thanks for doing this video it really gives me a insight of what to get and plan. im traveling from france to switzerland in september alone on my lambretta.the video is a great help.

Very interesting video pal. Your meticulous planning & organisation must make it a whole lot easier for your trip mates. Well done & thanks for sharing. 👍🏼

This is one of the most helpful videos I've ever watched on YT. Thnx so much for your efforts.

One thing I would like to point out about spare bulbs in France, whilst you are right about it not being a legal requirement. If you get stopped for having a defective bulb the police will not let you move from the spot untill the bulb is replaced. I got this information from a French policeman when I was in France. So the only way to avoid a long delay is to carry spare bulbs. Hope this helps someone.

For those of us NOT in the UK, the video starts at 5:21

Use Splitwise to share and track expenses instead of spreadsheets.

That was brilliant, very informative and thanks for taking the time to share. Will definitely use this as a future guide.

Just watched this video again - gets better every time 👏

I will say some of the autoroutes in france are breathtaking. They're fast, good tarmac and especially the ones that cross the middle of france and they climb up high, there were some truly breathtaking views. Whilst I too favoured D roads and smaller, after needing to make up some mileage and taking auto routes from the south to north of france to make our ferry, it was a hell of beautiful journey despite being on motorways.

Brilliant vlog Craig been doing this for 30 years You have the heart of a lion , took 18 bikes to Assen from here in N.I. for Motogp many years ago never again it's like working with 14 year old's and herding cats all rolled into one, just do it for me and my wife now. So all I have is Sat nav on front and sat nag on rear. lol

Really informative video Craig, lots of good information and knowledge when planning a tour, especially for a large number of people ,must take a lot of time and patience to do all that but when I watch your tour's I can see how much the guys appreciate your hard work and comment, really enjoyed the video mate 🤘

Nice, I’m the planner for our trips away so know what a ball ache it can be, but as you say all worth it in the end. Will definitely use the card you mentioned for this years solo ride to the Picos mountains, as I didn’t realise the banks sting you for using your normal bank card when we did Switzerland last year👍🏼

really well put together video, good information and the edit on this one was brilliant. top drawer.

Excellent vid. I was chomping at the bit to go somewhere before, but more so now. Hope you enjoy this years trip and thanks for taking the time to do this.

Very interesting and informative Craig, you mention team and we alot but to me it looks like you do it all, this isn't me picking holes sthis is me just saying how much work you put in for the tour which is very impressive on its own, hats off to you for your commitment to the tour and making sure its enjoyable for all of you.

Fantastic information Craig thank you 🏍️

Great video Mav, I think you covered all that’s needed for such a trip. I’m sure there will be many who find this helpful.

What a great video. 👍. That was very informative and lots of very good tips.

I've never seen such an informative video before. Thank you very much!

Very informative, thank you.

Many thanks Craig for an excellent explanation of what you need for me to go to France. There are 6 of us going to Normandy in June on our bikes. This will be my first time abroad on a motorcycle.

Loads of good info there for a tour organiser. I love the organisation part of the tours that I do. Great vid Craig!

Brilliant video again thanks mate 👍

Fantastic explanation and it’s a credit to you how well organized it is

Thank you so much for sharing your experience!

Good video this, thanks for the honesty. As the organiser of our trips I can say that your friends are lucky to have you.

Good video with great content, its easy when a small group go as we all just book our own things but when its a larger group there seems to be a lot more involved. Its good that you take on this challenge for the good of your touring mates.

That is one of the most useful and informative videos I’ve ever watched. I am thinking of doing a Northern Europe tour and your vid has really opened my eyes as to what I need to plan for…. Many thanks….. top class…

Awesome, thankyou 👍

Thanks for the video. I'm also a "cat herder" 😀 tour organiser and my process is similar to yours. The only things my groups do differently are: 1) Use of motorways to cover big distances quickly. This allows us to get time in the Alps/Dolomites/Pyrenees without making the tour more than a week with 2 weekends. 2) Use of Trivago for hotels as it finds the cheapest option. 3) Stay at a hotel for more than 1 night so we get time on nice roads without luggage on the bike. (We also like a room to ourselves! Have a great trip.

