Skar
Guest
I use a Garmin and also Copilot on Android, that's backed up by the wife using the map, I don't really need her input but it keeps her busy and she enjoys telling me how many pages we have done :heart:
yorkshiregeoff
Guest
That's all really useful info. Many thanks. Guess I need to get my wallet out and buy some stuff and then get on with the planning. I'll let you know how we get on.
solarman
Guest
i'm normally a map man so had a big AA road map of France with me for my first trip to Dunkirk only going to Gravelines,was going to use my ipad and dongle till i found out there was no network so i began using the map until i totally got lost.Don't want to splash out for yet another device but i could've done with some navigation aid while on the move,the map was useless as i had no natural oierntation/beraings because everything was so unfamiliar but put that down to my first time trying to watch my speed and read road signs which were giving me too much information,eventually had to ask farmers and fellow motorhomers to direct me to the nearest aire i was looking for.I lost my confidence for a while but i ventured about after a while between villages i became familiar with and only drove to those.Also got lost finding my way back to Ferry port even though i was no more than 10 kilometres away and only just made it in time.Think i may need a sat nav now if i go over again.
DRoader
Guest
Hi solarman
It's good to have maps and books because there things are important. But these days a sat nav unit is the way to go. That doesn't mean you rely on it completely because sometimes they can send you along impossible routes and then you have to trust your instincts, get out the vehicle and walk the route through a narrow alley, tight bridge etc and guage for yourself if it's safe to drive it. Consider it all part of the adventure you're on even when your hands are locked to that steering wheel
I'm a big fan of getting off the main roads in France and enjoying the villages and scenery even in a big unit. Hence my username
DRoader
Guest
Hi geoff you do realise France is huge, a great big hexagon that borders lots of other countries. Your best plan might be to head down the west coast, literally skirting the coast, towards Brittany then head inland to the Loire and head back up through the countryside to your port of exit.
mitzimad
Guest
weve just returned from atrip around francethis was our first trip abroad in the motor home its realy not as dificult as it all sounds
we found the roads generally clear of much traffic other than around tourist spots or big cities would definately recomend a sat nav and a good map book michelin one is great
we had the aires book and it worked well with the satnav
petrol is cheapest at the supermarkets and cheaper than here
getting petrol is diferent to here some stations are unmanned and all done with your credit/debit card in the supermarkets you fill up and then drive into the que to the pay booth remember which pump number you used
maybe it us but we didnt realy find this wonderfull cheap cuisine in fact the two plat de lours we had were down right poor quality generally we cooked or had lots of bread and chese type meals plenty of good stuff available in the super markets note when buying fresh veg in a supermarket you have to self weigh it and put the sticker on the bag before you go to check out scales for this are next to the veg aisles
dont get a prepaid master card from travelex we did this and it realy only worked in atms
every village has a bakers we found the darker batons to hard for our old teeth
i cant realy give you any help with where to go as we hit bad weather in the north and headed south realy starting our holiday at clement ferand and in the gorges du tarn and from there further south we did a day around the d day beaches on the way back and found some lovely places there but it was probaly the buisiest part of our trip and apart from one good morning weather was still bad
we did over 2000 miles from the camargue to braydunes on the belgium border we camped on beaches and in mountains its a vast country and very varied
have fun xx
we found the roads generally clear of much traffic other than around tourist spots or big cities would definately recomend a sat nav and a good map book michelin one is great
we had the aires book and it worked well with the satnav
petrol is cheapest at the supermarkets and cheaper than here
getting petrol is diferent to here some stations are unmanned and all done with your credit/debit card in the supermarkets you fill up and then drive into the que to the pay booth remember which pump number you used
maybe it us but we didnt realy find this wonderfull cheap cuisine in fact the two plat de lours we had were down right poor quality generally we cooked or had lots of bread and chese type meals plenty of good stuff available in the super markets note when buying fresh veg in a supermarket you have to self weigh it and put the sticker on the bag before you go to check out scales for this are next to the veg aisles
dont get a prepaid master card from travelex we did this and it realy only worked in atms
every village has a bakers we found the darker batons to hard for our old teeth
i cant realy give you any help with where to go as we hit bad weather in the north and headed south realy starting our holiday at clement ferand and in the gorges du tarn and from there further south we did a day around the d day beaches on the way back and found some lovely places there but it was probaly the buisiest part of our trip and apart from one good morning weather was still bad
we did over 2000 miles from the camargue to braydunes on the belgium border we camped on beaches and in mountains its a vast country and very varied
have fun xx
Ggohd
Full Member
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France tips
Just back from 6 weeks in France.
