How many members only tour UK ? Survey

Do you only tour in the UK, never abroad?

  • Yes UK only

    Votes: 153 30.4%

  • No Some or exclusively foreign touring.l

    Votes: 350 69.6%
  • Total voters
    503
Skez said:
Across the water for us, every time.
Click to expand...
You're down South and I'm only a 17 mile drive from France (i.e. Newhaven port) so that does influence my decision, although the better and relatively uncluttered roads, availability of places to stop on a whim, the weather, scenery and the seafood in France do appeal me more than in the U.K.
Maybe if I had a 200 mile drive to a S. coast port I'd tour more in the U.K...............:unsure:
Folkranger said:
I suspect the survey is somewhat skewed as people who join this forum are more involved in the hobby than others who don't take it so seriously.
Click to expand...
There's some truth in that, although mine's just a boy's toy, to be fitted in with or used as accommodation for my other hobbies and interests.
 
We like to spend as long as we can wandering around Europe in our Hymer. In between big trips we also enjoy seeing bits of the UK that we've not been to before, so I guess we split our time 70/30 between Europe and the UK.
 
Spriddler said:
Maybe if I had a 200 mile drive to a S. coast port I'd tour more in the U.K...............:unsure:
Click to expand...
We were booked on a ferry Plymouth to Roscoff 3 weeks ago. 8pm ferry and at 11.30 am got a text from Brittany Ferries to say the crossing was cancelled due to weather. By midday we'd booked the tunnel for 10pm, drove to Folkestone and head down at Watten Aire just after midnight. Still worth the drive imo !
 
For some of us trips to the continent are expensive. Was doing some provisional maths the other day. Crossing the water, using what ever crossing plus insurance (breakdown, full recovery, and health (both 71 + couple of health issues) = about £700 or £800.
We mainly use CLs over here, mix of off grid and grid (just had three nights away at £8 a night). Our forthcoming Scotland trip averages about £20 a night. So we would be unlikely, over there, to be less and £10 a night. Away for about 20 nights - "save" about £200. If we were to use south coast crossings there would also be a night stop on way down & return. If we use the Hull crossing (easy for us in Lincolnshire) more expensive BUT holiday starts in the Netherlands.
So financially probably not a good deal. I appreciate all the stuff about easy motorhoming over there, and returning to the "no booking" we were used to with the caravan would be great.
 
8 years pre pandemic we bought our first van and had never camped before but had lived in Spain & travelled extensively in Europe. Spent 4 months in EU and around 4 weeks U.K. each year. Post pandemic new van 6 weeks U.K. so far & 2 months Spain. Will spend up to 4 weeks in U.K. again before 2 months in EU in September

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
We always went abroad until caring duties stopped us about 5 years ago. On the plus side we have discovered so many good places within a couple of hours traveling
 
I think there will also be a big difference in North South of the UK.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
  • Like
Reactions: hja
Northernraider said:
Very expensive garlic ...€4 for 3 balls the other week in lidl nevers 😱
Click to expand...
:Eeek: Never, ever paid that much. Anywhere near it in fact. Truly shocking. I think that we bought the last lot in the local Turkish shop (a.k.a. Aladdin’s cave - could spend a fortune in there)
 
nicholsong said:
It would be interesting to know how many of the split-down are newbies or experienced MHomers.
Click to expand...
It would be interesting but not sure how relevant the figures would be. Does it somehow indicate a level of 'bravery'?

I have been motorhoming for 35 years, purely within the UK. Does that make me the biggest chicken out there or just someone who doesn't feel the need to go abroad in my van?
 
Since getting the motorhome last year have spent 4 long weekends in the UK and 2 month long trips to Europe. Just booked up a short 2 week trip to France for June. Would like longer but work is busy and won't allow it. Also have a rally booked at Drax in August.

So mainly its europe for us. But we enjoy the weekends here. Unfortunately, there is a great deal of demand on the few nice weekends we have up north, from the motorbike and golf.

It is expensive for us to get to mainland eurpe as we have a 360 mile drive each way to the southern routes. But its worth it to us. Newcastle to Ijmuiden is great too but prices this year are ridiculously high.

Anyway, back when I was a tugger (1st marriage), spent the first 10 years exclusively touring round the UK before taking it to France,. Also many rallies as a member of the Northumberland centre of the caravan club. Loved touring round the UK and even experienced some sunshine over those 10 years !!!:LOL::LOL:
 
Used to love going to the continent but getting health insurance stopped me,
Haven’t tried a quote for 3 years but if anyone can recommend an insurer

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
I think a third option would have been good

Those who only tour in Europe

Because apart from 2 or 3 weekends last year I only really stay in the UK on my way to and back from the ferry

I think if UK was my only option I'd sell the motorhome altogether
 
dulvil said:
Used to love going to the continent but getting health insurance stopped me,
Haven’t tried a quote for 3 years but if anyone can recommend an insurer
Click to expand...

