Idle Speculation Question
Discussion
Once we've all climbed back through the wardrobe into the real world, if Mrs Doofus and I were to buy a motorhome to schlep around Europe in, would we be restricted to campsites for overnight stops?
Basically with a Class A of 8m or so, would we find our ability to 'schlep around' restricted by vehicle size and/or rules & regulations?
Basically with a Class A of 8m or so, would we find our ability to 'schlep around' restricted by vehicle size and/or rules & regulations?
Different countries have different rules on wild camping so you would be advised to research that. Mind you whether they have rules or not ther is a lot of evidence to suggest that the rules may not be rigidly enforced...so best to research that too. There are loads of forums for MHing which you could join: many are free and others are relatively cheap to join.
Alternatively there is a very wide network of free/cheap overnight stopping areas throughout Europe. Known as Aires in France (NOT to be confused with motorway aires) and Stelplatz in Germany (Sostas in Spain I think), these are usually community provided facilities in/near small towns/villages where the idea is that you stay for the night (cost: nil - 10€ typically) and then maybe you will spend a few € in the local shops, bars restaurants etc. There is a book 'All the aires' and no doubt an App too so you can research these. the website Campercontact is useful (and free) too. Facilities at the aires range from nothing right up to toilets and showers.
Aside from that there are other schemes like France Passion and Britstops where you pay to join a club and it offers overnight stops for free with the proviso that you are encouraged to buy some produce (France Passion sites are typically on vineyards, farms etc) or eat/drink in the pub (Britstops).
If you do want to visit campsites and can do it outside of the peak season you would be well advised to get an ACSI card and books and App (around 15€ per year) which offers '000's of sites across Europe at really low prices. Useful if you are wilding as you can top up with water; empty tanks; shower at leisure etc etc
Anyway there's a start for you
Alternatively there is a very wide network of free/cheap overnight stopping areas throughout Europe. Known as Aires in France (NOT to be confused with motorway aires) and Stelplatz in Germany (Sostas in Spain I think), these are usually community provided facilities in/near small towns/villages where the idea is that you stay for the night (cost: nil - 10€ typically) and then maybe you will spend a few € in the local shops, bars restaurants etc. There is a book 'All the aires' and no doubt an App too so you can research these. the website Campercontact is useful (and free) too. Facilities at the aires range from nothing right up to toilets and showers.
Aside from that there are other schemes like France Passion and Britstops where you pay to join a club and it offers overnight stops for free with the proviso that you are encouraged to buy some produce (France Passion sites are typically on vineyards, farms etc) or eat/drink in the pub (Britstops).
If you do want to visit campsites and can do it outside of the peak season you would be well advised to get an ACSI card and books and App (around 15€ per year) which offers '000's of sites across Europe at really low prices. Useful if you are wilding as you can top up with water; empty tanks; shower at leisure etc etc
Anyway there's a start for you
oblio said:
Different countries have different rules on wild camping so you would be advised to research that. Mind you whether they have rules or not ther is a lot of evidence to suggest that the rules may not be rigidly enforced...so best to research that too. There are loads of forums for MHing which you could join: many are free and others are relatively cheap to join.
Alternatively there is a very wide network of free/cheap overnight stopping areas throughout Europe. Known as Aires in France (NOT to be confused with motorway aires) and Stelplatz in Germany (Sostas in Spain I think), these are usually community provided facilities in/near small towns/villages where the idea is that you stay for the night (cost: nil - 10€ typically) and then maybe you will spend a few € in the local shops, bars restaurants etc. There is a book 'All the aires' and no doubt an App too so you can research these. the website Campercontact is useful (and free) too. Facilities at the aires range from nothing right up to toilets and showers.
Aside from that there are other schemes like France Passion and Britstops where you pay to join a club and it offers overnight stops for free with the proviso that you are encouraged to buy some produce (France Passion sites are typically on vineyards, farms etc) or eat/drink in the pub (Britstops).
If you do want to visit campsites and can do it outside of the peak season you would be well advised to get an ACSI card and books and App (around 15€ per year) which offers '000's of sites across Europe at really low prices. Useful if you are wilding as you can top up with water; empty tanks; shower at leisure etc etc
Anyway there's a start for you
Thank you Alternatively there is a very wide network of free/cheap overnight stopping areas throughout Europe. Known as Aires in France (NOT to be confused with motorway aires) and Stelplatz in Germany (Sostas in Spain I think), these are usually community provided facilities in/near small towns/villages where the idea is that you stay for the night (cost: nil - 10€ typically) and then maybe you will spend a few € in the local shops, bars restaurants etc. There is a book 'All the aires' and no doubt an App too so you can research these. the website Campercontact is useful (and free) too. Facilities at the aires range from nothing right up to toilets and showers.
