10 top tips when travelling overseas for a carp fishing trip

1. Plan your adventure

Consider: Euro carping isn’t just about commercial holiday venues. In France, for example, the excellent Carte de Pęche scheme allows you access to public waters. The website is available in English and you can find information and buy tickets for rivers, lakes and canals by region. Great if you’re eyeing up a day or two by water on a family holiday.

2. Travel options

Consider: Getting to Europe means crossing the Channel by some means. Compare ferry and EuroTunnel prices, but don’t forget cheap flights. The obvious drawback is the inability to take your own kit, but plenty of popular venues in places like Spain, Croatia and Slovenia encourage you to fly in with your terminal tackle and borrow their larger items.

3. Pick your moment

Consider: Travelling to Europe during school holidays is likely to cost you more. If you can be flexible, opt for traditionally quieter periods and don’t be afraid to travel at anti-social hours to pick up a bargain.

4. Dover to Calais doesn’t always win

Consider: Dover to Calais is the most popular and quickest way to get from England to France by ferry, but it’s not always the cheapest in the long run. Ferries to other parts of France might be slower and more expensive but they can save you petrol and toll charges, plus give you a chance to unwind or tie rigs!

5. New paperwork

Consider: Since the EU referendum you now need an International Driving Permit, which costs £5.50 and can be obtained from your local Post Office, to drive in countries like France, Belgium, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands. The finer details of the Brexit deal may also affect driving in Europe.

6. Don’t speed

Consider: For years, many British visitors to France blithely charged through speed cameras knowing that local authorities didn’t bother to send tickets across the Channel. This has all changed in 2019, and plenty of carp anglers have already fallen foul of the policy shift. You won’t get points, but you will get a fine, so don’t say we didn’t warn you!

7. Prepare for tolls

Consider: Toll roads are much more common in Europe than in Britain, so don’t forget to factor in their cost when planning your route. Most can be paid for as you go, but it can often be cheaper to pay in advance. If your route takes you through country borders then pay particular attention to what is needed in each new location.

8. Essential items

Consider: Check local driving laws before travelling. In France, for example, you must carry a warning triangle, high-vis jackets for all occupants and a French-government-certified breathalyser. Bluetooth hands-free phone kits are also banned, as are speed-camera-detection systems. Headlight deflectors and GB stickers (if not already on your numberplate) are also needed.

9. Get insured

Consider: Your insurance company might permit you to drive abroad without any need to notify them, but it’s best to check first. Generally, UK insurance policies cover a period of ‘holiday driving’ each year, but more specialist cover might not include this.

10. Get breakdown cover

Consider: Modern cars and vans are super reliable compared to some of the rickety vehicles carp anglers have used for Euro trips in decades past, but they can still go wrong. Don’t let insufficient European breakdown cover ruin your holiday if something does happen. Adding temporary foreign coverage for a specific week is pretty cheap.

Extra Advice: Oli Davies

“If you travel across France regularly, get yourself a Sanef Toll Tag, which allows you to drive straight through the tolls in dedicated lanes meaning you don’t have to stop and pay. You just get a direct debit at the end of the month in which you have used it. This is particularly useful if your passenger sleeps a lot or you are flying solo and saves time and messing around.”