Newsletters

May and there is a lot of motorhome touring taking place

Dear Fellow Motorhomer,

GB Motorhome Tours currently have two tours underway, taking place in Greece and Western Turkey; with three more starting throughout this month; to The French Loire ValleySardinia and Southern Ireland. The Greece tour has been spending time in the southern half of the country including wonderful Delphi, where our campsite has far reaching views over large olive tree groves all the way down to the coast.

Camping Delphi, Greece May 2023
The Western Turkey tour has just started out, with tour participants currently making their way across Europe for the beginning of the tour in Italy. Those on the optional travel from the UK with Tour Directors package, have passed through France, Belgium, Luxemburg & Germany and will travel through Switzerland to arrive in Italy. In Germany they stopped at the Black Forrest region of Dahn.

Camping Dahn, Germany May 2023
On all tours, GB Motorhome Tours offers two starting options. You may start on the continent making your own way out from the UK, or you may travel from the UK with the Tour Directors (so in effect start in the UK). This flexibility allows tour participants to choose which works best for them. If selecting the optional travel from UK with Tour Directors package, this offers the opportunity of having everything arranged for you, including cross-channel ferries. The starting point in this instance is a campsite in Kent, the day before the ferry to France. The Tour Directors meet there with those on the optional package and look after everything on route to the tours starting point. Included within the optional package are your return cross-channel ferries, which are fully flexible and include full access to the ships club lounge both ways; the outward on-route campsite nights and usually a group dinner at one of the campsites. Full details of the tours optional package are contained at the end of each tour itinerary.

Our 2024 tour programme is now beginning to get released, with most of the 2024 spring/summer tours available to view and book on the GB Motorhome Tours website. There are some great destinations available for next year and a good number are countries we have not featured for a few years. If there is something you fancy, do make a booking as tours are already becoming fully booked for next year.
With our tours being so popular and becoming fully booked quickly, we are often asked why we won’t increase the group sizes on each tour. Quite simply, tour quality linked with the highest level of customer service is the number one priority for GB Motorhome Tours on all its holidays. Allowing group sizes to become larger affects the standard at which tours can be arranged and delivered, so all tours will remain limited to around 15 guest motorhomes.

The programme of tours for 2024 is listed below, with links to those currently available on the website. Those not yet on the website will be added over the next few months. If you wish to pre-register your interest in a tour not yet available, drop us an email and this will be done for you.

2024 TOURS
April/May – Greece (34 nights)
April/May – Sicily (32 or 44 nights)
June – Poland (26 nights)
June – Southern Norway (20 nights)
June/July – Austrian Alps (16 nights)
June/July – Rhine in Flames (12 nights)
July – Baltic States (23 nights)
Aug/Sept – Croatian Highlights (27 nights)
September – Northern Italy (20 nights)
September – Bavaria (18 nights)
September – French Atlantic Coast (18 nights)
September/October – Romania and Bulgaria (35 nights)
December – Pre-Christmas in Denmark (14 nights)
December – Christmas Markets in the Netherlands (8 nights)

In preparation for taking your motorhome on any tour it is good to check the age of its tyres. Typically, due to the lower mileages most motorhomes travel, their tyres do not get worn out through use, however, once a tyre gets to around 6 years old it begins to reach its recommended safe working life and should be considered for changing. For finding the age of your tyres, on each tyre is a date stamp, this is in the form of four numbers. The first two numbers are the week of manufacture and the second two the year of manufacture. A date stamp of 21/18 equates to week 21 of 2018, meaning the tyre was produced at the end of May in 2018, making it 5 years old as of now. The date stamp is located on the side wall of each tyre, however it is usually only put on one side, so it can sometimes involve looking at the tyre from the inside.

Tyre date stamp

Enjoy your spring touring and we look forward to travelling with you soon. Feel free to contact us if there is anything you wish to ask about a tour.

Kindest regards,

Your GB Motorhome Tours Team

Tel. 0044 7481 479 057
Info@gbmotorhometours.com
www.GBMotorhomeTours.com

April and this is the month when many more locations open up for touring

Dear Fellow Motorhomer,

April is the month when many more locations open up for touring with spring arriving in the Mediterranean areas of Greece, Turkey, Sicily, Spain and Portugal. Our Greece 2023 tour arrived in Greece last week, having had a good sunny drive down from the UK. Crossing through France, Belgium, Luxemburg, Germany, Switzerland and Italy, they then took the overnight Italy to Greece ferry, to arrive in Patras, southern Greece the following lunchtime.

