Difference between 1 week and 4/5 week trips?

[Heebson]

Hi Gang!
we’re hoping to spend May tootling down the west coast of France - and have hence spent lots of time researching ferries, aires, stickers, places to visit, etc.

We’ve already had many weekends away and a trip of max 10 days, but still 4/5 hours drive from home.

This got me pondering - generally, are there considerations you need to be thinking about when going away that bit longer? A lot of blogs aim at full-timers, or near enough, which seems a different kettle of fish! I’m thinking an obvious example will be that we’ll need to do some laundry. Anything else a little less obvious we should be thinking about (again - more generic, not about France per se)?

thnx,
Heeb

 

[Mikey RV]

Have you got enough gas.

 

[Lizbiebrowne]

Medication? How long does your insurance say you can leave your house unoccupied? My wife’s a keen gardener so we’d have to have some plan for watering the plants. And in May your lawn will be taking off, if you have one, so you might want someone to cut it.

 

[Riverbankannie]

Make sure credit card payments and any annual renewals that are important are either covered by direct debit or that you can sort out on the move.

 

[Googlebot]

Make sure someone has a key and is easily contactable for issue at home.

You will forget something, having a friend or family with access makes it no problem if you do.

John

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[Hugoman]

Hi Gang!
we’re hoping to spend May tootling down the west coast of France - and have hence spent lots of time researching ferries, aires, stickers, places to visit, etc.

We’ve already had many weekends away and a trip of max 10 days, but still 4/5 hours drive from home.

This got me pondering - generally, are there considerations you need to be thinking about when going away that bit longer? A lot of blogs aim at full-timers, or near enough, which seems a different kettle of fish! I’m thinking an obvious example will be that we’ll need to do some laundry. Anything else a little less obvious we should be thinking about (again - more generic, not about France per se)?

thnx,
Heeb

The good thing about travelling for longer is that the pace of life slows down so any problems that arrive can be sorted out mañana

 

[jdk62]

Is this an arithmetic test?

 

[Lenny HB]

Just go for it and don't worry, take a few more clothes and change of bedding. Plenty of washing machines in supermarket car parks or you can take a small portable one with you.

If you don't have refillable gas bottles it would be well worth fitting at least one as gaz bottles are not interchangeable between countries.

 

[chaser]

Going for 4 or 5 weeks is totally different than going for a week, you can just slow down and take it as it comes, in a week you have to stick to a plan and after three days you have to be thinking of heading back if you have gone any distance.
And the cost of the tunnel or ferry is averaged out over a lot more days so altogether a better experience .
What we have done over the last three years is go for the whole of September, kids back at school ,french holiday makers gone home, useing mostly free Aires that aren't crowded for most then finding a launderette when we need any washing, although last year we have been using a few of these campingcarpark things and some of them have washing facilities on site.

 

[Pocket Rocket]

Build in some rest days and don’t try to do as much every day on a longer trip.

Keep some flexibility in your plans too in case of weather or if you just want to change your mind

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[suavecarve]

We tend to look for different things over different types of days, eg gets too hot, pop into the mountains, we also do Beach, mountain, lakes, rivers, vineyards and beaux villages as stopovers.
The mountain thing will be quite difficult for you if staying on the West coast, but popping inland for a few days may have some benefits in breaking up Beach Beach and more beach (unless beach is your thing)
Otherwise, gas and wifi

 

[Lenny HB]

Most of our trips are 5 to 6½ weeks, we don't do planning just have an idea of where we might like to go. Makes a nice relaxing holiday with no pressure to be anywhere at a certain time.

Our last rip decided to head for the Ardeche ended up in the Dordogne.

We are off on Monday booked ferry that's all the planning we have done. So we could end up in France, Spain or Portugal won't know until we get there.

 

[Nanniemate]

Most of our trips are 5 to 6½ weeks, we don't do planning just have an idea of where we might like to go. Makes a nice relaxing holiday with no pressure to be anywhere at a certain time.

Our last rip decided to head for the Ardeche ended up in the Dordogne.

We are off on Monday booked ferry that's all the planning we have done. So we could end up in France, Spain or Portugal won't know until we get there.

I'd avoid Paris

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Just have someone check your house for mail etc, put in some lights on timers cancel the milk and papers and enjoy.

 

[VXman]

Just have someone check your house for mail etc, put in some lights on timers cancel the milk and papers and enjoy.

I prefer to switch the electric off completely (bar the downstairs mains sockets if we have stuff in the freezer), and turn the water off .Having had an upstairs water lak once I am paranoid this might happen while away for 2 months.

I'm not convinced a light coming on and off occasionally will deter a burgler.

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[BillyKontiki]

Book a campsite now and then, relax, refresh, and move on.
Gas I think will be the most difficult thing to get round, unless you have refillable
Tank/bottles. Enjoy.