France is in love with the camping car!!! The facilities provided by communes are generally excellent and either free or very cheap. Aires, every respectable town/ village has one. Even without a book or gps they are easy to find by the blue sign of a camping car discharging. Keep your €2 coins for the slots at the aires which charge for water and electric.
The French web site Camping Car infos is a godsend, the POIs are downloadable and at the last look there were more than 6000 in France plus hundreds in other continental countries, they even have a small UK section, small because the UK is in the backwoods when it comes to the motorhome, French people we spoke to had been more than surprised at the level of prohibition and charging in the UK.
GPS The gps is very handy for finding nearby aires when you decide to call a halt for the day. However, after entering a route it is essential to do a gross error check. There seems to be a particular problem in France. D roads, which are virtually every road which is not an N road or a motorway vary between the single track mountain lane to a good dual carriageway. Because of the labelling system the gps seems to be incapable of discriminating between roads you might choose and roads you might not choose. Furthermore, because every little built up area has a 50k speed limit the quickest route engine can take you on long detours around villages as it seems to assume you can do a steady 90kph on a D road.
We found the easiest way to get round the problem was to roughly plan on the map and then only program in the next 100k or so and then when close to destination cancell and put in a town another 100k further on, don't leave it too late or the gps will unerringly take you to the town centre. If you have chosen well, road signs will also help you to avoid the more bizarre diversions into the hinterland. Of course, if you are only going a long distance from A to B and want to use the peage then you can put the whole route in.
Despite the above, we very succesfully got from Le Havre to Figueras and back again without ever paying a toll.
Tip. To cross the Seine at LeHavre you are forced to pay a bridge toll. But, drive inland a few kms, follow the signs for Quilleboeuf where there is a FREE ferry morning til evening.
Use the GPS to find supermarket diesel, 10 to 15 cents cheaper per litre.
Think about your LPG consumption, you won't be able to change your bottles. I have Gaslow refillables, lots of supermarkets have pumps now and they don't seem to be fussed about you refilling your motorhome system.
Aldi and Lidl abound now in France, they won't have fuel, but are much more economic for the necessities.
Many of the larger supermarkets have wifi in their cafeterias, once you've got their wep codes you can retreat to the van and if you have bought a USB wifi antenna you can surf in relative comfort. (ebay, wiflicity) Many supermarkets won't be bothered if you stay in their carparks overnight whilst they are closed. There are no cameras which threaten you with penalties if you stay more than 3 hours, just be tidy.
If you want to save on credit card charges get a CaxtonFx Euro card. Good exchange rates, no charge at ATMs, no charge in shops/ restaurants, can be recharged online or by mobile phone txt message. Works everywhere.
The general rule in France seems to be, if you don't bother them, they won't bother you. You might not speak the language, but a cheery Bonjour goes a long way !!
Just back from 6 weeks in France.
France is in love with the camping car!!! The facilities provided by communes are generally excellent and either free or very cheap. Aires, every respectable town/ village has one. Even without a book or gps they are easy to find by the blue sign of a camping car discharging. Keep your €2 coins for the slots at the aires which charge for water and electric.
The French web site Camping Car infos is a godsend, the POIs are downloadable and at the last look there were more than 6000 in France plus hundreds in other continental countries, they even have a small UK section, small because the UK is in the backwoods when it comes to the motorhome, French people we spoke to had been more than surprised at the level of prohibition and charging in the UK.