Longer ferry crossings form a part of a number of GB Motorhome Tours, either to reach islands or to reduce many miles of driving. Whilst it is possible to drive all the way from France overland to Greece, GB Motorhome Tours include the Italy to Greece ferry crossing into the tour, which reduces around 800 miles of driving to reach the south of the country.

Departing the overnight Italy to Greece ferry at Patras 15/04/2023
Another tour which uses a number of ferry crossings is the Canary Islands tour, which takes place between January and April most years. This years Canary Islands tour participants have now returned to the UK, having left temperatures of 30 degrees in the islands on the 1st April.

Boarding the overnight ferry in Gran Canaria for the return to mainland Spain 01/04/2023
Some customer reviews from the Canary Islands 2023 tour.

‘The only way to tour, with the best guides, giving safety and enjoyment for everyone.’ Ken Starmer 

‘This was our fifth GB Motorhomes tour and second time to the Canaries. As always, the tour was well constructed, taking in mountains, seaside resorts, volcanoes, cities, picturesque villages, historical sites, wineries and much more. Add to this sunshine, good company, good food & drink, friendly experienced guides and you have the perfect way to escape the British winter.’ Jane and Douglas Marsland 

‘A brilliant adventure’ Linda and Mike Reading 

The next Canary Islands tour will depart in January 2025, if you would like to register your interest in this, send us an email and your interest will be registered, so that later this year, as the 2025 tour itinerary is finalised, this will be emailed to you in advance of it being made generally available, enabling you to request a place on the tour at that time if you so wish.

Back in the UK, this weekend the Peterborough Motorhome Show takes place. This is the UK’s largest outdoor motorhome show and for this year, the event takes on a special feeling as it is predicted to be the last of the Peterborough shows, following the local authorities plans to develop the area of the Peterborough showground for other purposes. GB Motorhome Tours will be at the show all weekend, where our stand number is 102, do come along and see us and have a chat with a number of our Tour Directors who will be in attendance for the whole event.

Looking towards next year, some of the earlier 2024 tours are now on the GB Motorhome Tours website, with full tour itineraries available to view along with the tours being available to book. These include the tours of

•    Greece
•    Sicily
•    Poland
•    Rhine in Flames
•    The Baltic States

Click here for the full list of 2024 tours

Before next year there is a full programme of tours for this year. Almost all of these have been fully booked for many months and remain so, there is however one cancellation place that has just become available on the French Loire Valley tour for this May/June. If you would like to join this tour, a booking can be made on the GB Motorhome Tours website or you can email/telephone us and we will complete the booking for you.

With spring arriving and many motorhomes now being made ready for use after a winter break, it’s a good time to clean your motorhomes fresh water tank, pipework and taps with a solution of sterilising water. This can be achieved by adding some sterilising tablets/fluid to your main fresh water tank, allowing them to dissolve/mix in and then pumping the water through to all locations, by opening each of the taps for a couple of minutes. Leave the sterilising solution in the system for 24 hours and then drain down before refilling with clean fresh water. Your motorhome water system will then be clean and ready for your next outing.

We look forward to escorting you and your motorhome to many great places throughout Europe and beyond. Feel free to contact us if there is anything you wish to ask about a tour.

Kindest regards,

Your GB Motorhome Tours Team

Tel. 0044 7481 479 057
Info@gbmotorhometours.com
www.GBMotorhomeTours.com

March and some motorhomes continue to tour in the sun

Dear Fellow Motorhomer,

March and whilst the weather in the UK hasn’t been very good for motorhome touring, the opposite is being enjoyed by those on our Canary Islands tour. They are enjoying full sunny days, with temperatures in the mid to high 20’s. The Canary Islands are well known for their beach resorts, but less well, for also having some great mountain scenery. The tour is currently in Gran Canaria, where the group have been touring both along the coast and in the mountains. The first mountain stop was at a camping near to the traditional Canarian village of Fataga

Camping Molino de Agua, Fataga, Gran Canaria 28/02/2023

Secondly, at a campsite operated by the National Park rangers, which as well as having stunning mountain views, over-looks the Presa de las Ninas reservoir.

Camping at Presa de las Ninas, Gran Canaria 13/03/2023

The next Canary Islands tour will take place throughout January to April 2025. If you may be interesting in escaping the UK winter whilst exploring these wonderful islands, send us an email and your interest will be registered, so that later this year, as the 2025 tour itinerary is finalised, this will be emailed to you in advance of it being made generally available, enabling you to request a place on the tour at that time if you so wish.

