Freedom. It’s the one word most used when caravanners are asked why they first took up the hobby. The freedom to hitch up, hit the road and roam to previously unexplored places – all while taking the comforts of home with you. And while much of the joy of caravanning is discovering new places in Britain, there are plenty who take advantage of a short hop to Europe to see what’s on offer.
If you’ve previously balked at the idea of taking the ‘van abroad, then you may be reassured that others regularly make the trip across the Channel. Both major caravan clubs offer services which help book recommended pitches in Europe, alongside ferry bookings and insurance.
Club together for the best deals
The Caravan Club hosts a useful “Overseas trips” section on its website where you can find information and book holidays. The Club also boasts an offering of over 200 caravan sites in its Continental Caravanning network for ease of mind. Recently the organisation also published a two-volume Caravan Europe guide which gives details of 8,000 campsites.
Carefree is the dedicated travel service from the Camping and Caravanning Club which looks after overseas trips for members. An online booking system exclusive to Club members takes care of the logistics, while there are regular offers on ferry crossings and attractions. And the service is truly worldwide, with fly-drive holidays to places as far-flung as South Africa and New Zealand.
Prepare for adventure
If you’ve not taken the caravan abroad before, it helps to draw up a checklist of things to prepare to cover any eventualities. For example, many countries on the Continent legally require motorists to carry certain equipment such as warning triangles, reflective waistcoats and fire extinguishers. A number of countries also require motorists to keep their headlights on at all times, and you may also need to adjust your headlights to comply with regulations on dipped beams.
Thankfully both Clubs provide plenty of information to get you started, and we believe there’s nothing more valuable than sharing experiences and tips to help others on their way.
So this week we’re asking readers what are your experiences of caravanning abroad? Have you experienced any pitfalls in booking, getting there, or falling foul of obscure laws?
