France trip

[mick brown]

We`re taking our Bongo over to France in a couple of weeks, has anybody got any tips of where to go,taking ferry to St Malo, or what to take ie; do we need to take any spares.

[missfixit70]

this should get you started - http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... 38&t=34075 on what you need to take.
How long are you going for? what sort of thing are you after, entertaining kids or chilling out? Campsites or Aires?
Worth having a trawl through the threads in the "Going Abroad" section to get some ideas.

[triathlondave]

A sense of Adventure

best wishes

David

Just been over for 2 weeks, did not need anything new over what I use to camp in Uk,

took a 2 pin plug for the electric but never used it, same as in the uk

find supermarkets on the edge of town.

? can't think of anything else, except get some advice about french post codes. Cos I still don't understand them and got lost when every I tried to use them.

Take you laptop. Used Mc, Donalds for Wifi when we got to a town and found camp sites that way, worked very well with google maps.

have a great time

[mikexgough]

ditto to both above......one other is the leccy hook ups....some are reverse polarity...worth geter ting 2 hook up adaptors and wire one opposite.....then on site use a plug in tester into your UK socket.....then it will tell you if your reverse.....then swap the hook up adaptor.... mark the reversed one with insulation tape, simple

[dvisor]

What type of gas do you use to cook with? We use single burner cookers with gas cartridges, and the cartridges were hellishly expensive in the few places we saw them for sale in France. Luckily we took a load over with us (on average we used just under 1 per day). I believe Calor Gas refills are difficult to get, so Camping Gaz maybe better. perhaps someone else has more reliable info on this, but definitely worth checking out.

[Blueskai]

I've done this twice now, Two weeks and three weeks. We loved every minute.
There are some magnificent sites on the banks of the Dordogne, Bergerac was memorable.

The sites are generally not cheap, it is advisable to book ahead and ask for confirmation.

The extreme south coast is dry and dusty. The second visit we crossed over to Spain and caught the cruise ship back to Portsmouth It leaves from Santander and was a great relaxing way to get home after three weeks on the road. The cost for the ship was little more than the Poole Ferry + Fuel + Camp sites.

I could write pages on our experiences, but the real joy is in discovering it for yourself.

PLUS POINTS - Too many to mention
MINUS POINTS - Dog owners who let their dogs crap EVERYWHERE, A strange and often unnecessary fixation about not wearing shorts in swimming pools, (Pack your speedos)

[scanner]

I believe Calor Gas refills are difficult to get, so Camping Gaz maybe better.

Make that Calor Gas is impossible - it isn't sold in France.
and
Camping Gaz is better and expensive, but not as expensive as over here or as expensive as disposable canisters.

[Bob]

Sat nav which indicates speed cameras may be illegal, be careful

[briwy]

Anywhere on the coast down there is good. have a look at Mont St Michel.

Futureoscope near Poitiers is excellent and within easy striking distance of St Malo. Not just for kids. And take in the car museum at Chattelerault.

GPS sat nav warning systems are still OK at the moment. More and more mobile ones though especially in small villages even late at night so watch the speed.

[Poohbear]

It's only the mobile ones you have to worry about anyway because if there's nobody there to impose an on-the-spot fine you've got away with it

[Blueskai]

I was unlucky enough to be caught out by a motorbike cop. On the last day of a two week trip and just 5minutes from the ferry port. He escorted me to a cash point and took 80 euros off me!. The best thing about the encounter was that he looked just like one of the Village People. Im sure its not the look he was going for!

[mick brown]

Thanks for all your replies I`ll take all your good advise onboard. there is just my wife and myself,
we used to take the kids to Brittany and the Vendee when they were young and really enjoyed it then.

[mikexgough]

It's only the mobile ones you have to worry about anyway because if there's nobody there to impose an on-the-spot fine you've got away with it

There is now cross EU co-operation with speed camera's... so get caught out in the EU...the fine follows you home ...same applies to EU citizens in France etc. Speed here and the fine also follows them home...

[Velocette]

This may have changed since I was last over there a couple of years ago, but unless you have good information that it has, don't expect to be able to get fuel away from the Autoroute on a Sunday. There may only be an automated pump which won't recognise a UK credit card chip.
I had to give a friendly local some cash to fill my bike up on his card or I'd have been stranded.

Leclerc is the best source of fuel but Total stations always do espresso, that's how I got addicted to the stuff.

Mondays everything closes in small towns and villages.

Leclerc is also the best hypermarket IMO. it is run on philanthropical principals and aims to sell everything as cheaply as possible. Most of the stores are individual owned.

Don't forget to look NEAR left far right(obviously checking the whole road) when leaving a junction or crossing a road. Old habits die hard and looking at the wrong traffic lane is literally a killer.

[missfixit70]

Never had a problem with my Visa debit card with any of the automated pumps 2 years ago, usually the cheapest fuel too, although that saving is probably negated by the foriegn use charge on the card Still prefer to use that for safety, than carry around a load of cash though.