planning your holiday

[eleanor2]

travel room doesn't get used much so lets use it. i was thinking surely some of us are planning an holiday.if not what holiday would we choose this year if we could go wherever we wanted. next week i am off to harrogate for 2 weeks.went last year for a mechanics show for hubby.i dont go the show with him by the way.i enjoy the town and hotel facilities.in july i am off to france .to stay with my daughter.i am already packing my case.planning is a big part of it.we are driving so hubby has had to equip the car with regulatory equipment.like warning triangle,spare bulbs a flourescent jacket.G.B stickers and stickers on his lights to lift the beam.step one of planning.oh he has had l.p.gas sysem fitted for economy and better for the environment.

[franbee]

My next holiday is 2 weeks June/July. We are going camping in France as usual, but this time because it may be hotter we are going to Brittany, an area we haven't been. If anyone has been and can recommend places to visit. We like old towns, brocantes, places with canals or rivers where we can cycle.

[eleanor2]

that to is part of planning fran isn't it.working out the best places to go. now what about insurance.sometimes i bother sometimes i dont.this time with driving we will get special insurance for the car.but not sure wether to bother for ourselves.sun lotion and toiletries.do you drag them with you or buy them on hols.who takes a little pocket guide of whatever country they are going.what about a quick guide to the language book.do people still take travellers cheques or currency.or do you take english money and change it over there.there is so much to think of isn't there.

[franbee]

Because we take the car abroad at least once a year, we include that when renewing each year. We used to take annual travel policies, but now we are covered by our bank account or something, OH arranged it. We always take everything with us in the car, maps, guides, basic food, euros. We never relay on buying abroad.

[Crocus]

When we travel to the UK I only take my facial stuff. Other toiletries we buy over in the UK. Moneywise we use our bank card and the cash back facilitity at the supermarkets. Oh and extra insurance of course.

[eleanor2]

heres one.how early do you start packing for your hols.i start months ahead. we have also booked the ferry months early.ou find that way you can pick good times and get it cheaper.i think its cheaper to if you book on line,which we did.just wondering how many of us book our holidays on line or if we still use travel agents.

[franbee]

I resisted booking on line for a long time but now book everything there in advance. I don't pack until the night before, but everything is washed in case I want to take it. I have a spare set of toiletries, make up etc which is always in my vanity case and I keep it all topped up, so that's always ready to pick up.

[sunflower]

Well, a couple of years ago we travelled in our minbus/camper around Scotland and Orkney for three weeks with two of our sons.. Last year, we travelled around the villages of Dorset with my cousin from Canada...we wanted to give her a real British experience and that was great fun. This year, we are refurbishing the minibus to turn it into a proper camper van, as it will be just him and me now!. I'd love to go back to Devon. Also I have never seen a Lavendar farm, so that is also on my wish list.

[franbee]

Will you go to Norfolk Lavender, sunflower? We visited there when the children were small, it was lovely. It's at Heacham, near Hunstantan.

[fife]

Never pack until the night before then end up staying up till 4 am frantically doing it, i'm very disorganised. Your holiday sound fab franbee.

[eleanor2]

fran and sunflower then the happy wanderers.good on ya.i find if i pack months ahead it makes life easy.i do have a spare room.i lay my case on the floor and everytime i buy something or iron something i put it in my case.new toothbrushes and pearl drops etc in my case.now i have to remember months of pressies i have birhtdays and all christmas pressies to take in july.they are slowly piling up.i find on the night before i get panicky about forgetting something.so this way i am more sure i have remembered everything.is it just me but do you always think you have forgot something important like your passport even tho you have checked about 10 times.fran we always book on line now.when i go for my dream trip to egypt one day tho i will go to a travel agent cus i will want to go through everything for the best possible trip.i think travel agents are good.my son and all his wifes family just got a great deal from thomsons to go to Tunisia.

[franbee]

Having camped for a number of years now we have a tick list which we use. It works for us. And also the way we pack the car is always the same so if there's a space, there's something missing! Fife, I also am often shoving things in at the last minute.

