Touring Europe by motorhome: What's involved?
Thinking of of touring Europe by motorhome but you're not sure how to go about it? If you’ve read our page about saving money by buying a new motor home in the UK, using it to tour Europe, then shipping it back to NZ, you might be interested in what’s involved in a European motorhome tour. Obviously the way you choose to live whilst there is a big influence. Will you eat out all the time, or shop with the locals in their supermarkets and local street markets and cook “at home”? Will you stay on campsites every night, or maybe use the much more economical (and often free) French “Aires”, German “Stellplätze”, or Italian “Aree di Sosta”? For places to stay in France check out the excellent "France Passion" scheme, where for an annual membership fee of about NZ$50 you can park overnight for free at over three thousand farms and vineyards. For Spain have a look at the  Spanish Tourism Information website.. 

For camping and motorhoming related books for western Europe check out Vicarious Books.

Here’s some limited information about the basic formalities, what you need to have with you etc. and some more links to other sites for more detailed research:

Health care
Travel health insurance for both NZ and UK passport holders is strongly recommended. NZ only has reciprocal health care agreements with Australia and the UK. NZ citizens have no right to free healthcare in any country in continental Europe.

Check out the Ministry of health website for details of this at the following link: Ministry of Health Website Select “Eligibility for Healthcare” from the menu.

Whilst British citizens have reduced cost, or sometimes free healthcare in EU countries, you are only eligible for this if you are ordinarily resident in the UK. Check out:-
Health Advice for Travellers  or Travelling in Europe 

Driving Licence requirements
In addition to your full New Zealand (or UK) Driving Licence you’ll need an “International Driving Permit”. There are one or two countries that don’t actually require this, such as France, but it’s still recommended to carry one. To apply for an IDP in New Zealand visit your local AA office, or you can do it by post to PO Box 5 Auckland. Alternatively, you can find more information and also apply for your IDP online at the New Zealand AA Website

If you're driving in Europe or the UK on a non-European driving licence you are limited to vehicles with a maximum gross weight of 3500kgs regardless of the classes of vehicle you are licenced to drive at home. An International Driving Permit does not change this. 

You’ll need an “International Motor Insurance Card”, issued under the Authority of the Motor Insurers Bureau – This is often referred to as a “Green Card”. It will say the countries it’s valid for. Along with this you should also receive

• Driving in Europe - a booklet of important information.

• A Complementary GB sticker (It's compulsory to show the country of registration) 

• A European Accident Statement 

You also need to carry various documents to prove ownership such as the original vehicle registration certificate. For further information on requirements, including equipment to carry like warning triangles or reflective jackets which you’re required by law to carry in various countries, see this table on the UK AA website 

The UK AA website has a wealth of information about driving in Europe and is well worth checking out. Click here to go straight to their "European Driving" page.

Crossing the Channel
There are two ways to get your motorhome from the UK to mainland Europe – the ferries, and the Channel Tunnel. If you want to cross directly to Scandinavia then of course it has to be a ferry.

Ferries
There are many companies competing for your business. Shop around! Norfolk Line, Sea France, P&O, Brittany Ferries, TransEuropa and Speedferries are some of the main companies. Be aware that officially Speedferries have a maximum width restriction of 2.0m. This may or may not be enforced when you drive on but do you need the hassle? This rules out most coachbuilt motorhomes but you should be OK with a panel van type conversion.  TransEuropa Ferries have been coming up with some good prices. I was quoted £79 for two people and a 6m campervan crossing from Ramsgate to Oostende (their only route) in June 08 and back in July. Although their website says 6m max length this means for the quoted price. They apply a surcharge which is calculated per metre (About £6 low season, £12 high season) for longer vehicles.  Norfolk Line has a reputation for being flexible. Book in advance to get the low fares and you can generally arrive at a different time and providing they have the space you’ll get a sailing without paying any sort of penalty – not guaranteed but usually OK. If you can get a return fare for under £100 you’re doing well. You may have to pay £140+ if you don’t book in advance. For crossing from Dover to Calais in early June and back in early July '08 we got £65 return for a 7.0m motorhome and sailing around lunchtime. This was with Sea France booked in January. 
Generally evening/night sailings are cheaper but special offers come along from time to time and can make daytime sailings competitive with night sailings.

You'll find company websites at these links:-

Norfolkline (0870 870 1020) Dover-Dunkirk (2hrs).
P&O Ferries (0870 520 2020) Dover-Calais (90mins).
SeaFrance (0870 571 1711) Dover-Calais (70-90mins)
SpeedFerries (0871 222 7456) Dover-Boulogne fastcraft (50mins).

TransEuropa Ferries (01843 595522) Ramsgate - Oostende (4hrs 30mins)
Brittany Ferries (0870 536 0360) Portsmouth-Caen (6hrs), Portsmouth-Cherbourg fastcraft (3hrs); Poole-Cherbourg (4hrs; or fastcraft, 2hrs 15mins); Portsmouth-St Malo (8hrs 45mins); and Plymouth-Roscoff (6hrs).