Before 2025, there will be a full programme of tours for next year and the 2024 tour summary detailing these is now on the GB Motorhome Tours website. The itineraries for the 2024 tours are beginning to get finalised and will be emailed to those with pre-registered interest in advance of being made generally available on the GB Motorhome Tours website. To register your interest in any of the 2024 tours, simply send us an email of the ones you are interested in, and this will be registered for you. Within the 2024 tours programme are a number of destinations that have not been included in the last few years tours programmes.

Before 2024 there are all the tours planned and prepared for 2023 to enjoy. There now remains availability on just two of this years tours. The first is the Scotland Highlands and Royal Deeside tour which takes place in June and covers much of the great scenery found through northern Scotland and the Royal Deeside regions. The second is the Wonderful Christmastime tour which includes stays in Paris and Epernay, with nights at the Moulin Rouge and Champagne Festival. Remaining places on both tours can be booked on the GB Motorhome Tours website.

If you have been using your motorhome in colder conditions, it is worth having a good quality external thermal windscreen cover, to help keep the cold out and the interior of your motorhome much warmer. These screen covers are also just as good at keeping the heat out when touring in hot conditions, to keep your motorhome cooler inside. As seen being used in the photo’s above from the current Canary Islands tour, to assist in keeping the motorhomes cool.

If there is anything you wish to ask about a tour feel free to contact us, we are always happy to answer any questions. Happy touring to everyone.

Kindest regards,

Your GB Motorhome Tours Team

Tel. 0044 7481 479 057
Info@gbmotorhometours.com
www.GBMotorhomeTours.com

February and some motorhomes are already touring in the sun

Dear Fellow Motorhomer,

GB Motorhome Tours currently have 16 motorhomes away on the Canary Islands tour, where it is possible to holiday in spring like conditions even at this time of year. Being 2,000 miles south of the UK, means the winter is left behind. Another advantage of being this far south at this time of year, is that much longer days are enjoyed, compared to the UK and mainland Europe.

Camping Punta del Hidalgo, Tenerife 18/02/2023
Whilst the Canary Islands are spring like in the winter, rain can sometimes be experienced and this can produce some wonderfully colourful rainbows as the sun shines against the rain.

La Palma, Canary Islands tour February 2023

The Canary Islands tour is the first in the 2023 tours programme, which runs all the way through to the end of the year, with the Wonderful Christmastime tour in December. There remains a couple of places on the Wonderful Christmastime tour, which includes a stay in Paris with a night at the Moulin Rouge and a stay in Epernay for the Champagne festival, with an evening at the wonderful Bank restaurant. The full tour itinerary is available by clicking on the link above, with bookings available on the GB Motorhome Tours website.

Behind the scenes at GB Motorhome Tours, work is currently taking place to finalise the 2024 tour programme. Next years programme features a number of destination that have not been included in tours over the last few years. These 2024 tours will start to appear on the GB Motorhome Tours website in early March, with bookings available from that time. As always, being the UK’s largest motorhome tour company, there will be many exciting destinations to choose from and spanning the whole year, all expertly organised. For an overview of the tours to look forward to, click on 2024 tours programme summary.

We are often asked by motorhomers considering a GB Motorhome Tours for the first time, why do people choose to join a GB Motorhomes Tours holiday. This is probably best answered by some of the thing’s customers say they like about our tours.

•    We travel knowing your Tour Directors are on hand to offer any assistance required
•    Our motorhome pitch is awaiting us upon arriving at the campsite, usually with little check-in procedure as you have looked after this in advance of our arrival
•    We make one booking with you and everything else on the tour is looked after for us
•    Your tours are much more than just taking us to a campsite and leaving us there. Included in every tour are organised excursions with local transport, tour guides and entrance fee’s all included – no need to move our motorhome off site
•    Each tour includes a number of quality group meals, a chance to enjoy local cuisine and wines in like-minded company
•    A comprehensive printed tour pack is sent around one month prior to departure, containing all the information for the tour – campsite details including GPS co-ordinates, route planning, excursion programme, group meals and general information for continental touring, making planning for our holiday easy
•    You include Michelin maps covering the area of the tour within the tour pack, and for most tours, also the DK Eyewitness guide book for the country being visited

If there is anything you wish to ask about a tour feel free to contact us, we are always happy to answer any questions. All of us at GB Motorhome Tours look forward to many great travels with you during 2023 and beyond.