Really good informative video. Thanjs pal 👌

Excellent information - really comprehensive. - thanks very much! 😀👍

What a brilliant video, I am just planing a trip into France in April, all the information provided is really useful, Thank you.

Great video Craig - fantastic to hear how democratic the group is and I think the rules are a really brilliant idea 👏

What a fantastic video this is, and what a lot of work there is, just for a week away! I hope you are well reimbursed from the lads, for all your effort, work and the time you give up for the guys, just so that they can getaway from the Mrs and kids for a week! I have only ever done anything similar to this when the kids were still at home, for our summer Hols, but that is only for one unit, so to speak. Otherwise it has just been for me alone..., so this video has been a real eye-opener for me, and I hope, for your biking buddies as well, should they not already know! I raise my Helmet to you Sir.

Wow, you really got a good deal on digs there! We are off to Austria in May so I've used a couple of your tips for planning, cheers for putting this up.

thank you good insight

Thanks, a useful video on all the parts and order that they need to be in for a trip to work well. So far most of the trips I have been on have been organised by others but if at some point I'm involved myself then your video will be a good guide/checklist I'm sure.

The deposit at the pump is the same if you use the pay at pump in the UK

Great detail Craig. I am sure the lads all appreciate it. I have a mate who does all the leg work like you. It’s been a real eye opener for me. I will cut him a bit more slack from now on 😂😂

great video mate

I bet this is gonna get loads of views over time, a very in-depth and informative plan of how much it costs and how you plan a tour. You mentioned you have a group chat to organise the details, I was wondering if the same goes for even the uk weekenders for noobs to ask questions about certain details? Thanks for sharing and your time and effort into putting this together 👌. See you on your next adventure ✌️ 🤙 🤟

Good to know the different way you plan than me. A few good tricks in planning as well.

Really good vid mate. I bet you need a holiday after sorting that lot 😊

Always wondered how much it would cost, very well done very informative 👍

Hi, thanks for the information on going to France, I’m thinking of going to Normandy in mid March, via the euro tunnel, it’s a solo tour and booking b and b for a total of 5 nights.

Excellent video .

Great vid Craig I only travel with my wife on pillion so we tend to stay in smaller B&B’s average around €80 a night for 2 usually with breakfast we also like to stay outside of busy towns. I always look at my furthest destination then plot stops in between and your right sometimes you have to alter Routes to suit hotels. Sometimes getting lost finds the best roads also never ride too far it’s just too dangerous. Love watching your tours - holidays stay safe all 👍👍

Love videos like this down to earth and straight!....was the final cost include insurances?

Just discovered your inspirational channel. I tour solo (no itinary) and always take the Michelin Regonal maps for the area I am interested in and the 721 National Map. I pre-book only my first night(s) in France and use my phone and Google maps to look ahead for accommodation on the day. I aim for small provincial towns rather than cities and use the local tourist office where the staff are multilingual. French Campsites are regulated and good value but you will need warm gear above 1000m. See you in France at Coupes Moto Legende ?

Wow how good was that,even though i dont have a passport,i found that really interesting, thanks for taking the time to explain ;-) Ride Safe Mr B \m/ PS,The lads dont no their the born do they ,,,,lol

Great video and thanks for taking the time to prepare the content and upload it. Just a quick question please if you don't mind. We are off to Ypres (Belgium) in July. We are going on the Tunnel from Folkestone. What would you advise is the best route down to Folkestone from the Midlands? We aint looking forwards to that journey to be honest as it's a bit of a slog. Many thanks and keep up the very informative video's. 👍👍👍👍

Great watch mate, some good pointers as we're doing tunnel,france and switzerland same week as you did but ours is 10 days total as we travel to/from the north east. Wondering if any of you used a different sim card for europe? thanks again for sharing.

