30 replies to this topic

[T D]

We have moved to the dark side the Champagne has gone & a motorhome has taken its place.
I'm still feeling apprehensive & not sure if we've done the right thing
Its not a new one,a 2001 Rapido. Our 1st planned trip is for January 3/4 weeks in Portugal. Our trip with the van to Morocco earlier this year gave us the bug for the more unplanned type of touring that a motor home allows.
Heres hoping it goes as well as we hope.

[shipbroker]

....may the force be with you then...................

geoff

[markf]

A new adventure, let us know how you get on with it, I for one would be interested to hear as we have tentatively considered it for the future

[Jbeans]

We too would be interested on how you get on, motorhomes do offer the unplanned type of touring, and that would suit us as we chase the fish in the sea!  

One neighbour does up VW Campers, he had one on his drive last week, and all I go say was   I nearly fell off my bike!

[T D]

well thank for the supportive come backs foks I will admit though to buying & paying for the van Before discovering the delaminated floor.Happily the dealer has agreed to pay for the repairs To be done by JC leisure at Winchelsea Sussex,otherwise it would have meant another 400 mile round trip to Nottinghamshire.
Just goes to show you may think you know what to look for but can still miss the obvious in the excitement of buying
I was apprehensive as we had to compromise on internal space & retain the ability to use the motorhome to tour round the areas we stop over at.
but as most of Europe seem to fall over to cater for Le Camping car we could well save a fortune on not having to use campsites! well thats the theory anyway

TD

[Jbeans]

T D, on 20 September 2012 - 11:05 AM, said:

well thank for the supportive come backs foks I will admit though to buying & paying for the van Before discovering the delaminated floor.Happily the dealer has agreed to pay for the repairs To be done by JC leisure at Winchelsea Sussex,otherwise it would have meant another 400 mile round trip to Nottinghamshire.
Just goes to show you may think you know what to look for but can still miss the obvious in the excitement of buying
I was apprehensive as we had to compromise on internal space & retain the ability to use the motorhome to tour round the areas we stop over at.
but as most of Europe seem to fall over to cater for Le Camping car we could well save a fortune on not having to use campsites! well thats the theory anyway

TD

TD when you say "save a fortune on not having to use campsites!" how come?


Happy times TD.

[T D]

Hi Jill,most town& villages in France have " aires camping car" which most have fresh water & waste water dumps, usually just a few € per night or some even free. also wild camping is not so frowned on as it is in the UK.see here http://www.airetoday.co.uk/  & Here http://www.vicariousbooks.co.uk/

[indoors]

Hi Tony,
Every man and his dog in France have a Camping car,( something to do with the towing laws after a certain age ) Judging by the majority who use our local aire they don't use the motorhomers rule.R.E.S.P.E.C.T. we have a beautiful aire with tables and benches overlooking la Layon, six emplacements with a facilities post on the Salle de Fete car park. Only this morning,yet again a iresponsable campnig car owner has pulled his plug and left a flood of grey water on the aire, they then drive off, leaving our overworked village handyman to clear up after them. The same man has this year placed big rocks between car parking spaces to stop motorhomers using this side of the aire,but does it, no we've been a walk down there some evenings and there have been up to twenty parked nose to tail and even on the grass between the rocks.Enjoy your Motorhoming Tony,enjoy France,but just because it is more Camping car friendly,please do it responsably.Catch ya later,indoors.

QUOTE : RESPECT- This is the name given by the French motorhome etiquette guide published by the Comité de liason du camping-car. The guide sets out a simple code that it asks motor homers to adhere to whilst on your travels around France.  It is possible to acquire a handy booklet to support this initiative which incorporates generalisations for motor homers.
It is possible to obtain the guide from the CLC at the website listed.

In general  the RESPECT guide asks that you: Respect nature, Elect not to park in groups, Select appropriate places only, Prefer usage of local shops, Express yourself politely and discretely, Communicate with others, Take up these commitments.   These rules are particularly applicable to users of Aires.

[Kiaman]

Hope you and Pauline enjoy your new mode of recreation, Tony.

We'll still make you welcome on any LMU's - George (CudleyDudley) won't feel so lonely among our caravans if you show up!

[Jbeans]

indoors, on 20 September 2012 - 02:26 PM, said:

Hi Tony,
Every man and his dog in France have a Camping car,( something to do with the towing laws after a certain age ) Judging by the majority who use our local aire they don't use the motorhomers rule.R.E.S.P.E.C.T. we have a beautiful aire with tables and benches overlooking la Layon, six emplacements with a facilities post on the Salle de Fete car park. Only this morning,yet again a iresponsable campnig car owner has pulled his plug and left a flood of grey water on the aire, they then drive off, leaving our overworked village handyman to clear up after them. The same man has this year placed big rocks between car parking spaces to stop motorhomers using this side of the aire,but does it, no we've been a walk down there some evenings and there have been up to twenty parked nose to tail and even on the grass between the rocks.Enjoy your Motorhoming Tony,enjoy France,but just because it is more Camping car friendly,please do it responsably.Catch ya later,indoors.

