Maiden Big Voyage for a Neo France Italy & Greece. Part 1

First big trip away with Krystal our Neo. We managed to book a last "Camping On Board" spot to Greece courtesy of Anek Ferries. So two weeks to make it to Ancona and the boat trip. We decided to do Dover to Calais by ferry and after an uneventful trip we were soon safely on our favourite "take off" slot. Les Erables in Echalles over looking the Channel. The sun was shining!

Views towards the white cliffs.

After a great meal in a local restaurant we were off on the road to our first stop at Guignicourt.  Camping au Bord de L'Aisne. An expensive one night stop, though loads of space on the site. It was convenient and clean with good toilet facilities. Supermarket shopping and cheap fuel across the road, so a handy stop.

Ever on wards!  The next morning we picked up the toll road to our next stop Dijon. Camping Du Lac Kir. We had used the site before and it was another good "one nighter" we thought.

 

We had a good wander around the local park by the lake complete with beach. Lots of locals out and about enjoying the sunshine.

The beach at Lac Kir, almost in the town centre is a 5 minute walk from the campsite.

Amazing how French towns and villages manage to keep their facilities so pretty and cared for.

Time to leave Dijon and Krystal managed to get her first war wound. A tight turn out of the campsite, a large German with an even larger caravan inconsiderately parked and an encounter with an exit barrier.

Ouch!! Don't know whose pride was most damaged Den's or Krystal. Anyway they are both over it now. I think the bike rack and the bumper took most of the impact. We unloaded the bikes and think that most of the damage is cosmetic and fixable when we get home. Lesson learnt if in doubt get out! We were both concentrating on avoiding the caravan and making the tight turn we didn't look behind. The post took most of the damage but was still standing decorated in a lovely shade of silver grey paint.

Once we had got over the shock we headed towards Annency. Camping Municipal Les Champs Fleuris and our first proper stop and large drink. A very friendly site near Duingt. Through Annency at the other end of the lake.

A stunning setting. Lucky for us the French holiday season was just about to end and the site was emptying. Super fabulous weather for the first two days and plenty of time to relax by the lake.

There are loads of bike tracks which run around the lake and the local village is just up the road. We stayed at the top end of the lake which is much less touristy. 

Mist over the mountains. The weather did change and on our last night the rain came down very heavily. Fortunately we had packed up the night before so were quickly on our way the next morning.

Soon we were heading over the alps into Italy and our next stop at a place called Asti. Camping International Le Fonti. The weather gods were smiling on us and the sun came out just in time to navigate ourselves through some delightful Italian hill villages and our first Italian stop. A very pretty site in the vineyards.

We were on the hill overlooking the swimming pool. Very friendly owner and again great facilities. We enjoyed our first Italian meal in the campsite restaurant.

Good swimming pool we watched the aerobics!

We were heading towards Florence or Firenze for a bit of culture! We chose Firenze Camping in Town which was a brilliant site, easy to find with a shuttle bus into the city for 3 euros return.

It really was a huge holiday complex and very busy with good restaurant and pool complex.

A tight pitch but fine. We were really pleased we had brought the Fiamma sun screen we really needed it here it was so warm.

Florence was manic and thronged with visitors and massive queues. We soaked up the atmosphere.

A couple of more interesting locals.

Even a Chinese school visit. Check out the uniforms!

A few days in Florence and we were ready for some R&R in a slightly more rural setting. 

Our next stop was Il Falcone in the mountains just outside Orvieto near Tody. A fabulously quiet pretty place amongst the olive groves on rather a steep hill. We made it safely and spent a great 3 nights here.

Looking towards Rome.

The swimming pool was pretty much deserted, we tried it out.

Pitched amongst the olive trees.

The local village very quaint and quiet but good for a drink and a wander.

Finally after three days we were heading to the last Italian stop on this leg of the journey.  Camping Bellamare just outside the port of Ancona.

Another large brash camping complex but good fun. We had a very nice meal in the camp restaurant.