Aside from that there are other schemes like France Passion and Britstops where you pay to join a club and it offers overnight stops for free with the proviso that you are encouraged to buy some produce (France Passion sites are typically on vineyards, farms etc) or eat/drink in the pub (Britstops).
If you do want to visit campsites and can do it outside of the peak season you would be well advised to get an ACSI card and books and App (around 15€ per year) which offers '000's of sites across Europe at really low prices. Useful if you are wilding as you can top up with water; empty tanks; shower at leisure etc etc
Anyway there's a start for you
I should have said, I know about aires in France (we live in France for four or five months a year. Well, we did until this year.), and I wouldn't use the motorway ones for a piss, let alone an overnight.
I know more research will be needed, and we have plenty of time; but PH is often the place to go to to get lots of information fairly quikly, so your detailed reply is much appreciated.
GSalt said:
No, well that's the short answer.
The long answer depends on a couple of things - where in Europe you planned on going, and your definition of "campsite".
Where is Europe is anywhere and everywhere. I say say "schlep about" The long answer depends on a couple of things - where in Europe you planned on going, and your definition of "campsite".
My definition of campsite is somewhere with a crappy pizzeria, an expensove mini-mart and a bar next to a crowded swimming pool.
Doofus said:
Where is Europe is anywhere and everywhere. I say say "schlep about"
My definition of campsite is somewhere with a crappy pizzeria, an expensove mini-mart and a bar next to a crowded swimming pool.
That's a definition we can agree on!My definition of campsite is somewhere with a crappy pizzeria, an expensove mini-mart and a bar next to a crowded swimming pool.
We did four weeks last year - Tunnel - Belgium - Germany - Sweden - Poland - Germany - Tunnel and didn't use a single site with a pool, and only one with a pizzeria. We stayed on sites with anything between 5 and 100 places, and beach car parks, the street in front of friends' houses, free MH spots on lakeside carparks, and a very "Berlin" former gas works in Köpenick, and lots of marina stellplatz.
Once you get tuned in to what you're looking for, you'll find plenty of sites to suit. Length isn't an issue, we kept coming across bloody huge Concordes everywhere we went.
GSalt said:
Doofus said:
Where is Europe is anywhere and everywhere. I say say "schlep about"
My definition of campsite is somewhere with a crappy pizzeria, an expensove mini-mart and a bar next to a crowded swimming pool.
That's a definition we can agree on!My definition of campsite is somewhere with a crappy pizzeria, an expensove mini-mart and a bar next to a crowded swimming pool.
We did four weeks last year - Tunnel - Belgium - Germany - Sweden - Poland - Germany - Tunnel and didn't use a single site with a pool, and only one with a pizzeria. We stayed on sites with anything between 5 and 100 places, and beach car parks, the street in front of friends' houses, free MH spots on lakeside carparks, and a very "Berlin" former gas works in Köpenick, and lots of marina stellplatz.
Once you get tuned in to what you're looking for, you'll find plenty of sites to suit. Length isn't an issue, we kept coming across bloody huge Concordes everywhere we went.
Our MH is 8.7m long and I always check. 99/100 its not a problem but just in case...
We dont tend to use the swimming pools; the bars occasionally; but do like a site with a food service as it gives an option especially if you've had a long drive or really can't be arsed to cook (well, you are on holiday after all
)oblio said:
That's right but depending on the length of the unit, it is worth checking if you are planning a particular site certainly in Spain and Italy, as some can be tight.
Our MH is 8.7m long and I always check. 99/100 its not a problem but just in case...
We dont tend to use the swimming pools; the bars occasionally; but do like a site with a food service as it gives an option especially if you've had a long drive or really can't be arsed to cook (well, you are on holiday after all )
Thank you. We camped in a few places in Europe over 20 years ago, and most of the on-site food was crap. At the moment, I'm struggling with the idea of spending £150k on a MH and then eating burgers or pizzas in a field...Our MH is 8.7m long and I always check. 99/100 its not a problem but just in case...
We dont tend to use the swimming pools; the bars occasionally; but do like a site with a food service as it gives an option especially if you've had a long drive or really can't be arsed to cook (well, you are on holiday after all
)anonymous said:
[redacted]
I didn't know we had to be discrete. Basically, we've decided that we're going to seriously reduce our flying in the future. So this is an idea for a way to get around to different places without having to use hotels all the time (not always straightforward with a dog). We're not keen on using a 'camper', as we'd essentially live aboard for weeks at a time. Initial musings tell me that an integrated jobbie would fit our needs. But if it's going to restrict us to using municipal sites or the like then we'll think again.
I suppose 'wilding' is what I'm thinking of, but have no real idea of whether that's possible at all, let alone in a 6 ton truck.
