Cuprins
Going in a motorhome with the children: a great experience!
Long reserved for hippies of the 70s who went on a road trip in their Volkswagen combi, flower in mouth, the motorhome is more and more popular with parents. For the past ten years or so, “hype” American families have reappropriated this cool style of itinerant travel. In France, too, this type of vacation is attracting more and more parents looking for uniqueness, tranquility and a change of scenery. Indeed, Renting or investing in a “rolling house” has many advantages. We take stock with Marie Perarnau, author of the book “Traveling with your children”.
Traveling in a motorhome with the children, a unique experience!
The motorhome has many advantages when traveling with the family. First of all, freedom. Even if you choose a country or a region in advance, this type of vacation allows a dose of the unexpected and above all, to be more attentive to your desires and those of other members of the family. “Depending on the location of the vacation, we plan to pack small pots, diapers, food and milk when traveling with a baby,” explains Marie Perarnau. And we can stop where we want, practical when traveling with children. “I also recommend spending one or two nights in the same place so as not to tire the children of long journeys,” she explains. Another advantage: on the budget side, we save accommodation and restaurants. Day-to-day spending is under control. Camping in tents or in caravans (towed or self-propelled) is freely practiced in France with the agreement of the person who has the use of the land subject, if necessary, to the opposition of the owner. Namely, when traveling in a motorhome, it is imperative to stop in car parks or areas that provide parking areas, in particular to empty waste water.
“A rolling house”
Children often nickname the motorhome “the rolling house” in which everything is very easily available. The beds can remain fixed, or they can be retractable and therefore hidden. The kitchen area is generally basic but equipped with the necessary to prepare meals. Another advantage with toddlers is respect for their rhythm of life. Especially when they are small. We can thus make them sleep peacefully when they want to. Marie Perarnau advises before departure “to let each child prepare a backpack with their favorite toys. In addition to the blanket, which must be part of the trip, the child chooses books and other objects that will remind him of the house ”. In fgeneral, it takes two or three days to ritualize bedtime. The major concern in this kind of expedition, specifies Marie Perarnau “These are the toilets. With the children this is the most important thing to deal with. I strongly recommend to use the public toilets of the places visited during the day than those of the motorhome. This saves water on board for dishes and showers ”.
“A creator of family memories”
“The motorhome trip is ideal with children! He is a creator of family memories. Myself at 10 years old, I was lucky enough to travel with my family in a motorhome in Australia. We kept a travel diary in which we recounted everything that happened during the day. There was no smartphone at the time. Besides, I’m planning my own family’s next RV trip. There is a magical side that children love and will remember for a long time! », Concludes Marie Perarnau.