A quick bit of toe dipping. The campsite is just down from Rimini and very popular for family holidays. The beach was heaving with umbrellas. Sadly we had to wait until 3 o'clock when reception opened for business, by then there was quite a queue.

Not a bad pitch for a one night stop! Tomorrow we were off for the next bit of the adventure and a "cruise" to Greece.

Welcome to our New Vantage Neo. Part 2

Well we have finally got ourselves sorted out and packed and re packed a few times until we were happy.  

Lots of good advice from the Travels With A Neo Facebook page. I expect following our shake down tour of France, Italy and Greece we will have yet a few more adaptations to make but in the meantime here is what we have done.

•  Chairs. At 90 cms in length it was crucial we could find some comfy chairs that would fit. These fitted the bill perfectly and they are comfy. They come in their own bags and although they are a tad on the heavy side we love them. Kampa Consul in blue.
• Mirrors. Sorry but I need a super magnifier in the bathroom. We managed to find the same one we use at home and Dan fitted it for us in the bathroom.

• Additional wall holder in the bathroom also fitted. Handy for the toothpaste.
• Additional wall holder in the kitchen for bits and bobs.

• The large locker under the bed fits all our bedding and a small safe. We also moved the jack and tools from under the front seat to this locker.
• Warning triangles fit neatly on the seat bases, along with a spare bulb kit for continental touring.
• 

• The second warning triangle goes under the inverter.
• A nifty set of hooks for our keys.

• In the wardrobe Den has fitted a tie back for his camera bag.

• A tie back for my documents and map folder.

• All our clothes fall into the top lockers on one side. We use Amazon packing cubes which work really well.
• Shoes and walking boots fit into the big drawer under the oven. We do have small feet!!

• Walking poles fit on the inside back door wall and everything else slides into the boot. We take a gas BBQ & an electric hot plate. Two footstools, an outdoor table, a sunscreen for the awning and a small outdoor groundsheet. All that stores into the outside boot space, along with the silver screens. Tools and assorted fuses, pumps etc go inside the Truma locker on a special shelf which we asked to be fitted.
• Awning poles and rafter fit neatly behind the drivers seat next to the table poles.

• A couple of Ikea grey cushions which match perfectly and could double up as pillows completes the inside mods.
• The only additional bit of kit is our Aldi  ( really cheap) cooler box which sits between the seats on site. Handy for wine, fruit and beer.

All in all we are very happy with Krystal. The automatic gear box makes life really easy and the slightly bigger engine has improved fuel consumption. The fridge is brilliant and the ice box actually keeps food frozen. I took Dan's advice and filled the fridge with plastic boxes which works really well. We love the bathroom and the kitchen and pantry is perfect for my needs. 

The one thing we have really noticed is how beautifully dry everything is, even in bad weather. The van is obviously really well insulated.

Next stop, our shake down European trip, France, Italy and then ferry to Greece.

Welcome to Our New Vantage Neo. Part 1

The moment finally arrived and with great excitement we headed up North back to Leeds. 

This time we were heading for the Vantage factory in the centre of  Leeds. We decided to spend the night at the Premier Inn in Knottingly a 20 minute drive away. We were due at the Vantage factory at 8.30 am the next morning to meet our newborn a Vantage Neo who had already been christened Krystal. Why Krystal? Well, the diamond shape on the Vantage logo was a clue and because we had gone for the silvery grey colour, she would be new and shiny, just like a crystal. A twist on the spelling so Krystal it is!

Our brand new van was waiting expectantly while we were introduced  to the Vantage team and Dan who was doing the handover. We were given an over view of the day, so we knew what to expect. We also had our own list of things we needed to be covered.

So Krystal was ready for us.

The specification.

A Neo with: 

• 180 bhp  with C matic gearbox
• Cab air con
• Cruise control
• Reversing camera & Monitor
• Front & rear mudflaps
• Alloy wheels & all season tyres
• Fixed rear pod
• Leather trimmed upholstery
• Fiamma 4m awning
• External BBQ point & 240V socket
• Tow bar
• Cool air fan
• Music port & amp
• Avtex TV 21.5"
• Ariel & Booster
• Additional 100W solar panel
• 800W inverter
• Flyscreen for door
• Shower room turbo vent
• We also added a 240 & 12V point to seat base.

