Boxster S to Burstner 747
Discussion
Spuffington said:
We're heading down to the Pyrennes to stay with Family for a week, but will be taking 4 days on the way down and then 2-3 days on the way back; depending on how my 3yr old daughter copes with very long days in the van.
I am pleased that you have planned to spend a good couple of days getting down and back. My 3yr old and 1 yr old have a maximum tolerance of 3-3.5 hours of travel daily and we try and do it when the 1yr old is due to be sleeping. We have put the 3yr old in her child seat in the passenger seat and she is very happy looking out of the window.As we are limited in the amount of time that we can be away (2.5 weeks, max) then we have found the better way to do this is to take the ferry to Bibao/Santander which saves time and an awful lot of diesel/tolls. Are you over 3.5m tall/3.5t GVW? If so, you may well end up paying commercial tolls in France: 225km for us was €45+!
TBH, the roads in Spain are better, the Spanish love kids and eating out is far cheaper so we don't go to France any more. The laughably low tolls on the Spanish motorway network are a complete bonus: 2500 miles cost €77 last year....
As to the original question: we looked at towing a car but we now carry a bike with a child seat so I can do the local shopping. Otherwise we use public transport or use Argus car hire to rent one. 15 quid/day in Spain.
France is well set up for motorhomes for two reasons: (this may not be 100% factually correct)
1) by law you are allowed to park your car anywhere and sleep in it as long as you remain with in its confines. ie dont get the deck chairs and washing line out, so you could happily camp on the Champs Elyesse. however due to the popularity of motorhomes there are starting to be some restrictions on this, and the creation of specific motorhome aires at popular places like beaches.
2) by law each commune (bit like a parish) has to provide a camp site. so just about every village has one, they vary from the village green by a lake with a toilet and electric point, to full on camp sites with adjacent water parks.
from our experience
Sea side aires get busy in peak season, and these tend to be more carpark like.
in land lake or river side aires tend to be more prettier with more greenery and a rarely busy.
Its worth getting one of the books "all the aires" is good.
and we use the ASCII app for campsites
if you are getting a late crossing out (or early back) then there is a great aire in Boulogne sur mer (just north of town on D940), its very safe (although when we arrived at midnight the first time during the Calais unrest I was cautious!), its on the cliff top so has great views and is a short walk down to the main beach and the harbour area of the town. the Gendarms come to collect 5or6 euros in the morning. if you are heading south then go through the town to the motorway and you pass a big supermarket for cheap fuel and French supplies.
given its on the cliff tops it can get windy, and is popular on peak holiday times, but we've not been turned away yet
Spain is cheaper and the weather is better, but has fewer campsites and Aires tend to be carparks in industrial areas. (happy to be proved wrong if anyone knows of a good source of info)
..off to the Gower for a few days
1) by law you are allowed to park your car anywhere and sleep in it as long as you remain with in its confines. ie dont get the deck chairs and washing line out, so you could happily camp on the Champs Elyesse. however due to the popularity of motorhomes there are starting to be some restrictions on this, and the creation of specific motorhome aires at popular places like beaches.
2) by law each commune (bit like a parish) has to provide a camp site. so just about every village has one, they vary from the village green by a lake with a toilet and electric point, to full on camp sites with adjacent water parks.
from our experience
Sea side aires get busy in peak season, and these tend to be more carpark like.
in land lake or river side aires tend to be more prettier with more greenery and a rarely busy.
Its worth getting one of the books "all the aires" is good.
and we use the ASCII app for campsites
if you are getting a late crossing out (or early back) then there is a great aire in Boulogne sur mer (just north of town on D940), its very safe (although when we arrived at midnight the first time during the Calais unrest I was cautious!), its on the cliff top so has great views and is a short walk down to the main beach and the harbour area of the town. the Gendarms come to collect 5or6 euros in the morning. if you are heading south then go through the town to the motorway and you pass a big supermarket for cheap fuel and French supplies.
given its on the cliff tops it can get windy, and is popular on peak holiday times, but we've not been turned away yet
Spain is cheaper and the weather is better, but has fewer campsites and Aires tend to be carparks in industrial areas. (happy to be proved wrong if anyone knows of a good source of info)
..off to the Gower for a few days
Edited by custardkid on Thursday 25th February 10:07
Good weekend, perfect start to the season
front heater was grumbling after its layup since September, but both the front rear thermostat truma's kept the van toasty whilst we enjoyed some good, clear & windy cliff top walks with the dog.
it was good to know the 2 leisure Batteries last the 3 nights even with the two thermostats on most of the time, the longest most we've done before is 2 nights before driving somewhere else (or its been summer which is obviously less intensive)
fridge never kicked in on gas, tried to manually light the pilot light but no success, so will call the local Dometic man, hopefully it'll be less than the £800 for a new fridge!
like cars, i'm sure they like being used, last year we went away November, December & January... bad form this year!
front heater was grumbling after its layup since September, but both the front rear thermostat truma's kept the van toasty whilst we enjoyed some good, clear & windy cliff top walks with the dog.