The Channel Tunnel:
Standard tunnel prices are similar to standard ferry prices but you can get better deals by travelling outside the busiest times. Basically this means after 5.00pm. or even better between midnight and 8.00am. Fares for 08 are around £120 return at present depending on the time of day or night. Flexifares are available which don’t commit you to a particular train departure. This is probably the easiest way to cross but you're dropped off at Calais so depending on where you want to go this may or may not be convenient. A big advantage is that there's no charge for the number of passengers or the size of vehicle providing it's less than 5 tonnes in weight. The length doesn't matter so if you have a long vehicle the tunnel could offer a good saving compared to a ferry. Definitely worth checking out. You drive your vehicle onto the train and stay in it for the thirty-odd minute journey. It’s certainly the quickest way across providing Calais is a suitable destination, and unlike the ferries, it’s unaffected by the weather. Website at:-
Eurotunnel (0870 535 3535) Folkestone-Calais (35mins).

Another alternative is Harwich to the Hook of Holland. If you’re heading through Germany this could be a good way to go. Stena Line operate this service and they also provide services to Ireland from Fishguard-Rosslare, Holyhead-Dublin and Fleetwood-Larne. Stena Lines 08705 70 70 70  If you want to cross the North Sea from the UK to Norway or Denmark try Fjord Line
DFDS Seaways will get you from Newcastle to Gothenburg or Kristiansand

Route Planning.
Take a look at the excellent Michelin route planning website. Here you can also buy navigational software as well as Michelin Guides. The latest talking satnav systems are superb and worth considering. They can save a lot of driving around and frustration. You can also order the superb Michelin Green Guides online. Failing that, good road atlas's are available at all major service stations such as Shell, Mobil, Elf, BP etc.

Fuel
Although aimed at commercial transport operators if you register at the International Road Transport Unions website (it's free!) you can check current fuel prices throughout Europe as well as checking out major road works and delays.

Food
There are many supermarket chains in Western Europe. Some of them also sell fuel and are usually cheaper than service stations. Names you'll see include ALDI, LIDL, SPAR, Intermarché, Carrefour, Alcampo, Caprabo and many others. Local street markets are excellent for fresh food and of course part of the fun, but watch the prices - they can be expensive.

Tourist areas such as the French and Italian Rivieras can be expensive - shop in quieter areas with the locals!

Electricity hook up
No problem with the voltage in western Europe, but you’ll need an adaptor to make the connection as at most places the sockets are two pin type - different to the ones used in New Zealand and the UK. Adaptors are readily available at camping and caravan shops in the UK. Expect to pay about £5 for an adaptor. An extra-long lead is recommended – 25 metres minimum - as the plug-in power points tend to be centralised - not positioned at each site (pitch) like they are in New Zealand. We strongly recommend that you use a polarity tester before connecting at each new site. Again these are available at camping and caravan shops in the UK – about £10.

Gas Cylinders
This is a little more complex than the electricity supply, but armed with the correct equipment it shouldn’t be a problem. The potential difficulty comes from the fact that almost all countries in western Europe have their own types of gas bottles or connections, and also their own systems for having them filled. It's also uncommon to own your own bottle - you usually rent one. Although “Camping Gas” is available almost everywhere it only comes in small bottles (about 4kgs) and is very expensive. However, an economical and convenient alternative is available. Here's where a little knowledge can save you a lot of money...

The total cost of buying and regularly refilling one of these cylinders over a period of three or four months is likely to be less then half that of using Camping Gas – which is the only other alternative. When your trip is over you can sell the cylinder in the UK if you’re shipping your motorhome back to NZ, further enhancing your overall savings compared to Camping Gas. 

The advantage of these refillable cylinders doesn’t end with the cost saving either – imagine how difficult it can be to find a place which sells Camping Gas when you’re travelling. If you can’t speak the language and you don’t have local knowledge you can waste a lot of time driving around looking for a Camping Gas supplier, and given the small cylinders that Camping Gas comes in you’re going to be doing this very frequently. If you have a refillable cylinder you simply top up your LPG at a service station when filling the vehicle fuel tank. You should consider this refillable option. 

For safety choose a cylinder with an automatic filling cut-off so that it can’t be over-filled. You’ll still need adaptors for filling in Europe, as some countries use different fittings to connect to the cylinder but tell your cylinder supplier where you’re going and they’ll fix you up. 

And the time to go?
Unless you’re going for the skiing, anytime from May till October. August is peak holiday time for Europeans and popular destinations will be very busy then. Many campsites increase their prices from late July until the end of August. Some European campsites close for the winter during October, but there are still plenty which remain open, including many French Aires, German Stellplatz and Italian Aree di Sostas. If you have to begin or end your trip in July or August it would be wise to pre-book the channel crossing well in advance. Places to stay shouldn’t be too much of a problem as long as you’re flexible with your plans and don't mind close neighbours on sites.

And finally…
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or want further information. We’re pleased to help in any way we can, whether it’s a question about French street markets, the best site to stay at near Venice, or a quote for a new motorhome – if we can help in any way to make that dream trip to Europe come true we’ll be delighted to do so. Even if you’re not yet ready to make a purchase, we’d still be happy to hear from you and we’ll do our best to answer your questions. Why not Email us – we’re here to help!


“In Paris they simply stared when I spoke to them in French. I never did succeed in making them understand their own language” Mark Twain.