GPS The gps is very handy for finding nearby aires when you decide to call a halt for the day. However, after entering a route it is essential to do a gross error check. There seems to be a particular problem in France. D roads, which are virtually every road which is not an N road or a motorway vary between the single track mountain lane to a good dual carriageway. Because of the labelling system the gps seems to be incapable of discriminating between roads you might choose and roads you might not choose. Furthermore, because every little built up area has a 50k speed limit the quickest route engine can take you on long detours around villages as it seems to assume you can do a steady 90kph on a D road.
We found the easiest way to get round the problem was to roughly plan on the map and then only program in the next 100k or so and then when close to destination cancell and put in a town another 100k further on, don't leave it too late or the gps will unerringly take you to the town centre. If you have chosen well, road signs will also help you to avoid the more bizarre diversions into the hinterland. Of course, if you are only going a long distance from A to B and want to use the peage then you can put the whole route in.
Despite the above, we very succesfully got from Le Havre to Figueras and back again without ever paying a toll.
Tip. To cross the Seine at LeHavre you are forced to pay a bridge toll. But, drive inland a few kms, follow the signs for Quilleboeuf where there is a FREE ferry morning til evening.
Use the GPS to find supermarket diesel, 10 to 15 cents cheaper per litre.
Think about your LPG consumption, you won't be able to change your bottles. I have Gaslow refillables, lots of supermarkets have pumps now and they don't seem to be fussed about you refilling your motorhome system.
Aldi and Lidl abound now in France, they won't have fuel, but are much more economic for the necessities.
Many of the larger supermarkets have wifi in their cafeterias, once you've got their wep codes you can retreat to the van and if you have bought a USB wifi antenna you can surf in relative comfort. (ebay, wiflicity) Many supermarkets won't be bothered if you stay in their carparks overnight whilst they are closed. There are no cameras which threaten you with penalties if you stay more than 3 hours, just be tidy.
If you want to save on credit card charges get a CaxtonFx Euro card. Good exchange rates, no charge at ATMs, no charge in shops/ restaurants, can be recharged online or by mobile phone txt message. Works everywhere.
The general rule in France seems to be, if you don't bother them, they won't bother you. You might not speak the language, but a cheery Bonjour goes a long way !!
Aunty P
Free Member
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France in love with the camping car
I concur with your enthusiasm for France and the relaxed/inspired attitude to camping.
Regarding gas problems we solved this one by purchasing French bottles, we now leave home on French gas leaving the callor botles in the garage at home.
Be advised though that many French suppliers use sqat, tubby bottles that wo'nt fit our gas lockers. We bought 'Le Cube', they came as a deal with a free regulator, the following year the deal still stood and we got a second bottle.
The Frenck bottle is not a direct fit into our gas locker, which holds two 6Kg propane, but it does sit nicely on the edge of the locker and as the door is not quite as thick as the van wall it just closes. We carry the replacement under the bed. Yes, I can hear the cries of anguish, 'carrying gas inside the van'. It's not ideal, but neither is smoking and I reckon the risks of that are greater.
Also if you have under floor tanks for LPG then don't try to use Eurotunel, they won't want to know you.
One further thought, if you are disabled don't be put of going to France; my own experience is being treated like a VIP.
I concur with your enthusiasm for France and the relaxed/inspired attitude to camping.
Regarding gas problems we solved this one by purchasing French bottles, we now leave home on French gas leaving the callor botles in the garage at home.
Be advised though that many French suppliers use sqat, tubby bottles that wo'nt fit our gas lockers. We bought 'Le Cube', they came as a deal with a free regulator, the following year the deal still stood and we got a second bottle.
The Frenck bottle is not a direct fit into our gas locker, which holds two 6Kg propane, but it does sit nicely on the edge of the locker and as the door is not quite as thick as the van wall it just closes. We carry the replacement under the bed. Yes, I can hear the cries of anguish, 'carrying gas inside the van'. It's not ideal, but neither is smoking and I reckon the risks of that are greater.
Also if you have under floor tanks for LPG then don't try to use Eurotunel, they won't want to know you.
One further thought, if you are disabled don't be put of going to France; my own experience is being treated like a VIP.
Channelcrosser
Full Member
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Great tips from Ggohd.
Hope you have a great time......
Hope you have a great time......
rach82
Guest
This thread has been great as we are hoping to go to France next year!