Tips for a great motorhome trip in France
At France Motorhhome Hire, we want your trip to be a great success so here are some words of advice to help you plan ahead.
- Do as much planning as you need to before you leave home. Our central France location means that you can spontaneously set off in your motorhome and enjoy a great break discovering the local area with virtually no planning at all but, if you are planning to go further afield or have any fixed agenda, it is wise to do a little planning before you come. France is a big country so check distances and approximate traveling time on a website like www.viamichelin.co.uk and make sure you don't spend the whole trip on the motorway!
- Make a plan but be flexible. Whilst a detailed plan for your trip is a great idea, it's best to keep an open mind and try to have an "A" list and a "B" list of things you want to fit in. One of the main advantages of traveling in a motorhome is spontaneity and if you come across somewhere you love, you may want to linger and enjoy it rather than sticking to an earlier plan.
- If you are traveling in July and August, to somewhere very popular or to a major event such as "The Tour de France", it is best to book camp sites in advance. This will take the stress out of trying to find somewhere late in the day after your journey. Even if you are on the road, en route to a certain town, it is better to use the guide provided with your motorhome, find a camp site and call ahead to book a place. Most people will arrive at a camp site later in the afternoon so if you have called in the morning, chances are you will get a place.
- Use the "Offices des Tourismes". In just about every town in France there is a mine of information to be found at the "Office de Tourisme" and you can usually find them on the internet then give them a call to request detailed information on attractions, local markets, restaurants, children's activities, events, winemakers, cheese makers and just about anything else that happens locally. Most of them speak some English but if they don't they will always send you local information by e-mail. Alternatively, send a detailed request in French by translating it on this website: http://babelfish.yahoo.com/ then translating the reply into English when you receive it.
- Be prepared to be fully self-sufficient during the low season months of November to March (and in some areas September to May!). Camp sites are often closed for these months so although there are plenty of places to stay, you may need to rely on the motorhome shower and toilet and make use of service points to top up with water and empty your waste tanks.
- Avoid bringing rigid suitcases on a motorhome holiday (unless you can unpack them at the depot and leave them in your car). Whilst our motorhomes have good storage space, they do not accommodate large rigid cases so they can really get in your way. Bring soft luggage so it can easily be folded and stowed away.
- Don't pack too much! Remember that a motorhome trip requires a great deal less formality than a break in a hotel and you will probably spend the whole time very casually dressed. It might be an idea to bring one smart outfit for that evening out in a fine restaurant though.
- Don't bring too much food and drink. Remember that a fridge on a motorhome is not as big as a household fridge and won't accommodate fresh food for a week. France is the best place in the world to shop for fresh food so plan to use the many markets and supermarkets for fresh supplies as you go.
- Drive carefully! Don't forget that if you are not used to driving a motorhome, you need to take extra care to avoid damage as this can be expensive and inconvenient.
Motorhomes have a larger "body" than a car or van so extra care should be taken when manoeuvring in tight spaces, parking or in heavy traffic. Once on the open road, you will quickly find that the motorhome handles very much like a car.
Take particular care when reversing. Motorhomes do not have a rear view mirror or rear windows so it is easy to misjudge objects behind. Whenever you reverse the vehicle or manoeuvre in a tight space, ask a passenger to guide you from outside the vehicle – the few extra moments it takes could save you a lot of anxiety and money. If you don't have a passenger to help, get out and take a good look behind and to the sides of the vehicle before you reverse to make sure nobody has parked a motorbike behind you or there is a low post to hit.
Take time to understand the speed limits and rules of the road. There will be a Hirer's Manual in your motorhome with driving tips but it is better to learn the important points you can before you come. Look at web sites like these for advice:
www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A2082863
www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/general_advice.html - Make sure you have good travel insurance before you book your trip. If you have an annual travel insurance policy check it is in date for the period of your trip and will cover your expenses in the event you have to cancel your trip unexpectedly. If you don't have an annual policy, take out a policy that covers you for your trip and buy it before you make any travel plans so that you can claim in the event that you have to cancel.
- If you are coming to France from the UK, make sure you obtain a European Health Card (forms available from The Post Office) as this will entitle you to claim back most of the expense of any emergency medical care you need while in France.
- At the end of your trip, plan your return to the depot and don't cut it too fine. Make sure you know how long it is going to take to get back to the depot so you don't arrive late and incur charges. There are lots of excellent campsites close to our depot for your last night stay before you return the vehicle.
Above all else, relax and have a great time in your motorhome!
Please let us know if you have any tips to add for future hirers too.
