Campervan Hire in The Midlands has always been extremely popular and I am not entirely sure why. Being from Stoke-on-Trent myself, I have always joked that it’s because you always need to get away from The Midlands…actually there may be some truth in that, being far away from the coast and all that. I think I also probably remember Lemmy from Motorhead saying something at a gig at The Victoria Hall in Hanley (sorry.. up’anley). As far as I remember it was on the ‘Bomber’ tour, when he introduced the gig by saying, “Evening Stoke-on-Trent, how are ya? I’m from here….nice place….to leave!”. OK I have now probably alienated the section of the Stoke population looking for campervan hire in The Midlands. I didn’t mean it.
Today we just added Campervan Hire in Cheltenham, Gloucester, Pershore, Redditch, Stoke on Trent, Stratford Upon Avon and Tamworth to our Campervan Hire in The Midlands page. This isn’t a full selection of all the campervan hire in The Midlands, but it gives some nice examples.
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Please note that we are unashamedly biased towards our South of France Camping Holidays being in a campervan, but if you want the discomfort of a tent, it will apply too.
Anyway, For me this is the time of year that I start thinking about getting away from it all! If you are thinking the same then I have a few suggestions for you. South of France Camping Holidays are great fun and, in these tougher times, can be very reasonable in price. The Côte d’Azur is a fantastic place with so much to see and do it makes a 2 week break fly by. Just outside Antibes is a place called Biot, a great spot in the Bay of Angels.
Here you will fine many great places to pitch your tent, hire a caravan or park your campervan most just a short walk from the train station.
Camping du Pylone is a fantastic site with great facilities and a lovely landscaped swimming pool. The on site restaurant is fantastic value with 3 course meals from €15. The restaurant also host live entertainment both inside and out with everything from live bands to magic and puppet shows!
Also in Biot there is the Eden campsite. it’s a little further from the train station and a little smaller than the Pylone but still has a fantastic pool area and play area. The restaurant is great value.
Within the Biot area you have some fantastic attractions too. There is the Antibesland amusement park with various rides for all ages. Next door is a karting track. 2 minutes walk from here you have Marineland which is a must see. Killer whales, dolphins, and seals perform daily and an underwater tunnel takes you face to face with the sharks!
From either campsite you have access to some of the best places in the South of France. All accessible by the (inexpensive) train that runs along the coast line.
Monaco, Cannes, Villefranche and Nice are all less than an hour and Antibes is just one stop away.
Other Campsites in the area are Camping Le Mistral, Camping Le Sequola & Le Rossignol Gitotel. If you are interested in taking a campervan across the channel so you can enjoy South of France camping holidays, please give us a call on 0800 612 8719 and we can sort it out for you.
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T In The Park 2010 is an essential date on any music lovers’ calendar and hopefully if you have found yourself here you are looking at the idea of festival campervan hire for T in The Park 2010. Held at the airfield in Balado, Kinross-shire, between Friday the 9th and Sunday 11th of July, this 3 day festival is being headlined by some real musical heavy weights!
Friday sees Muse taking the top slot with their stadium filling brand or rock. Singer & guitarist Matt Bellamy has been hailed as one of the greatest talents to come out of the UK for years and his band never disappoint.
On Saturday rapper and self confessed bad boy Eminem is the ends the show with Sunday’s closing party being headlined by rockers Kasabian who have just been nominated for three awards by the readers of MOJO magazine.
Another highlight, in my humble opinion, would be the chance to see the legendary Madness headlining the Radio One/NME stage. Expect to hear some great ska/pop classics such as ‘It Must Be Love, Our house, Baggy Trouser and The Prince mixed in with the usual Madness tomfoolery.
Stereophonics have recently released a new album titled ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’. They are hitting the Main stage just prior to Eminem along with Paolo Nutini, Vampire Weekend, The Proclaimers, Newton Faulkner and Scouting for Girls.
Paloma Faith, the beautifully quirky singer/performer, is supporting Muse of the Friday with The Big Pink.
In addition to the 3 main stages there is also King Tuts Wah Wah stage, (Calvin Harris, Mumford and Sons), The Red Bull Jam Future stage, (Echo and the Bunnymen, Ash, The Drums) and the Slam tent, (Carl Cox, Plastikman) Plus a bounty of acts appearing across the week end such as Chipmunk, Perl and the Puppets, Unicorn Kid, Kid Adrift and The Boy Who Trapped The Sun.
