First time

[will2]

Hello everyone we are considering the idea of taking our caravan to the south of France next year, our firt time abroad.

What will we need to take with us,I know about the spare bulbs for the car and caravan. What else would we need and how would you break up the journey.

Also anything else you can think of.

Thanks Will

 

[ValA.]

There's a great post for first timers on another forum - the UKCS website - Advice for continental first-timers. Should tell you everything you need to know.

You need ownership documents for car, caravan and anything else of value.

Driving Licence, MOT certificate, etc. If it's a company car you need written permission to 'export' it.

Health Insurance.

Breakdown Insurance - make sure it covers van too.

Passports, obviously.

Continental adaptor plus polarity tester and 'reverse polarity adaptor'

and probably a lot more. Trekkin Tekkie's post gives loads of great information.

Dover/Calais ferries are cheapest.

Try viamichelin to work out a route - don't forget to select 'with caravan' on the 'options'.

If you can go outside last two weeks in July/first two in August then things become less hectic and you can find a better choice of pitches.

Depending on your route, and where you're heading you'll need at least one and possibly two overnight stops. Divide the distance into thirds and plan stops at these points.

Plan regular comfort stops - and take no notice of the time the website tells you the journey will take - these websites calculate the whole journey at the maximum speed allowed, and allow no time for stops at all.

 

[GrahamSouthBrum]

There's a great post for first timers on another forum - the UKCS website - Advice for continental first-timers. Should tell you everything you need to know.

You need ownership documents for car, caravan and anything else of value.

Driving Licence, MOT certificate, etc. If it's a company car you need written permission to 'export' it.

Health Insurance.

Breakdown Insurance - make sure it covers van too.

Passports, obviously.

Continental adaptor plus polarity tester and 'reverse polarity adaptor'

and probably a lot more. Trekkin Tekkie's post gives loads of great information.

Dover/Calais ferries are cheapest.

Try viamichelin to work out a route - don't forget to select 'with caravan' on the 'options'.

If you can go outside last two weeks in July/first two in August then things become less hectic and you can find a better choice of pitches.

Depending on your route, and where you're heading you'll need at least one and possibly two overnight stops. Divide the distance into thirds and plan stops at these points.

Plan regular comfort stops - and take no notice of the time the website tells you the journey will take - these websites calculate the whole journey at the maximum speed allowed, and allow no time for stops at all.

Shop around for ferry costs, we found c.c. cheapest. If you go before July or from September try camping cheques (dam good value)get a Nationwide credit or debit card (no commission charge on puchases & better exchange rate) & do'nt stop overnight on motorway services stay at a caravan site. Buy your fuel at supper markets (cheapest) & between 0800hrs & 2000hrs (8 till 8) dont use the 24 hr pumps as they may not accept your card & will keep it. Camp sites in Europe book 1 France from c.c.

Enjoy your holiday

Graham W.

 

[will2]

Thanks for the reply Valerie.

Anyone think of anything else.

Will

 

[ValA.]

Just had another thought - make sure you have a spare caravan wheel with a decent tyre.

Warning triangle for car, and high visibility vests are useful (though not required by law).

Beam benders (or adjustable head-lights).

Teabags (French ones are not as good).

Sun cream and mosquito repellant. Citronella candles are useful for outside.

 

[SteveW77]

You need 2 warning triangles if you tow a caravan.

Steve W

 

[Chrissylizzie]

Hi Will

The Caravan Club's website do a good page on the things you need for your first time abroad, which you can print out. We did this last year and found it very helpful. In particular you will need an adaptor for hook-ups as we found all variations at different sites. The two main road signs you will need almost immediately are the red inverted triangle mostly at roundabouts which means you have to give priority and the yellow diamond which indicates you have priority. At the Payage, don't go into a lane with a red circle above it (as we did!) as they are for lorries and the slots are VERY high up!!

Driving on French roads is easy and you will have no problems, so look forward to your planning and enjoy yourself.

 

[izzeybear1]

You will need an insurance form in case you are involved in an accident (Heres hoping you do not need this) Go to the topic dated 1st August re accidents abroad. there is a link which gives a downloadable form Just come back from france driving there is a treat plenty of very good roads In general the drivers are courtious. have fun

Iain