spencer Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 Hi, We have just bought our first motorhome (8.76m) and are planning a trip to Northern Spain in May (Portsmouth - Caen route, not cheap, but very close to our home) I have read many articles and publications, but nothing beats experience. I would appreciate any hints, tips, pitfalls or any other generally useful information about this trip and European motorhome travel in general from you "old timers". Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 You may need to give us a few clues as to what concerns you have, before we can advise on the European aspects of your trip.However, my first comment is that you have quite a large van. Are you accustomed to vehicles of this size? If not, I'd say get as much practice as possible on familiar roads, and also on some unfamiliar UK roads, before taking off across France.Second, you don't say whether you have driven much on the right. If not, then I'd say set yourself low daily distance targets for your outward journey. I would also suggest you don't travel too far on autoroutes after the first day, but get onto N or D roads so that you maximise your exposure to negotiating towns etc as you go. You'll need to get used to driving your van off dual carriageway roads when you want to stop for the night, and probably when you need to visit shops. Getting the practice in early will help to get you fully acclimatised to driving on the right.Third point: take the van out for at least a week somewhere in UK before you set off, and use everything you think you will use while you are away. Put the whole thing thoroughly through its paces, and make quite certain that everything is working as it should before you leave. Do this several weeks before your intended departure date, so as to maximise time to fix any failures before you leave. Remember, should you need spares, they aren't always as readily available as they should be.Finally, make sure you can, or know how to, convert your headlamps for right hand traffic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spencer Posted February 19, 2008 Author Share Posted February 19, 2008 Thanks for that Brian. I have a lot of experience driving on the continent, but will certainly take your advice about familiarisation with the vehicle prior to travel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Highe Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Hi I am intending to buy my first van in 2009 after many years of hiring. I agree with Brian about driving it in the UK first and I intend to spend most of the summer in the UK before venturing off to warmer climes. I thought it would be a good idea to settle the van in within reach of the (UK) dealer and English speaking garages as well as being able to get extras fitted before the long treck south. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carioca Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 hi spencer brian seems to have covered most if not all of the bases the only thing i would add is it is a large vehicle so take your time, find your feet and enjoy. if you are going abroard for the first time you might want to consider booking your holiday through eurocamp indpendant or select sites. i believe the caravan club do this also but i have never used them but the former will give you good advice on campsites that will accomodate a van as large as yours, not all sites will have pitches big enough. hope this helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Welcome to the forum Spencer! Nortern Spain can be quiet wet out of season but it is a great destination (8.76m) I am intrigued - what is it? an RV? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Le Thou Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 JudgeMental - 2008-02-19 12:19 PM Welcome to the forum Spencer! Nortern Spain can be quiet wet out of season but it is a great destination (8.76m) I am intrigued - what is it? an RV? Even Northern Spain can be quite wet as well as. Sometimes noisy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelvynT Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Experience cannot be beaten, the first time I ever drove abroad, I picked up a UK Transit at Fornebu Airport (Norway) drove down the ramp, on the right, (that was OK but it rapidly deteriorated), I turned left at the bottom after crossing the traffic light line (lights at red) and into the taxi lane (no private vehicles allowed). All with the Norwegian police watching me, as they passed by, shaking their heads, I signed a thankyou to them and to St Christopher. I've been OK since then, thankfully. Setting off in the morning and roundabouts are areas of common failure, also watch the side roads when you're not on a yellow diamond road. B-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Le Thou - 2008-02-19 12:36 PM JudgeMental - 2008-02-19 12:19 PM Welcome to the forum Spencer! Nortern Spain can be quiet wet out of season but it is a great destination 8.76m) I am intrigued - what is it? an RV? Even Northern Spain can be quite wet as well as. Sometimes noisy So this is how your get your jolly’s is it, scrutinising the site for grammatical errors and spelling mistakes..... get a life you stupid man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XTRAVELLER Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 we took a mercedes 308 to france and spain and found campsites as we went along but with a bigger van you may be better off booking in advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spencer Posted February 20, 2008 Author Share Posted February 20, 2008 Thank you all for your replies. The vehicle is a Burstner Elegance 821. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianR Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 Another point of which you should be aware is that, for a vehicle the size of yours, the motorways will be very expensive. perhaps someone out there knows what the cost per mile/km will be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Le Thou Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 JudgeMental - 2008-02-19 2:38 PM Le Thou - 2008-02-19 12:36 PM JudgeMental - 2008-02-19 12:19 PM Welcome to the forum Spencer! Nortern Spain can be quiet wet out of season but it is a great destination 8.76m) I am intrigued - what is it? an RV? Even Northern Spain can be quite wet as well as. Sometimes noisy So this is how your get your jolly’s is it, scrutinising the site for grammatical errors and spelling mistakes..... get a life you stupid man. Oh shut up you TART ! It's called a sense of humour you stupid little fat man, we can all call names, grow up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 Le Thou - 2008-02-21 10:21 AM JudgeMental - 2008-02-19 2:38 PM Le Thou - 2008-02-19 12:36 PM JudgeMental - 2008-02-19 12:19 PM Welcome to the forum Spencer! Nortern Spain can be quiet wet out of season but it is a great destination 8.76m) I am intrigued - what is it? an RV? Even Northern Spain can be quite wet as well as. Sometimes noisy So this is how your get your jolly’s is it, scrutinising the site for grammatical errors and spelling mistakes..... get a life you stupid man. Oh shut up you TART ! It's called a sense of humour you stupid little fat man, we can all call names, grow up Your a piece of work, if your intentions were humorous you need to learn some etiquette and learn how to use the emoticons column on the left. but I have observed the quality and nastiness of your previous postings, so very much doubt that your reasons where at all humorous.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J9withdogs Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 Gentlemen - PLEASE! This is a thread from a newbie - what sort of impression of this forum are you guys giving him ? If you have a disagreement, can't you do in private via the PM facility? >:-( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 J9withdogs - 2008-02-21 2:18 PM Gentlemen - PLEASE! This is a thread from a newbie - what sort of impression of this forum are you guys giving him ? If you have a disagreement, can't you do in private via the PM facility? >:-( Please Janine, don't wish that on me! lol and it was not me who disrupted the thread.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J9withdogs Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 I don't care who started it - one of you is headed for the naughty step if you don't kiss and make up - RIGHT NOW :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Highe Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 Quite right Janine! The lesson to be learned is the same as with email. Don't attempt humour unless you are sure the recipient (and anyone they forward it to) will appreciate it. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecooks Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 Hello fellow traveler would be very interested in how you are finding your van, we pick our elegance 821 up in a months time. Kind regards Howard & Norma Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dshague Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 thank you j9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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