Camping plans for 2026?
Discussion
2 Trips this year which is more than the last few.
Le Mans 24hrs for a few days before heading to Corsica for a few more then we will be using hotels through Italy and the Alps back.
Then Brittany in August for 10 days with the family.
Looking forward to it now the child is of a better age to do it. Hopefully they enjoy it so we can do it more. End goal is to get a camper so me and child can head off each half term.
Le Mans 24hrs for a few days before heading to Corsica for a few more then we will be using hotels through Italy and the Alps back.
Then Brittany in August for 10 days with the family.
Looking forward to it now the child is of a better age to do it. Hopefully they enjoy it so we can do it more. End goal is to get a camper so me and child can head off each half term.
In great news - rejection is settled and I collect my new van next week! 
Too late realistically for skiing this Feb since we can't cancel our existing hotel booking, but it does mean we've cancelled the Austrian hotel in August and swapped for their campsite (Zugspitz Resort - fabulous!) and done similar for Duinrell holiday park in Holland for May Half-Term (kids love it there).
Plus looks like we'll be headed to Dublin over Easter in the van plus another one at Christmas to see the family over there.
Expect around all those bits a smattering of last minute campsites in East of England, Peak District and maybe even a long weekend in the Lakes.
Can't wait - only 10 more sleeps!
Too late realistically for skiing this Feb since we can't cancel our existing hotel booking, but it does mean we've cancelled the Austrian hotel in August and swapped for their campsite (Zugspitz Resort - fabulous!) and done similar for Duinrell holiday park in Holland for May Half-Term (kids love it there).
Plus looks like we'll be headed to Dublin over Easter in the van plus another one at Christmas to see the family over there.
Expect around all those bits a smattering of last minute campsites in East of England, Peak District and maybe even a long weekend in the Lakes.
Can't wait - only 10 more sleeps!
Spuffington said:
We've got a Dethleffs Globetrotter XLi 7850-2 EB as a replacement.
I had to look that up. What a beast!I hope the new 8 speed auto is good.
It was partly your experience which swayed me from buying a used van with the 9 speed and instead ordering a new van with the 8 speed.
Thanks Scrump.
Unfortunately, that's a bit of a fly in the ointment. The only way we could get into it was by taking unregistered older stock (2024). So it still has the 9spd box. I'm trying to be optimistic and work on the basis that lightening doesn't strike twice. Nevertheless, I'm going to be buying the extended Fiat warranty within a fortnight of purchase and may even get an early oil change done on the box just to give myself every chance of a good experience.
In fairness they drive well when they're working. But.....
Good luck with your new van and happy roadtripping in 2026!
Unfortunately, that's a bit of a fly in the ointment. The only way we could get into it was by taking unregistered older stock (2024). So it still has the 9spd box. I'm trying to be optimistic and work on the basis that lightening doesn't strike twice. Nevertheless, I'm going to be buying the extended Fiat warranty within a fortnight of purchase and may even get an early oil change done on the box just to give myself every chance of a good experience.
In fairness they drive well when they're working. But.....
Good luck with your new van and happy roadtripping in 2026!
Easter - unsure on South Wales or Scotland, possibly taking in some of the NC500.
Summer - 2 weeks of Europe. Last year we ventured to Bruges, Luxembourg, Strasbourg, Interlaken, Troyes, Paris & Ypres.
This year it's the German route to Austria. Cologne, Frankfurt, Munich, Salzburg, Innsbruck.
Yet to commit to a route home but likely to take in Stuttgart and possibly somewhere in the Champagne region.
Plenty of 1 nighters will be had alongside Busfest and one or 2 smaller festivals.
Also considering upgrading our pop top T5.1 to a motorhome.
Excited to get back exploring.
Last year's Interlaken site - stunning.
Summer - 2 weeks of Europe. Last year we ventured to Bruges, Luxembourg, Strasbourg, Interlaken, Troyes, Paris & Ypres.
This year it's the German route to Austria. Cologne, Frankfurt, Munich, Salzburg, Innsbruck.
Yet to commit to a route home but likely to take in Stuttgart and possibly somewhere in the Champagne region.
Plenty of 1 nighters will be had alongside Busfest and one or 2 smaller festivals.
Also considering upgrading our pop top T5.1 to a motorhome.
Excited to get back exploring.
Last year's Interlaken site - stunning.
oblio said:
@MOMACC - do you have a link to that Interlaken site you could share?
TCS Camping Bönigen Brienzersee https://share.google/E7dkpTrZXK59ukzZRThey squeeze you in but the lake access is amazing.
Facilities are pretty good.
Pool next door which you have free access too.
Walking distance to interlaken for trips to Grindelwald and Jungfrau.
MOMACC said:
oblio said:
@MOMACC - do you have a link to that Interlaken site you could share?
TCS Camping Bönigen Brienzersee https://share.google/E7dkpTrZXK59ukzZRThey squeeze you in but the lake access is amazing.
Facilities are pretty good.
Pool next door which you have free access too.
