The Camping Forum

[Andy]

Been looking at destinations this year.. were still a little unsure?? although Our main thought is on Austria and Italy.. this is still not set in stone!

Looking at a couple of factors that my employer has recently changed.. not jobs but ownership. and that my wifes job is at risk at the moment we are looking at cheaper alternative options.

That said we are still looking europe wide.. This is based on the fact our friends who took the cheap option last year to cornwall for 10 days spent about the same as what we spent germany for 10 Days (excluding the log cabin on the way home ) And they ended up going home early after the flooding...

So looking at options we have no problem with going back to the same place in germany.. we love it.. but.. keeping options open looking at other options. one of those being France..

South France clearly has the weather. but your talking 13 hours from Calais (Avoiding Tolls) 9 Hours paying the Tolls

Or 8 from Saint Marlo with Tolls.

Problem is Tolls increases the prices by alot.. I have looked at the pre-pay option for french toll roads.. but its so complicated? not being french speaking dont help with that lol..

So I really dont know what to do?? I really wanted to get as close to the Alps as possible for some amazing scenery.. but just dont see us doing this unless job wise as above somthing posative happens.. which is still possible.. But with christmas out the way the planning begins.. and thats always going to based on current conditions rather than well if it all turns out ok chance??

One thing we do know.. is that it will be Calais as a crossing point. simply because of the Tunnel and Tesco Vouchers keeping the costing down.

Looking at the maps. The German/Austrian Bordor is about 9 Hours at the closest point (actually you could argue that this is the German/Austrian/Switzerland Border as they all meet at the closest point)

9 Hours is to much for one drive. but could be divided. But if its a 7 to 10 day trip not the sort of trip we are going to want to break down especially when you think you have to do it in both directions. The little instant pop up would help but as yet is an untried method.. suppose we have to do it at some point?

So looking at options.. were very much unclear as to what to do.. but thinking about and planning all the same as you do this time of year

[merlin1973]

I had contemplated going abroad this year but was put off by a couple of things...
1st the ferry crossing with the 6 of us and the trailer came to a silly amount. (I may be missing some deals out there but it was expeensive)
2nd The amount of time in the car with the little ones.
3rd Some people i have spoke to who live in spain and france have told me how expensive it has become over there.

So we have stayed UK this year but may consider next year ....

[Andy]

I had contemplated going abroad this year but was put off by a couple of things...
1st the ferry crossing with the 6 of us and the trailer came to a silly amount. (I may be missing some deals out there but it was expeensive)
2nd The amount of time in the car with the little ones.
3rd Some people i have spoke to who live in spain and france have told me how expensive it has become over there.

So we have stayed UK this year but may consider next year ....

Norfolk lines are normally the cheapest, especially if you use an offer when they have one.. I dont know the ages of the kids.. but 2 adults 4 (ages between 4-16) £116 return.. but prices do depend on time of transfer oh that was 2nd of august returning 2 weeks later..

It also depends on destination with regards to costs.. but we went to spain last year (not camping but was self catering) and food wise.. no different to the UK same as eating out.. ok so it used to be cheaper.. but we have found it not to be more expensive.. its like anything.. do the research and dont book/order the first thing thing you see.

But understand what you say about the kids and drive.. We found doing the bulk of the travel overnight made it alot easier.. but also stopping, sounds obviouse, but kids dont always want to pee at the same time.. I try not to get frustrated with that and take in the extra stops gives us all chance to get out and wonder for a few minutes. you dont seem to have days and days road between service areas in France which helps..

The biggist issue is Toll roads in france.. I'm detemined this year to work out the pre pay scheme! as diverting through belgium to avoid is a pain..

We talked about the UK for this year but just cant get away from the costs compared to our friends last year who went to cornwall as i said. further more on that our travel time was only a few extra hours more..

We shall see i guess

[in-a-tent]

We've booked a break for May Bank Holiday! Going with a load of family about 5 'units' ( inc. one caravan )

We'll be staying in blighty this year but might venture to Northern France in a year or two, can't really face a huge drive across Europe but a short(ish) hop across the channel? Maybe.