Kindest regards,

Your GB Motorhome Tours Team

Tel. 0044 7481 479 057
Info@gbmotorhometours.com
www.GBMotorhomeTours.com

January and some motorhomes are already touring in summer like conditions

Dear Fellow Motorhomer,

January and for some they are already touring in summer like conditions. 16 motorhomes are now away, heading towards the warmth and sunshine of the Canary Islands. Having left the UK this week, they are currently arriving in southern Spain ready for the sailing to Tenerife on Tuesday.

Cadiz, Spain 14/01/2023 ready for the start of the Canary Islands tour
The Canary Islands offer ideal motorhoming conditions at this time of year, with sunny days and temperatures in the 20’s. The Islands are well known for their warm winter climate, but are usually overlooked for their culture and heritage interests, on this GB Motorhome Tours trip, both can be enjoyed. If you would like the possibility to experience this on the next Canary Islands tour, send us an email to register your interest. The tour itinerary for the next trip will then be emailed to you ahead of it being made generally available, giving you first opportunity of booking a place on the tour if you so wish at that time.

For travel throughout this year, all of the GB Motorhome Tours are now on the website and all are scheduled to proceed as planned. Whilst many of the 2023 tours are now fully booked, there remains some availability on 3 tours plus a cancellation place on another.

•    Scotland Highlands and Royal Deeside – 11th June for 20 days.  Relaxed touring and wonderful scenery as we travel through the Highlands and along Royal Deeside. Enjoy the exceptionally long days that come from being this far north through mid-summer.
•    The Romantic Strasse – 13th September for 14 days. Drive the length of Germany’s most famous road in a leisurely fashion. Take in the quaint towns and the rolling hills at the start, to later arrive at the Castles and Alps, nearing the routes end.
•    Wonderful Christmastime – 4th December for 8 days. Start the build up to Christmas in style with a wonderful tour to Paris and Epernay. In Paris we include an evening at the Moulin Rouge, in Epernay an evening at the Champagne festival. Also group meals at some great French restaurants.

The above tour itineraries can be viewed in full by clicking on the names and bookings can be made on the GB Motorhome Tours website.

There has just become available a cancellation place on the Western Turkey 2023 tour. If this could be of interest to you, send us an email and further details regarding taking your own motorhome to Turkey will be emailed back to you.

For all holidays, GB Motorhome Tours offers the option for participants to start a tour on the continent or from the UK. This gives flexibility for individuals to choose which works best for them. If you have a 2023 tour booking which currently doesn’t have the optional travel from UK with Tour Directors package included and you would now like to add this, it remains possible to do so at this stage. Send us an email requesting the optional package to be added to your booking and this will be done for you, with a confirmation email sent. Full details of each tours optional package can be viewed at the end of each tour itinerary on the GB Motorhome Tours website.

Tours for 2024 will begin to be made available over the next couple of months; these will be added to the GB Motorhome Tours website and featured in future monthly newsletters.

January can be a good time to get things prepared and ready for travels later in the year. For continental travel GB Motorhome Tours recommends all UK travellers have with them the European Health Insurance Card, known by many as the EHIC or E111. Whilst the card has now changed names to the Global Health Insurance Card or GHIC, the scheme itself remains as comprehensive as previous; where it continues to cover all emergency medical treatment in EU member countries. If you already have an EHIC (plastic bank style card) these remain valid until the expiry date, when they can (upon application) be replaced with a GHIC. To apply for a GHIC, if you don’t have an EHIC or it has expired, click on the link below.

Apply for a free NHS issued Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)

The fact the scheme covers pre-existing medical conditions is an important reason to carry the card with you on all continental tours. Whilst personal travel insurance continues to be required to cover the many things GHIC does not include, the GHIC scheme will supplement your travel insurance in the event of your travel insurance refusing an emergency medical claim.

All of us at GB Motorhome Tours look forward to many great travels with you during 2023.

Kindest regards,

Your GB Motorhome Tours Team

Tel. 0044 7481 479 057
Info@gbmotorhometours.com
www.GBMotorhomeTours.com

December and the 2022 touring year draws to an end

Dear Fellow Motorhomer,

December and the 2022 touring year draws to an end. This also means the start of the next is just around the corner, with our first 2023 tour, The Canary Islands, just 3 weeks away from leaving the UK. Look out for reports of this tour in the January newsletter.

The last tour of 2022 was the Magical Bruges and Amsterdam tour, which saw participants travel from the UK at the start of December, spending time in Belgium and Holland before finishing the tour with a night in France. Taking in the two great cities of Bruges and Amsterdam, tour participants experienced all the wonderful festive lights and events that both cities put on for Christmastime. The groups time in Amsterdam was planned to coincide with the annual Light Festival that takes place there. Our tour group enjoyed this from the comfort of their own private canal barge, complete with evening dinner and drinks on board.