it was good to know the 2 leisure Batteries last the 3 nights even with the two thermostats on most of the time, the longest most we've done before is 2 nights before driving somewhere else (or its been summer which is obviously less intensive)
fridge never kicked in on gas, tried to manually light the pilot light but no success, so will call the local Dometic man, hopefully it'll be less than the £800 for a new fridge!
like cars, i'm sure they like being used, last year we went away November, December & January... bad form this year!
custardkid said:
France is well set up for motorhomes for two reasons:
Last year was the first time we haven't set foot in France (prices have been astronomical, for eating out and supermarket shopping) for as long as I remember. Took North Sea Ferry to Rotterdam and headed East. After Berlin, we went into Poland (and the town of Torun). Then headed south into Czech Republic before heading west, back into Germany on the way home.Even Germany was a lot cheaper than France, Poland and Czech more so (fillet steak in Poland - about £8!).
oblio said:
Was that Carreglwyd? Looks nice.
I see you are on a the roadway bit (good idea in winter with soft ground) but did you see if any of the EHU pitches had hardstanding at all?
Cheers
Yes carreglwydI see you are on a the roadway bit (good idea in winter with soft ground) but did you see if any of the EHU pitches had hardstanding at all?
Cheers
We were the only people in the lower two fields, so no problems being on the road.
No hard standing
Electric only in the top fields
Ground was relatively firm so don't think you'd get stuck, just park front wheels down hill with some getaway strips under the front wheels (assuming it's a fiat!)
Edited by custardkid on Monday 29th February 21:14
chopper602 said:
Last year was the first time we haven't set foot in France (prices have been astronomical, for eating out and supermarket shopping) for as long as I remember. Took North Sea Ferry to Rotterdam and headed East. After Berlin, we went into Poland (and the town of Torun). Then headed south into Czech Republic before heading west, back into Germany on the way home.
Even Germany was a lot cheaper than France, Poland and Czech more so (fillet steak in Poland - about £8!).
Agree there is more to life than France Even Germany was a lot cheaper than France, Poland and Czech more so (fillet steak in Poland - about £8!).
Planned to go to Croatia last September, but headed south instead. I'm sure it would have been fine, but they closed the boarder with Austria when we were supposed to be coming back... Which would have been inconvenient but a good excuse to extend the holiday!
Maybe next year..
custardkid said:
oblio said:
Was that Carreglwyd? Looks nice.
I see you are on a the roadway bit (good idea in winter with soft ground) but did you see if any of the EHU pitches had hardstanding at all?
Cheers
Yes carreglwydI see you are on a the roadway bit (good idea in winter with soft ground) but did you see if any of the EHU pitches had hardstanding at all?
Cheers
We were the only people in the lower two fields, so no problems being on the road.
No hard standing
Electric only in the top fields
Ground was relatively firm so don't think you'd get stuck, just park front wheels down hill with some getaway strips under the front wheels (assuming it's a fiat!)
Edited by custardkid on Monday 29th February 21:14
Bit of an update
we've been to Afan mtb centre a few times & bike park wales.
other than that in June we went down to Limoges to see family, then across to the Clermont-Ferrand and back.
a couple of highlights
the lovely spot in a tiny village called Tourzel Ronzieres just south of St Nectaire (of cheese fame)
great view across the valley and the flat top hills caused by the ancient volcanoes.
tried to pay at the Marie, only to be told it was free.
just don't follow the satnav, as it took us over the top of a mountain on a dirt road, then down through the steep twisty streets of the village, where as our route out was on smooth two lane roads
on the way to our next stop we made sure we stopped at Pully Fume for some previsions
the other highlight was Treteau just north of Vichy, pleasant spot in quiet village, with a bakery.
Have also added some draws in the underfloor to make the space a bit more useful, and modified the bike racking - will try to do an update on that too
Again a faultless trip in the 747
next rip is the Alps before the lifts close
we've been to Afan mtb centre a few times & bike park wales.
other than that in June we went down to Limoges to see family, then across to the Clermont-Ferrand and back.
a couple of highlights
the lovely spot in a tiny village called Tourzel Ronzieres just south of St Nectaire (of cheese fame)
great view across the valley and the flat top hills caused by the ancient volcanoes.
tried to pay at the Marie, only to be told it was free.
just don't follow the satnav, as it took us over the top of a mountain on a dirt road, then down through the steep twisty streets of the village, where as our route out was on smooth two lane roads
on the way to our next stop we made sure we stopped at Pully Fume for some previsions
the other highlight was Treteau just north of Vichy, pleasant spot in quiet village, with a bakery.
Have also added some draws in the underfloor to make the space a bit more useful, and modified the bike racking - will try to do an update on that too
Again a faultless trip in the 747
next rip is the Alps before the lifts close
Yes another one on the way - still too much to see & do!
hoping to head to Slovenia & Croatia this summer
Parents in-law have taken a share in the motorhome so will be newer, but a bit smaller and <3.5t
(which will be good for speed & tolls, bad for payload)
Just need to wait for it to arrive - will share details when its here!
hoping to head to Slovenia & Croatia this summer
Parents in-law have taken a share in the motorhome so will be newer, but a bit smaller and <3.5t
(which will be good for speed & tolls, bad for payload)
Just need to wait for it to arrive - will share details when its here!
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