• Insurance certificate for the vehicle.
• Registration document or, if the vehicle is not your own (e.g. a hire or company car) then a letter of authorisation to take the vehicle out of the country.
• Breakdown insurance details for vehicle.
• Maps, an atlas for general route planning and more detailed ones for the area you will be staying.
• When you have planned your route, print out the details and fasten this to the back of the sunvisor.

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• Your car that you drive to work 5 or 6 days a week is about to embark on a marathon journey with more weight than it would normally carry. For this reason it is a must that you have it serviced at least 2 weeks before departure allowing enough time for any malfunctions to show up afterwards.
• Make up a spare parts kit of things like fan belt, spark plug, rotor arm etc dependant on the make and model of vehicle. The major motoring organisations (if you are a member) will normally hire out a spares kit appropriate to your vehicle.
• An assortment of the most commonly used tools should be carried.
• Take a repair manual (I recommend Haynes www.haynes.co.uk), not only will it help with repairs but the pictures can be invaluable in trying to describe a problem or order parts at a foreign garage. While you've got the manual out check what the tyre pressures should be for your car when it is fully laden.
• If you don't have a passenger side door or wing mirror fitted to your vehicle you will need to get one. It will be the one used the most while driving on the continent.
• Spare keys for the car should be taken but kept in a secure place e.g. the wife's handbag. Not in the car and not with the registration number attached.

• Spare set of bulbs.
• Emergency warning triangle.
• Fire extinguisher.
• First aid kit.
• Headlight beam deflectors.
• GB sticker (if you are towing a trailer then put one on that as well)

Self Drive Camping companies usually supply beds that are normal type metal framed with mattresses.

• Sleeping bags or if preferred duvets and sheet.
• Pillows.
• A couple of blankets depending on the time of year and location.

As well as the normal first aid kit carried in the car these items should be added to it:

• Sting ointment such as Waspeze.
• Indigestion tablets.
• Paracetamol.
• Sachets of Lemsip or other flu relief.
• Travel sickness tablets or medicine.
• Any regular medication that you normally prescribe to.
• Sun tan lotion.

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• You will need to pack food separately that will be required during the journey.
• Take enough food for the first day or two packed in a cool box or bag (I knew there was a good reason for all that Tupperware™)
• Don't forget the ice packs as these can be re-frozen in the tent fridge.
• An insect proof container for sugar is recommended.

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Just a few reminders here as parents will know what is most appropriate for their own children

• Toys both for playing with on holiday and also to keep them occupied while travelling.
• Children are used to jumping out of the left side of the car onto a pavement. On the continent this would be into the road, so if you have child lock facilities on the rear doors make sure they are in force.
• Keep a supply of plastic bags in the car together with a wet flannel, it's much easier than cleaning that multi coloured yawn off the car seats!
• Their own music cassettes for the car stereo perhaps?
• Enough batteries for battery powered toys.
• Bucket and spade etc for the beach.
• Don't forget a sun hat for babies as the further south you go the stronger the sun (hopefully)
• If you are worried about drinking water for babies you can buy bottled water at most places but be aware that tap water is OK, it is the change of water that can cause problems (bottled water included). In fact after two or three weeks of drinking different water you might not like the water back at home.
• We found baby milk powder and disposable nappies to be more expensive in France so take enough with you.
• Self Drive Camping companies can usually supply most of the bulky things that babies require (high chair, bath etc).

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• Most campsites disapprove of Bermuda type swimming shorts so if you intend using the camp swimming pool take the more traditional swimming trunks.
• Towels, enough for normal use and also a beach towel.
• A few coat hangers for use in the tent.

• Tea towels for use by husbands.
• Dish cloth and scourer.
• Washing up liquid.
• Toilet rolls.
• Soap.
• Plastic bags for the rubbish bin.
• Washing powder for clothes.
• Washing line and clothes pegs. At some sites it is possible to put a line by the tent, but please not attached to the tent itself, use a tree or fence post.
• Most sites have washing machines but if you want to use a sink instead you will need a universal sink plug. A good tip here is to use a 5" or 6" circle of rubber from an old car inner tube or similar, it simply lays across the sink hole and works a treat.

• You will need a good torch or two for night time trips to the toilet block.
• Can of fly spray and possibly ant powder.
• Alarm clock for those early morning starts.
• A thermos flask for cups of tea on day trips.
• A portable radio (not too loud please, tents have thin walls).
• Beach blanket, wind breaker etc for the beach.
• When packing try and use soft bags rather than suitcases as the former fit into the car more easily.