2300 driving miles from home, now in a campsite in Denia, Spain. We left Dublin after a night on the pier, we took the ferry to Liverpool and although it is a long sailing it was calm and the cabin was a welcome place to rest. We then spent a bit of time in England, including a trip to Camborne, Cornwall to get the Beeny boxes fitted, we decided on 2 one each side and the extra storage is more than worth the price of having them done (£425 each). I wasn't sure what I was expecting but the quality far exceeded my expectations, they are made to measure and take a day each. The size of the box is made as big as you van and chassis will allow, for example the depth of one draw is deeper in the right side compared to the left just by 2 cm but it give the extra space. I'll send some pictures when I return.
20 Nov Portsmouth to Le Havre overnight again with a cabin made this a nice trip. Feeling refreshed we chose our next stop based on a guide called Camperstop Europe, which is very good if a little out of date, having now seen the vicarious books, I would say they are better. Any way the stop was on the edge of the river at Le Mans, Free. But the services were over flowing. We then made our way to the south coast of france using mainly free stops and the odd campsite. We have found when using the camper stop guide it is always best to have a plan B and C as the info is often wrong especially as to whether it stop is open but given that we are in Nov and Dec it is not surprising some are closed.
Some quick money facts it is costing give or take €50 euros per 200 miles in Diesel. By mixing camper stops and campsite we are paying an average of €6 euros a night and we take electric whenever it is available. I have spent €22 Euros on LPG. this used for the heating, hot water and the fridge when we don't have electric. LPG tanks or refillable bottles are great but in Spain you need to pl\n where to find a garage that sells LPG, Auto Gas as it is not common this website has helped; myLPG.eu Toll roads have been avoided where possible but I have still spent €65 euros on tolls to date. Washing has cost €70 euros to date. I wont bore you with the cost of food or alcohol because this will depend on your own preferences. That said Spain is cheaper than France to buy alcohol either to consume on or off the premises. In Spain with every round of drinks you get a supply of nibbles, which tend to be different every round. one pub had an offer for 6 bottles of Mahon (Spanish Lager) and Potatoe Bravas for €4.50. A bottle 1 Ltr of Vodka varies from €5 no brand to about €10 for Smirnoff. Ltr bottles of San Miguel circa €1.30. Campsites vary considerably in price from about €12 with electric to €30 but many will do deals if you stay longer. We have not stayed anywhere for more than 3 days, yet.
Couple of tips buy English French English Spanish dictionaries if you can’t speak the language as Not everyone understands English, even when you raise your voice, speak slowly and point!
Also make sure you check the electric supply as many sites have reversed polarity, get a tester from Flea bay and have multiple connectors as again these vary almost as much as hose connectors. Internet we have tended to allow data roaming as it is much cheaper than it used to be or find a Mc Donalds and use theirs. Campsites tend to charge and the price varies from about €2 to €5 per 24 hours.
My Kindle broke within days of arriving in France and Kindle won’t ship a new one outside of UK and Ireland which has meant getting one sent to a UK address and then forwarded to a friend of a friend who lives in Spain.
Amanda has returned from her run so time to finish for now.
All the very best for the season.
Jamie
20 Nov Portsmouth to Le Havre overnight again with a cabin made this a nice trip. Feeling refreshed we chose our next stop based on a guide called Camperstop Europe, which is very good if a little out of date, having now seen the vicarious books, I would say they are better. Any way the stop was on the edge of the river at Le Mans, Free. But the services were over flowing. We then made our way to the south coast of france using mainly free stops and the odd campsite. We have found when using the camper stop guide it is always best to have a plan B and C as the info is often wrong especially as to whether it stop is open but given that we are in Nov and Dec it is not surprising some are closed.
Some quick money facts it is costing give or take €50 euros per 200 miles in Diesel. By mixing camper stops and campsite we are paying an average of €6 euros a night and we take electric whenever it is available. I have spent €22 Euros on LPG. this used for the heating, hot water and the fridge when we don't have electric. LPG tanks or refillable bottles are great but in Spain you need to pl\n where to find a garage that sells LPG, Auto Gas as it is not common this website has helped; myLPG.eu Toll roads have been avoided where possible but I have still spent €65 euros on tolls to date. Washing has cost €70 euros to date. I wont bore you with the cost of food or alcohol because this will depend on your own preferences. That said Spain is cheaper than France to buy alcohol either to consume on or off the premises. In Spain with every round of drinks you get a supply of nibbles, which tend to be different every round. one pub had an offer for 6 bottles of Mahon (Spanish Lager) and Potatoe Bravas for €4.50. A bottle 1 Ltr of Vodka varies from €5 no brand to about €10 for Smirnoff. Ltr bottles of San Miguel circa €1.30. Campsites vary considerably in price from about €12 with electric to €30 but many will do deals if you stay longer. We have not stayed anywhere for more than 3 days, yet.
Couple of tips buy English French English Spanish dictionaries if you can’t speak the language as Not everyone understands English, even when you raise your voice, speak slowly and point!
Also make sure you check the electric supply as many sites have reversed polarity, get a tester from Flea bay and have multiple connectors as again these vary almost as much as hose connectors. Internet we have tended to allow data roaming as it is much cheaper than it used to be or find a Mc Donalds and use theirs. Campsites tend to charge and the price varies from about €2 to €5 per 24 hours.
My Kindle broke within days of arriving in France and Kindle won’t ship a new one outside of UK and Ireland which has meant getting one sent to a UK address and then forwarded to a friend of a friend who lives in Spain.
Amanda has returned from her run so time to finish for now.
All the very best for the season.
Jamie
