This isn`t a question, but having just returned from a ten day trip when we rented a campervan in Munich and spent most of our time in Northern Italy, I urge you North Americans, after you have been initiated to European travel with RS Tours, to venture out and hire a campervan. The German and Italian campsites that we used were superb and you have the added advantage of driving on the right side of the road. Email me for hints and tips.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
Linda,, many North Americans have rved in Europe,, its not just a Europeon thing,, LOL and many of us have not even taken a RS tour,,but travel indepentdently anyways.
There is a book long out , but very helpful called Camping and Motorhoming in Europe ,, by Patty Campbell and Dave Shore( or might be Patty Shore and Dave Campbell) .
We rv a lot here ,, but we find the campsites in Europe are NOT what we like,, I think you guys are used to different things. We also find the RVS and trailers so small, we like our 28 fter and we know many of our rv friends like them even bigger.
So, for us, we like eating at cafes and staying at hotels. Personally, I love maid service,, instead of being the maid service.( camping is work for moms) . LOL
Posted by
OP
Dundee, Scotland
95 posts
Pat, I forgot the need for size that you North Americans crave. Still, to do Europe on a budget, campervanning is worth considering.
Posted by
Arvada, Colorado
76 posts
Calling a campervan an RV is like calling an apple an orange. A VW campervan (and I think I'm safely assuming that you - OP - rented one from DRM in Munich) is a compact vehicle well-suited to driving in Europe's (almost) narrowest roads (we had to back out of one once!) Sleeps 4, no toilet or shower, but complete with the essentials of sink, stove, fridge, pots and pans, small table, a little storage and a stove. Coffee of your choosing FIRST THING in the morning. This is paradise.
Campervanning is even better in France than Germany and Italy because of the huge number of municipal campsites (http://www.abccamping.com). Like one in every village! These are usually very well-maintained, with hot showers, bathroom facilities, and sometimes a laundry. These European campgrounds are certainly not wilderness, but I'm not in Europe to see wilderness. They're convenient (short walking distance) to the village, social, quiet, safe. Then there's camping a la ferme (on the farm.) Pastoral solitude unmatched by any accommodations comparable in cost.
We've done over 5,000 km over 2 trips in DRM VW campervans and love it. These vans are diesel and get excellent mileage. We usually camp 2 nights, then hotel it 1 night. And I cook and do laundry too!
Linda is right, but she doesn't go far enough. camping and campervanning is not only a way to do Europe on a budget, it's also immersion travel.
Posted by
OP
Dundee, Scotland
95 posts
Lee, we had an RV. Permanent huge double bed in the back and shower,wc etc. Slept 3. It was great fun. I am a novice but a complete convert to this mode of holidaying. At age 59 I have done hostelling to 5star and regret finding my ideal holiday style so late.
Posted by
Edmonton, AB, Canada
668 posts
Hi Linda! I went to University in Dundee, but been here over 30 years! We have an RV here and we rented one outside Edinburgh a few years ago. Believe me, there is no comparison! I am not disparaging those who use them over there and I will not rule out doing it again, but you cannot compare our 30ft 5th wheel with all its amenities with the "motorhome" we rented there! Come over to this side of the Atlantic and you will see the difference.
Posted by
Des Moines, IA
2193 posts
This is a really good post...Lee's info is quite good. I have traveled by motor home RV here but have never done the RV thing in Europe. Still, I have always been impressed by the number of nice-looking and well-situated camping facilities in Germany. For example, there’s a great place right on the Rhein in Bacharach (believe there's even a restaurant there). I remember another situated right on the Mosel when driving over to Burg Eltz. I always thought it would be a good experience to camp for a night or two but hadn’t really seriously considered it before (maybe I’ll try it out now). I have also always been sort of surprised by the number of RVers on the road in Germany when doing trips by auto. Both the trailers and "motor homes" were much, much smaller than the huge Class A motor homes and 5th wheel trailers retired people drive (and live in during winter) here. There’s really no comparison whatsoever. If you do want to come to the US for an RV adventure, it’s quite popular for foreign tourists to rent one and head west to Yellowstone. Another interesting scene is to visit an RV resort in Arizona in winter…half American & half Canadian.