Mumsnet Talk

DH and I are considering a trip to Europe, camping, purely to get better weather.

We were considering one of those pre-pitched tent places, but there's a campsite in a particular town in Northern Spain (that we've been to before that we love) that is pitches only. So I'm toying with the idea of driving there with our gear.

Before I even broach the subject with DH I'd like to have some facts/figures to present him with so it doesn't get dismissed out of hand. I think it'd be quite fun to drive down through France, have a week in Spain and then drive back again, and he wouldn't be averse to the idea of driving abroad, I just need some more info on practicalities.

I know a few of you have taken your own kit abroad before, so can I ask -

How did you cross the channel (ferry/eurostar) and would you recommend it?

Do you need to prebook sites in France (for the drive there and back) or would we be better off with B&Bs for overnight stays and not having to unpack everything?

Can a car with a roofbox go on a ferry?

Are we likely to kill each other if stuck in a car/tent going that far? (it's Llafranc, on the Costa Brava, btw - we stayed there before DD in a swanky hotel and much as we would like to repeat the experience with her, it would cost €€€€ which we haven't got, but it is a beautiful place that we really want to revisit).

Any other advice and tips gratefully received

We go by ferry, and yes you can take roof boxes. We have 3 children, 6,4 and 2. We went to cote d'azure last year. Basically we take a big tent for long stays and a little tent for the journey down. We put little tent and overnight stuff in roof box so easy to unload etc. If just 3 of you though you could probably try the formula1 motels, as you get more driving per day that way.

If you aren't in popular places then you can usually just pitch up, but touristy places you need to book ahead/ stop early, by 4 at latest. Their highest season is mid july-mid aug, outside of that time you can be much more flexible re turning up as even popular places are half empty, we usually go the second half of august. We have never had a problem getting a pitch, but not always at our first choice. Do take a book with campsites in, for brief stops is best to have a book with loads of sites, rather than say alan rogers who picks generally nice sites, but not as many listed, you don't want to drive miles out of your way and find it is full.

Hope you have fun

Bumping for you as I've never actually taken a tent abroad!

On crossing - if not too big price difference, I'd say go via Eurotunnel. We always go with our roofbox, and it's just so much quicker and less hassle. Take a book / dvd player for dd - only half an hour or so, but it'll give you time to nap read a book.

Thank you v. much duracellbunnies (and Sal for bumping!), that's very good to know. I have been looking at the route (15 hours drive according to googlemaps) and have been so taken with the lovely campsites along the way that we may just do a tour of France instead...

DH's brother is currently in Luxembourg and he likes camping, perhaps we should meet part-way... hmmm... <goes off to look at maps again>

If anyone else has advice or wisdom to impart, please throw it this way!

We have camped in France every summer for the last 10 years!

How did you cross the channel (ferry/eurostar) and would you recommend it?
We used to do ferry, but after a few delays and vomitty incidents, we now go by eurotunnel which I would really recommend - much quicker and straight onto the motorway and about the same price.

Do you need to prebook sites in France (for the drive there and back) or would we be better off with B&Bs for overnight stays and not having to unpack everything?
We have done all of those options - none particularly recommendable, but we have just driven in one go (with comfort breaks!) there and back for the last few years. But we live in London, so not a long drive from Calais.
We pre-book all our sites

Can a car with a roofbox go on a ferry?
Yes, and on the Eurostar, no problem. We put 4 bikes on our car too. We are the Clampits!

Are we likely to kill each other if stuck in a car/tent going that far? (it's Llafranc, on the Costa Brava, btw - we stayed there before DD in a swanky hotel and much as we would like to repeat the experience with her, it would cost €€€€ which we haven't got, but it is a beautiful place that we really want to revisit).

Aaaah. Spain is alot further than we have ever been - Bordeaux is our limit

Lots of comments echoing bigTillyMint - although we live in the soggy NW so use overnight b&bs as it is 5+ hours to Dover- we have also used municipal campsites with pop up tents too on the way to the S of France.

Eurotunnel is excellent - car with roofbox & camping trailer - tick

prebooked final destination - yes as I am very fussy - big pitch, not many English, lots of Dutch & sunshine.

The killing aspect - not yet! - audiobooks, DVD player if you have one - satnav to laugh at - we choose 'French lady' voice, although the dd's prefer Austrailan Sheila' lots of stops for running round a field - children are like dogs.
Roll on July.

We've provisionally booked the overnight ferry from Portsmouth to Caen then driving to the Dordogne over two days. We've pre-booked our main site for 8 nights and will take 2 days to drive back. We have a big tent for the main stay and a family pop-up for the overnights.

I haven't booked the overnight campsites yet but I will. DH likes to have everything confirmed before we go.

Thank you all!

Having discussed things further with DH we are scaling back our ambitions and for our first trip abroad we are doing just under a week outside Paris so that we can do Eurodisney and Parc Asterix, then a week at the beach in the Vendee, then pootling back up to the Eurotunnel over a couple of days.

Spain next year!

[excited]

Parc Asterix was great - much preferred it to Eurodisney, and you should be good for the weather in the Vendee. Have fun

BTW we got free entry to both using Tesco clubcard vouchers - don't know if you collect or if offers still on. Eurotunnel is on the offers too!

For an overnight stay enroute google formula 1. They're like a cheap travelodge. Clean and safe, though I seem to remember they have shared bathrooms. Maybe you can pay extra for ensuite. Fine for a stopover.

We had the most dreadful night ever in a Formule 1.

Maybe it was because we took both the DC into the room (they are meant to be for 3 - double and single bed), though they were probably 3 and 4 at the time, but we didn't get more than 3 5mins sleep. They are like cell block H, no (or 1 v tiny) windows and it was v hot the night we went.

But obviously Viva has had a totally different experience!

Ooh, thanks for the tip about clubcard vouchers, Tilly, I shall look into that one.

We have decided to book somewhere exhorbitantly expensive naice for the final night of the trip - although as the first place we tried was already booked up and we're still waiting to hear from the alternative place, we may well end up in a Formule 1... DH does a lot of business travel in France and he pulled a face a the thought of one too, but then he's a spoilt fat cat used to staying on expenses...

Thanks again for all your help