Getting back to Europe

[chaser]

It 21 years since my 50 chaser.

24 since mine

 

[Skez]

For us, part of being away is a daily swim. For us, being away isn't about avoiding paying for a campsite. It's about relaxing

Which is why we love to find Aires by lakes, reservoirs, rivers and the sea. Swimming in these sort of environments or getting out on the paddleboards is what makes our trips.

and doing what suits us.

....and that is the most important thing. We all like to do things differently. That's why motorhoming is the best leisure activity going. The flexibility to do just what you choose!

 

[pelican]

Santander-Alicante = <£90
Southampton- Oban=>£120
Approx same distance and the roads are empty.
That's one way.
There's no need for Tolls. You can see that the fuel is cheaper.
The weather is better. The food is cheaper and more plentiful and better variety.
The sites (should you wish to use them) are not as expensive and then you have Area's

The price of the ferry, just booked is just over £800 and that includes a cabin both ways.

We normally ferry to Caen and make our way to the Bay of Roses have done this for past 30 yrs plus.
Ferry Sept this year £527 return fuel circa £350 and then tolls £200. sometimes we tow a trailer which bumps the cost particularly ferry and tolls.
Good campsites in Spain all facilities and beach £25 average.
We also do 2 weeks Scotland as you mentioned Oban but further up fuel £300 campsites £27 per night average Arisaig and Skye

 

[jongood]

That pretty much sums it up ... we don't want to be on 'tenterhooks' wondering if we'll have to change plans and then sort something else out, rather have it sorted now for the UK then if we get the opportunity to go abroad we can choose to change to that instead if we want to.

We are all different. before now we have consulted the weather forecast in calais before deciding to turn left or right. Flexibility is the thing I like best about motorhomes, it is possible but much more difficult in UK.

 

[ChesterB]

Agree 100% Jongood - all about flexibility, not being tied to dates/sites etc. After our first couple of skiing trips with the 'van in 2008/09, we discovered that it felt much more like real freedom if we didn't book our return ferry trip until we were ready to head home, even though we usually knew to within a few days when we had to be back by.
It just seemed to give each trip a nicer feeling if you didn't have a set time to be back at Calais by- as though you were totally free.
I have just tentativly booked us onto a P'mouth/St Malo overnighter for the 6th September - the anklebiters should be back at school by then and my instinct is that things in France should have played out their sorry course as well. If not, hey-ho. Fingers crossed. CB.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Edenside]

Frequent Traveller Eurotunnel - car £96 return - Motorhome any size £120 return.
Unfortunately we have 6 single crossings that have to be used by 31st December, 2021.
if travel is allowed before then I may be looking for someone to share with me, obviously not looking for someone to share until we know we are allowed.
Tolls - it’s a matter or choice you can get everywhere without using the paid motorway.
Sites/Aires - lots of choice and not overcrowded unlike the UK will be

 

[nicholsong]

I cannot reply to all the comments on here individually, but I have a few observations to make.

Even though we live on Continental Europe we still have to go to UK for MOT so ferry costs are the same.

As for cost of Aires/Stellplatz in France/Germany I doubt whether in 10 years we have spent more than €100 and that is not because we seek free ones and we always use the 'Honesty box'. I have not included service charges for water - we do not use EHU (no cable now)

We have probably spent about the same on campsites, but usually because we were meeting friends there. I can only recall Avignon as a place where we went there alone, because the CP with aire now has a height barrier.

We do not use Toll roads - Oh! I lie we use one in Poland - to get to Germany (400km) it costs £3.50, to get to Krakow airport £ 4.00. So from here to Dunkirk(900 miles) we spend £3.50.

So I do not know where these figures of £1.200 come from, unless you want to spend that, but it maybe on things we do not want - pools, bars, entertainment.

I do not want to ever again swim in chlorine or the dimensions of a pool, give me diving off my boat into crystal clear Greek waters any day, or doing it from the beach in a small cove where the MH is parked.

Just about the 'Rules' on aires - i can think of several off-hand where I have seen no sign. I think it is generally acceptable to put out the awning, chairs and tables for a short afternoon/evening then put them away. I think the rules are there to deter tent/awnings and establishing a camp. I have never experienced any objections to the chairs bit, from other MHomers, nor authorities.

Even in UK we have toured England and Scotland and never stayed on a campsite, just a couple of CS/CL. We have filled with water at airfield hangars, quaysides, etc. We have serviced at private campsites for a contribution but not stayed.

I think there are some people who are not inventive enough to think of these possibilities. We do it because we want the freedom of not staying on campsites.

I just think that different lifestyle choices of a MH usage have different costs.

You choose what you want.

