DOES SIZE MATTER?

[thursdays child]

Hi to all you"happy wanderers"We are hoping to have found our"ideal"van

and if all goes in our favour we shall be heading off next October to France and Spain for 6 months or so.What we need to know is where do all you larger outfits go that are will take twin axles and dogs.This will be a new experience abroad with a twin axle even tho we have travelled and stayed for long perios with our single axle Compass. The area we are looking at is somewhere around Salou/Tarragona.A BIT NERVOUS REALLY ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF CHANGING TO A BIGGER VAN? Please do your usual pep talk and advice us on the ups and downs of joing the "TWINNIWAGO" CLUB.

THURSDAYS CHILD (HAS FAR TO GO)

 

[vansmudge]

Suggest that you check out ACSI and Camping cheques, not merely to save money on sites but also be able to contact the sites direct by email via the respective directories to ask the questions.

France is somewhat more reluctant to accept twin axle caravans than Spain but it would be worth checking out directly with the sites.

Bon Voyage

Barry

 

[ShadySadie]

I've not had a problem in France or anywhere else with a twin axle. We made an un-scheduled stop this summer with 6 twin axle caravans and a large single axle Hobby. A bit tight on a few pitches but the site was fine with us. They want the money surely.

When calling ahead to book a site we just advise them we have a large caravan most of the time. There must be thousands of caravans tavelling in Europe with twin axles or single axles that are as long as British twin axles. Where do they go?

 

[Guest]

Actually as far as I could see twin axles vans, and even very long single axles are relatively rare in Europe. You do get large vans from Hobby and another brand I cannot remember offhand etc but these are ofetn used by the travelling fraternity. I think one must remember that in Europe especially in summer the weather is far more clement and a large van is not required. Also many caravanners live in high density countries such as Holland where a large van can be problematic. The other factor is that many people are changing to motorhomes and so the issue is not relevant, as they use aires.

The other thing to note is that on many sites,especially the ones in high density holiday areas, the pitches are relatively small compared to here and vans over 7 meter length, although not necessarily barred, do have problems getting on the pitch without having a chunk hanging over the road.

The other thing the OP has to note that is in October many sites are closed or closing and he needs to check the ones that are available. However, once he gets to Spain then he should be ok, as the sites should??? be quieter, although the popular ones can be jammed packed even in winter

 

[ValA.]

There are some sites which really don't accept twin axles - the municipal site at Nevers is one, probably because of tight access to pitches, and nor does Les Cochards at St Aignan on the Cher. We've witnessed people being turned away from both of them, including a quite elderly British couple who were very upset. However, neither of these sites is open in October.

As Scotch Lad says, many French sites close down from mid-September - this website

http://users.telenet.be/leo.huybrechts/camp1.htm
has details of all sites within 15km of the major routes through France and those highlighted in red (I think) stay open all year. Even so it's best to check with a site by phoning ahead that they are still open, and that they will accept twin axles.

 

[ValA.]

Sorry, meant to add have a look at the Camping Cheque website www.campingcheque.co.uk - you can have a look at details of sites, opening dates, (some are open all year) and link directly to the site website. The Camping Cheque will pay for a pitch, two people, caravan and awning, electricity and a dog (on those sites which will accept them - but that is stated on the information page. ACSI card (www.campingcard.com) is similar, with a three band price, 11, 13, and 15 euros for the same sort of deal.

 

[ShadySadie]

Some French municipals got in to rejecting T.A's beacuse of French travellers in the past. We've not had problems as UK visitors.

Pitch size can be the only real problem. A lot of the French sites have good sized pitches as families may not have a huge caravan but they can also have numerous tents on a pitch.

We come across many Brits touring in large caravans and others and some huge German outfits always seem to be the largest.

A lot of motor homes are 6 to 8 metres long with some towing car and bike trailers. We've also seen more and more very large American RV's in France on sites.