[eleanor2]

how many of us vow to lose a bit of weight before we go on hols.or like me i grow my nails specially for the occasion.have high lights in my hair.i like a bit wilder clothes.going on holidays is a bit like coming on r.m a complete break from real life problems.

[franbee]

I have to chop my nails off and take off the polish before we go camping, also have my hair cut. I have a collection of hippy clothes I keep specially too. It's too much trouble trying to keep up the standards. However when we go on hotel holidays I take all my best clothes, or different things to the normal. I just say that nobody will know us so we can be anyone we like.

[lily]

Being really adventurous I've booked a few nights camping on a clifftop in Cornwall for next month. Cornish friend says we will be blown over the edge, hope to prove her wrong! Like Franbee I use a tick list, trouble is I still forget essential items.

[eleanor2]

i am off to harrogate for 2 days tomorrow.for this i havn't planned at all.other than booking the hotel.so today i have to pack and sort out all that we need.day wear,evening wear and swim wear as it has a health suite.hope i dont forget anything....

[eleanor2]

just cancelled my milk for whilst i am away.a month early.so i am really on the ball.theres nothing worse than a few days before hoping you see your milkman at 6 am to cancel your milk.just got my papers to cancel.my spare room is looking full.where am i going to fit everything.both grandsons wanted a bubble mower.so thats two big boxes to start with.grandson said i am glad you are coming over in gran grans big car you can fit more pressies in.

[franbee]

Which way are you crossing Eleanor? and do you drive the Paris ring road or go through Rouen?

[eleanor2]

we are crossing at Dover fery fran.daughter has booked us in a posh hotel in le touquet for the night.then she says we can travel up the coast road then cut across to the dordogne.we do have a map upstairs.another bit of planning having time to get the map out and plan our route.we will be using the sat nav.we arn't in any rush.when we went with the camper we had to say on the auto bon cus the camper was so large.we went off route once and ended up on this narrow road.we had to quick get back on the auto bon.so this time we really want to have a good sight see.

[franbee]

I've just booked my tunnel crossing for end June. We are going to Brittany, never been before, so if anyone has any suggestions for places to visit, I'd be pleased.
When we went through the Dordogne in April, we went via Rouen, there's a bit of a gap in the motorway, but it's not too bad. We came back Paris ring road, it was ok but very busy.

[eleanor2]

when i have looked at my map fean i will tell you what route.i fancy going right into the countryside. my friends have just come back from brittainy. they stayed in a caravan there. they always go to france.they absolutlely love brittainy.they came back brown as bricks.apparantly it is a sun catch area.

[TIGGYWINKLE]

Dear Elienor and Franbee,
Here are 2 sites that I use for France. www.frenchentree.com. Just go in and pick where you are going and it has lots of info. The other gem is for car Boot sales (vide greniers)all over France. Just click the region you are in and it will give you a full listing of Vide Greniers, and Brochantes. I have found some wonderful bargains at the vide Greniers. Have fun, and a wonderful holiday.
Tiggywinkle x

[TIGGYWINKLE]

OOPS forgot to put in website,for car boot sales in France www.vide-greniers.org. If you have trouble getting into this (I sometimes do) Just put in Vide Greniers in France into google, and you will find it.

[franbee]

Thanks for that TW. I already had the vide-greniers site but I've bookmarked the other. Unfortunately we don't always know where we will be on a certain day as we travel around, so we have to sometimes trust to luck to find things. Some TIC pages list markets, and we have found those.

[eleanor2]

thanks tiggiwinkle.went to have a look at the properties.the vide greniers was in french.my daughter bless her has written all the local ones down for us.we english have gone car boot mad.

[eleanor2]

i am now getting excited not long to my hols.must remember to call in and cancel my papers......

[Crocus]

You must be so excited Eleanor! Enjoy the preparations as well - it's so much part of the actual holiday! xxx

[eleanor2]

hi crocus my spare room is getting fuller and fuller.i have to take birthday presents and christmas presents.plus pressies to give everyone when i get there.hubby is being so good.he just keeps saying we will squeeze it in somehow.bought some lovely sandals for walking in.dolcis sale 80% off closing down sale.posh or what.will be walking all over france in them.