In between your favorite artist, (or should that be when the artists you don’t like are on), you can wander over to the funfair or the cinema where you can decide for yourself what films you see. Voting will open sometime before the event and the most popular films get shown.
Also there will be two Healthy T areas, one in the music arena and one in the campsite. Lounge around on big cushions or enjoy the sun, (fingers crossed), on the benches whilst sampling some great foods from around the world.
Massage is also on offer with many different massage styles to choose from costing anywhere between ten and thirty pounds! Bargain! Two ‘Refresh and Pamper Stations’ are available too with ‘posh’ toilets, hairdryers, showers and hair straighteners!!
As you would expect there are plenty of market stalls selling just about everything you need to make your weekend a memorable one but please have a look at the ‘Essentials’ section on the T in the Park website to avoid paying out for things you already have in your attic!
Have fun and enjoy T in The Park 2010!
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T in The Park Campervan Hire
may still be available if you call 0800 612 9719 now. Here are some notes about campervans and motorhomes at T in The Park.
Your campervan or motorhome is your home on wheels for the weekend, the campervan field is one of the original ways to enjoy all things festival. However as with all the good things in life space is limited so campervan tickets must be bought in advance.
Each campervan ticket allows access to a pitch area of 7m x 7m, the perfect little space for you, your bunk mates and your campervan. If you require more space for your vehicle you will need to purchase another ticket for a second pitch. Please bear in mind the size of the pitch when booking your T in The Park Campervan Hire
Campervan tickets only allow you to gain access with your campervan if you and everyone in your campervan are also in possession of T in the Park 2010 Weekend Camping tickets. If you want to arrive on Thursday, you must buy the weekend camping ticket that includes Thursday entry for you and each of your mates staying in the campervan. The number of passengers must not exceed the campervan sleeping capacity.
The campervan field is exactly that – no vans, caravans or cars allowed! Please note that no electricity hook-ups or water points are available. For safety reasons, only one LPG gas cylinder is permitted per campervan. However do ask us about hire of the Efoy 1600 Fuel Cell Generators which will give you safe mains electricity with no pollution or noise.
To book your T in The Park Campervan Hire please call us now.
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Sitting high in the southern French Alps, the third or fourth largest ski area in the country is an amazingly well kept secret, arguments rage as to the size of the ski station itself, however it is agreed to have 250 kilometres of groomed pistes and an amazing variety of snow, especially for the intermediate to expert skier. Serre Chevalier, France is indeed an excellent destination.
Situated in the south west corner of France on the border with Italy the area is on the crossroads to everywhere, whether it be north to Austria, west to Italy or south to the Mediterranean.
The scenery is breathtaking, fantastic alpine peaks and a climate that has given rise to the claim the area sees 300 days of sun a year, it has to be a place to visit, but it’s not just for winter activities the area is famed. The summer draws hikers, nature lovers, white water canoeists and those who just want to bask in the sunshine at an altitude of up to 1600 metres.
In the autumn the larch forests change colour bringing a flood of painters and those who find the summer months just a little bit too hot, but as the season ebbs from August into September the days cool and the temperatures become more balmy during the day. Serre Chevalier in France is further south than many other mountain resorts, so expect some extremes of weather.
The area sits between the main cities of Grenoble in France and Turin in Italy, with these places both being served by international airports. The fast TGV train from Paris calls in at Oulx 40 kilomteres away in Italy and there is a sleeper service available from Paris all the way to the old fortified town of Briancon, designed and built by Vauban in the 19th century.
But it is perhaps by road that it is most rewarding to climb into the mountains, taking in the peaks at your own pace and stopping whenever and wherever you feel like it. There are countless campsites to pull in at and enjoy what has to be one of the most breath taking regions of France, if not the world. Serre Chevalier, France is above all, ‘campervan friendly’.
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As well as the more obvious festivals like ‘V’ and Glastonbury there are a number of music festivals in the UK.
Here are a few more Festival suggestions for summer 2010.