Geoff

 

[138go]

Which is why we love to find Aires by lakes, reservoirs, rivers and the sea. Swimming in these sort of environments or getting out on the paddleboards is what makes our trips.

....and that is the most important thing. We all like to do things differently. That's why motorhoming is the best leisure activity going. The flexibility to do just what you choose!

We need a pool, with easy access, as my husband isn't steady on his feet.

Absolutely, everyone chooses their own way of motorhoming to suit them.

 

[138go]

I think there are some people who are not inventive enough to think of these possibilities.

To be honest, these types of comments tend to get irritating after a while. Everyone's circumstances are different and everyone is free to choose how to use their motorhome to suit. Having said that, it's great to suggest ideas for other people to try.

Sometimes though, mention a campsite, and you'll get posts telling you that you absolutely should try using aires and that you evidently haven't looked properly for an aire and that many are completely the bees knees.

We've been all over the UK, France and Spain and used aires, wild camping, pub stops and campsites. At first we found exploring like this quite exciting but now we've settled into what we enjoy.

I'm super thrilled at how others spend their valuable time motorhoming, well done you.

 

[suavecarve]

I genuinely struggle to understand why posters are saying it's safer from Covid in Europe. Looking at the figures, it's the UK that's safer.

Last year, in the height of Covid and when we were allowed to travel (15th June) we went to a site the same size as the deserted campus I work on. normally 15-20,000 people on the campus, educated guess of a couple of thousand at that time.
Campsite in France, 5 motorhomes which did reach the dizzy heights of about 20 towards the end. We were even offered our own toilet.
Nearest known case of coronavirus throughout the whole pandemic was 12 kms away.
To my knowledge, nobody from MHF has caught the virus abroad yet. Shopping in France is a piece of wee wee if you go to the out of town mega stores between 1200 and 1430 hrs as they are empty. Seriously empty during June/July
If scientists were looking at it with those figures they would say it was 100% safe !

Let's take Cornwall in the summer, and think Morrison's in Newquay at 1730 hrs if you can get anywhere near it in order to go and look at the empty barbecue meat section and disheveled beer section. Everybody and their auntie will try to get to Cornwall as a first shout this summer and it is going to be rammed. Cornwall is asking for trouble imho this year, they dont have the infrastructure to cover more people turning up as people see a quick buck to make by turning their field into a campsite
Having been to both, there is no doubt whatsoever, that France, (or the France I visit) is truly significantly safer than the UK for a holiday, which is why I dont think you are finding anyone who did go to Europe last year in a motorhome is saying "I need to stay in the UK to remain safe" or people who havent been are saying "You arent safe if you go abroad, you ll catch the lurgy and die" because they speak from a position of no knowledge whatsoever or just read newspapers and listen to our press, but they are still right in their own minds, because the MSM told them so its true. I believe there were more motorhomers gassed than caught CV abroad last year. But please correct me if I am wrong.

And we didnt have the vaccine to help prevent us from catching it and/or getting it worst last year.

To me, its an absolute no brainer to get out of this country and go somewhere safer.

Here are the figures for last week, for the lesser infected areas of France, slightly lower than the UK average. (Ignore their overseas territories) (Figures are comparative for 7/100,000 so double them for 14/100,000) and you will be able to see how bad it is around Paris atm, and they have no aires)

And these are the areas I wont be going to

These figures have to come down significantly for us to even be allowed out and let in then be able to return

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[138go]

We haven't decided yet, whether to go. We have the Dover to Calais ferry booked for the end of August. If we don't go, Cornwall is the last place we would head. There are many lovely places we know of, where you get peace and quiet in the UK. We especially know a good few CL farm sites.

Cornwall or France? That's not a choice I would make.

 

[Augusta08]

Reunion, Martinique and Guadeloupe are nice in the motorhome

 

[LesW]

To be honest, these types of comments tend to get irritating after a while. Everyone's circumstances are different and everyone is free to choose how to use their motorhome to suit. Having said that, it's great to suggest ideas for other people to try.

I think the 'issues' arise when someone (who sounds like they've never used any aires) dismisses them as being "a few dusty Aires on the edge of some dodgy French town" when there are dozens of folk here who do know better.

 

[busby]

I genuinely struggle to understand why posters are saying it's safer from Covid in Europe. Looking at the figures, it's the UK that's safer.

Nearly 130000 people who have died of Covid in UK may disagree,,,Sorry but it is so much easier to self isolate in France and Spain than in England,,,Agree figures are high in some areas in Spain but there are thousands of square miles to find isolation..BUSBY.

 

[busby]

I think the 'issues' arise when someone (who sounds like they've never used any aires) dismisses them as being "a few dusty Aires on the edge of some dodgy French town" when there are dozens of folk here who do know better.