[Andy]

We've booked a break for May Bank Holiday! Going with a load of family about 5 'units' ( inc. one caravan )

We'll be staying in blighty this year but might venture to Northern France in a year or two, can't really face a huge drive across Europe but a short(ish) hop across the channel? Maybe.

The drive is the worst part without a doubt.. If i could skip that part I would.. but we cant get away from the fact that we love the adventure.. I know you can still have that in the UK but having done it a few times now.. not sure we could go back lol.. add to the fact that weather is far more predictable lol

[merlin1973]

We've booked a break for May Bank Holiday! Going with a load of family about 5 'units' ( inc. one caravan )

So where you off to matey

[jjthefridge]

Hi,

had to make new account, lost password, but there we go,

Well we've booked ferry from plymouth going to trinity -sur-mare, down in carnac in southern brittany, site called le plage, right on the beach,(anyone been there??????) taking the boat, topper xenon, to fit some of the stuff in.

got to get some new stuff though, high up double air bed, going to try 2 fold out acamp beds secured together, with air bed on, don't know if it'll work, could do with new cooker nice little fold up coleman cooker about £65, petrol stove haven't tried one, any one used them, £80ish, or £17 double burner with standard gas bottle, no grills don't know if there worth it.

j.j.

[anniemac]

Aiming for Scotland I think - if not whit, then later in the summer - love the West coast, stayed in a cabin last year so this won't be quite as luxurious.
Last year in Cornwall I think we got the best weather of the year, so no chance of a repeat, but it's always an adventure.
Looking to upgrade the cooking set-up this time though, to a double stove, maybe with a larder table etc.
We're getting too old for beans on a trangia!

[Andy]

We have been discussing this years trip over the last few days and starting to put some *plans down.

*As always plans subject to change! they always do lol

We really want to go to Austria. problem is its such a long drive.. so looking at ways to break this up without using to much time. Also want to factor in a stop at a campsite we found online a while back. http://www.camping-simonhof.de

 
Camping Simonhof

So have done a quick google map plan to this site.

The first red circle pin points the location of our favorite site in the black forest Kur & Feriencamping which as always we would like to try and place a stop here.. problem is its not on the route!

2nd red circle/oval pin points the rough location in Austria I would really like to visit Innsbruck.

 
Innsbruck

So the drive to Simonhof is 694 Miles or approx 10 hours (no stops calculated thats non stop)

Which means not to be done in one shot! (route is also calcualted to exclude to Toll roads hence not passing through France although its more direct it adds approx 50 quid onto to travel costs yet the time you save is only about an Hour so not good value in my opinion.

Im thinking looking at the Map and thinking about how we traveled last year overnight. (Our first day booked off work is directly after a night shift as it was last year. so Im already in night mode and sleeping throughout the day. so set off for the tunnel early evening 6pm'ish and cross approx 9pm'ish so leaving Calaise around 10pm (crossing on the tunnel is 30 mins but I always allow an hour to get through and past passport control) My wife would drive us to Calaise whilst I get some further rest. I would then take over in France. again based on last year suspect I will be able to do about 4 Hours before I need to sleep. Although Im allready in night mode. I found last year that despite this driving at night whilst everyone else is asleep takes it out on you.. especially when the Sat nav is telling you 90 miles before your next turn! only for it to be a slight kink in the motorway and then you get 112 miles until your next turn.. Its heavy going! So by that We should be able to get as far as Koln/Bonn at which point service station stop get the pop-up out and get some rest for about 4 hours.

3 Hours approx to Numberg (another place I have always wanted to Visit although this would be only a few hours to take in the sights and have a spot of lunch which is not the visit I had in mind.. but leaves that open for another time

 
The Heilig-Geist-Spital (House of the Holy Spirit) - Nurmburg, Germany

after that its another 3 hours onto Simonhof which means we have not lost to much time. Its a fair distance to do in one hit. but breaking it up allows us to grab a week at Simonhof and then another week Austria and the final week we travel home taking in one last camping stop at some point and then a hotel/cabin for the final 2 days.

So still early plans but coming together

[Wayne]

Amazing,,,,,,,,