[Crocus]

.........as long you don't forget to take pictures Eleanor! I bet you are very excited by now. It's so lovely giving someone a prezzie isn't? It's their faces when they open it and it's something they like or perhaps wanted - priceless! xxx

[eleanor2]

both grandsons are mad on lightning mcqueen the racing car out of the disney film cars.i have bought them one each.plus other things.everytime grandson rings up he says glad ur coming in gran grans big car you can bring lots of pressies.little monkey.

[eleanor2]

oh dear i was sure i had a french map.but it is a map of ibiza.dont think that will help me.so we are reliant on sat nav untill we buy a map.

[Crocus]

Somehow I don't think Ibiza maps will take you to your daughter's front door Eleanor ........

[franbee]

Eleanor, you can safely put your holiday dates on the sticky thread in NTN 'Diary', then only we can see when you go. Then you and I can build up some pre-holiday fever!

[eleanor2]

fran i will try find ntn diary.

[JacquiMcR]

Hi everyone, I'm off to Ireland . Spending 2 nights in the North and hopefully visiting the giants causeway and carrick-a-rede rope bridge. Then heading to sligo where we have hired a house for a few weeks (two fields of cows between us and the sea). Fabulous views and only six miles from my enormous family.Last few days will be spent staying with friends as we didnt want to travel back on my sons birthday, so we will probably have a party there. Am so looking forward to getting away and seven months of ongoing building work is starting to take its toll. No matter what you all do, I hope you have a fantastic time.

[franbee]

Nice to hear about your plans, jacqui, just be aware that your post can be read by ANYONE on the internet, unless you post it in the NTN (private) section.

[JacquiMcR]

Franbee, thanks for reminding me!

[eleanor2]

hi fran i would imagine it o.k as long as we dont mention dates.i have found the diarty and it is good to have a private thread for members.

[eleanor2]

i havn't booked travel insurance yet for our trip.hubby says dont bother.we have car insurance for abroard.i dont know what to do.i am watching the rate on euros...it has gone up a few cents in the last few days.must get mine next week some time.

[franbee]

We get free annual cover with our bank account, includes Europe. I struggle with the currency too, haven't got time to shop around in my lunch hour.

[eleanor2]

fran hubby went on the internet to look at currency suppliers.the post office is at a good rate.got to go get my euros yet.have decided to get insurance .going to see what it covers first.usually have that from the post office to.

[franbee]

Got my euros today at Co-op travel, 1.23, not good at all but better than the other 2 places I tried.
Packed my vanity case, got the paperwork and maps together, dug my 'camping scruffs' from the back of the wardrobe. Got the bedding ready, OH has got the other stuff down from the loft, most of it stays in a box. Tomorrow he will buy more gas cylinders.

[eleanor2]

fran you must be so excited..i am already excited......you will tell us all about your hols wont you...lets hope you dont need an umberella.daughter says at the moment there is an heatwave in france..

[franbee]

yes, Eleanor, we take umbrellas, waterproofs, I draw the line at wellies but have rubber flip flops which can dry easily, sun cream, insect repellant, bite cream, those cheap tarporlins which can be used for all sorts including a shelter. OH is currently cutting some thin steel rods for making a wind break. Yes, I am excited now, but have 2 more days at work yet.

[eleanor2]

fran do you get nervous or do you just go with the flow.

[franbee]

Just worry about things not being done before we leave. Once we're on our way I'm fine.

[eleanor2]

i think once i catch the ferry on time i will relax.hope you have a lovely time.......

[dragonfly]

I saw Martin Lewis (the money expert) on tv today. He said never use a debit card abroad as you pay £1.50 every time you use it and you get charged every time you make a withdrawal from cash point. He said you should use a credit card and pay it off within 30 days and you wouldn't get any charges. I would love to meet that guy I'm sure he could save me a furtune.

[eleanor2]

you know that is a good point dragonfly.................