Kerri McConnel

Brisbane

Owner and Editor at Beer and Croissants

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beerandcroissants.com

Articles

Racing the tide to Ile de Noirmoutier in a motorhome

Apr 18, 2024 | beerandcroissants.com | Kerri McConnel

Have you ever built up an expectation of how a place will look, only to find it completely different when you arrive? I’m sure most travellers will have had this experience at one time or another. We certainly did when we drove a motorhome across the Passage du Gois and onto the Ile de Noirmoutier. To the uninitiated – a word that makes sense once you’ve been – Ile de Noirmoutier is an island just off the mainland of France, west of Nantes.
How to get the best spot for the Last Post ceremony in Ypres

Apr 17, 2024 | beerandcroissants.com | Kerri McConnel

Without question, this is one of the most moving and poignant towns to visit in Europe. Steeped in history, tradition, and the scene of some of the most horrific events on the Western Front, it’s a town that is not to be missed. Ypres – or Ieper – is best known for its role in World War I. Situated on the western side of Belgium, close to the French border, the town became a battleground for fighting between the Germans and the Allied forces.
Why I hate staying at caravan parks

Apr 16, 2024 | beerandcroissants.com | Kerri McConnel

Anyone who has travelled extensively by caravan, motorhome, or camper trailer in Australia knows it’s usually an ongoing head-to-head battle between caravan park owners and those who support a different option, like free camps, pub camping or low-cost camping areas. All over the country caravan park owners lobby chambers of commerce and local councils, trying to keep council-run or privately run free or low-cost camps to a minimum, or in some circumstances, forbidden.
Safest free or low-cost motorhome stopovers near Calais France

Apr 16, 2024 | beerandcroissants.com | Kerri McConnel

One of the many wonderful things about motorhome travel is the nightly stopover. It’s a chance to put your feet up and relax after a long day of travelling or sightseeing, or to use necessary services like electricity or dump points. For many, like us, it’s also an opportunity to get more involved in a local community, staying with or close to locals. As avid fans of the France Passion network, we get the peace, serenity, ambience and safety of staying on someone’s private property.
Motorhome road trip itinerary Occatanie region France

Mar 18, 2024 | beerandcroissants.com | Kerri McConnel

Explore the rolling green hills and lush forests of the Occatanie region in south-west France, with a slow road trip on the back roads. Visit medieval villages, get active on cycling and hiking trails and eat fabulous French food, including the local speciality confit de canard. This is a motorhome journey with something for everyone.
Where to park a motorhome in Paris

Feb 15, 2024 | beerandcroissants.com | Kerri McConnel

When it comes to finding somewhere to park in Paris, the campground nestled within the 850-hectare grounds of Bois de Boulogne in central Paris is an old and reliable friend. We got to know it well during the days in 1997 when we picked up a right-hand-drive Kombi from London and embarked on our honeymoon across the channel.
Motorhome Long-stay Visas France

Feb 13, 2024 | beerandcroissants.com | Kerri McConnel

Planning to travel to France in a motorhome for longer than the usual tourist travel period? You’ll most likely need a visa if you plan a long travel duration. Understanding visa requirements for travel in France can get quite confusing, as there are various rules depending on your nationality, type and the length of time you want to spend there. UK residents were significantly affected by the change in 2021 due to Brexit.
Canal du Midi 10-day motorhome itinerary

Jan 29, 2024 | beerandcroissants.com | Kerri McConnel

From castles and hilltop villages to walled cities and ancient vineyards, the Canal du Midi is the perfect location for a slow motorhome trip without the crowds. “Where’s the Canal du Midi?” is usually the first question we are asked when we mention this beautiful part of southern France. It’s an area we know very well, having crisscrossed across this region and those adjoining it for many years.
Motorhome and caravan free camp etiquette in australia

Nov 19, 2023 | beerandcroissants.com | Kerri McConnel

Motorhome and caravan free camp etiquette is now more important than ever with the number of Australians hitting the open highways and backroads rising exponentially over the past few years. Life on the road has become a way of life for many Australians, who pulled up stumps from their regular jobs to become the ‘grey nomads’.
7-day Loire Valley road trip: Following the canals in a motorhome

Nov 10, 2023 | beerandcroissants.com | Kerri McConnel

Our motorhome travels in France have covered almost every part of France since our humble beginnings in a Volkswagon Kombi in 1997. We’ve always taken the D roads – the slow roads – favouring them over the speedy autoroutes, for it is on these that we can travel at our pace and see everything France has to offer. The Loire Valley is well-known for its river of the same name – Loire – which weaves its way from Mont Gerbier de Jonc in the east to the Atlantic Ocean in the west.