Wow that was good i was thinking £2000 lol and yes every tour price up and down and what each folk pay. Nice one and as always Craig your presentations Awsome thanks all for the time you and everyone on your tours. 😃👍

Beat me to it, just putting one of these together for Norway lol

So, your personal total expenditure for 8 days away (in the Tourist season) was £704.- ! That is approx £88.- / day. And that is, after converting into my local currency, a damm good price. I will be doing a 14 day trip from Switzerland to, and around Wales this summer, ending up at my Sister's place in Shrops. for a few days before the ride back back to Switz. So this should help with planning my expenditure, thanks. Knowing how I can rough it, i'll probably do it using less, but I now have a maximum as a guide line. I'll know more next autumn. I've been to so many places over the course of my life, Switzerland being so central as a starting point, but Never have I managed a trip to England on my Bike:

Thanks mate, really very informative to watch. I’ve a question as I never done a tour yet but planning this year. When booking accommodation (booking,com or airbnb) do you also filter for parking? Or is it important to look for secure parking or street parking is fine? Do you lock the bike at night? Thanks!

Alot of work goes into that pal hats off again.......think ill stick to wales lol.

Good lots of advice there , I've been organising tours in Europe on and off for 20 years , though max I've had was 8 . This year its 4 so not too bad , we've individually just booked our shuttle this year for may . I see your 2024 tour says black forest ...which is where we are off and looking for 1st night around arras (there for my50th 12 years ago) .. have you sussed a hotel mav around baden baden yet , trying to get free safe bike parking ones at mo .. bit pricey. We go on around a ,£100 a day all in too. Look forward to your next vid.

Going back to Switzerland and the high cost of living. The majority of us normal folk, ("I say us folk" as I have lived in Switz. for many years), or your average Joe Bloggs, so to speak, do earn that bit more than the UK guy does, but at the end of the Month after all bills etc. have been paid..., the amount left, is not much more, if any, than it would be for any English person on his wages. It is only the top 30% -40% of the population that really rake it in. Just thought i'd put that out, to give it a bit more perspective. Oh, one more thing, If you eat out in a Tourist destination, like Interlaken truely is, then everywherte is expensive..., even at McDonalds! Go to any "normal or ordinary town" then you'll get a Burger Meal, drink inc. for much less, and because i'm not as daring or flamboyant as you all seemingly are, I stay away from any Indian Restaurant (ugg, hate the stuff), preferring to use the money saved, to put another "Tiger in my Tank"! Good video once again, Thanks. Now i'll let you get back to all that planning for the 2024 trip, see ya!

A good info vid. Even tho i like to ride alone or with just one person extra. Still got some good pointers from your vid. Am glad we dont have mot on our bikes in the netherlands. Dont know tho if the french give a crap about that. There enough gas stations you can still pay cash. I rather avoid french than being even for a day being ripped of for 80 euro,s for 20 euros of petrol. But than again every country has its wierd to us rules.. have a safe next trip

Great video again Craig 👍🏻 I do have a question for you though. Do you know if you need the pollution stickers in the areas of the Normandy beaches? Is just we’re thinking of a last minute trip and it says the stickers could take up to 6 weeks to arrive which is past when are thinking of going.

😎🏍💨💨💨💨💨👍🏻🇨🇦🍻 thanks for sharing

Why aren’t you comparing like for like? The alternative to Eurotunnel is a Dover to Calais crossing which will be much cheaper than the longer Brittany Ferries option?

Why do you go at the end of July beginning of August when it’s peak season? Everything is more packed and expensive then.

Can l come on tour with you. I can never get it that cheap

That's a job of work and very diligent of you but it must feel like herding cats at times :)

The breathalyser law in France has been withdrawn.