Amsterdam Light Festival
Some customer reviews from the tour.

‘This is the first escorted tour that we have been on and we really enjoyed ourselves. The organization was excellent, the mix of activities and free time was about right. Thank you for all your efforts, much appreciated’ – Maggie & Mike Noone

‘The organisation and planning of this tour was excellent. All meals were varied and very tasty and enjoyable’ – Pat & Robin Hatch

Next years Christmas tour has just been released onto the GB Motorhome Tours website, where there is a great itinerary to look forward to, with visits to Paris and Epernay awaiting. In Paris an evening at the Moulin Rouge is included and in Epernay, an evening at the Champagne Festival. Click Wonderful Christmastime 2023 tour for full details.

2022 has been a varied year for travel. With virtually no Covid-19 travel restrictions now in place, it is easy to forget this wasn’t the situation throughout the whole year. 2022 started with France having a total Covid-19 entry ban on all UK citizens. This resulted in those wanting to get on to the continent with their motorhome during the early part of the year, needed to avoid France in their bid to reach other countries. The restriction impacted on the first GB Motorhomes Tour of 2022, The Canary Islands, where all tour participants had to switch to ferry crossings running direct from the UK to northern Spain, rather than travelling through any part of France.

Thankfully throughout 2022 Covid-19 travel restrictions began to be removed and looking towards travel in 2023, it does appear to be far more settled going forward. GB Motorhome Tours have a great programme of tours in place for next year and these can all be viewed on the GB Motorhome Tours website. Whilst a good number of our tours for next year are now fully booked, there remains some availability for the following tours.

•    Scotland Highlands and Royal Deeside – 20 nights starting 11 June 2023 – Enjoy relaxed touring in beautiful locations of Scotland including the Royal area of Balmoral

•    Rhine in Flames Spectacular – 12 nights starting 31 August 2023 – Travel along the Mosel and Rhine rivers before finishing the tour with an evening dinner cruise to see the famous Rhine in Flames

•    Romantic Strasse – 14 nights starting 13 September 2023 – Drive the length of Germany’s most famous route in a leisurely fashion. From rolling hills, through quaint village to castles and the Alps

•    Wonderful Christmastime – 8 nights starting 4 December 2023 – Spoil yourself before Christmas with this special December tour. Stays in Paris and Epernay are included, with an evening at the Moulin Rouge in Paris, the Epernay Champagne festival and dinner in some fine French restaurants

The above tours are all available for viewing and booking on the GB Motorhome Tours website or by clicking on the above names.

Back here at home and with some really cold weather at the moment, it is recommended cushions and bedding be removed from motorhomes and stored indoors to keep them from becoming damp. However, often the practicality of doing this is not easy, so an alternative can be to periodically run a de-humidifier inside the motorhome to keep moisture levels down. Also doing this for 24 hours before taking your motorhome on a winter trip can be particularly beneficial, ensuring you set out in a cosy & dry van ready for your time away.

As we enter the festive season all of us at GB Motorhome Tours wish you a Merry Christmas, all the very best for the coming New Year and for lots of great motorhome travels in 2023.

Kindest regards,

Your GB Motorhome Tours Team

Tel. 0044 7481 479 057
Info@gbmotorhometours.com
www.GBMotorhomeTours.com

November can be a quiet time for travel, however, at GB Motorhome Tours ….

Dear Fellow Motorhomer,

November can be a quiet time for travel, however, at GB Motorhome Tours travel continues. With the Magical Bruges and Amsterdam tour just a couple of weeks from starting, and the over winter Canary Islands tour starting at the beginning of January, there remains a lot going on. For those on the Cyprus and More 2022 tour, they have just returned to the UK over the last week. This tour is a real adventure, covering 6,000 miles UK to UK, passing through 10 countries, touring the Black Sea coast of Turkey and the whole of Cyprus.

Camping Aphrodite, Southern Cyprus 23/10/2022

Cyprus is a divided Island, separated in 1974 between North and South it has only more recently become possible to cross between the two sides, particularly so with your own vehicle. With the organisation of GB Motorhome Tours, tour participants were able to take their motorhomes across the ‘Green Line’ freely and without many formalities, meaning both sides of this fascinating island could be explored, and all in great weather. Being the Mediterranean’s eastern most island, Cyprus enjoys a summer climate extending into late autumn. The Cyprus and More tour is being repeated again for next year, the tour is now fully booked but if you would like to go onto the reserve list, send us an email and this will be done for you. Some reviews from this years tour

