Hi. I'm new on this message board. My husband and I are at the very beginning stages of planning an extended rv trip with our 2 sons (9 and 14) and dog starting Nov 2 from Paris throughout Europe. We are not new to extended roadtrips in the states, but this will be our first out of the states and our first with an RV. We are US citizens and will have tourist visas. We are doing this 'no-frills' style. Lots of cooking etc. We will be moving back to the states after the trip unless some other opportunity shows itself.

I would appreciate info on the following:

-Rv rental suggestions from personal experience...including warning away from bad rental companies!

-Rv rental vs purchase (and then resale)of a used one - pros and cons.

-Any big fat warnings and suggestions about this idea in general(aside from the marital/family strife that could occur due to close quarters!)?

-But used bikes or rent as we go?

-We are breaking down our apartment in France and can bring linens and kitchen supplies that we would otherwise be selling anyway. Should we just bring these things or is there an advantage to renting them?

Many thanks - I look forward to being able to help other travelers on this board....
Rena

There are a couple of fodorites who have RV'd around Europe and/or the UK on extended trips and hopefully they will see your thread to give suggestions. I have only taken a couple of week or less RV trips in the UK years ago (actually an old VW camper van) so don't have any recent experience.

But just a thought you have probably already considered . . .

w/ the cost of petrol, driving an RV around Europe really isn't a budget mode of travel. When you factor in the petrol/road tolls/campgrounds and transport from outlying campgrounds into city centers for sightseeing it'll probably cost about as much as taking buses, trains and cheap flights and staying in B&Bs/hostels/2 star hotels. You do save on by cooking some meals of course.

Not to say there aren't great advantages too - but RV'ing just isn't a big money saver.

You could try posting on the ThornTree on www.lonelyplanet.com for more ideas. The first thing that came to my mind was the narrow roads in Europe and problem of parking an RV. Often you can have trouble even in a tiny car, you would have to stick to main roads and leave your RV on the outskirts (in a secure parking area) and cycle or bus in.
Kay

If you are intending to visit the UK as part of your trip you may have a problem with the dog - see http://tinyurl.com/rb7j9 for what you need to do if you haven't already started the process. Your dog will in anycase need to be microchipped and fully innoculated - including rabies at least a month before bringing him to Europe. Ireland and Norway also have very srict regulations. It is aslo advisable to take tick precautions even in winter - Frontline every month or a Scalibor tick collar (which also protects against sand flies which carry Leishmania). If you are in the south of Europe you will also need to protect him against heartworm.
Some breeds of dogs are banned in certain countries - you need to check if you have a Pit Bull Terrier, a Tosa or certain other breeds.
Make sure you get a winter proof RV (Camper)- not all of them are but at the time you are travelling you wil need a heater and insulation! Also bear in mind that many campsites will be closed in the winter months, and roadside camping is not allowed in many countries.

RV hire is very expensive so it would probably be worth buying a vehicle. Then the main problem is being able to insure it as a non-resident. I think the UK may be the only European country that makes that fairly easy - but of course then most vehicles will be right-hand drive.

I've just met a woman who spent a couple of months travelling around France with her two sons in a converted horsebox! Apparently in France it was very easy to find places to stop overnight without having to go to official camp-sites, or getting into trouble.

It sounds like a lot of fun but consider what janisj pointed out. When my husband and I drove around Normandy and Brittany we saw a lot of RVs on the road including in the parking of Le Mont St. Michel, which we found interesting. The roads in France are great, well marked, well maintained, good rest stops, very clean and the view was amazing! The costs of gas was expensive around 70- to 74 euros each time.

If you decide to to this, I hope you write a trip report because my husband and I are also considering a trip like yours.

Just a clarification - I believe the OP is currently living in France (w/ dog I assume)