If you’re the sort of traveller who hates being tied to a package holiday, detests feeling coerced into joining packed sightseeing tours like regimented cattle and loves to explore as much of a new destination as possible, then travelling by motorhome might seem like the perfect way to vacation. The idea of spending weeks on the open road certainly gives the impression of complete abandonment, and the chance to ‘live’ a destination instead of simply ‘see it’ for a few days is an appealing notion to many. It’s a fun way to travel, especially for families, prompting thousands of us to book RV’s every year, but it does have some downsides to consider.
Depending upon where you’re going (and whether you’re hiring or taking your own motorhome) there are driving laws that might apply differently to you and affect the way you travel. Then there’s thinking ahead to where you’re going to park every evening, because some countries take a very disapproving view of travellers decanting the entire
contents of their travelling house onto a grass verge for a late evening BBQ before bedtime. Don’t forget the cost too – two weeks in a motorhome might have an initial price tag that seems far more wallet-friendly than that family holiday to a four star hotel in Dubai you had your eye on to begin with – but you have to add the cost of fuel, ferry crossings (if required), additional insurances, comfort kits including blankets, cutlery and more into the equation. And then there’s the cost of pitching in dedicated campsites which can vary greatly depending upon where you’re staying and the facilities you want to have while you’re there. But while it all sounds like travelling by motorhome might be more of a headache than you first thought, don’t despair, because if you do fancy cutting your teeth in the world of recreational motorhoming, the solution is to book your trip to France, where RV’ers are welcomed with open arms and holidays are considerably less expensive than they might be elsewhere.
The French have two very unique systems available to travellers visiting with motorhomes. One is the government-run Aires de Service, a collection of over 2500 motorhome overnight parks specifically designed for tourists to the country. They were the brainchild of the French government a decade or two ago, originally created to attract tourists to areas where there were no existing facilities available in an effort to promote tourism throughout regional France. They’ve proven so popular that they’ve spread to every region of mainland France, offering travellers a free site to stay overnight. And with such an obvious benefit to local commerce and tourism the idea has already spread across Europe, with similar sites appearing in countries like Germany (Stellplatze) and Italy (Aree de Sosta).
The second, and possibly most popular, is a private scheme called France Passion, a unique farm-stay program developed for motorhomers by motorhomers with a distinct love of French culture and cuisine. Across the country, landowners and farmer owners with businesses that range from artisan cheese-making to olive growing and wine
making, invite motorhomers to stay on their land for free. The only rules are that visitors must be in a self-sufficient motorhome (own cooking, waste, water facilities) and have signed up for the France Passion scheme. The idea is to provide holidaymakers with a quiet and often beautiful countryside pitch for a night or two, secure and tranquil, in the hope that they might visit the farm shop and purchase some of the locally made produce. Although making a purchase isn’t a requirement, it’s considered a nice way to say thank you for your free overnight stay. In truth, when you see the quality of the goods on offer, who could resist spending a few Euros on fresh milk, organic beef, and
vegetables so freshly harvested they still smell of the earth? Sipping a glass of locally produced Chardonnay while you overlook the rolling valleys of the Dordogne seems an incredibly good exchange.
There are other ways to keep the cost of motorhoming in France to a minimum, including avoiding the notorious toll roads wherever possible (or travelling on them overnight when their charges are sometimes dropped) and buying essentials in bulk from the larger outlet and discount stores you can find in major cities and close to ports of entry. Fuel costs in France are often cheap by comparison to many other European countries, but you can limit your consumption by taking bicycles and using them to get around whenever you park up, and if you’re able to travel out of school holidays, most tourist attractions are cheaper to visit as well. Overall, travelling through France in your own
motorhome is an affordable and exciting way to travel, it’s just about knowing where, and how, to go.
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Established in 2008, Travelfx are solely an internet business providing an alternative to a Bureau de Change with some of the best exchange rates online. The company has been ranked 34th in the 2012 Sunday Times Fast track 100.
Established in 2008 with one mission, to bring the retail foreign exchange business online identifying an opportunity to redefine how people purchase travel money. The team of three partners has over 30 years experience in the retail foreign exchange market.
Established in 1973 ICE Plc is one of the largest and most respected retail foreign exchange operators in the world with a combined annual group turnover in excess of US.8 billion and with over 300 branches in addition to providing an online service.
Established in 1979. Moneycorp also have retail bureaux de change at Gatwick, Stansted, Southend and Southampton airports, and across Central London. They provide next day delivery and can deliver on Saturdays for an additional fee
Established in 1981, Covent Garden FX is a family-owned and operated Bureau De Change located in the heart of Central London, providing some of the best exchange rates online for branch collection or home delivery.
Established in 1976 the business has grown to become one of the most recognised travel money brands in the UK with over 1,100 branches worldwide. They also provide wholesale services to many banks and supermarkets.
Established in 2007 with three bureau de change branches in London as well as running a postal delivery service in the UK with a focus on reputation, trust, reliability and quality of service.
Established in 2002, FairFX cut out the middle man and use state of the art technology to execute your orders and deliver holiday money to your door while eliminating the cost of running expensive foreign exchange kiosks.
Established in 2011 by Ben Wakeham, a young travel mad entrepreneur who wanted to simplify the purchase of holiday money and use the internet to allow consumers to gain better exchange rates than long established travel money providers.
The post office is one of the most recognised brands for holiday money in the UK. They allow you to order your travel money online and collect it from any Post office branch or have it delivered to your address for free.
As a well known British high street retailer, M&S stock one of the widest ranges of currency on the high street (up to 42 currencies) available online, by phone or in store operating as one of the most competitive providers for those needing to purchase last minute from one of their 120 stores nationwide.
Established in 1965 Thomson provide a holiday money service online and via a local branch in addition to their core business of providing holidays, hotels and flights. They provide both travellers cheques and cash.
Established in 1968 and acquired by RBS in 2000, foreign exchange forms part of the general financial services offered by the bank. You can purchase notes or travellers cheques for collection from your local branch or home delivery.