Quite a comprehensive list but everything was present and correct. We decided to have an alarm and tracker fitted later by Vanbitz in Somerset, as our insurance would not accept a tracker fitted by OSTT, which Vantage usually fitted. 

So there we were with Krystal in all here newness and glory.

We thought we knew all about PVC conversions and that we would easily understand all the controls BUT we didn't. Dan went through everything, masses to remember! One minor niggle our chairs wouldn't fit into the boot space because of the external BBQ point which had been boxed in. The chairs Vantage stocked wouldn't go in either, we would have to find another solution.

Following many cups of tea we were finally done. We moved our bedding and bits into Krystal, said goodbye to April our IH, the Vantage crew and then hesitantly taking control, it was straight out into the Leeds rush hour. A relatively painless experience though somewhat entertaining, we made it out of the city. Our friendly Madam SatNag did the business and Den soon learnt the controls and the beauty of an automatic. We were on our way to Moor Lodge and our first night away.

Moor Lodge on the edge of Leeds around 20 minutes away they were expecting us. A lovely campsite with a beautifully kept pristine loo block and facilities. Just down the road a great pub The Bingley Arms. Haunted it is said and with two priest holes! That night we really deserved a drink! Just happened to be "Two for Tuesday" night a welcome bonus and a good meal. This was followed by 40% off Wednesday, the next evening. A double whammy and two meals out. What could be better?

We spent a lovely two nights getting to know our new friend Krystal. Everything worked well including the TV, once we had worked out the controls. The wash basin in the loo was perfect and my new super magnifying mirror which Dan had fitted for us was just like at home.

The extra work top space in the kitchen was so useful. We were doing one more night stop in Cheshire to visit family before heading home. Then the fun would begin at home fitting everything in.

Minor adaptations in Part 2 to follow.

IH 630 RL. 4 Years on. Last Review. Goodbye April!

We have finally come full circle with our first PVC creatively called April. After  living with a much larger motor home and "downsizing" to a camper, we were apprehensive to say the least. However all has gone so well! We have been very pleased with the freedom a smaller camper has brought and everything we have needed has fitted in with locker space to spare.

Over 4 and a half years we have covered 27 800 miles and been to 18 countries. The driving and travelling has been very comfortable. The under slung gas tank has only been filled 4 times, we mostly stay on sites. Fuel consumption has been fine, we had a long range fuel tank fitted but honestly we haven't needed it. The solar panel on the roof means the van stays charged up in the summer without the need for an electric hookup.

 Our worries about the big sliding door letting in flies has been  unfounded, we find if we leave the roof lights open "little critters" usually fly in have a sniff around and fly out. At night we put down the window fly screens and that usually keeps the mozzies out. In the Baltics we used a plug in mozzie fighter and apart from a few challenging "swots" we survived. An air con unit is not needed, we just open doors and windows. Satellite TV, not really needed and hardly used. We survive quite happily with a Kindle and the odd DVD for rainy days. In the UK and Northern France TV reception has been fine but then we don't watch much TV.

April, parked in St Petersburg, a brilliant drive. Camping in the Phlogiston Hotel in the suburbs of the city. A fabulous trip through Belguim, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to Russia and back.

We loved the colour of our van but practically speaking dark grey tends to keep the heat in and the bugs love it. On the plus side April matches our Skoda Yeti and looks good on the drive. Oh and black marks don't show.

Another worry was the lack of storage space...we thought. This worry has proved totally unfounded. There has been more than enough room for everything we want to carry, although we did have a good cull of essentials. The boot at the back holds a table, chairs and a BBQ. We were pleased we had paid for the back pod which has worked really well for us. It has also meant no nasty draughts at the back of the bed. There is good storage under the seats and even a secret locker that took us two years to discover.

