Motorhome Caravan Trips & Tips

This is about us two slow travellers and trusted house sitters. First of all, let’s Introduce Paul and Fabian, two best friends for 22 years and more great years ahead.  This section of the blog covers the planning and execution of our Motorhome and now caravan. trips and tips.

Retired and left Australia in 2016 and travelled to Chiang Mai, Thailand, to visit our daughter and son in law,  and most importantly, to look after their lovely cat, Leo, while they travelled back to Australia. We loved the diversity of the place and stayed for for nearly two years. We found our own little house in the suburb of Hang Dong, isolated and tranquil, [except for the odd street party and barking neighbourhood street dogs]. Hang Dong is just north of the city and I’m definitely intending to write blog posts on this lovely experience soon.  

After our Thailand experience, we decided our next travel destination should be Europe, leaving beautiful Thailand in January 2018.  Initially travelling to the UK where we bought a 2015 Swift Bessacarr motorhome and scooter (Honda 125cc PCX).  Researched best type of platform to transport the scooter and bike and decided on a 150Kg Chassis Mounted Motorcycle/Scooter platform on the rear of the motorhome.  Why did we chose this type of motorhome?

1. Well known brand and easily supported with parts and servicing.
2. We loved in interior, so bright and spacious.
3. The interior fit out was well designed and practical
4. We chose a two berth for its simplicity and compaction.

Planning: The important items covered here but you may have additions.

1. Best motorhome membership clubs that would helps us decide on best sites and locations.
2. And MOST important weather conditions at the destination.
3. What equipment do we want to take with us e.g.
   1. Pots, Pans, Plastic China, Cutlery.
   2. Outdoor chairs table,
   3. Gas Barbecue (very important),
   4. Outdoor floor covering and awnings
   5. Bedding.
   6. Toilet chemicals
   7. Electrical and plumbing fittings
4. Most accurate GPS for our motorhome. Very important for route traveling.
5. Licencing and Insurance requirements.
6. Security, GPS monitoring, Caravan hitch lock and wheel lock. CRS registered.
7. Roadside assist, RAC, AA
8. Health cover if outside your country of residence.

My scooter licence was Thai International so only valid for one yr in the UK and Europe.   The UK didn’t recognise my Thai scooter licence and to get a UK motorbike licence was just too complicated for this 72yr old.  Motor homes are great for weekends or annual short term holidays but for us not really designed for long term traveling. We wanted to spend more time in one place. It was hard with the motorhome packing up everything up ever time we needed to travel to shops or to explore the region.

A caravan suited us much better for those longer stays, where we were able to park it easily with the power movers and set it up with the awning, outdoor furniture and our loved Weber Q1000 barbecue,  We could then jump in the car and explore the area.  Shopping much easier so goodbye scooter and motor home and come in Caravan and Car, YAY. 

The caravan we bought was a 2015 Swift Eccles Sapphire twin axle.   To safely tow this 1.55-tonne monster we consulted the Caravan and Camping Club guide and settle on a 2015 Mercedes E350 Estate as it met the power to weight/ratio required to tow that type of caravan.   We left the UK again with car and caravan in October 2018, and travelled from Portsmouth to Santander by ferry and have been travelling since (France, Spain and Portugal).   During our travel, we also do house sitting assignment through Trusted Housesitters. .

Our blog is targeted to all travellers but mainly those who wish to travel in a similar way, so hope it helps.   We will post travel destinations for our motorhome, caravaning and house sit, in places we loved. well, we just about loved every place we stayed and our experiences with the various cultures and local authorities.   I hold dual nationality with Ireland and Australia so we’re blessed to get Fabian a 5yr EU Pass in Portugal so that we are both visa worry free.   

One of the problems with travelling is having to right companies to support us with medical and money transfer. Health insurance mainly and we found best that suited us was Nomad Insurance. Money transfer was also a problem as we have investments in the UK and in Australia. We started using banks and other online money movers but found it just too expensive then discovered TransferWise, a Fintech company with great exchange rates so try them out.

Check-Out Spaceship Motorhome Rentals Here. See ya on the Road

Spaceships have a range of campervans & motorhomes for hire which can accommodate from 1 to 7 people. All their custom-designed campervans and motorhomes are packed with features that make them ideal for holidays, short breaks, touring, road trips, visiting friends & family, or going to festivals and events. Spaceship hire services are available in the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Click the links below to explore.

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