we are hoping to get away to france in our trailer tent. probably not this year but hopefully next. Has anyone taken their fc away with them? I have been looking at the sites and they seem to be around the same price as here, however you have the petrol and crossing etc, but considering it is a foreign holiday it would still be worth it. It would only be close as we would have travel very far in the uk
There is an interesting article in this months Camping magazine covering holidays in France in a TT . They suggest purchasing one then selling it on in the same season after your return to provide a very cheap family break. We sold on our first TT when upgrading to an FC and got what we paid for it the year before so can see their logic. Being based in Scotland it's too far to drive to make France an option for us but would consider if we were nearer the English ports.
We have been to France with a FC, caravan and a TT, its FAB cos you actually camp in the sun!
This year we are trying France in the tent for the first time, yes you have extra petrol, the tunnel is just over £100 return but still way cheaper than a package holiday, I find the campsites cheaper than uk and better quality, once you try it you will be hooked, its quite daunting the first time, but honestly its easy, and lots of advice on the camping abroad forum!
Going to France for the 5th time this year, 3 times with a tent and it will be twice with our FC.
Sites IMO are mostly better than this country. The roads are a lot better than here and the signage is very good, so driving is a doddle.
I don't know where mzzy gets the tunnel for just over £100, I take it they mean when not towing. Cost when towing is normally about £200 or just over, unless of course you have Tesco Vouchers, then it can be more or less free. Norfolkline Ferries do a good price if you are towing, at just under £100.
Have to agree with mzzy, once you try it you will be hooked.
We find that you can camp far more cheaply in France than in the UK...even factoring ferry crossing and petrol.
With a bit of judicious planning you can get the ferry for £58 return (Norfolk Line offer) and pay £9 per night for unit,car,2 people, ehu and free hot showers (Vacansoleil Cheques)
You stand a greater chance of good weather and the food can be better.
we've been to france, spain, holland and belgium with ours, all on the ferry, most sites are a lot cheaper and better quality than uk sites, and weather is warmer so no need for rainy day activities with the kids
------------- Taffy
2012 Planned
Easter - Cornwall
July scout camp
August North Wales
Done it several times, France, Spain, Switzerland & Italy. Thoroughly reccomend it. Use the campsite search on here & read the reviews. Sites can be cheaper but the quiality is as wide & varied as it is here. Look on the camping abroad section for more advice. Shop around for ferries, you can get a Dover - Calais crossing with a trailer in school holidays for under £100 if you try.
We are taking our camper to Le Croix de Vieux Pont in August. First time camping in France but My son went there last year and recommended it. We paid £88.50 return, Norfolk Ferry.
Fred.
We have been every year for the last 6, except for 2009 when we did Disney and went to Florida. 4 of them in our TT and last year in the FC (which for some reason was the talk of the campsite, with people coming over and pointing at it like they'd never seen anything like it before...quite bizarre). I don't think I would spend our summer hols doing anything else now. Warranted we do live only an hour and a bit (ish..depending on the Dartford Crossing) from the channel tunnel terminal, so it makes it much more doable. We pay for the tunnel crossing in mid August with our Tesco vouchers, £80 this year now we only get 3x in vouchers pretty much paying for the £240 crossing. We take 3 weeks, stopping in France for a few days on the way down to Spain for 14 nights and stopping one more night on the way back. Driving in France is far better than here. Go on and do it you'll have a fab time and never look back.
You will have to pay a toll on the peage, same as everyone else, but it is not as expensive with a TT as with a caravan. Plus you can usually get under any height barriers for petrol, parking and so on. Another France plus is that there is a lot less of the English "extra few pounds here and there syndrome". You know, £2 for parking near the beach, etc. Parking in many places is free. Enjoy. We went several years ago and always want to go back to extend our touring area.
We've 'done' France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Germany ... over the past six years with our FC ... take bikes and inflatable boats (up to white water grade 3)... wouldn't holiday any other way ... it's fantastic!
Lots of the French Municipal sites are very good value ... but you can go as up-market and expensive as you like ... have a look at 'Cool Camping' for 'different' sites.
Take a satnav ... easy to avoid toll roads, and you get to see more of the real country trather than the tarmacked bits!