Fail to plan....

We set off in 1972, hitched the caravan, loaded 3 children in the car and went over from Dover. No phones, no internet, no route finders, no bank cards, no advance booking - just a road atlas, a site guide, and some travellers cheques. It seemed easy enough, so the next year we all went to Italy. We have done it in much the same way ever since, but are now coming towards the end of the road. 

I think that these days people have got such an overload of information - from forums, Facebook, websites and reviews that it all seems there is so much to learn before you go. . There isn't really. You just pick it up as you go along. 

Lots of great advice has been given. We were in the same position as you 12 months ago, when we set off our first 3 month tour.

Money we always carried approx 100 in cash + Revolut prepaid card but also a Starling bank account which is brilliant (have a google) no transaction charges, Mastercard exchange rates. Most fuel stations especially in France are card in machine jobs - don't try using a prepaid card in them. pid Toll charges with Starling card never had a problem. Carry a bit more cash in the Netherlands as Visa & Mastercard are not quite as widely accepted. Took a decent tool set but parts are just as widely available as in the UK in fact often more so. European breakdown cover for any unforeseen emergency.

We just booked the first 3 nights on a site within an hours drive from the port then just stopped where we fancied, mainly dependent on weather decide which way to go - you only have to drive for an hour to be somewhere completely different, its all new when you have just started. Bought a ACSI card & got Camper Contact app on the phone. Outside of July & August you really do not need to book, so why put pressure on yourselves to get somewhere. Definitely glass for the wine glasses, if you get as far South as Gruissan I recommend the 2 euro a litre Rose at the Cooperative.

We didn't take any extra food with apart fromTea Bags - all part of the fun shopping abroad in the Supermarkets & markets.

MIfi we got a Huawei device with a 3 prepaid sim.

Join Motorhome Fun Forum, the best £15 we have spent, saved me many times that amount in advice & help.

Most important enjoy yourselves.

And take a breath,  its all very confusing when you start but try and get out and about as much as you can in the UK first. That way you will know what you will need to take and what you can do without.

I won't repeat what others have already said as its all good advice, what I will say is do it in small bites, don't try to do the marathon until you can do the 100 yards 

Touring over there is sooooooo much easier than in this country especially since you have a MH. Spring and Autumn or the best time to go as the sites are not busy and you have a great choice (if you don't like it move on to another, that is accepted as normal)

Most of all have fun, don't try to over complicate things.

If you are new to France then you might like to avoid the toll section of the motorways and enjoy the countryside as you move around, however if you are time limited and wish to use them then I would look at getting a Toll tag, there are quite a few to pick from but it does make it a lot easier to access the toll booths. I hated having to lean out of the window with card/cash in hand, OH didn't like having to get so close to the very high concrete kerbs. We now have a toll tag and just drive through the 30km lane (not doing 30km) the barrier lifts before you get to it and off you go.

We also have a prepaid card (Caxton) we've had it for years and like it, money is transferred from out current account to the Caxton card as and when we need cash. We also carry credit cards, we each have a different one just in case, debit card but we try not to use it. If you go for a prepaid card don't use it for fuel, use a credit card instead.

Much useful advice here already.

Just to agree that ACSI was great in France for us last May. Discounted sites, ability to say no if you arrived and didn't like the look (as we did with a couple) and some real gems.

Mifi - yes, very useful. On-site WiFi varied widely. In some places neither works, of course. Enjoy the peace!

Michelin camping guide - won't bother buying it again.
Decent maps + ACSI  + C&MC guide to France, definitely.
Don't always trust the SatNav Ours tried to take us through a 2m square railway tunnel on a narrow lane, others will have similar stories.

Be prepared to change the plan,  either due to weather or just enjoying where you are.

We found that a bit of searching for local "Bio" shops brought much better food our way than supermarkets.

No idea how good your French is, quite probably better than ours, but making the best of it to speak in French to site staff and in shops was very helpful.

Take it easy - have fun!

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Don't turn left off the Roscoff ferry or you will be in the drink!  It's a steep learning curve but finding out about Aires and ACSI will help you realise you don't have to plan and book meticulously.  Off season France - i.e not July and August is a joy for free travellers.  Make some wonderful memories!  

Lots of good advice above. Can only add - look at getting the appropriate ‘stickers’ in case you travel in/through ‘clean air’ zones/areas.  Enjoy your time away wherever you travel.

The internet certainly allows 'micro' planning. Biggest plus is the ability to zoom in with Google Earth and street view, although in Germany coverage seems to be restricted to major cities. I would echo the advice to just go with the flow.

The campsites I stay on in Germany are mainly village based and all of them show up on Google Earth

The French really appreciate an attempt at their language even if they take over in their barely understandable English - but do try!  There are so many ways to learn a little to get by.  Please and thank you are good starting points as well as the equivalent to Ladies and Gents although many washrooms are unisex!  I met several English people who were a bit red in the face for not knowing the difference between Hommes and Femmes!  Have a great holiday and come back to tell us about it!