Endorse it in Dorset Festival is held between the 6th and 8th of august on the A354 between Salisbury and Blandford. This festival is fantastic value and boasts 5 stages.
The Desmond Dekker Stage: A Great mix of music with Eat Static, Subhumans, Vice Squad, N.U.M.B, City Stereo and Metropolise on the Friday (more to be confirmed) and Subgiant, The Damned, (not to be missed!), Pronghorn, Symarip. Urban Voodoo Machine, Curst Sons, Scubaroots, Inner Terrestrials. El Goodo and The Mopes all hitting the stage on Saturday.
On Sunday you can see Pauline Black (ex-Selecter), Spunge, Macka B, Credit To The Nation, Dubmatrix, Rhythmites, Lovegrocer and The Family Again more to be confirmed.
Other stages include The Wild Cat Stage, Wig-on Casino, Rock the Bus Bar Stage, The Purple Purge stage and Dance Tent incorporating everything from Roots Reggae and Dub to Punk Karaoke and Blues.
Endorse it is family friendly with a pirate themed kids area, this is now one of my favourite music festivals in the UK. Also on offer are lots of arts and crafts plus storytellers, breakdance workshop, freaky science workshop and fairground rides. Don’t miss Scrumpy Sunday encompassing all things West Country!
Creamfields Festival: Creamfields is aimed at electronic/dance music fan and is the UK’s no1 dance festival taking place over 2 days. Creamfields has been voted Festival Award Winner for 2009.
It is situated in Daresbury, Cheshire between Liverpool and Manchester. With over 130 acts, (too many to list here, see the Creamfields website), you are guaranteed something to make you move your feet BUT it is strictly over 18’s and photo I.D. may be asked for. 28th & 29th August 2010
Bestival Festival: On Thursday September the 9th The Isle of White will come alive with The Cuban Brothers host the main stage and will introduce you to The xx, Dizzee Rascal, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Flaming Lips, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Fever Ray, Hot Chip, LCD Soundsystem, Rolf Harris, and Marc Almond and that’s just for starters! The Acts list is fantastic!
As well as the main stage there will be at least 10 other arenas! Stand out areas for me are the hand stitched Bollywood Bar, Black Dahlia Cocktail Lounge and Time for Tease, a mixture of afternoon tea and burlesque!!!! My word, whatever next!!
Bestival has a wealth of attractions to suite all comers and takes place between 9th and 12th September 2010 on the Isle of White Camper vans are very welcome although subject to an additional charge.
So if you would like to hire a campervan for music festivals in the UK this year, give us a call ASAP on 0800 612 8719.
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France is consistently the most visited country as a tourist destination and for good reason, history, food, culture and climate all contained within a country that offers a variety of each as one travels east to west and north to south. Touring France by campervan is a pretty cool way to enjoy all the facets of this diverse country. But you don’t necessarily need to opt for campervan hire in France, when it may be easier to hire one in the UK, load up and head off to France? It will almost certainly be cheaper.
The many regions are all fiercely proud of what they bring to the table, whether it be fine Parisian dining or a more robust seafood platter fresh from the Mediterranean in Cannes or Nice.
It is the sheer scale of what is available that makes the country such a great destination for a touring holiday. If the weather isn’t great in Biaritz pack up and try the must in Dijon. If it’s too hot on the south coast, head up into the mountains for some montagnard fare in an alpine town of Briancon or Grenoble.
It’s all available and with a fantastic motorway system that spans in any direction, with a campervan hire in France, the world really is your oyster.
Because of the popularity of campervan holidays, it is probably wise to plan ahead especially if visiting the most popular resorts such as Brittany in peak season, but as there are literally thousands of campsites around the country even if one is full it won’t be much of a drive to find another one just up the road.
Not all campsites come with the necessities, so it is also wise to do some research first, but this type of holiday has to be one of the most economical and stress free, no airports, no cancellations, just you and the open road and the French roads are more open than most.
If you want us to explain to you why we think it is a better idea to hire a campervan in the UK, rather than campervan hire in France, call us on 0800 612 8719.
