Welcome to the March edition of the newsletter with a hearty hello to everyone who signed up at the NEC Motorhome Show last week. We have a brief round-up of the show as usual including more selfies with minor celebs. However, the main news this month is that we are officially opening the bookings for 2026! We also have a couple of cancellation spots available for 2025.
As usual, we have another great cut-out-and-keep recipe and this month's motorhoming tip is on the unrelated topic of your spare tyre.
2026 Tours - Bookings Now Open
We are delighted to announce that the 2026 bookings are now officially open.
We have been teasing the new tours for a couple of months so thanks to all of you who have already expressed an interest. At this stage, details of our 2026 Tour Schedule are only available to you as newsletter readers so you get first dibs on the tours as promised.
The tours and dates are finalised as follows:
Brittany & Normandy Taster Tour - 16th May to 2nd June 2026
Northern Spain & Portugal - 18th May to 11th June 2026
The Swiss & French Alps - 15th 30th June 2026
Sweden & The Arctic Circle - 8th August to 6th September 2026
Croatia & Slovenia - 3rd to 27th September 2026
Tuscany & Rome - 4th to 28th September 2026
Lake Garda & Venice - 7th to 24th September 2026
Attached to your email reminder you should have received a PDF attachment, which is our 2026 Previews Leaflet with more details on each tour. If you are having any problems opening or reading it please contact us.
Remember that none of the details for 2026 are publicly available yet and will not be on the website for at least another month. In the meantime, if you would like more details on any tour, please get in touch.
Early interest in 2026 has been very strong. Now we know that all tour companies say this but please do book early if there is something you fancy, as we do tend to get fully booked.
NEC Motorhome Show Report
We have just come back from the NEC Motorhome Show and as usual, it was another great show. Thanks to all of our regulars who came to see us and to everyone who came over for a chat for the first time.
Tuesday was cupcake day (sorry- customers only) and proved as popular and messy as usual. We may have to rethink that next time as everyone who came Wednesday-Sunday was really disappointed as they had all gone. The NEC cleaners weren't too impressed with all the trodden in crumbs either! For October, we are thinking "Crossings Cookies" might be a better idea as we can eek them out over the whole week.
Wendy was able to crash the 'green room' where the celebs hang out. Regulars will know that in the past we have been photographed with major stars like Toyah, Rowland Rivron and Simon Calder. This year Wendy scored two for one getting snapped with Alex Jones (off the One Show) and Jenny Powell (from Greatest Hits Radio among other things). I am pleased to say that both of them were really lovely (as is Wendy obviously). Alex is just how she is on the telly and Jenny engaged in a very interesting conversation about the menopause!
Despite last year's talks at the Inspiration Theatre, I have not be cancelled (yet) and this year's talks were well received. Wendy refused to take to the stage as usual but was happy to hand out free Toblerones. The talks were on the Alps so we zhuzhed things up a bit by handing out Alpine-themed chocolate products during the boring bits.
While we are at the show we always go and chat to our motorhome dealer friends to find out what is happening. The word is that they are definitely looking to do deals - particularly if you are buying a motorhome straight, without a part-exchange. One example was a brand new Rapido priced at £82k, which had been reduced to £75k at the show. There was also an entry level Frankia at £86k, where you don't normally see anything like that for less than £100k.
For those not looking for a brand new van, the second hand and nearly-new market have become a bit of a buyer's market now that there is a glut of stock in the showrooms after the Covid boom. Many dealers are full to capacity and trying to find space for the new stock arriving in April. Overall, if you are looking to come into the market, then now is a good time.
The next NEC Motorhome Show is on from 14th to 19th October. We will be attendance as usual and hopefully we have some free tickets to give away. Keep an eye on the newsletter for that. Click this massive link to find out more: https://mcshow.co.uk/motorhome-caravan-show/#:~:text=15%20%2D%2020%20October:%20NEC%20Birmingham,(and%20more)%20of%20campervans!
2025 Cancellation Space Available
Due to cancellations two spaces have become available. These are:
Lake Garda & Venice (September 2025)
The Loire & Burgundy (September 2025)
Full details are on the website. Spaces are available on a first-come-first-served basis. If you want to have a chat about either of them please contact us straight away (right now if you like). If you would like to go ahead and book, please do so using the link here: https://www.crossingsmotorhometours.com/book-now
Coq au Van (the amusingly titled recipe feature)
Beef Stew
Ingredients
2 1/4 lb of braising beef, diced
3/4 pint of beef stock
4 large carrots, peeled and diced
1 large onion, large dice
4 garlic cloves, large, smashed
1 2/3 pints of red wine
5 oz of tomato paste
2 tsp thyme, dried
12 baby onions, peeled
7 1/16 oz of button mushrooms, cut into quarters
1 tbsp of brown sugar
5 tbsp of olive oil
2 pinches of salt
2 pinches of black pepper
Method
Preheat the oven to 180˚C/gas mark 4. Season the beef generously with salt and pepper
Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large ovenproof pan (with a lid) over a medium-high heat
Once the pan is hot, add enough beef to cover the base of the pan. Brown evenly on all sides, then remove from the pan and set aside in a large bowl. Repeat with the remaining beef
Add 100ml of beef stock to the pan. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up the caramelised pieces stuck to the pan. Allow to simmer gently for 2-3 minutes, then pour over the beef
Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in the same pan placed over a medium heat. Add the carrots, onion and garlic, fry until the onion softens slightly, approximately 3 minutes
Add the beef and juices from the bowl back to the pan, along with the wine, stock, tomato paste and thyme. If the beef is not covered, add more stock or wine
Bring to the boil, then reduce to a low heat and cook for 2 minutes. Cover with a lid and place in the oven for 2 1/2 - 3 hours, or until the meat is very tender
Meanwhile, place a frying pan over a medium heat and add a tablespoon of oil. Once hot, add the baby onions and mushrooms and fry until a light golden brown colour. Remove from the heat and set aside
Remove the beef from the oven and add the onions and mushrooms. Place back on a low heat and simmer until the sauce thickens, approximately 20 minutes
Add the brown sugar and season with a pinch of salt and pepper and continue to simmer
Serve with mash and veg of your choice.
Motorhoming Tips
A bit of a dull one this month (but we have already had a lot of excitement with the minor celebs). This month's tip is to do with your spare tyre. (It's not a slimming tip). Did you know that when you buy motorhome, it doesn't necessarily come with a spare tyre! Should you get one? - 100% yes.
The inflating kit they give you instead might be OK for a car but I would not want to trust that with a 3.5t+ motorhome. Yes you have to store the tyre somewhere but if you don't have one you will need to be recovered and may have to curtail your trip while they find a suitable tyre (as they are not necessarily stock items).
It doesn't have to be a fancy alloy or an expensive make of tyre necessarily (as long as the rating is correct for your motorhome). Also, unless you are experienced I wouldn't try fitting it yourself if you do have a puncture. Just phone your breakdown company and ask them to do it for you.
Keep in touch
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Instagram: CrossingsMotorhome
Please feel free to contact us at any time. When we are away, calls will bounce to our mobiles at no expense to yourself.
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