RVing
in Europe is tremendous fun for all the family.
If you have experienced an RV trip through Europe,
you know it just can't be beat. The blend of the
old and the new, cities and breathtaking outdoor
scenery is virtually beyond description.
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GONDOLAS
IN VENICE PHOTO:
DAN ROSEN
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I find if I don't get outdoors as often as possible,
I get withdrawal pains. And when you travel by
RV, you can really get a feel for the outdoors.
Europe is my #1 RV travel destination. North,
west, east or south, I love it all and for me
it just can't be beat.
What's
so special, you ask? I love the quaint city centers,
images of a time gone by. I love the European
outdoors and the wealth of leisure activities
on offer - white-water kayaking, mountain climbing,
bicy cling and just plain hiking, it's all on
hand. Especially, I love the proximity to lots
of cool activities. Making the most of CamperTrails'
3XF
concept
(3XF
= FREEDOM, FLEXIBILITY,
FUN), if I
decide to visit a gallery, a museum, experience
a great meal or go shopping I can do that on one
day, and the next find myself halfway up an alp
having the time of my life. No lying around the
pool for me! I have found that the best way to
access all this fun is in an RV - or motorhome
as they are frequently called in Europe. High
quality campgrounds abound, many near city centers,
and if you're not traveling in the high season
then prices are very reasonable and parks relatively
quiet. But beware of the high season, when campground
prices escalate and the parks are quite often
full.
OK,
now you've decided on a great European outdoor
vacation adventure, how do you go about it? Well,
all you have to do is to take some simple and
logical precautions, and you're sure to enjoy
the most fantastic vacation imaginable. A word
of caution: Your vacation can take a year to save
for, only a second to ruin, so be sure to insure
your trip.
Presumably
the first item of business is getting there. A
myriad of travel sites are out there, all geared
to getting you to your destination as cheaply
as possible. I prefer Kayak
and
Travelocity, who search hy=undreds of sites
to find great deals. I also like to use the airline
companies' sites - you can usually get a good
internet rate there too. And if you're brave enough
to wait for the last minute, you'll find top
flight deals at - appropriately enough -
LastMinute.com.
But what about my RV, you so rightly ask. If you're
planning on a short(ish) trip, then you'll probably
find your best bet is a rental. Many companies
offer rentals in Europe, and you can even get
a free, no obligation
quote from us. If you plan a longer stay,
then you can contemplate leasing or buying a vehicle.
I A friend of mine tells how in his youth he bought
a used motorhome in Holland and traveled overland
all the way to India. The whole trip took almost
two years, and at the end he even managed to sell
it! A talented cook, he made traveling money by
adapting and preparing regional specialties for
fellow travelers, some of which you can find at
our sister site, 'OUTDOOR
COOKING.COM'.
In
Europe, size matters. The smaller the better.
Firstly, gas is more expensive than in the US,
and secondly, excepting for highways, many European
roads are really narrow and winding. Think 'winding
alpine trails' and you'll get the picture. Getting
jammed on one of them, or in a narrow inner-city
road, in a giant behemoth of a motorhome is really
no fun at all. Especially when so many great compact
options abound.
Another
thing you should take note of is that most European
RV rentals will have manual transmissions and
many do not have air-conditioning. Europeans seem
to think air-conditioning is superfluous, but
the summers can get pretty hot. Driving around
in a sweltering truck is no fun at all, so definitely
take that into account when you rent or buy your
RV.
The
next thing to consider is an
itinerary. Plan you're trip around those activities
that interest you and your fellow travelers and
then decide your route. I prefer to be on the
move all the time, so I have short stops at several
campgrounds along the way. Some campgrounds stipulate
a minimum stopover period, especially during the
high season, so take this into account. Several
sample itineraries
and European
driving regulations are available on the CamperTrails
website.
And finally - CamperTrails has an extensive and
comprehensive list of free
RV travel checklists available - don't be
shy about using them.
And
while your planning
your trip, don't forget to get your maps!
(Click here to get
)
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