Im just planning this summers motorhome trip...

[oblio]

...to France and could do with some advice from some of you motorhomers if possible

We will be renting a motorhome for the trip and plan to take in:-

Outward...
Ypres/Ieper - Belgium
Le Mans
Bordeaux area
Foothills of the Pyrenees

Return provisionally...
Limoges
Orleans
Boulogne area

We havent motorhomed in France since 2007 so I want to update my books. Last time I used

Camperstop Europe - Facile Media
Camping and Caravanning in France - Alan Rogers Guides

So the first question is whether these are still guides worth having or if I am missing a trick?

Secondly we plan to perhaps mix up some Aires and more expensive sites so any personal recommendations on these for the above areas would be great. In a perfect world we would like sites near bars/restaurants so we have the option, even though we will take a small BBQ with us.

Lastly - recommendations for a small BBQ to take with us if you could

Thanks folks

[Bill]

When are you going? And many/most French sites have a hissy fit over real bbqs so gas is wise.

[Vladimir]

We've booked Plymouth to Santander and back (like last year) for a month from 28th July. Not actually decided what we will do once we are there though. Probably SW France, N Spain, maybe N Italy.

[GlenMH]

Make sure your motorhome is under 3m tall and under 3.5t in weight or else the motorway tolls are horrific.

Personally, we are going by ferry to N Spain as the Spanish are far more welcoming and we prefer the scenery! The Picos de Europa are spectacular.

[chopper602]

Stay away from the autoroute aires. Too many robberies.

We're planning out first European roadtrip this summer too, but after numerous holidays in France in the past, I'm looking to head further East and South, initially heading for some of the quieter Italian lakes (Iseo, Idro), then maybe take in a bit of Slovenia, before heading back up through Germany (free roads!).

[Vladimir]

GlenMH said:

Make sure your motorhome is under 3m tall and under 3.5t in weight or else the motorway tolls are horrific.

Personally, we are going by ferry to N Spain as the Spanish are far more welcoming and we prefer the scenery! The Picos de Europa are spectacular.

They are indeed!



But quite often foggy…

[oblio]

Bill said:

When are you going? And many/most French sites have a hissy fit over real bbqs so gas is wise.

From 9 Aug for 11 nights.

Thanks for the tip - I'll do some research.

Thanks all so far NB We werent going to stay in the motorway aires btw but are interested in some nice recommendations for the Aires in villages/towns etc. Having visited France many times we have come across some real nice ones but the area we are going to is new to us.

Can anyone advise on the books or campsites before I part with some hard earned? We are just on the verge of booking the van...we have one reserved until Monday.

cheers

[oblio]

Update...

I have booked the motorhome and also prdered upto date copies of the Michelin Campimg guide to Europe plus Camperstop Europe for the aires.

The route is

Ieper/Ypres
Le Mans
La Rochelle
Bordeau area
Carcassonne
Lomoges
Orleans
Boulogne area

Any experiences/recommendations of sites would be really useful cheers?

Plus recommendations on a small BBQ as well (probably a gas one by the sounds of it)

cheers

[chopper602]

These come recommended :

https://www.vicarious-shop.com/All-the-Aires-Franc...

https://www.vicarious-shop.com/All-the-Aires-Franc...

though a bit pricey, should be current for a couple of years I would think.

Good luck with the planning, I've got mine start next !

[oblio]

chopper602 said:

These come recommended :

https://www.vicarious-shop.com/All-the-Aires-Franc...

https://www.vicarious-shop.com/All-the-Aires-Franc...

though a bit pricey, should be current for a couple of years I would think.

Good luck with the planning, I've got mine start next !

Cheers - planning is part of the fun

I'll wait until my books come and then se if I need the ones you suggest - the camperstop one is similar with all the aires in it

[mike9009]

We are still using a camping guide from 1996. Does what we need it to, in conjunction with the internet......

Not much help, but 2007 is not that long ago.....

Mike

[smashie]

For a BBQ, I can recommend the Weber Baby Q. I attach mine to my caravan gas. Much cheaper than those little bottles. It cooks the food real nice.

[oblio]

smashie said:

For a BBQ, I can recommend the Weber Baby Q. I attach mine to my caravan gas. Much cheaper than those little bottles. It cooks the food real nice.

That looks like the mutts nuts

I think for our little trip though we'll get something much cheaper.

We plan to buy a motorhome when we retire (8 years and counting ) so that will be a good purchase then

Cheers

[chopper602]

We thought about waiting until we retire, but it's too long, so bought this bad boy last summer:



Europe bound this summer, for at least three weeks!

[oblio]

That looks like just the job