In Germany you certainly won't have any problems. You'll find a lot of larger motorhomes that people have moved into for retirement. Not sure if this will help or not, but it's the sort of site we stayed on that we didn't regard as a campsite in the Carry On Camping sense. And one where there were three Concorde-sized motorhomes the night we were there:
https://www.camping-westerstede.de/Willkommen/
12 Euro per night, including electric (for the stellplatz at the front, they charge more for the camping area around the back).
Because the larger motorhomes are popular with German retirees you'll find sites to stop anywhere they like to go.
If you get something like the Bord Atlas guides you can have a flick through and gauge the availability of similar stops, their prices and any size limits. The German speaking countries are extensively covered, and the rest of Europe gets a good shout too. Except the UK, because we don't have many of this type of site.
https://www.camping-westerstede.de/Willkommen/
12 Euro per night, including electric (for the stellplatz at the front, they charge more for the camping area around the back).
Because the larger motorhomes are popular with German retirees you'll find sites to stop anywhere they like to go.
If you get something like the Bord Atlas guides you can have a flick through and gauge the availability of similar stops, their prices and any size limits. The German speaking countries are extensively covered, and the rest of Europe gets a good shout too. Except the UK, because we don't have many of this type of site.
GSalt said:
In Germany you certainly won't have any problems. You'll find a lot of larger motorhomes that people have moved into for retirement. Not sure if this will help or not, but it's the sort of site we stayed on that we didn't regard as a campsite in the Carry On Camping sense. And one where there were three Concorde-sized motorhomes the night we were there:
https://www.camping-westerstede.de/Willkommen/
12 Euro per night, including electric (for the stellplatz at the front, they charge more for the camping area around the back).
Because the larger motorhomes are popular with German retirees you'll find sites to stop anywhere they like to go.
If you get something like the Bord Atlas guides you can have a flick through and gauge the availability of similar stops, their prices and any size limits. The German speaking countries are extensively covered, and the rest of Europe gets a good shout too. Except the UK, because we don't have many of this type of site.
Good to know, thank you.https://www.camping-westerstede.de/Willkommen/
12 Euro per night, including electric (for the stellplatz at the front, they charge more for the camping area around the back).
Because the larger motorhomes are popular with German retirees you'll find sites to stop anywhere they like to go.
If you get something like the Bord Atlas guides you can have a flick through and gauge the availability of similar stops, their prices and any size limits. The German speaking countries are extensively covered, and the rest of Europe gets a good shout too. Except the UK, because we don't have many of this type of site.
Doofus said:
Ok chaps, I'm after your wosdom again, before I sign up to any MH forums:
I've read a few things, in broad brush, and they seem to suggest that length can be an issue. Snarf.
If we're 8-8.5m and towing a car on a trailer, is that going to restrict our access to decent sites? I suppose we're mainly talking about southern Europe (France, Italy, Spain, Portugal). You see a fair few of this type of rig trundling along in France, but I don't know if they're sleeping in shifts and driving 24 hours per day because nobody will let them stop anywhere.
I've read a few things, in broad brush, and they seem to suggest that length can be an issue. Snarf.
If we're 8-8.5m and towing a car on a trailer, is that going to restrict our access to decent sites? I suppose we're mainly talking about southern Europe (France, Italy, Spain, Portugal). You see a fair few of this type of rig trundling along in France, but I don't know if they're sleeping in shifts and driving 24 hours per day because nobody will let them stop anywhere.
We are 8.7m and I always check every site that we stay at. I would definitely check if I was towing a trailer. We have found sites in Spain and Italy that cannot take longer MH's...more so than any other country.
Some sites will charge you more as well if you cannot get everything on to your pitch. Having a trailer on there will inhibit your use of a pitch.
Serious question: Have you considered a scooter? or bicycles? Or both?
We have neither but get around using public transport...again done through researching the places we stay.
Some sites will charge you more as well if you cannot get everything on to your pitch. Having a trailer on there will inhibit your use of a pitch.
Serious question: Have you considered a scooter? or bicycles? Or both?
We have neither but get around using public transport...again done through researching the places we stay.
oblio said:
We are 8.7m and I always check every site that we stay at. I would definitely check if I was towing a trailer. We have found sites in Spain and Italy that cannot take longer MH's...more so than any other country.
Some sites will charge you more as well if you cannot get everything on to your pitch. Having a trailer on there will inhibit your use of a pitch.
Serious question: Have you considered a scooter? or bicycles? Or both?
We have neither but get around using public transport...again done through researching the places we stay.
We'd carry bicycles, but given the size of the MH's we're looking at, which would give a degree of self-sufficiency, and the plan to travel for maybe a couple of months at a time, a small car seems kind of necessary. Some sites will charge you more as well if you cannot get everything on to your pitch. Having a trailer on there will inhibit your use of a pitch.
Serious question: Have you considered a scooter? or bicycles? Or both?
We have neither but get around using public transport...again done through researching the places we stay.
And I couldn't get me, my wife and the dog on a scooter.
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