In the shadow of a cruiser at Corfu dock. Another great trip to Greece via Italy including a week on Corfu.

The sleeping arrangements in the van have been perfect for us. The huge bed is really comfy and we have just added a mattress enhancer which rolls up for storage under the seats with a duvet. We carry winter or summer duvets depending on the season. We have never been cold at night and the heating is very effective. The beds can also be made up as two singles.

Our comfy bed.

Loads of storage.

A really spacious seating area.

Cooking facilities are plentiful with a full oven and grill, 3 gas and one electric plate in the hob. The electric hotplate is I think an unnecessary luxury we turned it off and it has hardly been used. Lots of storage in the oven with a pan drawer underneath. Worktop space is very limited and the sink with pull up tap though workable, is a bit fiddly. Big enough to wash a pan in though. I was initially concerned the fridge would be too small but its been more than adequate with space in the freezer compartment for a couple of chops. The freezer can also be removed. We carry an electric cooler box for wine and beer too, this has worked well.

The bathroom is OK for size but with a drop down sink not my favourite place. On the positive side the sink does lift out for easy cleaning. On the negative side if you leave the tap up and forget to drop it before running water you get a wet midriff and floor. Plenty of mirrors and storage space for bits and bobs. We have tried out the shower but not really used it much. The table stores in the shower room and the shelf in the bathroom fills up with water so needs emptying after the shower is used. The toilet is fine and I prefer the bench style loo.

Lighting and heating has been very efficient. We are very economical in our use of gas but we do stay mainly on camp sites. We have been warm and toasty at night.

Overall, April has been a great van and we have enjoyed having her. Our only niggle has been lots of minor warranty work which should not have been necessary. Everything has been fixed but it has taken a bit of effort on our part, to ensure we did get full value for money. To be fair IH did not quibble over any warranty work

We Liked:

• The back door pod.
• The big sliding door.
• Easy drive we could take this van anywhere.
• Storage.
• The massive comfy bed.
• Good customer service direct from IH at Leeds

We disliked:

• Drafts at the front of the van around the fridge area
• Lack of work top space in the kitchen.
• The fact the kitchen tap had to be raised each time it was used.
• Drop down sink in the bathroom.
• Warranty niggles due to lack of care with the initial build.

We would have liked:

• The ariel removed in the wardrobe, to give more hanging space.
• A fix for the droopy carpet in the overhead locker.
• Less of the IH decor, everywhere you look.
• A better place for the fire extinguisher rather than over the sink with the glass lid.

All good things come to an end and it is time to move on. Whoever gets April next are getting a fabulous little van ready for the next adventure. 

We are off to pick up our new arrival a Vantage Neo who we will christen Krystal. More excitement to come.

To April's new owners we hope you enjoy her as much as we have.

Summer Sun & Fun

Surviving the winter in Spain and Portugal was so tough! Since we returned home we have been waiting on our new van so have not got away.

However, seeing our April ( the van) pining on the drive we thought she needed cheering up so a quick two nights away was hastily arranged. Being the school holiday week we thought we should book so rang Uphill Marina at Weston -Super-Mare and were surprised they had spaces available. We were off!

A short drive and we had arrived, nice spot by the lake. There were a few other happy campers but the place was relatively quiet.

Big improvements have taken place at Uphill since our first visit many years ago. The boat yard has been spruced up and the campers loos have been improved. There is even hot water in the washing up sinks.

We tried the new cycle path to Brean Down, an easy 3 miles each way on an off road track. A really nice ride on our posh new bikes. I even managed to stay seated on mine!

The track to Brean. Also a nice easy walk.

A proper sea view.


It was sunny at times and not as cold as it looks. We walked into Weston and caught the bus back, quite busy with holiday makers. We had lunch at the Dolphin two minutes walk down the road and dinner at the Ship. A very relaxing two nights!

We are now getting extra excited as our new van will be ready on 9 July so planning some super new trips. Happy days.