Looking to broaden your horizons beyond the UK? There are plenty of beautiful holiday locations in Europe, with brilliant camping spots and countless activities to enjoy. My family and I purchased our folding camper with a view to using it in Europe, but I was unsure about taking my camper to Europe for several reasons.
Can I use my folding camper in Europe? You can use a folding camper in Europe. On most sites in Europe, you will have a pitch with electricity, water and drainage as you would in the UK.
I’ve put together some things that you need to know when travelling in Europe. It’s really important that you read these as they really can make or break your holiday! Also, there are a few particularly nice places to stop in Europe, which I’ll tell you all about in this blog post.
Book a visit to Europe via Siblu, with tons of holiday types to choose from and unique holidays. Choose between family holiday locations, activity holidays, lakeside parks, or even parks near cities. Explore all the possibilities and book your dream trip by visiting Siblu today.
Things To Know When Travelling In Europe
If you’re going to be taking your folding camper to Europe, it’s important that you’re aware of the speed limits, laws, and the documentation that you’ll need to take with you. Here are some quick things you need to know when taking your folding camper to Europe.
Find Out Your Speed Limits!
Whether you’ll only be travelling by car to and from your campsite or you’ll be exploring Europe by car throughout your holiday, it’s important that you know your speed limits. If you don’t know your speed limits, you can obviously end up in bother.
Speed limits differ, sometimes quite significantly, across Europe. For example, sections of Germany’s main motorway don’t have a maximum speed limit for cars. However, if you’re towing, there is a maximum speed limit of 50mph. It’s important that you know about little differences like this, so you don’t end up getting caught out!
Another example of where you really need to be aware of speed limits is France. When travelling in France, the speed limit will differ depending on your towing weight. There are also two different speed limits for all the motorways in France, regardless of whether you’re towing or not. There’s a lower speed limit in wet weather and for drivers who have held their licence for less than two years.
These little differences in speed limits can really catch you out if you don’t do your research in advance. In France, it’s said that the police are particularly strict when it comes to enforcing speed limits. French police can actually confiscate a UK driving licence, which could leave you stranded! This is a brilliant example of why you desperately need to know your speed limits before travelling to a European country.
Are You Covered By Your Insurance?
If you’re travelling to Europe with your folding camper for any length of time, it’s important to make sure that your insurance policy covers you while you are away from home. Before touring Europe, check that your insurance policy will cover you, your car and your folding camper for the duration of the trip.
In most cases, your insurance will cover you for a certain period of time. For example, my insurance policy covers me for 180 days of European travel. This is obviously more than enough for most people, but if you’re hoping to tour Europe for longer, speak to your insurer. Some insurers will allow you to add more days to your cover to ensure your protected for the entirety of your trip.
Don’t just presume that you’re protected by your insurance. You must check. After all, it’s much better to be safe than sorry. And if you know that you’ll exceed the number of days that your policy allows for, speak to your insurer about adding more days. It’s not worth travelling without the protection of your insurance should the worst happen.
Make Sure You Have The Equipment and Documentation That You Need
Depending on where you are travelling in Europe, you might need to buy some extra equipment ahead of your travels. In some European countries, you have to carry extra equipment that will keep you and others safe.
To cover all European countries, you should take all of the following with you:
- First Aid Kit
- High-Visibility Jacket
- Self-test Breathalyser
- Fire Extinguisher
- Warning Triangle
No matter where you’re travelling in Europe, there are also some really important documents that you should take with you. While you might never actually need these documents during your stay, it’s best to have them regardless:
- Driver’s Licence
- Vehicle Reg Document
- Passport
- Insurance Policy Documents
Keep all of the above documents in your car, so you always have them with you when travelling in Europe. If you ever need them, you’ll always have them and not end up regretting the fact that you decided not to bring them.
Book a visit to Europe via Siblu, with tons of holiday types to choose from and unique holidays. Choose between family holiday locations, activity holidays, lakeside parks, or even parks near cities. Explore all the possibilities and book your dream trip by visiting Siblu today.
Beautiful Regions In Europe That Accept Folding Campers
There are some truly stunning places that you can stop in Europe. Places packed with fun things to do but also easily accessible with your folding camper.
Brittany, France
As you might be aware, Brittany is one of the most popular holiday regions in France. Well known for its megalithic monuments, there’s plenty to explore and do in Brittany. Whether you want to swim in some of the most beautiful waters in Europe or explore Brittany’s stunning islands or quaint towns, there’s something for the whole family to enjoy.
I haven’t personally stopped in Brittany, but it’s a very popular location. It’s easily accessible from the UK, which is ideal when you’re travelling with your folding camper. You can travel to Brittany from Plymouth, Poole and Portsmouth by ferry, which is obviously the best option if you want to take your folding camper with you.
There are countless campsites in Brittany, but here are some very popular campsites:
- Le Conguel Campsite
- Domaine de Kerlann Campsite
- Les Pierres Couchées Campsite
Le Châtelet Campsite
Le Conguel sits on the tip of the Quiberon peninsula in southern Brittany and is just 10 metres from the nearest sandy beach. There’s a large covered pool and a big outdoor pool, plus facilities including waterslides and playgrounds, children’s clubs and evening entertainment.
There is plenty to see and do across the region, including sports such as scuba diving, surfing, sailing and tree-top adventure trails; historical sites such as the ancient megalithic complex at Carnac, and plenty of local cultures, including famous festivals, music, and culinary specialities (our favourites are the salted caramel crêpes!).
Le Conguel has a great swimming complex with a heated outdoor pool, a covered indoor pool and waterslides, plus splash pools for toddlers. This is what holiday fun is made of!