 

[Stealaway]

I prefer to switch the electric off completely (bar the downstairs mains sockets if we have stuff in the freezer), and turn the water off .Having had an upstairs water lak once I am paranoid this might happen while away for 2 months.

I'm not convinced a light coming on and off occasionally will deter a burgler.

As above .
We always go to Europe for at least five week -- twice a year.
I turn off the gas and water but leave the electric on for the freezer.
You will need to buy to buy some gas although you can sign yup with the supermarket chains for a free issue bottle.
You will need a French connector and regulator although they are readily available.
We put the majority of our washing in a black sac but there are many massive washing machines and dryers for a few Euro's.
Take a charges free credit card and check that your bank wont charge you for using the ATM if you do need some cash.
Do you have any destinations in mind?
Enjoy

 

[Guigsy]

Build in some rest days and don’t try to do as much every day on a longer trip.

Keep some flexibility in your plans too in case of weather or if you just want to change your mind

We tend to do fairly intensive trips where we move nearly every day. We found every 7-10 days it was good to have a rest day. Do laundry, stock up on supplies, sweep out the van, do some planning.

 

[Nico]

On normal 1-2 weeks holiday, we have tended to plan things and where to go to.

For this 6 week trip, the only plan initially was when to arrive on the ferry at Santander and when do we have to get back to the port for the return trip! Otherwise there was no plan at all. We have chosen aires or sites as we have gone, decided to spend longer in some places than expected (Tavira) and left out others (Madrid) with the chilly weather forecasts and basically made it up as we’ve gone along

It means we have returned to Portimao from Sagres and wondering why there are a few nice bikes around, found it’s a round of the MotoGP here this weekend. Should be interesting and a bit noisy but great to see. No planning works for us!

 

[activecampers]

Just do it. "months" is better than weeks.

House: Heating on frost protect, water off and freezer off (Stealaway ) - we went away once and the boiler pump failed and tripped the entire electrics - and the freezer defrosted... I'm aware of similar happening to others, so don't risk freezer. Make sure your travel/house insurance >30d

Life is easier when no schedule - its sad when you have to turn around.

We tend to avoid campsites, but ACSI is good when needed out of season.

Just do what you do, maybe a few more UK treats, more sun cream, and ensure MOT/tax is covered.

Laundry is easy, food is easy, fuel is easy, gas plan ahead (if you are fixed bottle)

We went from 2 weeks to 4mth and then many 4mth trips. We found longer trips were never that more expensive. On "holiday" you eat out more than when on a "trip" so drink less and cook more, and the distance covered/fuel is roughly the same. (Takes us 2w to get to the med lol).

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[Sue and Rick]

I'd avoid Paris

And Bordeaux

 

[Minxy]

Laundry? We take enough undies for the whole trip and bedding so we can change it, we're on holiday so do as few chores as possible!

 

[Fragle]

Laundry? We take enough undies for the whole trip and bedding so we can change it, we're on holiday so do as few chores as possible!

Have to disagree here.

Going for 90 days is not a holiday. Whatever happened to one on one off and one in the wash. That's 3 weeks covered

 

[Jane And Rog]

Laundry? We take enough undies for the whole trip and bedding so we can change it, we're on holiday so do as few chores as possible!

How many sets of bedding do you need for an 8 week holiday!? We have one set on, one off & most of the time washed and ready to go. Swap weekly.

 

[ctc]

Never booked a return that we used, always came back when we felt like it.

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[Reallyretired]

We are away for 60 days. I don't think we have room for 60 sets of underwear. We reckon on at least a fortnightly laundry day. We actually have 3 sets of bedding aboard with Summer and winter duvets. Definitely winter ones on in Northern France at present, weather is horrible here but stuck until our vet appointment on Monday for dog passports.

 

[Minxy]

How many sets of bedding do you need for an 8 week holiday!? We have one set on, one off & most of the time washed and ready to go. Swap weekly.

Why on earth do you need to change the bedding weekly? You'll be telling me next that showering more than once a month is necessary!

 

[Minxy]

We are away for 60 days. I don't think we have room for 60 sets of underwear.

Do you wear long John's then? We can easily store enough for over 2 months if we wanted too ... and no we don't wear thongs!

 

[SpeedyDux]

I prefer to switch the electric off completely (bar the downstairs mains sockets if we have stuff in the freezer), and turn the water off .Having had an upstairs water lak once I am paranoid this might happen while away for 2 months.

I'm not convinced a light coming on and off occasionally will deter a burgler.

I used to tell my neighbour who owned a shotgun that in my absence my property becomes a free-fire zone.

 

[Chris]

And Bordeaux

And France.

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