Same with people who think the Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol is all Spain has to offer,,BUSBY.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[gus-lopez]

Oh that's a shame as I reckon the ferry, the fuel and the tolls are circa £1200

Ferry costs me £134 return Dunkirk -dover, +250€ for diesel return. Don't use tolls,especially France in tourist season.

 

[busby]

We are all different. before now we have consulted the weather forecast in calais before deciding to turn left or right. Flexibility is the thing I like best about motorhomes, it is possible but much more difficult in UK.

In England the decision is usually Where is it less cloudy and a bit drier,, BUSBY.

 

[suavecarve]

I think the 'issues' arise when someone (who sounds like they've never used any aires) dismisses them as being "a few dusty Aires on the edge of some dodgy French town" when there are dozens of folk here who do know better.

I think the town mentioned was Grasse.
I couldnt find an aire there on S4S when we went there, and we travelled in on the motorbike. I couldnt find one on google maps either. It wouldnt surprise me if the location was a park4nite special that needs extra attention in the reading.
From memory you might be lucky to find a bit of flat land there and as for dusty dodgy town, it is the capital of the perfumery industry, rather up market.
I had to give the post a funny as it was too ridiculous to answer to.

 

[138go]

I think the 'issues' arise when someone (who sounds like they've never used any aires) dismisses them as being "a few dusty Aires on the edge of some dodgy French town" when there are dozens of folk here who do know better.

It's lovely to suggest things for people to try. I don't think though, that anyone has mentioned dusty aires on the edge of a dodgy French town.

I think as well, that taking the stance that "some folks know better" isn't necessarily the way to convince others to try something. You're welcome.

 

[Minxy]

We need a pool, with easy access, as my husband isn't steady on his feet.

Absolutely, everyone chooses their own way of motorhoming to suit them.

Is that because he wants to go in or you just want him to have a safe landing if he tipples over (or gest pushed ...)?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[138go]

Nearly 130000 people who have died of Covid in UK may disagree,,,Sorry but it is so much easier to self isolate in France and Spain than in England,,,Agree figures are high in some areas in Spain but there are thousands of square miles to find isolation..BUSBY.

It's pretty futile comparing figures, as we don't know if the data has been collected and the numbers crunched in the same way.

There are many things to consider, with the infection rate so high in Europe, other than being able to find isolation.

On that note, we are happy campers in the UK, so we probably know more places to find isolation. We love the CL sites on Farms. You can't beat those for isolation.

 

[138go]

Is that because he wants to go in or you just want him to have a safe landing if he tipples over (or gest pushed ...)?

Yeah, he needs a bit of a push

Once he's swimming he seems to enjoy it.

 

[Littlewheels]

Yeah pretty much as we do, but even if we are allowed to go how long will it be before France is back to normal?

The person that can answer will be very popular on

 

[MITHRANDIR]

Just take france for example, roughly speaking 3 times the size of the uk with roughly the same population
it is obviously less crowded than the uk.
"covid is running riot in europe so i won't go this year", true at the moment, but in a couple of months time? i don't think so.
Once we are allowed to go and countries allow us in, why wouldn't i go?

 

[suavecarve]

There are many lovely places we know of, where you get peace and quiet in the UK. We especially know a good few CL farm sites.

Are there any lovely places in France where you get peace and Q (cant type the whole word) which make the Q places in UK appear unbelievably busy ?

You must have read the threads from last year, and to the best of my belief everybody who went said it was wonderful and safe, safer than here.

Is everybody telling porkies or is there a remote possibility that it is in fact safer in Europe, for motorhomers, than here when infection rates are near equitable because of the lifestyle choices we make ?

Try finding the UK resident who went abroad in a motorhome in the past 14 months who said they didnt feel safe and/or the person who caught the lurgy. I will be prepared to read their experiences.

Keep safe whatever you decide, but given the opportunity of a pleasant stop by a river/lake/mountain in the middle of nowhere where I have more chance of being mauled by a pack of wolves than catching CV I know what I will be doing.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[jongood]

Last year, in the height of Covid and when we were allowed to travel (15th June) we went to a site the same size as the deserted campus I work on. normally 15-20,000 people on the campus, educated guess of a couple of thousand at that time.
Campsite in France, 5 motorhomes which did reach the dizzy heights of about 20 towards the end. We were even offered our own toilet.
Nearest known case of coronavirus throughout the whole pandemic was 12 kms away.
To my knowledge, nobody from MHF has caught the virus abroad yet. Shopping in France is a piece of wee wee if you go to the out of town mega stores between 1200 and 1430 hrs as they are empty. Seriously empty during June/July
If scientists were looking at it with those figures they would say it was 100% safe !