Pool highlights:
- heated outdoor swimming pool
- toboggans and sliding slopes
- covered indoor spa pool
- indoor and outdoor paddling pool
- swimming shorts are welcome in the pool complex
If you’d like to find out more or book a stay, you can visit Siblu, the website for holiday-makers travelling to Europe with their own tent, caravan or motorhome. Or, in your case, a folding camper!
Domaine de Kerlann Campsite
Domaine de Kerlann is one of Brittany’s best-known holiday villages. There are five superb sandy beaches within five miles, and the local town of Pont Aven is so pretty it inspired the artist Paul Gauguin.
On-site, you can enjoy indoor and outdoor pools with waterslides and a giant splash zone, free kids’ clubs, and family-friendly evening entertainment for all ages to enjoy together. There are adventure playgrounds around the site, boules pitches (it’s the French national sport!), and lots more fun for everyone on your holiday.
The park is just a 1 hr 45-minute drive from Roscoff ferry port, with Caen and Cherbourg just a little further for holidaymakers who welcome the convenience of driving over with their own car.
There are lots of sports and activities for all the family to enjoy every day, with playgrounds, pitches, and entertainment organised by our team.
The focal point every evening is our large outdoor stage, where our fabulous team puts on colourful shows through the summer. Enjoy songs, dance, and comedy, plus evening shows performed by your children, karaoke, quizzes and lots more! and other evening entertainment.
There’s a giant pool complex at Domaine de Kerlann, with two heated swimming pools and a huge splash zone, an indoor pool, a waterslide and a paddling pool for toddlers. That’s more than 700 m² of watery fun!
Pool highlights:
- outdoor pool
- indoor pool
- slides
- wading pool
- splash zone
- spa
- swimming shorts are welcome in the pool complex
If you’d like to find out more or book a stay, you can visit Siblu, the website for holiday-makers travelling to Europe with their own tent, caravan or motorhome. Or, in your case, a folding camper!
Les Pierres Couchées Campsite
Les Pierres Couchees, on the very southern edge of Brittany, is a beachside holiday park that is a five-minute walk to the sea, with the charming coastal town of Saint-Brevin-Les-Pins just 15 minutes on foot. This site has no shortage of activities to keep you and your kids busy, and there’s a pool complex with an outdoor pool, spa, paddling pool and waterslides. The eye-catching outdoor entertainment venue is a 300-seater amphitheatre!
The fantastic swimming options at Les Pierres Couchées include a heated pool, a paddling pool and four water slides.
Pool highlights:
- outdoor pool
- slides
- wading pool
- splash zone
- swimming shorts are welcome in the pool complex
Your children will get to try out cool activities and meet lots of new friends at our free kid’s clubs, which run for two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon for five and a half days each week.
Two free children’s clubs
- pirate club (5 to 9 years old)
- barracuda club (10 to 14 years old)
Their energetic entertainment team prepares activities that all the family can enjoy throughout the day, and most evenings, their large amphitheatre plays host to a wide range of family-friendly entertainment, including discos, karaoke, and cabaret. It’s the perfect end to a fabulous day.
If you’d like to find out more or book a stay, you can visit Siblu, the website for holiday-makers travelling to Europe with their own tent, caravan or motorhome. Or, in your case, a folding camper!
Loire Valley, France
Yet another popular region of France is the Loire Valley. If there is any wine fans reading, you might be aware that the Loire Valley is famous for its world-class wines. Whether you want to visit a vineyard or two, explore some of the region’s historic towns or visit the iconic châteaux, you’re in for a holiday jam-packed with picturesque scenes if you visit the Loire Valley.
I have yet to visit a campsite in the Loire Valley, although it’s on our list of places to visit. The Loire Valley is very popular, but you’re in for a long journey from the nearest port. The closest port to The Loire Valley tends to be Caen, which is as far as 250 miles from some of the most popular Loire Valley campsites. If you’re comfortable driving while towing your folding camper, this shouldn’t be too much of a problem. And it’s more than worth it for the wonderful adventures you’ll enjoy once you reach your destination.
The Loire Valley is one of the largest regions of France, spanning 170 miles. That means there are plenty of lovely campsites in this area of France. However, here’s one of the most recommended sites.
Domaine de Dugny Campsite
Domaine de Dugny is set on the north bank of the Loire River and is the perfect base to explore the region’s famous chateaux. On site, there are heated indoor and outdoor pools with slides and chutes, multi-sports pitches, playgrounds, kids‘ clubs for all ages and live entertainment.
The Loire is famous for the incredible chateaux that were once homes to France’s most powerful people, and Domaine de Dugny is a great base for exploring these magnificent buildings. They include Chaumont Sur Loire, which was owned by nobles including Catherine de Medici and Diane de Poitiers. During spring months, the castle hosts a renowned garden festival, and during summer evenings, it is lit by 2,500 candles for Les Nuits Magiques.
Domaine de Dugny has heated indoor and outdoor swimming pools, plus slides and a paddling pool for toddlers, with our lifeguards providing a watchful eye all day long. There are also regular aqua-fitness and aqua-latina classes for those who want something a little more energetic.
Pool highlights:
- outdoor pool
- slides
- wading pool
- splash zone
- swimming shorts are welcome in the pool complex
Your kids will love trying new activities and meeting new friends at our free kid’s clubs. There are also many family-friendly activities across the park, including a bouncy castle, mini-golf, table tennis, archery and fishing, and our team organises fun activities throughout the day.
Three free children’s clubs,
- Space Bubbles for 1 to 4s
- Pirates Club for 5 to 9s
- Club Barracudas for 10 to 14s
If you’d like to find out more or book a stay, you can visit Siblu, the website for holiday-makers travelling to Europe with their own tent, caravan or motorhome. Or, in your case, a folding camper!
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