Hey folks
Thought I would start this thread in anticipation of our first European road trip in the van, out to Bordeaux and back this Easter.
With Easter being so early this year (Teacher with a 7 year old so no choice) we were a little limited in options. Italy felt like a long way to go in 10 days, and lots of the sites in the east of France dont open until late April/May.
So the plan is, Calais to an overnight spot around Le Mans ish. Then down to Bordeaux for a few nights. Up to La Rochelle. Then a site in the Loire valley. Then Disney for a few days as a treat for the boy!
We have found some great looking sites, with private bathrooms and awesome swimming pools! Couple of Yelloh and a few others. And got a good deal on a hotel near Disney as I have a feeling we will all be shattered by the end of the break and appreciate a proper bed.
We have having a TowSure bar fitted in a couple of weeks so we can take the e-bikes and I've just bought a new Duvalay topper for our rib bed as its a bit more compact that the self inflator we have at the moment.
Last on the list is some magnetic front cab shades, as I cant be arsed with the suction ones every day for 2 weeks, drive me mad!
Our van is a mapped TSI so I'm dreading the fuel bill when we get back, and the new Milltek exhaust might get on our nerves after 6 hours on the motorway, but you only live once and all that! Tolls are looing around £140 so another sting but is what it is! And the Air Ride has just been serviced along with an oil change and brake check so we should be good. Hoping we dont blow a line or something silly as that would be a massive pain the the arse!
We're packing plenty of snacks, and lots of games and activities for the lad, and we have radar cruise so im hoping we can smash out the drives with a good podcast and some family tunes! Endless eye spy I imagine too.
I've sorted a Crit Air badge today, as I dont imagine we will drive in to those zones but better to be safe than sorry. Sorted AA European breakdown cover.
So does anyone have any good tips? Things to visit, remember or leave at home?
Has anyone bothered with one of the fast toll badge things? It ends up being about £40 before you have even set foot on French soil, so not sure its really worth it? Any experiences would be appreciated!
We have a Stitches and Steel awning rail either side of our van, so we are in two minds as to whether to just take 2 of our Olpro shades, for rain or sun, or to take one plus our Vango drive away so we can store bikes/paddle boards/tables, and have a bit more space if the weather lets us down. Only takes 15-20 mins to set up and peg out but only being at each site for 3 days feels like a bit of faffing about!
If people are interested we can post some reviews, and blunders! But looking forward to some quality time with the family, and a semi-ambitious first trip, with greater adventures to come!
Thought I would start this thread in anticipation of our first European road trip in the van, out to Bordeaux and back this Easter.
With Easter being so early this year (Teacher with a 7 year old so no choice) we were a little limited in options. Italy felt like a long way to go in 10 days, and lots of the sites in the east of France dont open until late April/May.
So the plan is, Calais to an overnight spot around Le Mans ish. Then down to Bordeaux for a few nights. Up to La Rochelle. Then a site in the Loire valley. Then Disney for a few days as a treat for the boy!
We have found some great looking sites, with private bathrooms and awesome swimming pools! Couple of Yelloh and a few others. And got a good deal on a hotel near Disney as I have a feeling we will all be shattered by the end of the break and appreciate a proper bed.
We have having a TowSure bar fitted in a couple of weeks so we can take the e-bikes and I've just bought a new Duvalay topper for our rib bed as its a bit more compact that the self inflator we have at the moment.
Last on the list is some magnetic front cab shades, as I cant be arsed with the suction ones every day for 2 weeks, drive me mad!
Our van is a mapped TSI so I'm dreading the fuel bill when we get back, and the new Milltek exhaust might get on our nerves after 6 hours on the motorway, but you only live once and all that! Tolls are looing around £140 so another sting but is what it is! And the Air Ride has just been serviced along with an oil change and brake check so we should be good. Hoping we dont blow a line or something silly as that would be a massive pain the the arse!
We're packing plenty of snacks, and lots of games and activities for the lad, and we have radar cruise so im hoping we can smash out the drives with a good podcast and some family tunes! Endless eye spy I imagine too.
I've sorted a Crit Air badge today, as I dont imagine we will drive in to those zones but better to be safe than sorry. Sorted AA European breakdown cover.
So does anyone have any good tips? Things to visit, remember or leave at home?
Has anyone bothered with one of the fast toll badge things? It ends up being about £40 before you have even set foot on French soil, so not sure its really worth it? Any experiences would be appreciated!
We have a Stitches and Steel awning rail either side of our van, so we are in two minds as to whether to just take 2 of our Olpro shades, for rain or sun, or to take one plus our Vango drive away so we can store bikes/paddle boards/tables, and have a bit more space if the weather lets us down. Only takes 15-20 mins to set up and peg out but only being at each site for 3 days feels like a bit of faffing about!
If people are interested we can post some reviews, and blunders! But looking forward to some quality time with the family, and a semi-ambitious first trip, with greater adventures to come!
and let’s be honest French snacks are great too! I grew up on those weird little cubed flavoured cheeses 