Let's take Cornwall in the summer, and think Morrison's in Newquay at 1730 hrs if you can get anywhere near it in order to go and look at the empty barbecue meat section and disheveled beer section. Everybody and their auntie will try to get to Cornwall as a first shout this summer and it is going to be rammed. Cornwall is asking for trouble imho this year, they dont have the infrastructure to cover more people turning up as people see a quick buck to make by turning their field into a campsite
Having been to both, there is no doubt whatsoever, that France, (or the France I visit) is truly significantly safer than the UK for a holiday, which is why I dont think you are finding anyone who did go to Europe last year in a motorhome is saying "I need to stay in the UK to remain safe" or people who havent been are saying "You arent safe if you go abroad, you ll catch the lurgy and die" because they speak from a position of no knowledge whatsoever or just read newspapers and listen to our press, but they are still right in their own minds, because the MSM told them so its true. I believe there were more motorhomers gassed than caught CV abroad last year. But please correct me if I am wrong.

And we didnt have the vaccine to help prevent us from catching it and/or getting it worst last year.

To me, its an absolute no brainer to get out of this country and go somewhere safer.

Here are the figures for last week, for the lesser infected areas of France, slightly lower than the UK average. (Ignore their overseas territories) (Figures are comparative for 7/100,000 so double them for 14/100,000) and you will be able to see how bad it is around Paris atm, and they have no aires)
View attachment 483327
And these are the areas I wont be going to

View attachment 483328

These figures have to come down significantly for us to even be allowed out and let in then be able to return

What a cracking idea it is to have a G7 summit in Cornwall in June

UK to host G7 Summit in Cornwall

PM will use the UK’s G7 Presidency to unite leading democracies to help the world build back better from coronavirus and create a greener, more prosperous future.

www.gov.uk

 

[EuroTrotters]

We normally ferry to Caen and make our way to the Bay of Roses have done this for past 30 yrs plus.
Ferry Sept this year £527 return fuel circa £350 and then tolls £200. sometimes we tow a trailer which bumps the cost particularly ferry and tolls.
Good campsites in Spain all facilities and beach £25 average.
We also do 2 weeks Scotland as you mentioned Oban but further up fuel £300 campsites £27 per night average Arisaig and Skye

Hi Pelican, which campsite please
?

 

[jongood]

Reunion, Martinique and Guadeloupe are nice in the motorhome

Fair point but Landes is one of my favourite regions.

 

[jongood]

In England the decision is usually Where is it less cloudy and a bit drier,, BUSBY.

Not for us Busby, Its being at least 5 miles away from where we actually wanted to be, stuck behind hedges and with some pillock trying to tell us which way round to park.

 

[tuscancouple]

A key consideration is that whilst our government might allow us international travel in May, as a third country we are not allowed to enter the EU currently. This is from the European Council website date 28th Jan. I couldn't find a later release.

Travel restrictions: Council reviews the list of third countries for which member states should gradually lift restrictions on non-essential travel​

Following a review under the recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU, the Council updated the list of countries for which travel restrictions should be lifted. As stipulated in the Council recommendation, this list will continue to be reviewed every two weeks and, as the case may be, updated.
Based on the criteria and conditions set out in the recommendation, as from 28 January member states should gradually lift the travel restrictions at the external borders for residents of the following third countries:

• Australia
• New Zealand
• Rwanda
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Thailand
• China, subject to confirmation of reciprocity

Travel restrictions should also be gradually lifted for the special administrative regions of China Hong Kong and Macao, subject to confirmation of reciprocity.
Residents of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican should be considered as EU residents for the purpose of this recommendation.
The criteria to determine the third countries for which the current travel restriction should be lifted cover in particular the epidemiological situation and containment measures, including physical distancing, as well as economic and social considerations. They are applied cumulatively. Reciprocity should also be taken into account regularly and on a case-by-case basis.
Schengen associated countries (Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) also take part in this recommendation.

Background​

On 16 March 2020, the Commission adopted a communication recommending a temporary restriction of all non-essential travel from third countries into the EU for one month. EU heads of state or government agreed to implement this restriction on 17 March. The travel restriction was extended for a further month respectively on 8 April 2020 and 8 May 2020.
On 11 June the Commission adopted a communication recommending the further extension of the restriction until 30 June 2020 and setting out an approach for a gradual lifting of the restriction on non-essential travel into the EU as of 1 July 2020.
On 30 June the Council adopted a recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU, including an initial list of countries for which member states should start lifting the travel restrictions at the external borders. The list is reviewed every two weeks and, as the case may be, updated.
The Council recommendation is not a legally binding instrument. The authorities of the member states remain responsible for implementing the content of the recommendation. They may, in full transparency, lift only progressively travel restrictions towards countries listed.
A Member State should not decide to lift the travel restrictions for non-listed third countries before this has been decided in a coordinated manner.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}