I insured with Admiral for my upcoming trip after using a comparison site. I think it was the meerkats one but I don't remember exactly which site. The good point being that their online health questions were only concerned with health issues that had required GP or hospital visits in the previous 2 years. The more serious issues I had from Long Covid in 2020 were time expired, and I only needed to declare some relatively less significant ongoing health issues. Previously I had to discuss my declaration over the phone with insurers before they would quote, but this time is was very easy and the single trip premium surprisingly affordable.
 
Janine said:
It would be interesting but not sure how relevant the figures would be. Does it somehow indicate a level of 'bravery'?

I have been motorhoming for 35 years, purely within the UK. Does that make me the biggest chicken out there or just someone who doesn't feel the need to go abroad in my van?
Click to expand...

With the previous campervan we were exclusively non-UK tourers. Since Covid we have been UK-only. Party due to my health issues, and partly because of care duties. This year I am going solo to France in the PVC again and we will also have some short stays together in the UK. Which will mean more nights camping abroad than in the UK this year, at least for me.

Every motorhomer is different so if you feel no need to go abroad, carry on. Although I would encourage you to try it at least once.
 
Janine said:
It would be interesting but not sure how relevant the figures would be. Does it somehow indicate a level of 'bravery'?

I have been motorhoming for 35 years, purely within the UK. Does that make me the biggest chicken out there or just someone who doesn't feel the need to go abroad in my van?
Click to expand...
Definitely a chicken ... But a sensible one as you simply can't risk your ukeleles being confiscated as offensive weapons! 😆

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Our van lives in France now! The option of being able to be in Spain in 4h or so wins out. No massive ferry costs, just cost for the car on way down. The UK holds little interest to us, unpredictable weather etc nowhere to stop.
Bad drivers, appalling roads and traffic being the main reason to base the van in France. That and storage cost in the UK is ridiculous. ;)
Poppy and Hamish We also have two small dogs, never had a problem, van or car taking food for them.
 
Last edited:
I would love to go to places outside of the UK, but it's much more difficult and expensive when you have dogs (now there are no passports for them following Brexit). Also tricky when you can't even take food for your dogs with you (also due to Brexit) and you have a dog with a sensitive tummy and needs a careful diet.

I don't like France, and the places I would like to go would need more than 2 weeks annual leave to do anything other than a whistle stop rush round, due to distance
 
Poppy and Hamish said:
I would love to go to places outside of the UK, but it's much more difficult and expensive when you have dogs (now there are no passports for them following Brexit).
Click to expand...
Once you've done the dogs' first AHC and got PPs abroad it's no different than before, the bonus is that the rabies jabs are a lot cheaper than in the UK so you'd soon gain back the cost of the original AHC.

Poppy and Hamish said:
Also tricky when you can't even take food for your dogs with you (also due to Brexit) and you have a dog with a sensitive tummy and needs a careful diet.
Click to expand...
We just take stuff with us, lots do and they aren't bothered about checking for it, same with our food.

Last time as Bella was still on puppy food we took loads, no questions were asked.

Poppy and Hamish said:
I don't like France, and the places I would like to go would need more than 2 weeks annual leave to do anything other than a whistle stop rush round, due to distance
Click to expand...
Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg...
 
Minxy said:
Once you've done the dogs' first AHC and got PPs abroad it's no different than before, the bonus is that the rabies jabs are a lot cheaper than in the UK so you'd soon gain back the cost of the original AHC.


We just take stuff with us, lots do and they aren't bothered about checking for it, same with our food.

Last time as Bella was still on puppy food we took loads, no questions were asked.


Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg...
Click to expand...
For once I agree with everything you have typed
 
hja said:
Anything above 25C is too hot for me.
Click to expand...
It was 27º at 10,30pm jhere last night:hot:
Northernraider said:
Very expensive garlic ...€4 for 3 balls the other week in lidl nevers 😱
Click to expand...
when you mentioned that on the day I noticed 5 cloves, 250g, were 1,49€here in aldis the following day
 
Minxy said:
Once you've done the dogs' first AHC and got PPs abroad it's no different than before, the bonus is that the rabies jabs are a lot cheaper than in the UK so you'd soon gain back the cost of the original AHC.


We just take stuff with us, lots do and they aren't bothered about checking for it, same with our food.

Last time as Bella was still on puppy food we took loads, no questions were asked.


Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg...
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info. I may give it a closer look in the future. Although I travel alone with the dogs here, and travel alone all sorts of places around the world, traveling alone abroad, in a motorhome (when I have only a few months experience) with two dogs, sorting out PPs etc, and only having 1-2 weeks at a time seems a bit overwhelming!
 
Poppy and Hamish said:
Thanks for the info. I may give it a closer look in the future. Although I travel alone with the dogs here, and travel alone all sorts of places around the world, traveling alone abroad, in a motorhome (when I have only a few months experience) with two dogs, sorting out PPs etc, and only having 1-2 weeks at a time seems a bit overwhelming!
Click to expand...
For 1 or 2 weeks I agree its probably not worth the expense. But for longterm travelling Europe wins hands down

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Join us

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Back
Top