QUOTE : RESPECT- This is the name given by the French motorhome etiquette guide published by the Comité de liason du camping-car. The guide sets out a simple code that it asks motor homers to adhere to whilst on your travels around France.  It is possible to acquire a handy booklet to support this initiative which incorporates generalisations for motor homers.
It is possible to obtain the guide from the CLC at the website listed.

In general  the RESPECT guide asks that you: Respect nature, Elect not to park in groups, Select appropriate places only, Prefer usage of local shops, Express yourself politely and discretely, Communicate with others, Take up these commitments.   These rules are particularly applicable to users of Aires.

This should be done in our country.  I know there are loads of motorhome owners who do RESPECT, but as always there are some who think they are "Gods to Motorhoming!"  GIVE OVER!

[Retread]

Welcome to the dark side, I just come back from 2500km of touring the vendee coast, N & S Brittany, Normandie and return, we found Aires ranging from a no facility riverbank (free) to the all singing and dancing car park with over 50 vans parked up and costing 9.5€pn (Le touquet) I also stayed on several municipal camp sites one costing only 11E incl water, showers and 10A hookup, the same site also had an Aire, the water bourne cost 2.5€ alone so a bit of a no brainer.

I tend to find my Aires by downloading POI's from i-camping car, Le monde du camping car and Campingcar-infos, never bought a book yet, they are usually obsolete before they leave the presses :-)

There are disgusting individuals, both Campingcar users and Caravanners too. So do as you would others would do to you.

Aire de Stationment and Town car parks allow you to park and sleep overnight, this does not give you license to Camp there, nothing should touch the tarmac except your wheels no wedges, roller balls, rubbish bins tables and chairs etc. Aire  specifically designed for Camping cars usually allow a bit more latitude, so its probably OK to get out the Table and Chairs so long as you dont hinder other users or hog all the space.

Bon Vacances

[Retread]

indoors, on 20 September 2012 - 02:26 PM, said:

Hi Tony,
Every man and his dog in France have a Camping car,( something to do with the towing laws after a certain age ) Judging by the majority who use our local aire they don't use the motorhomers rule.R.E.S.P.E.C.T. we have a beautiful aire with tables and benches overlooking la Layon, six emplacements with a facilities post on the Salle de Fete car park. Only this morning,yet again a iresponsable campnig car owner has pulled his plug and left a flood of grey water on the aire, they then drive off, leaving our overworked village handyman to clear up after them. The same man has this year placed big rocks between car parking spaces to stop motorhomers using this side of the aire,but does it, no we've been a walk down there some evenings and there have been up to twenty parked nose to tail and even on the grass between the rocks.Enjoy your Motorhoming Tony,enjoy France,but just because it is more Camping car friendly,please do it responsably.Catch ya later,indoors.

QUOTE : RESPECT- This is the name given by the French motorhome etiquette guide published by the Comité de liason du camping-car. The guide sets out a simple code that it asks motor homers to adhere to whilst on your travels around France.  It is possible to acquire a handy booklet to support this initiative which incorporates generalisations for motor homers.
It is possible to obtain the guide from the CLC at the website listed.

In general  the RESPECT guide asks that you: Respect nature, Elect not to park in groups, Select appropriate places only, Prefer usage of local shops, Express yourself politely and discretely, Communicate with others, Take up these commitments.   These rules are particularly applicable to users of Aires.

So nothing has been learned since you posted elsewhere in July 2010 on the same subject?

[indoors]

Retread, on 21 September 2012 - 07:31 PM, said:

So nothing has been learned since you posted elsewhere in July 2010 on the same subject?

Hi all,
Could you please explain your post !!! ?
indoors..

[Retread]

indoors, on 22 September 2012 - 08:01 AM, said:

Hi all,
Could you please explain your post !!! ?
indoors..

I am actively trying to become greener in my life but I draw the line at recycled posts on fora, over two years ago you made almost the same post on what is now French Entree digging at Motorvanners moving rocks, taking up to many spaces bla bla bla. in between actively promoting the nearby caravan site. Maybe not recycling maybe the town has still not learned to charge for the facility ? if 20+ vans want to overnight a minimal charge of say 6€ would soon show a return rather than an artificial limit to 6 think 14x6 your a biznizman?

[indoors]

Hi all,
Should we  ask the O Poster Tony if anything in my post is upsetting in any way, what was posted is FACT, in fact I signed off as I often do wishing Tony well with his motorhoming. If some people wish to go about motorhoming or caravanning with blatant disregard of rules or etiquette is it no wonder we become the brunt of jokes by many ( the media ) with a bigger audiance than ours.
Our village as many throughout France wellcome visitors and offer free overnight parking for up to six ( campingcars ) motorhomes, why should we without complaint accept up to 20 of rule breaking " I don't give a toss " people who just think they can travel and park up without regard to others.
I have not subscribed to French Entree for a couple of years now because there were too many of the above mentioned Geeky bla-bla-bla 'ers who have the Gaum to think they have an expertise in motorhoming and France.
indoors.