European touring

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European touring

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EUROPEAN TOURING

NEW 2011 tour France Spain and Portugal Tour des Grandes Alpes 2010 - an interesting diary of a six week trip across the Alps contributed by Jenny Vowden 2010 tour Just around France - to the Med and Brittany 2009 tour France Switzerland and Italian Lakes 2008 tour Germany, Austria, Czech Republic and Hungary 2007 tour Western France, the Pyrenees and Northern Spain 2006 tour Slovenia via Bavaria, Germany, Dolomites and Lakes in Italy and French Alps 2005 tour Auvergne, Jura and Alsace in France, Tuscany, Umbria, Marche and Lakes in Italy 2002 tour France to the Cote d'Azur and back 2001 tour Bourgogne, Alps and Drôme regions in France Our Yearly Holiday Costs and Tips for newcomers touring in Europe
European Campsites Aires 2005 Aires 2006 Aires 2007 Sites 2008 Stellplatz 2008 Aires 2009 Aires 2010 Aires 2011
We have travelled quite extensively across Europe in recent years mostly in our motorhome but occasionally taking shorter fly-drive holidays. From reading our travel logs it can be seen that we prefer to tour the open countryside and discover small towns and villages rather than the larger cities. We feel that we see more of each country's everyday lifestyle and like to visit local shops and markets rather than restaurants. Although we study maps and guide books before we set off we frequently change our plans and end up in the more remote places away from the main tourist traps. That is the beauty of extended holidays which we can now take since we have both retired!
site water tap in France	France is Camping-Car heaven with about eleven thousand sites both municipal and privately owned and ranging from basic to luxury and also plenty of "Aires" where you can usually park overnight, normally with a small charge for the water and waste supply points and even electric hookups. In some places you can stay for one night free in a town or village square. The Autoroutes around the cities (generally toll free) can be busy and overnighting on autoroute aires is not recommended for security reasons, but we found that the most interesting journeys are along the N and especially the D roads which are generally quieter. See here for more about French regions and guidebooks
Piano Grande Umbria	Italy is an interesting mix of old and new, smart and scruffy (both people and buildings!). The areas we have visited include Tuscany, Umbria and the Marches, Venice and the Lakes. We also passed through the Dolomites. Organised campsites are generally large and expensive but there are lots of Arees di Sosta. The autostrada (tolls) and main roads are busy with many lorries but there are plenty of small towns and villages and good countryside off the beaten track.
Lake Bled, Slovenia	Slovenia newly in the EU is a mix of old and new. The capital Ljubljana is a bustling city. To the north west there are the Julian Alps and picturesque Lake Bled. Elsewhere there are caves, castles and old and modern spa resorts. There are large forests and agricultural and wine producing areas. Apiculture (bee-keeping) is also widespread. There are a few dozen campsites all privately run varying from large resort sites to a few basic farm sites. We are only aware of three official motorhome stopovers. English is spoken widely
Brienzersee near Interlaken	Switzerland is expensive for touring with high site fees and fuel costs. There are few lay-bys especially on the minor roads up the valleys. We found the campsites in the main tourist areas to be mostly large and crowded with very small pitches. For the best views and access to the mountains a Swiss pass for use on the railways and cable-cars is essential
Neiderau Austria	Austria has a mix of small and large sites depending on the popularity of the area as a tourist destination. Pitch sizes are usually similar to in Switzerland but some sites have larger marked pitches. We have recently stayed at some lakeside sites that have luxurious amenities. The main roads are generally good and parking in towns not usually a problem.
Castille de Loarre Spain	Spain we found to be a country of contrasts ranging from the mountainous Pyrenees, the green (and often damp) North Atlantic coast and dry high level plains. The architecture is very mixed with magnificent old churches and monasteries and drab industrial towns but sometimes with hidden gems such as old hilltop castles. We have only toured Northern Spain in our motorhome but have visited the Costas on short fly-drive holidays when even in a couple of weeks we have explored the more rugged countryside just a few miles inland from the coast. We found the Spanish side of the Pyrenees less accessible with very long north-south valleys make touring off the beaten track more difficult.

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