‘GB Motorhome Tours took us to places that we would never have imagined exploring in our motorhome. Meticulously planned throughout, nothing was too much trouble for our Tour Directors, Nurcan & Kevin. Many, Many thanks.’ Ruth and John Bateman 

‘A very good tour, maybe not for the faint hearted. We felt like pioneering adventures, but always safe and secure. Top marks Kevin and Nurcan.’ Sue and John Bunning

‘The balloon ride was amazing. The tour an adventure we could never have done without the guidance of Kevin and Nurcan.’ Julie and Bill Hine 

‘This tour is an adventure where you will need to use the facilities of your motorhome. Two halves, Turkey & Cyprus, then the two parts of Cyprus (North & South) both quite different. All excellently put together by Kevin and Nurcan, well done both.’ Carolyn & Roger Metcalfe

Whilst on route to Cyprus, Turkish national TV took an interest in the groups journey. TRT, the Turkish equivalent of the BBC, filmed the group and produced a short clip which they featured in their evening news programme, this can be viewed by clicking on the link TRT Newsclip of GB Motorhome Tours in Turkey 

For next year there is another new tour that is yet to be made available, this is the Romantic Strasse 2023 tour, which will take place over the middle of September. The tour will travel along Germany’s Romantic Road taking in the great scenery that this route is rightly known for, along with the medieval fortified towns dotted along the way and the stunning Bavaria castles, including those of King Ludwick II reign. The full itinerary for the tour will be available early in December, in the meantime if you would like to pre-register your interest in the tour, to receive the itinerary in advance of it being made generally available, send us a quick email and this will be done for you.

November is a time when many people make plans for travel in the forthcoming year. With Covid travel restriction now having been set aside by all European countries, planning for future travel is much easier. Spain was the last country to remove their Covid entry restrictions, which they did on 21 October 2022. It means that all travellers, regardless of vaccination status, can now travel to all European countries without the need to produce or complete any additional paperwork. However, it is worth remembering when travelling in the EU, that post Brexit, British citizens can no longer be in the EU for more than 90 days out of 180. This rule can take some time to understand, as it is assessed over an ongoing rolling 180 day period. In the simplest of definitions, it means British citizens can spend within the EU, up to any 90 days out of the previous 180 days. These days do not need to be consecutive and can be accumulated over any number of trips. For the purpose of the rule, reference to the EU refers to those countries who are members of the Schengen visa scheme, which are most EU member countries plus a few others of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. However, there are a few EU countries who are not currently in the Schengen visa scheme, namely; Ireland, Cyprus, Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria, so time in these countries does not count towards the 90 days (Note: It is likely Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria will become Schengen members during 2023). Also, time in non-EU countries like Turkey and Morocco is not included. Further details on the scheme can be found on the EU’s official website.

For calculating the 90 days you go back 180 days from the time you wish to check your entitlement for being in a Schengen country and add up all the days you have already spent within Schengen countries within that period. If this is less than 90 days you are fine to be there for that day. To assist with making the check there are a number of apps/calculators available on the internet. Our recommendation for accuracy is to use the one contained on the official EU website, this is found at Short-stay Visa Calculator. If you are looking to join a tour and would like us to also make a check for you, then feel free to contact us and we’ll happily assist with this.

We have been asked if there is any way around the rule, so that more than 90 days out of 180 can be spent in the EU. The simple answer is not really. Maybe over time the situation will change, but for now it is best for British Citizens to stick within the permitted time, so as not to face a fine and possible restrictions for re-entering a Schengen country. For most people it will not be a problem as they will not get close to the permitted time, but do be aware and check yours if you are spending longer periods out of the UK.

If there is anything you wish to ask about our tours, or motorhome travel in general, feel free to contact us, we are always happy to assist.

Kindest regards,

Your GB Motorhome Tours Team

Tel. 0044 7481 479 057
Info@gbmotorhometours.com
www.GBMotorhomeTours.com

October and two tours have recently completed whilst another is underway

Dear Fellow Motorhomer,

October and two tours have recently come to an end with another still taking place.

