. Actually if you can avoid Austria do so. Its not the most amusing of places and there are police everywhere looking for the smallest of issues.
Apparently Croatia is nice for camping too, Its described in the Polish camping and caravanning magazines as "Half price Italy" A little bit further for you however its supposed to be beautiful and the extra fuel should be offset by the cheaper stay, Especially over 3 weeks. 8EUR for a pitch, 4EUR for a main meal in a restaurant etc. They allegedly speak reasonable English too
Never buy fuel on an Italian motorway service station either, They stick an extra 50 cents on the price. Its always worth coming off and filling up in a village. (Carry Cash as sometimes the toll gate card machines are broken and you might not be able to exit the motorway)
Driving in most of Europe is pretty much the same as driving in the UK albeit on the wrong side of the road. The further east you go the driving standards decline, The further south you go the driving standards decline. (Assume every other road user is an idiot and best avoided and you'll be fine) Keep distance, Don't assume people will give way etc.
Italy is very well set up for campers and caravans. (Sleeping at service stations on the Toll motorways is seen as safe) Road tolls in Italy are pretty expensive however after trying the "free roads" worth every penny. It was a last minute rush of a holiday for us so we did around 2500KMS in 2 days (Not much fun at all in a 26 year old fiat)
We stayed in Gargano the year before last and paid 19EUR per night + EHU for a pitch right on the beach. The whole peninsula is set up for camping and caravanning but bear in mind English isn't really spoken at all. Compared to Spain if you ignore the random rubbish bags it really is stunning.
You'll need a Vignette for Switzerland 50EUR and also for Austria (12 EUR for a week) Don't overlook these as the fines can be huge and don't speed in either.
Take all the documents you can for the Car and for the Caravan. An acquaintance got fined in Austria because his UK registered Towcar and caravan had the same registration plate. They are registered independently in most of Europe and the Austrian police couldn't figure this out. Actually if you can avoid Austria do so. Its not the most amusing of places and there are police everywhere looking for the smallest of issues.
Apparently Croatia is nice for camping too, Its described in the Polish camping and caravanning magazines as "Half price Italy" A little bit further for you however its supposed to be beautiful and the extra fuel should be offset by the cheaper stay, Especially over 3 weeks. 8EUR for a pitch, 4EUR for a main meal in a restaurant etc. They allegedly speak reasonable English too
Never buy fuel on an Italian motorway service station either, They stick an extra 50 cents on the price. Its always worth coming off and filling up in a village. (Carry Cash as sometimes the toll gate card machines are broken and you might not be able to exit the motorway)
Driving in most of Europe is pretty much the same as driving in the UK albeit on the wrong side of the road. The further east you go the driving standards decline, The further south you go the driving standards decline. (Assume every other road user is an idiot and best avoided and you'll be fine) Keep distance, Don't assume people will give way etc.
CDB1983 said:
Apparently Croatia is nice for camping too, Its described in the Polish camping and caravanning magazines as "Half price Italy" A little bit further for you however its supposed to be beautiful and the extra fuel should be offset by the cheaper stay, Especially over 3 weeks. 8EUR for a pitch, 4EUR for a main meal in a restaurant etc. They allegedly speak reasonable English too
I'll recommend Croatia too and it's neighbour Slovenia, especially the mountains in the north west (around Kranjska Gora). We went there in the summer and were blown away by the scenery. We've avoided France for years now, as find it too expensive. Head east from the ferry and see what you can findBill said:
Personally, with young kids and out of season, I'd not plan much and just follow the weather so it isn't wet, but also not too hot. The west coast of France itinerary posted above would be perfect imo, unless you're unlucky with the weather and need to head south.
Do you not think we need to book campsites in advance in June?mike9009 said:
We enjoy the beaches on the West Coast of France a lot. We have been camping there for the last couple of summers (plus many times before we had kids too). A touring trip through the Loire Valley (Angers, Tours, Saumur) and then onto Vendee (La Rochelle, Ile de Re, Ile de Oleron, Tranches sur Mer, St Jeans de Monts etc.) would be my first stab at three weeks in Europe.
We have used AirBNBs as stop overs for a night to good effect - it saves setting up temporary camp for a night and breaks the journey up too. Last time we went from Poole to St Malo, stopped over in St Malo and then drove South the following day.
Mike
Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to reply, particularly Mike, who’s advice we are going to take. We have used AirBNBs as stop overs for a night to good effect - it saves setting up temporary camp for a night and breaks the journey up too. Last time we went from Poole to St Malo, stopped over in St Malo and then drove South the following day.
Mike
I think you are correct in that the South of France or Northern Italy is a bit far for our first trip with young children (we are in Yorkshire so quite a jaunt just to reach France).
We will be able to get 18 nights on this trip, and will probably allow 1 night either side as a stopover, leaving us 16 nights “holiday”.
Unpacking and repacking is quite time consuming, especially the awning which is quite large. So I’m thinking 2 campsites for our trip (8 nights each?).
What would people recommend, looking at The Loire Valley / Dordogne regions, and including the areas Mike suggested above?
Things we would like include;
- Scenery - mountains, coast, rivers, chateaus,
- Clean sites, ideally with swimming pool (not essential though)
- Our caravan is twin axle and 7.98m (not sure if this matters but thought I’d mention it). We also have a large-ish awning.
- Would like to be close to beaches, walking, quaint/pretty towns with restaurants etc. Just the usual stuff that you would do with a young family I guess...
Thanks again. Rob
Stayed here two years ago. It was our first time abroad with caravan & just a couple of hours drive from Caen
https://www.lez-eaux.com/
We've two young children as well. Facilities (inc indoor pool) were A1. We stayed during the height of Summer holidays and it was busy (mix of french, Italian, Dutch & German) but not busy like some UK parks.
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