Gday all from Oz

[wombat]

more from Oz

If you are interested in castles and other historic homes perhaps you should join the National Trust, it might be cheaper to join in Australia than here. My daughter lives in Bondi and we are planning a trip out there this Xmas also thinking of hiring a m/h to tour as the cost of hotels your way look astronomical. from what my daughter says I think you will find life fairly economical here. Anyways, welcome to the site and have a good trip. Don't forget to look out for some of our gatherings they might just coincide with where you are or influence you to change your route!

Thanks Moonshadow, we will definitely join the National Trust, from here if I get around to it (only 3 weeks to go!). You will be shocked at the dost of motorhomes here. What I expect to get in UK for 25k GBP, will cost about 70k GBP here and have 100,000km on the clock!!! Hiring is almost prohibitive too. The high AU$ wont help you at all either, though it does us

We expect to live fairly cheaply, my wife loves cooking, though I suspect we will have our share of pub meals too. I'll check the gatherings of the club too, be great to meet up with a few of the members.
Owen
Wombat's World

 

[wombat]

more again

have a look at the pre loved website , a mixture of private and trade prices , but will give you an idea of what your money will bring you

talking to people who are doing what you propose , their biggest problem seems to be to not get ripped off on the insurance ; if you have friends or family whose address you can use it is much easier as you can 'base' yourselves there!!!

Thanks Lebesset,
We have a friends parents there who's address we will be using, so that's all good. National Trust membership high on the agenda, likewise the Imperial War Museum, heard so much about it!

Is there a link to the "pre loved" website? I couldn't see it as part of this site, and we will join the caravaners club, seems to get a reduction in insurance premiums too.
Cheers

Owen
Wombat's World

 

[Deleted member 5759]

Hi again Owen,

Fortunately you have solved the address problem but I would suggest that you make sure that the insurance company will accept you on an Australian licence as well, if you need any help please email my General manager at Johns Cross, gill@johnscross.co.uk

Peter

 

[Byronic]

Motorhome insurance cover at a reasonable cost may prove to be a problem. Perhaps you could try a few online quotes before leaving. British Insurance can be a bit of a minefield for "foreigners"..... make that everybody!!!
Ensure you take proof of No Claims to the UK showing what a brilliant driver you've been and you may get a discount. I've known a few antipodeans to be quoted such horrendous figures for cover that they've taken the chance and not bothered; of course very inadvisable.

 

[lebesset]

Thanks Lebesset,
We have a friends parents there who's address we will be using, so that's all good. National Trust membership high on the agenda, likewise the Imperial War Museum, heard so much about it!

Is there a link to the "pre loved" website? I couldn't see it as part of this site, and we will join the caravaners club, seems to get a reduction in insurance premiums too.
Cheers

Owen
Wombat's World

Preloved | UK free ads - buy and sell with local classifieds

look under camping and caravanning


btw , have you considered how big a vehicle you want , bearing in mind the lack of space in the uk and the ever decreasing number of people with a licence to drive a vehicle over 3,500Kg affecting the ease of reselling bigger vehicles

 

[wombat]

Insurance and more

Thanks Brionic, I will make sure I have paperwork with me. Looks like it may be advisable to get an international drivers licence too.

Lebesset, thank you for yours too, I may have to check on my licence conditions. At this stage, we intend keeping the van, leaving it in UK and return each year for the next 3 or 4 years and head over to the continent. Not sure the resale at the end of that will be a huge concern, mainly on the grounds it wont owe us much after all that.

Thanks too to Peter, you may see us in the frist week of April

Owen

 

[Deleted member 16175]

If you at any time need info on Sweden, feel free to contact me and I'll see what I can do. Meanwhile, enjoy the UK/Ireland!

 

[lebesset]

Thanks Brionic, I will make sure I have paperwork with me. Looks like it may be advisable to get an international drivers licence too.

Lebesset, thank you for yours too, I may have to check on my licence conditions. At this stage, we intend keeping the van, leaving it in UK and return each year for the next 3 or 4 years and head over to the continent. Not sure the resale at the end of that will be a huge concern, mainly on the grounds it wont owe us much after all that.

Thanks too to Peter, you may see us in the frist week of April

Owen

I think it is true to say that you can still buy the road tax in 6 months chunks , or buy the full year and cash in when not in use , as long as you SORN it [ someone will explain]

left had drives , often imported from the continent , normally fetch less money ; in view of your plans long term this miught be your best bet , and buying a continental make like hymer as you won't find agencies for the uk produced vehicles elsewhere , whereas there are agencies for continental makes in the UK

 

[ambrose]

from South Australia

Hi Wombat For the lat 4 years we have traveled around Uk and Europe for six months. We are retired so we have the time. The first 2 years were in a moterhome which we loved only 6 mtrs. but plenty big enough Parking can be a problem when you are living in it full time. We then bought a caravan and car as we found we wanted to stay longer in one place with more comfort. We found insurance was a mind field as for some reason they did not like Aussie driving licences. There are a few companies that operate on a guaranteed buy back scheme and they will organise insurance for you but expect it to be rather pricey. With the moterhome we wild camped in Scotland, Ireland. Franc, Italy, but sadly with the van we now go to sites. I am sure you will have a great time We found the Caravan club to be very good value as they have lots of small sites if you want any information we would love to help. We are leaving end April back end October