The 2022 Croatian Highlights tour has recently finished, with all those on the tour having now returned to the UK. The weather throughout the tour was hot, with lots of opportunity to see the country as the tour travelled along the Adriatic coast as far south as Dubrovnik. Some reviews from the tour,

‘What a delightful tour you have taken us on. We would not have done it on our own. Thank you so much for taking such good care of us. Lots of experiences’ Rosemarie & James Rowe

‘This was our first GB Motorhome Tour and we had a wonderful time but it wouldn’t have happened had it not been for our great tour directors – Ron & Sue. We have been to so many lovely places, had lots of meals and had many hours of fun with our fellow travellers. Looking forward to our next tour in 2023’ Alison & Tony Watkins

‘We thoroughly enjoyed this Croatia Tour, our first with GB Motorhome Tours and we are sure that it will not be our last. Well organised Ron & Sue’ Barbara & Tony Houson

‘Thank you for a fabulous first tour with GB Motorhome Tours, looking forward to many more, felt very looked after, you both do a wonderful job’ Sharon & John Morgan

The Northern Italy’s Treasures 2022 tour has also recently finished, where they too enjoyed great weather throughout; with tour participants visiting Lake Garda, Pisa, Rome, Florence, Bologna and Venice. Reviews from the tour,

‘An excellent introduction to the glories of Northern Italy. Excellent meals and campsites in the main. Dave and Sue Stanway, attentive and experienced tour leaders with lots of suggestions for additional activities. We really appreciated being offered pitches close to the facilities building.’ Roy & Kath Tipping – Northern Italy Treasures September 2022

‘Sue and Dave were great fun and led a really good trip around the cities of northern Italy and Lake Garda. They also managed to squeeze in a few little gems like Orvieto.’ Carolyn and Nick Griffiths – Northern Italy Treasures September 2022

‘Many thanks to Sue and Dave for their excellent leadership. Always on hand but not intrusive and very helpful.’ Peter and Barbara Ball – Northern Italy Treasures September 2022

The tour that remains away is Cyprus and More, where the group arrived in Northern Cyprus this week. Being around 3000 miles from the UK, the weather in Cyprus is wonderful for touring at this time of year, daytime temperatures of high 20’s with plenty of sunshine for swimming, sightseeing and relaxing. The night-time temperature being a little below 20, makes it ideal for sleeping in a motorhome.

Camping in the Karpaz National Park, Northern Cyprus 15/10/2022

Next week the Cyprus and More tour will cross the ‘Green Line’ which divides the island, as they move from Northern Cyprus to Southern Cyprus. Crossing the ‘Green Line’ with vehicles has only been possible in more recent times and for crossing with a foreign registered vehicle, this has only become a reality even more recently. An interesting feature of travelling in Cyprus is that all driving is on the left, this being a throwback from Britian’s involvement with the island over a very long period. Even the UK standard 3 pin electrical plug is in use in many parts of Cyprus.

With winter arriving soon in the UK and cooler night-time temperatures possible; if you’re not using your motorhome at the moment, drain down the water systems so as to avoid potential damage from frozen tanks and pipes. How to do this is usually covered in your motorhome habitation manuals, or if in doubt give your motorhome dealer a call and they should be able to guide you.

If there is anything you wish to ask about any of our tours or motorhoming in general, feel free to contact us. We are always happy to assist with anything motorhome related and touring.

Kindest regards,

Your GB Motorhome Tours Team

Tel. 0044 7481 479 057
Info@gbmotorhometours.com
www.GBMotorhomeTours.com

September and it is a great month to be touring

Dear Fellow Motorhomer,

September and it is a great month to be touring. However, before looking at motorhome travel for this month, here at GB Motorhome Tours we are all saddened by the passing of the Queen. At our office, we have received messages from campsite owners and guides in various countries across Europe, passing on their condolences that Britain has lost its long-standing monarch. It really does indicate how much the Queen was known and respected across a much wider area than just the UK, she will be sadly missed.

For motorhome travel, September is a great month to be away. With the school holidays finished, campsites are less busy and excellent weather is still to be found in many regions of Europe. This month GB Motorhome Tours have trips taking place in Croatia and Italy, both of which are having perfect touring weather of warm sunny days.

Croatian Highlights tour – September 2022

Northern Italy Treasures tour – September 2022

Next week also sees the start of the Cyprus and More tour. Being the Mediterranean’s eastern most island and located around 3,000 miles from the UK, travelling overland to Cyprus is a real adventure. Look out for reports from this tour in the next couple of newsletters. This tour is being repeated again next year, if you could be interested in taking on the adventure, full details of the tour are available by clicking on Cyprus and More 2023 tour.

For touring next year in a closer to home destination and in a far more relaxed manner, two new trips have just been added to the 2023 tour programme.


