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Advice For Camping and Caravanning in France

After a six-week journey that covered most of France and a large number of campsites, we might pass on some of the things we've seen firsthand. We have traveled to France with certain prejudices, so I hope this article helps you sort the fact from fiction.

Reverse polarity on power poles
This is not a myth in France! Several of the sites we visited were the live and neutral wires crossed in their sockets. If you have not heard of this, then it is very simple in concept. Old two-pin plugs euros and could be reversed, so that changes in Europe are normally two poles (ie, cut the connection on both live and neutral wires when off). This extra protection has become a bit lazy European electricians when connection sockets. They often do not care if live and neutral wires are changed.

Now, as a traveler in the UK, probably the team works well when you plug into a power reverse polarity. The risk is that it will remain "live", even if you turn off the wall and appear to be off. This is because in the UK we normally use single-pole switches, just cut the live wire feed (but remember that the neutral wire is "live" in a connector inverted).

For example, changing a light bulb that would still be sitting on a lamp assembly live - potentially dangerous material.

Fortunately, the solution is simple. Get a polarity tester and a crossover cable and you're ready for anything. Your local supplier of caravans could provide expert advice on this, but the pieces are easy to buy and self-explanatory in use.

If equipped with the necessary skills, then the ultimate solution for a caravan is to get a polarity checker unit of exchange is simply plug cable between their input and transformer.

Plug types of electrical towers camping in France
He is still a mixture of old French-Style (2 pins plus ground), plus the new standard-3-pin cable used in most UK sites. Get a PIN 2 (plus ground), adapter to fit on the end of normal power line and you will be fine. This was a 50/50 split socket on our trips, so do not bet on it!

Pitches are sometimes very far from the posts of electricity - so a long cable!




Camping Crime
We had to make these reports to urban myth, but unfortunately, our experience shows that this is something to consider. Campers are extremely vulnerable as they have to carry papers, documents and cash with them. Criminals know it! We stayed at the campsite in beautiful rural terrible of France, and yet during our stay we were around the following facts in two different places in two different regions:

Car window was broken and her purse stolen at the reception outside daylight in the afternoon, while campers marked in meters (great start to the holiday)
Stock theft auto open at night
Shop trailer fell during the night by thieves to rummage valuables
Four torn tents overnight with the loss of luggage, etc.

These thieves are incredibly bold. Wander into campsites and tents open court employed in several places and get in the bags, car keys, wallets, etc. Our advice is to keep this matter in a sleeping bag or locked in your car! Be aware of intruder easy access point (such as fences or near rivers) and the tone elsewhere.

Pitch Space
This varied widely across sites, with a direct relationship between the casting cost and size. Research carefully and if the value of your space then perhaps a package of protection against the wind to avoid being cornered (people have different ideas about personal space while traveling in Europe - protect yours!)

The availability of WIFI
Most large sites offer WiFi, but the cost varies enormously. Found independent sites tended to offer free or maybe a couple of euros. Our experience with one of the largest chains (Castles) was that they wanted € 5 a session of WIFI - outrageous in this day and age. Do not forget you can get free WIFI unlimited McDonald's (and your coffee is not bad).

and finally ...

Toilet paper
Take your own block in the shower ... is often not always!

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