Some people like to plan out every second of their holidays. They know where they are going and where they are staying 24/7. Others, like ourselves, are more what you would call "accidental tourists."

‘Spinal Tap’ is cruising down a French highway, heading south towards Spain. On the side of the road, we see a large brown sign highlighting a tourist attraction. On it is a picture of a familiar looking castle. We both look at each other, shrug our shoulders, and say "Why not? Let's check it out."

It's the perfect example of why a road trip in the van is the best kind of travel. No trains to catch, no timetables to keep, it's pure exploring.

Just a few minutes later, we catch sight of a huge tower looming over the French farmland. Driving closer, it begins to look more and more like something out of "The Lord Of The Rings".

When we finally reach the base of Monte Saint Michel, it's truly beautiful and unique. The medieval castle is built on a wide expanse of sand flats. It's quite literally surrounded by a moat that comes and goes with the ocean's tides.

The cobblestone streets inside the castle walls wind up and around restaurants, shops and hotels. And the best part… there's no ticket window. Entrance is free which is great news for any backpacker on a budget. Wandering along aimlessly, the path eventually spits us out at an incredible viewpoint.

Down below is a car park full of campers. It costs a mere 8 Euros a night, which seems like quite a bargain. Just by flicking back the sunroof, we can check out the castle under moonlight from our very own bed. If that's too expensive for you, there are plenty of spots along little country roads near the castle. They're also a bit more secluded when it comes to stepping out for a morning pee.

Discovering Monte Saint Michel was like stumbling on a little pot of gold. Our brick of a guidebook summed up this incredible place in one line. That's why travellers shouldn't live by their Lazy Planets. Such an incredible place would have been so easy to miss if we didn't have the freedom to just drive off the highway and check it out.

WICKED TIP… France is an awesome place to have a campervan. There are large road stops off all of the major highways. They all have free toilets and water. Many of them also offer hot showers for just a few Euros.