New Motorhome Books – Including A Passion Guide For Italy

A recent newsletter from Vicarious Books alerted me to a couple of motorhome-related books that I hadn’t heard of before, so I thought I’d share them in case they were new to you, too. (If anyone has any first-hand experience of them, post a comment below letting us know if they are any good).

Fattore Amico (Italy Passion)

The France Passion scheme is now quite well known – it’s a network where France Passion members can stay on a variety of sites (usually farms, vineyards, etc) for free in rural locations around France. In return, it’s hoped that you will sample and perhaps purchase some of the local produce.

What I didn’t know is that there is an Italian equivalent, Fattore Amico. In fact, there’s a Spanish equivalent, too – España Discovery. They all work in the same way – purchase of the guide includes a year’s membership and all overnight stops are free, usually without facilities but with the opportunity to experience a rural community first hand.

Escapades en Camping Car – A Michelin Guide

You don’t need to speak much French to deduce the purpose of this guide – it contains suggested itineraries for 70 motorhome tours in 24 European countries. This includes campsite and aire information, overview maps, suggested restaurants and tourist attractions and ratings for each campsite.

The guide is completely in French but campsite and aire information is indicated in symbols. It sounds like an interesting book – I’ve never heard of it before.

Campsite and Motorhome Stopover Guides

Most of these aren’t new to me but are worth a mention to alert you that the 2010 versions are available:

• Every Campsite In France 2010 – as it says, the definitive guide to French campsites. Written in French, but with an English key.
• Guide National  Aires de Services Camping Cars – the white guide that Vicarious Books reckons is the best of its kind to French aires. Includes municipal aires, private aires, motorway aires, 500+ campsites with motorhome servicing and GPS coordinates. Written in French.
• Guide Officiel Aires de Services Camping Cars – an alternative to the guide above, some people prefer it, I’ve not used it. Written in French.
• France Passion 2010

If you’re seeking an English-language guide to French Aires, Vicarious Books’ All The Aires France is probably your best bet. It’s fairly comprehensive, most aires have photos and all have GPS coordinates.