Walking distance to interlaken for trips to Grindelwald and Jungfrau.
Campervan should be finished in a couple of weeks, I just need to finish the shower and then some paneling none of which will slow us down - We will hit Scotland in a few weeks, also booked 2 festivals - Vanlife and Lindisfarne, in-between we are thinking of a month in Norway/Finland and then anything that takes our fancy.
Early retirement really opens up our freedom to do what we want when we want
Early retirement really opens up our freedom to do what we want when we want
MOMACC said:
Easter - unsure on South Wales or Scotland, possibly taking in some of the NC500.
Summer - 2 weeks of Europe. Last year we ventured to Bruges, Luxembourg, Strasbourg, Interlaken, Troyes, Paris & Ypres.
This year it's the German route to Austria. Cologne, Frankfurt, Munich, Salzburg, Innsbruck.
Yet to commit to a route home but likely to take in Stuttgart and possibly somewhere in the Champagne region.
Plenty of 1 nighters will be had alongside Busfest and one or 2 smaller festivals.
Also considering upgrading our pop top T5.1 to a motorhome.
Excited to get back exploring.
Last year's Interlaken site - stunning.
If you go near Switzerland try Camping Jungfrau - a lovely site and stunning but expensive trains/cable cars up to Jungfrau and Shilthorn.Summer - 2 weeks of Europe. Last year we ventured to Bruges, Luxembourg, Strasbourg, Interlaken, Troyes, Paris & Ypres.
This year it's the German route to Austria. Cologne, Frankfurt, Munich, Salzburg, Innsbruck.
Yet to commit to a route home but likely to take in Stuttgart and possibly somewhere in the Champagne region.
Plenty of 1 nighters will be had alongside Busfest and one or 2 smaller festivals.
Also considering upgrading our pop top T5.1 to a motorhome.
Excited to get back exploring.
Last year's Interlaken site - stunning.
In the Champagne region aim for Epernay and walk the Avenue de Champagne which is a 1km unesco site, we stayed on the roadside (allowed) in Hautvillers and loved trying Champagne in the various champagne houses - 1 tip is if you buy a bottle some of the houses will let you have a free glass though it was only €5 a glass when we last visited.
MOMACC said:
oblio said:
@MOMACC - do you have a link to that Interlaken site you could share?
TCS Camping Bönigen Brienzersee https://share.google/E7dkpTrZXK59ukzZRThey squeeze you in but the lake access is amazing.
Facilities are pretty good.
Pool next door which you have free access too.
Walking distance to interlaken for trips to Grindelwald and Jungfrau.
My Wife and I have just bought our first camper. A Toyota Alphard with a North Star rear conversion and pop-top. We've already got a Kela Air Low drive away awning for it.
Our first planned trip is going to be to the New Forest in early spring just to test everything out. Then we're planning two weeks in France early June. Taking in the Dordogne, the Le Mans 24 and lastly Saint Malo. With plenty of evening trips to the beaches here on the IOW until then.
Our first planned trip is going to be to the New Forest in early spring just to test everything out. Then we're planning two weeks in France early June. Taking in the Dordogne, the Le Mans 24 and lastly Saint Malo. With plenty of evening trips to the beaches here on the IOW until then.
I've been using the time inside due to bad weather here in Spain to scope out a couple of trips for later this year...
April/May we'll be off touring: Cambs; Herts; Suffolk; Norfolk; and Lincs. Going to take in some of the air museums in Lincolnshire.
Mid August to end of Sept, more touring: Cherbourg; Nantes; Cognac; Pyrenees; Marseille; Cote D'Azur
April/May we'll be off touring: Cambs; Herts; Suffolk; Norfolk; and Lincs. Going to take in some of the air museums in Lincolnshire.
Mid August to end of Sept, more touring: Cherbourg; Nantes; Cognac; Pyrenees; Marseille; Cote D'Azur
DMN said:
My Wife and I have just bought our first camper. A Toyota Alphard with a North Star rear conversion and pop-top. We've already got a Kela Air Low drive away awning for it.
Our first planned trip is going to be to the New Forest in early spring just to test everything out. Then we're planning two weeks in France early June. Taking in the Dordogne, the Le Mans 24 and lastly Saint Malo. With plenty of evening trips to the beaches here on the IOW until then.
We have similar (but from a different converter).Our first planned trip is going to be to the New Forest in early spring just to test everything out. Then we're planning two weeks in France early June. Taking in the Dordogne, the Le Mans 24 and lastly Saint Malo. With plenty of evening trips to the beaches here on the IOW until then.
Sadly it's now up for sale as we've found it to be far too small. Our 6 weeks touring Ireland, with another week in North Wales last year, although very enjoyable on most levels, was just too cramped for us and the fairly large mutt.
The Alphard is a fantastic vehicle in most other respects though - especially after adding a lithium battery, which meant we could go largely off-grid.
However, we're now looking for a larger panel van to self-convert.
Good luck with the Toyota, and keep us in the loop with your trips!
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