 

[DianneT]

We have a twin axle 8 metre Elddis van. We have never been turned away from a site and never had a problem pitching up in Germany, Austria, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Italy and Belgium. We have used Camping Cheques but mostly use ACSI as there are many more sites who accept ACSI Camping Card. I always email ahead to check if we are going to a new site to check availability for a long outfit and they always email back OK. We find that when we go to Europe from March to July we see very few twin axles about. We only stay at one site in France and that is Guines near to Calais as it is near to the Tunnel for coming home they are ACSI and their pitches are huge.

 

[ValA.]

The municipal site at Nevers and Les Cochards are both Camping Cheque sites - and it doesn't mention in the Camping Cheque guide that neither will accept twin axles. Someone who was turned away asked if this information could be included on the description page for each site but nothing appears to have been done.

 

[thursdays child]

You have done it again!!!Every possible scenario dealt with!!!MANY THANKS TO ALL!! We are more at ease with our choice of a twin axle and looking forward to longer stays in France and Spain.We went to France during August this year and we will not be staying in the peak times in the future. Much prefer Spring and Autumn in France and winter in Spain.We stay at La Petite Touche in the Loire Valley

traveling to and from Spain as it is open all year.Before we get the train home we also stay at La Bien Assise in Guines and take the dogs the the vet in Ardres. VERY REASONABLE and diligent with paperwork!!! Yes we also saw the HUMUNGUS motorhomes and trailers,some just using the service points!!!

I have just thought about another problem,"THE ARGUMENT IN A BAG"

(awning to you).All that extra canvas and poles OH B****R!!!! If you should see a short,dumpy,redhead holding a hammer over a short dark haired chap PHONE THE POLICE!!!!

THURDAYS CHILD (Sandra)

 

[DianneT]

You have done it again!!!Every possible scenario dealt with!!!MANY THANKS TO ALL!! We are more at ease with our choice of a twin axle and looking forward to longer stays in France and Spain.We went to France during August this year and we will not be staying in the peak times in the future. Much prefer Spring and Autumn in France and winter in Spain.We stay at La Petite Touche in the Loire Valley

traveling to and from Spain as it is open all year.Before we get the train home we also stay at La Bien Assise in Guines and take the dogs the the vet in Ardres. VERY REASONABLE and diligent with paperwork!!! Yes we also saw the HUMUNGUS motorhomes and trailers,some just using the service points!!!

I have just thought about another problem,"THE ARGUMENT IN A BAG"

(awning to you).All that extra canvas and poles OH B****R!!!! If you should see a short,dumpy,redhead holding a hammer over a short dark haired chap PHONE THE POLICE!!!!

THURDAYS CHILD (Sandra)

We find the best answer with a large twin axle to have a large Porch awning instead of full size one especially as there is only 2 of us. Saying that we have had 8 people eating at 2 caravan tables in our Dorema awning.

 

[EvansofSprot]

Don't know about dogs, but both France and Spain are notorious for campsites with small pitches!

 

[EvansofSprot]

Sorry I can't think why I put France when I meant Italy and Spain!

 

[thursdays child]

We find the best answer with a large twin axle to have a large Porch awning instead of full size one especially as there is only 2 of us. Saying that we have had 8 people eating at 2 caravan tables in our Dorema awning.

Yes we also have a lightweight porch awning.But as you rightly say sometimes we have visitors from other vans and a full awning is very useful isnt it? Our full size awning is used for my teeny weeny pomeranians to play in if it is wet outside so it is really a "must have".Fortunately the newer awnings are not as cumbersome and the sides and front can be removed when erecting.So now it seems less of a problem than first thought!!!!!!

SANDRA(THURSDAYS CHILD)

 

[DavidKlyne]

Its interesting that I have stayed recently on both the sites mentioned by Val, we have had a discussion elsewhere on this subject. Whilst at Nevers I saw a twin axle van being towed by a lorry which was allowed to stay overnight and at Les Cochards I made a point of asking the owner whether they accepted twin axle and the response was yes, although there was a slight hesitation! I fully accept there could have been a change of policy since Val was last at these sites. I would have thought that it would be sensible to check with a site before arrival just to get the latest information.

David