1 month, a Motorhome, 2 dogs & the wife.
Discussion
Thinking of taking a little trip next year.
Hiring a motor-home & taking a slow-ish drive to Portugal & back.
Would rather do a short ferry crossing (Portsmouth-Cherbourg) than the chunnel, but not sure how the dogs on a ferry would work out.
They can be left for 3-4 hours, but one is epileptic & need meds at certain times.
Has anyone done similar with dogs?
It's going to take a fair bit of planning in any event.
Any tips welcome.
Hiring a motor-home & taking a slow-ish drive to Portugal & back.
Would rather do a short ferry crossing (Portsmouth-Cherbourg) than the chunnel, but not sure how the dogs on a ferry would work out.
They can be left for 3-4 hours, but one is epileptic & need meds at certain times.
Has anyone done similar with dogs?
It's going to take a fair bit of planning in any event.
Any tips welcome.
Can't help with the dogs but a month should give you ample time to get there; have a couple of weeks there; and come home.
Our first trip to Spain in winter was only for a month. We had 2 weeks on the Med coast (around half way down) and leisurely drives via the Channel Tunnel.
One tip: I don't know how much stuff is in Portugal but Spain is cheap: 75cl bottle of gin 4€; 12 cans of beer 2.50€!! So it would be worth stopping in a supermarket in north of Spain en route to Portugal.
Our first trip to Spain in winter was only for a month. We had 2 weeks on the Med coast (around half way down) and leisurely drives via the Channel Tunnel.
One tip: I don't know how much stuff is in Portugal but Spain is cheap: 75cl bottle of gin 4€; 12 cans of beer 2.50€!! So it would be worth stopping in a supermarket in north of Spain en route to Portugal.
I have looked at this myself.
All ferries have either kennels or accommodation with the ability to have them with you. Couldn't leave them in the motorhome / car.
Pet suites are generally booked up quite a way ahead.
I was hoping to do Portsmouth to Santander but decided that was too long for the dogs - motion sickness etc [and that's just me!].
Another consideration is that they may park you on the top, not under cover. Apart from the salt, the weather can cause damage. I have read up on a number of horror stories.
In the end, and against my desire not to go through France, I chose the tunnel as it was less of a hassle
All ferries have either kennels or accommodation with the ability to have them with you. Couldn't leave them in the motorhome / car.
Pet suites are generally booked up quite a way ahead.
I was hoping to do Portsmouth to Santander but decided that was too long for the dogs - motion sickness etc [and that's just me!].
Another consideration is that they may park you on the top, not under cover. Apart from the salt, the weather can cause damage. I have read up on a number of horror stories.
In the end, and against my desire not to go through France, I chose the tunnel as it was less of a hassle
If you are hiring, then avoid July and August, Glastonbury weekend, Whitsun week. Mid Sept to Mid Oct is a sweet spot for hire pricing.
Negotiate on price - a month's hire is a good deal for the hire company even though you are putting 3k miles on the vehicle with a trip like that.
Where are you based/looking to pick the vehicle up from? I might be able suggest some companies to talk to.
Negotiate on price - a month's hire is a good deal for the hire company even though you are putting 3k miles on the vehicle with a trip like that.
Where are you based/looking to pick the vehicle up from? I might be able suggest some companies to talk to.
Thanks for the replies.
After reading the comments & a bit of research, decided on the Tunnel.
I'm in the south east & see that there is a place near Heathrow for hire.
Looking to get to south-western France asap upon hitting Calais. I reckon we could easily make Tours or thereabouts.
Have read that the "All the Aires France guides" are essential, I guess the same goes for Spain too.
Is it good advice to avoid those on or near motorways?
What sort of mileage is good to cover?
When I did motorcycling trips, we aimed for around 250-300 per day.
We will be spending 5-7 days in Portugal mid-point so that averages c130 miles per day.
I assume generally, there are no restrictions on Gas BBQ's at sites?
Are overnight stays generally permitted/advisable outside of designated areas?
After reading the comments & a bit of research, decided on the Tunnel.