 

[lebesset]

just came across an australian couple here in portugal

they said they had some problems with insurance as they were going to live in the vehicle while here, were australian etc , although they had relatives address to use

they found insurance with SAGA , £1,000 pa including europe wide breakdown etc , a lot by british standards perhaps but a good deal under the circumstances ; SAGA demanded an original document from their OZ insurance company [ no fax/photocopy ] for no claims bonus entitlement

bear in mind it would be possible to just tax the vehicle for 6 months , then SORN it while stored so no tax /insurance are required , then vary the insurance to just cover fire/theft while in safe storage , normally not very expensive

 

[ambrose]

Sorry

New to the site so did not read all the replys you got looks as everything has been covered enjoy

 

[wombat]

A bit more

Thanks Ambrose, may even run into you if you are in UK! Europe side we are leaving until next year. One inconsistancy in drivers licences is, my class C here is up to 4500Kg, but when I got the international licence, it was a max 3500Kg. Might inhibit our choice. We are thinking of getting a scooter or small motor bike to use locally if we can fit it on the back somehow, I'm sure there is a way. This is our first time for a long term tour like this, you must be old hand by now. Thanks for the info. If you read the rest of this... what did you do for mobile phone and internet? We are planning on getting prepaid sims with "3" for 2 phones, an Ipad and a laptop.

Lebesset, what an awesome contributor you are. Excellent info, and I shall take it all on board. I gather SORN is something like "storing off road network"? Makes sense anyway that it should be cheaper when not being used. Unfortunately, we need insurance, so I guess we choose the one that screws us the least! I have my last insurance renewal notice with me, so that should be OK, I hope. Thanks for all your help, fantastic.

Owen
Wombat's World

 

[lebesset]

yes , insurance is a pain where you sit down for visitors to the uk ! don't forget to ask the insurance company for the rate in secure storage when they quote , some can be silly about it and only offer small reductions which is ridiculous

just to get you thinking , exchanging gas bottles is a rip off in the uk ; best thing is to install ONE refillable bottle like Gas It , halves the price of your gas in the uk and can be used in most of europe when you get there ...UK bottles can't be exchanged ; combined with a small normal bottle for emergency you should have no problems ...my emergency bottle has lasted 5 years so far

have a look at the FES autogas website , they look to have a sensible deal

btw , have just changed to a lycamobile payg , never seen such low prices , 4p/minute to OZ landlines , and for calls to lycamobile phones there ..free
read the small print though

 

[moonshadow]

Thanks Ambrose, may even run into you if you are in UK! Europe side we are leaving until next year. One inconsistancy in drivers licences is, my class C here is up to 4500Kg, but when I got the international licence, it was a max 3500Kg. Might inhibit our choice. We are thinking of getting a scooter or small motor bike to use locally if we can fit it on the back somehow, I'm sure there is a way. This is our first time for a long term tour like this, you must be old hand by now. Thanks for the info. If you read the rest of this... what did you do for mobile phone and internet? We are planning on getting prepaid sims with "3" for 2 phones, an Ipad and a laptop.

Lebesset, what an awesome contributor you are. Excellent info, and I shall take it all on board. I gather SORN is something like "storing off road network"? Makes sense anyway that it should be cheaper when not being used. Unfortunately, we need insurance, so I guess we choose the one that screws us the least! I have my last insurance renewal notice with me, so that should be OK, I hope. Thanks for all your help, fantastic.

Owen
Wombat's World

We've got fold up electric bikes, they can travel in the van. Their capacity is 40 miles but they can be used as ordinary bikes too, bonus - no insurance! Hope we catch up with you somewhere, have an awesome trip!

 

[Deleted member 16175]

We've got fold up electric bikes, they can travel in the van. Their capacity is 40 miles but they can be used as ordinary bikes too, bonus - no insurance! Hope we catch up with you somewhere, have an awesome trip!

Where did you get them and how much were they?

 

[moonshadow]

Where did you get them and how much were they?

£725 each, Quartz 2011, we got them at the Malvern Show. They were from Batribike.com. they are based in Sturton by Stow, Lincolnshire

 

[ambrose]

I am sure you will have a great time This is the 4th. year we have done it. Only planned on the once but had such a great time. We had a motorhome for 2 years but changed nto a caravan last year for more room and convience. found parking was getting hard. If you need storage get in touch We store our van and car undercover pricy but worth it. As we just arrive get taxi from Heathrow and away we go planning on A 6 week to Spain this year. The highlight of our trip last year was the Noemandy Beaches WE arrive first week in June and were cought up in all the commemeration celebrations fantastic

 

[wombat]

Bikes and more

Thanks Sue and Martin, great idea, all I have to do is teach the wife to ride a bike !!!! I'm sure she can. I hadn't thought of that option, but excellent thinking.
Cheers
Owen

To Ambrose, thanks for the tips, you are 4 years ahead of us, but heading down the same path. I expect we will cross paths at some point.
Thanks
Owen