Where are the UK vans?

[Landy Andy]

Why do people like to say they want to avoid Brits when away but spend most of the day communicating with them on a forum? People from wherever they come from tend to be good, interesting people. You don’t have to communicate with them but to go out of your way to avoid them seems a little elitist to me.

Because I work, so have two weeks to enjoy my holiday. I choose France, so I want to talk French, eat French food, and see French sights. I don’t want to hear about someone’s grandson, or their copd machine, or the fact that they have been touring for 19 weeks and “should try retirement, it’s great“.

Nothing elitist about it. I have limited time, and those that “hunt” out the UK vans tend not to and this is clearly displayed by the fact they don’t stop talking.

 

[ghiaguy]

Because I work, so have two weeks to enjoy my holiday. I choose France, so I want to talk French, eat French food, and see French sights. I don’t want to hear about someone’s grandson, or their copd machine, or the fact that they have been touring for 19 weeks and “should try retirement, it’s great“.

Nothing elitist about it. I have limited time, and those that “hunt” out the UK vans tend not to and this is clearly displayed by the fact they don’t stop talking.

They suffer from home sickness, they desire at all times to hear the English tongue.

 

[Gina M]

I find that on Spanish, Portuguese sites the nationalities tend to congregate together, particularly the snowbirds in the winter season.

I remember pulling up on a French site a couple of years ago. The second I jumped out of the van a French man came running over and said please come and join us we all speak English, we still love you even though you have left us. There was a massive table full of French men and women sitting around it (he was as pissed as a rat!!) by the time I had got showered and changed they had staggered back to their vans. We left very early the next morning so I didn't get chance to talk to him again.

Gina

 

[Bucket]

Too hot in the summer, most go spring and autumn then you have the snowbirds so they won’t go in the summer as it will add to their 90 days over winter…

Thats our strategy, tour spring and early summer, stay in UK July and August then enjoy a relatively peaceful and balmy time back in Europe in September

 

[vzac]

We have met many Jonny foreigners on this trip, nearly all speak English, to us and generally as the international language to communicate between nationalities. EXCEPT one van and was told to speak French, when I pointed out your English is better than my French, she said I should be able to speak French ! I said ok walked away, think why. All she wanted was her daughter to stroke my le chat.
Bet you can't guess which nationality they were. P.s. we do love there country and most of there people's, especially when away from a city.

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[Gina M]

Because I work, so have two weeks to enjoy my holiday. I choose France, so I want to talk French, eat French food, and see French sights. I don’t want to hear about someone’s grandson, or their copd machine, or the fact that they have been touring for 19 weeks and “should try retirement, it’s great“.

Nothing elitist about it. I have limited time, and those that “hunt” out the UK vans tend not to and this is clearly displayed by the fact they don’t stop talking.

Nowt worse than someone telling you to take your time and enjoy the journey when you've got work to get back too

Gina

 

[ghiaguy]

We have met many Jonny foreigners on this trip, nearly all speak English, to us and generally as the international language to communicate between nationalities. EXCEPT one van and was told to speak French, when I pointed out your English is better than my French, she said I should be able to speak French ! I said ok walked away, think why. All she wanted was her daughter to stroke my le chat.
Bet you can't guess which nationality they were. P.s. we do love there country and most of there people's, especially when away from a city.

No need to guess, you’ve already pointed out the fact their french, well done.

 

[Gina M]

We have met many Jonny foreigners on this trip, nearly all speak English, to us and generally as the international language to communicate between nationalities. EXCEPT one van and was told to speak French, when I pointed out your English is better than my French, she said I should be able to speak French ! I said ok walked away, think why. All she wanted was her daughter to stroke my le chat.
Bet you can't guess which nationality they were. P.s. we do love there country and most of there people's, especially when away from a city.

I was talking to a German guy in the van next to us in Germany a few years back and he said to me "surely you learnt to speak German before you came here" and I told him No, my dog's vet is German and she told me not to worry as everybody speaks English. I have found over the years that everyone wants to talk to each other on the sites abroad. I get by with my French and a bit of Spanish. I am weird though as I understand Spanish when spoken to me but can't always answer back in Spanish

Gina

 

[sospan]

On a trip from Paris to the north of Holland, I was approached by a lady and her husband whom asked "Would one be able to give us some assistance and give us a ride to near Amsterdam" Unusually for me I give them a lift and started chatting during the journey. I asked the question what brought them from the UK to Europe. The lady replied that they were actually Dutch and had been back packing. I commented on her cut glass English accent compared to the hybrid American accent that most Europeans have. The lady replied "Well one listens to mainly to BBC Radio 4 " - yep that will be it !

Going back to the original topic, we have two shops on a trunk road in West Wales. We have seen a huge increase in MH passing by going into mid and West Wales. By comparison the number of caravans is way down on previous years but the ones that we have seen are crazily big (8 to 9m in length) for the cars towing them and some interesting wheel spinning if they have to stop on the hill outside.

 

[wp1234]

Hi WP,

Yes, some sites are ridiculous priced tbh, especially those with a little bit of space between pitches.

We have seen many sites where vans are unable to extend their sunshade / awnings as they are so close to the next van. Being such a large van, almost 14m long including trailer, we had to book to get a pitch big enough.

We stayed at Camp Polidor in Funtana which was approx £40 per night. Then on to Baska beach. We opted for a premium pitch right next to the sea. It was an eye-watering £68 per night, but was lovely. We did try to get on to Stara Baska as it was cheaper, but they could not accommodate us! Then on to Camp Paklenica, which is £40. Then Camp Slapovi, £14, Camping Strobec Split £43,
Camp Pod Masnolim, Dubrovnik, £30.

We knew, when booking it would be an expensive trip, and so it is proving. However, during our travels, we have seen plenty of signs along the roadside, displaying prices from €15 per night. As to whether they are any good, can take your size of van, give you a pitch big enough to enjoy the outside of an evening, I am not sure.

Our bookings will take us up to end Aug. We don't have any site booked, as yet, for Sept or Oct, but will head for Bosnia and then up through Central Croatia.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you need any other info.

We are in Slovenia at the moment and have been here for a few weeks now so will take our time getting to the Croatian coast and keep inland rather than pay silly money on the coast in August.
Good luck with your travels .

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[tsrwright]

4000 miles, 2 months, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and home. Not a single Brit anything.