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Visiting Gloucestershire in England can be a surprisingly fun thing to do. Gloucestershire is a historic county mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in the 10th century, though the areas of Winchcombe and the Forest of Dean were not added until the late 11th century. Gloucestershire originally included the “small town” of Bristol. The “local” rural community moved to the port city, (as Bristol was to become) and Bristol’s population growth accelerated during the industrial revolution. Here are some things to do and see while visiting Gloucestershire, England:
Cheese Rolling: Britain is a treasure chest of old customs and Gloucester is no exception. Where else can you see people throwing themselves down a near vertical hill to catch a large Double Gloucester Cheese. Situated on Coopers Hill, a few miles from central Gloucester, the Cheese Roll takes place every May Bank Holiday. It is a very dangerous pastime and very dangerous = great fun!. This is the original extreme sport and it attracts TV crews from all over the world!
Prinknash Abbey: Situated in near the village of Cranham, (very close to the foot of the Cheese Roll!), is the beautiful Prinknash Abbey. Still inhabited by monks and with a working pottery it attracts many visitors from the UK and abroad. It also has a bird park and picnic area as well as a fabulous gift shop. Very tranquil and very interesting.
Gloucester Historic Docks: Right in the centre of the city is the fabulous Victorian docks. Now it is home to many businesses including retail outlets, bars and museums. Gloucester Waterways Museum details life on the waterways with photos and artefacts and interactive computer features. Outside there are a steam dredger, a barge a tugboat and several narrow boats all helping paint the picture. You can also take river cruises from the museum.
The Docks are also home to the Soldiers of Gloucester Museum telling the story of both the Gloucester Regiment and the Hussars.
Gloucester Antique Centre is also situated here. A Fascinating place where you can browse or haggle on all things old from ceramics, clocks and watches, jewellery, glassware furniture, books etc etc. The list is endless.
Gloucester Quays is a discount designer outlet centre with many bargains to be had!
If you are visiting on a Saturday look out for the model boat club sailing every sort of vessel including Warships, paddle boats and Submarines.
Sudely Castle: Home to the families of Lord and Lady Ashcombe and Henry and Mollie Dent-Brocklehurst, Sudely Castle is a fantastic day out.
Learn the history of this wonderful medieval site and explore the award winning gardens. There is also an adventure park for the more energetic visitor and a Pheasantry. Visit St Marys’ church where Katherine Parr lies buried and if you are getting married you may want to consider Sudely as the venue for your big day.
With numerous exhibitions and acres of grounds Sudely Castle is a great day out.
If you are interested in visiting Gloucestershire, England on a campervan hire holiday, please call 0800 612 8719 and we will sort it out for you.
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OK, so you looking for ‘power inverter 12v dc‘. We use them, not all the time, but sometimes you just need full mains voltage when you are wild camping or just have no mains supply.
Something like the Sealey 500W Power Inverter 12V DC - 230V 50Hz Supplies continuous smooth 230V power from the 12V DC power supply found in cars, caravans, boats and HGVs.
The Sealey Power Inverter 12v DC is suitable for powering TVs, power tools, computers and other electrical equipment rated under 500W. Anodized aluminium case provides durability and maximum heat dissipation. Safety features include automatic overload shut-down and a low battery alarm to prevent damage to the supply battery. Supplied with battery clips.
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WiFi in Campervans is a very cool thing to have and these days more and more people expect it! WiFi is a wireless system that allows computers with a WiFi adapter to connect to a WiFi access point or router. Once the laptop is connected to the access point or router the laptop can use the Internet. WiFi is available in more and more places and now, da da – WiFi in Campervans.
More and more campsites are offering WiFi. There are many cafes and bars in urban areas that offer free WiFi access to all customers. Many libraries offer free WiFi access also. There are several places where you can pay for WiFi access.
There are an increasing number of locations offering free WiFi access. This makes carrying your own laptop computer a good option. Some cafes, bars and fast food restaurants offer free WiFi access with a purchase. Some campsites also offer free WiFi. An increasing number of libraries offer free access. It is possible to find many unsecured WiFi signals in urban areas. Secured signals will not allow you to connect without the appropriate key. However an unsecured one will generally allow anyone to connect. If you park in a town centre or outside of an apartment block then you will normally be able to receive many different signals. This is a common way for people to steal WiFi in campervans, yes it’s technically illegal, but the chances of getting caught are very very small.
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