I'm in the south east & see that there is a place near Heathrow for hire.
Looking to get to south-western France asap upon hitting Calais. I reckon we could easily make Tours or thereabouts.
Have read that the "All the Aires France guides" are essential, I guess the same goes for Spain too.
Is it good advice to avoid those on or near motorways?
What sort of mileage is good to cover?
When I did motorcycling trips, we aimed for around 250-300 per day.
We will be spending 5-7 days in Portugal mid-point so that averages c130 miles per day.
I assume generally, there are no restrictions on Gas BBQ's at sites?
Are overnight stays generally permitted/advisable outside of designated areas?
What kind of motorhome are you looking at?
The ones we hired were noisy and unrefined. It's not the most fun to be spending hours driving.
If it is a good sized motorhome plan how you are going to enter places with restricted parking. It got a bit frustrating for me.
If you don't have an onsite electric hook up you won't have a 240v supply to operate plug sockets in the motorhome.
We preferred to stay on sites every night for that and facilities. I prefer to s
t in someone else's toilet and didn't want the extra effort of cleaning down the shower every day. The shower was ok, but not as good as a normal shower.
The ones we hired were noisy and unrefined. It's not the most fun to be spending hours driving.
If it is a good sized motorhome plan how you are going to enter places with restricted parking. It got a bit frustrating for me.
If you don't have an onsite electric hook up you won't have a 240v supply to operate plug sockets in the motorhome.
We preferred to stay on sites every night for that and facilities. I prefer to s
t in someone else's toilet and didn't want the extra effort of cleaning down the shower every day. The shower was ok, but not as good as a normal shower. Most French towns and large villages have Aires de camping. Some are free and some are paid. Also most have municipal campsites you can just turn up and camp easy enough,allthough high season will be busy.
I have slept over in autoroute Aires with no problems,choose a large one where there's plenty of people around.
There may be a BBQ ban in times of very hot conditions but on most sites there designated BBQs in safe conditions to use. You supply the fuel.
I have slept over in autoroute Aires with no problems,choose a large one where there's plenty of people around.
There may be a BBQ ban in times of very hot conditions but on most sites there designated BBQs in safe conditions to use. You supply the fuel.
Edited by magooagain on Monday 19th August 11:36
OP - what time of year are you thinking of?
If its winter then you will have less choice of campsites. The route we take down to NW Spain each January is: Tunnel - Pont Authou - Poitiers - Bordeaux - St Jean de Luz, where there are sites open all year. An alternative to the last place is Zarautz in north west Spain
We stop at each place but if you do your research you will be able to ascertain if you can do longer drives than us.
In winter, whilst aires may still be open, many will have the water turned off so you may struggle on that score. NB DO NOT confuse aires in villages/towns with those on the French Motorways. It is generally not advised to overnight at the motorway ones.
The 'Camperstop Europe' or 'All the Aires' books are well worth it (only one or t'other) as it membership of ACSI, which gives hefty discounts outside of the high season months plus an handy App and books//maps...all for around 15€ membership which you can usually claw back after 1-2 nights!
If its outside of the winter months, campsites in France start opening from March onwards so from then on...fill yer boots
If its winter then you will have less choice of campsites. The route we take down to NW Spain each January is: Tunnel - Pont Authou - Poitiers - Bordeaux - St Jean de Luz, where there are sites open all year. An alternative to the last place is Zarautz in north west Spain
We stop at each place but if you do your research you will be able to ascertain if you can do longer drives than us.
In winter, whilst aires may still be open, many will have the water turned off so you may struggle on that score. NB DO NOT confuse aires in villages/towns with those on the French Motorways. It is generally not advised to overnight at the motorway ones.
The 'Camperstop Europe' or 'All the Aires' books are well worth it (only one or t'other) as it membership of ACSI, which gives hefty discounts outside of the high season months plus an handy App and books//maps...all for around 15€ membership which you can usually claw back after 1-2 nights!
If its outside of the winter months, campsites in France start opening from March onwards so from then on...fill yer boots
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