Book Review by
Jaimie Hall
If you have thought about
an extended RV trip in Europe, Take Your RV to Europe:
The Low-Cost Route to Long-Term Touring is a must-have
for planning and budgeting for your trip. Authors Adelle and
Ron Milavsky relate their decision-making process for taking
their motorhome to Europe rather than renting one there. Surprisingly,
the cost isn't that much more when compared to what you'd
spend if you stayed home and can make sense if you are planning
a relatively long stay of two or three months. The authors
spent 83 days touring France and the Benelux countries in
depth in 2002 and 77 days in the British Isles the following
year.
Traveling in a motorhome
adds a flexibility and spontaneity to your travels that
can't be found in a traditional hotel-and-restaurant trip,
plus it allows you to travel much longer for the same amount
of money. You also meet more locals traveling this way, since
you interact with others in campgrounds, grocery stores, laundromats,
or waiting for the bus.
The Milavskys acknowledge there are some disadvantages
and potential problems when traveling by RV. All but the
last were easily dealt with.
- Size: Their motorhome is 21.5 feet
in length. Several RVers who have traveled to Europe have
told me that most American RVs would be too large for the
narrow, windy roads of Europe. The authors, however, saw
many that were larger than theirs. Noting that large trucks
and buses travel the narrowest of streets, they said it
wasn't a problem. Height can be a difficulty, but knowing
the height in meters allows you to avoid low overpasses
and obstructions.
- Fuel: Fuel is expensive in Europe,
though distances traveled are much less. Camping right in
the city or on the outskirts enabled them to walk or take
public transportation most anywhere. Diesel fuel is much
less expensive than gas.
- Shipping: The shipping process via
"Roll On-Roll Off ("RO-RO") is not difficult
if you know how to go about it. A chapter is devoted to
this process.
- Propane: The one problem they did not
anticipate turned out to be the only real problem, and that
was the difference in propane systems between the U.S. and
Europe. The authors tell you how to prepare.
The Milavskys walk you through the entire
process of figuring costs based on the current exchange
rate, the logistics, plus finding and utilizing a freight
forwarder and how to prepare your rig for the shipping process.
Besides explaining the practicalities of European
travel, driving, campgrounds, security of your rig, staying
in touch, and tips for shopping and eating your way through
Europe, the authors include several appendices. These include
detailed descriptions of both their trips, useful things to
know in each country, European ports and nearby campgrounds,
suppliers, Internet sites, dealers who rent and sell RVs in
Europe, a glossary, bibliography, and index.
Take Your RV to Europe supplies
detailed price breakdowns, contacts, worksheets you'll
need to decide if you want to have a similar adventure, and
the resources and practical tips for having the time of your
life once you are there.
Jaimie
Hall
5/1/05
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Alice
Zyetz and Jaimie Hall have
been RVing fulltime with their
husbands for more than ten years
each. Together they have published
two books on the RV Lifestyle: