In reply to The Norris: A bit of advice on choice of vehicle. Over the years I have had six campervans and travelled all over Europe regularly. I class myself as a bit of an expert on these vehicles and travelling with them and I have actually written reviews from one of the major motorhome magazines. My first and worst was the traditional VW Campervan and, frankly, I have never worked out why people are so hung up on these. I suppose it is the romantic image of hippies ,travelling bums and the whole freedom thing. In reality, they are overpriced for what they are, poor impractical layout, primitive,limited facilities, they break down and are expensive to repair and you really have to stay at overpriced campsites if you want to stay clean and sanitary.
For not much more money you can get something like say, an old Autosleeper Symbol, with relatively little mileage on the clock. This will be on a Peugeot or Fiat base, not much bigger than the traditional VW Camper, but far more practical, preferably diesel and it has a practical layout including a decent bed conversion, practical lounge, decent cooking facilities and a small shower and toilet room. Thus you become self-contained and don't have to stay at overpriced campsites all of the time. Europe is a much more motorhome friendly place than UK where ownership of a campervan turns you into a social pariah. In Europe the world is your oyster. There are aires everywhere with limited facilites (all you will need is water and somewhere to empty a chemical toilet). A large number of these are free and they are all well documented. I have campervan stops all over Europe loaded onto my Tom Tom from the Camperstop Book. So once you pay to get across the Channel it is just fuel, food and booze. Diesel is also a fair bit cheaper in Europe especially if you shop around the big supermarkets.
I take the whole of August every year and travel Europe and have done so for the last six years. I will in the not to distant future, go for a lot longer. My current van is 6.5 metres long on a Ford Transit (brilliant base). I carry two mountain bikes, a small motorbike, a kayak, tables and chairs and all our clothes and accoutrements and we still return 32mpg. Most times, doing up to 2500 miles (got to Slovenia last year) the whole thing costs not much over a grand. Another little cost saver is to get a Tesco Credit Card. Buy everything on it and you get Tesco points these are redeemable on a 3 x face value basis on Channel Tunnel. Thus I rarely pay more than 50 quid return for my Channel crossing because, unlike the ferries the tunnel do not price on length.
I am happy to give you anymore advice if you contact me by email. Could save you some expensive mistakes.