An all-new tour along the French Loire Valley tour. This is a relaxed tour following the beautiful Loire River, starting near its mouth at Nantes and gently touring upstream as far as Blois. With included visits to the Cointreau distillery, the Musee du Champignon (mushrooms) and the Grande Maison du Fines Bulles (House of fine bubbles) expect to be well introduced to French products, as well as the beautiful scenery and chateaus of the region. Full tour details available by clicking on French Loire Valley 2023 tour


An all-new tour in southern Ireland. Another relaxed tour, taking in the beauty of the south and west regions of the country; where we find Blarney Castle, The Ring of Kerry, The Dingle Peninsular, The Cliffs of Moher and Galway. We include these as we travel leisurely along the route of the Wild Atlantic Way . There is then time in Dublin, to see and explore this colourful capital of the south. Full tour details available by clicking on Southern Ireland 2023 tour

In addition to these two new tours, there is also another tour being worked on for next year which should be completed and made available over the next month. This is the Rhine in Flames Spectacular, taking place at the start of September 2023. Enjoy time on the Rhine and Mosel rivers, including joining the Mosel wine festival and the Rhine in Flames spectacular. If you would like to pre-register your interest in this tour, send us a quick email and this will be done for you. People with pre-registered interest will receive the tour itinerary in advance of it being made generally available, giving them first opportunity of requesting a place on the tour, if so desired.

For all touring abroad it’s good practice to try and carry sufficient prescription medication with you to cover the duration of your trip. This avoids the need to locate supplies in foreign countries. Getting them in advance of your tour does not usually give a problem, advise your GP of your needs and they should provide the required prescription in advance of your departure. However, do arrange this in good time. We are hearing currently, that for some medications there is a shortfall in supplies, resulting in delays in some prescription medications being supplied.

With travel now really opening up again, all of us at GB Motorhome Tours look forward to travelling with you to many great places very soon. If there is anything you wish to ask about a tour, feel free to contact us.

Kindest regards,

Your GB Motorhome Tours Team

Tel. 0044 7481 479 057
Info@gbmotorhometours.com
www.GBMotorhomeTours.com

August and the GB Motorhome Tours season starts again for touring

Dear Fellow Motorhomer,

August and the GB Motorhome Tours touring season starts again very soon. Later this week sees the departure from the UK for those on the Croatian Highlights tour, followed at the end of this month by those travelling to Italy for the Northern Italy’s Treasures tour. Then in mid-September, those heading to Cyprus on the Cyprus and More tour will be leaving from the UK. Three great adventures for tour participants to enjoy.

Motorhoming in Zygi, Southern Cyprus

The Cyprus and More tour has just been confirmed as a tour again for next year, with the itinerary for 2023 now available on the GB Motorhome Tours website, where bookings for the tour can also be made. This tour offers a high degree of adventure as we travel overland to the Mediterranean’s most eastern island. Prepare yourself and your motorhome for a wonderful journey, click on the above photo or the following for the full 2023 Cyprus and More tour itinerary.

This month is the main season for the large outdoor motorhome shows that take place across the UK. A couple of weeks ago, GB Motorhome Tours were at the Norfolk show in Norwich, where it was great to meet many new people interested in motorhome travel and the opportunities that joining an organised tour offer (see below for more on this). Over this coming weekend we at the Western motorhome show in Malvern, where a large number of our Tour Directors will be on hand at the GB Motorhome Tours stand (85A) to chat and answer your questions.

Relating to our tours, we are often asked ‘what are the main benefits of a GB Motorhome Tours holiday’? This can probably be best answered by summarising customer comments on what they particularly like about touring with GB Motorhome Tours.

•    We travel knowing your Tour Directors are on hand to offer any assistance required
•    Our motorhome pitch is awaiting us upon arriving at the campsite, usually with little check-in procedure as you have looked after this in advance of our arrival
•    We make one booking with you and everything else on the tour is looked after for us
•    Your tours are much more than just taking us to a campsite and leaving us there. Included in every tour are organised excursions with local transport, tour guides and entrance fee’s all included – no need to move our motorhome off site
•    Each tour includes a number of quality group meals, a chance to enjoy local cuisine and wines in like-minded company
•    A comprehensive printed tour pack is sent around one month prior to departure, containing all the information for the tour – campsite details including GPS co-ordinates, route planning, excursion programme, group meals and general information for continental touring, making planning for our holiday easy
•    You include Michelin maps covering the area of the tour within the tour pack, and for most tours, also the DK Eyewitness guide book for the country being visited

We hope to soon be travelling with you and escorting you to many great places. In the meantime, if there is anything you would like to ask about a tour, feel free to contact us, we are always happy to answer your questions.

Kindest regards,

Your GB Motorhome Tours Team

Tel. 0044 7481 479 057
Info@gbmotorhometours.com
www.GBMotorhomeTours.com