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Have you looked at the bargain frame tents thread?

The Vis a Vis at £149 would be good for France (separate flysheet makes it cooler inside), and I believe you can get an additional sun canopy for the front. The latitude is another one I'd consider (quick to pitch) and again has an optional sun canopy (not sure if they will be available on these old stock models, but they certainly are bargain prices and ideal for France).

This year, we'll probably will be taking our Guadeloupe (here) (SIG) and pup tents, for sheer speed and convenience. A bigger version of this is the Barbados (here), which would easily sleep 4, but with a dividing curtain and not separate bedroom inners. These tents are super-fast to pitch, with minimal poles, are surprisingly spacious and have an integral sun canopy. A non SIG version is the Cabanon Pyramide 6, which many on here will recommend too, I'm sure (and they have optional canopies).

We found that it makes much more sense to take a smaller tent (or tents) to France for sleeping in, and a day room (for shade, more than to protect from rain) for the table etc. We always take a kitchen tent anyway, for safety, so that isn't an issue. This also makes striking pitch easier, as we can take down the kitchen tent and day room the day before and then make a quick getaway with having just a simple tent to pack down.

Another one which might suit is the Outwell Bear Lake; a poly/cotton five berth (two inners - one 4 berth, one 2 berth), zip on sun canopy, zip out, heavy-duty groundsheet (which can be removed if it gets a bit too hot, unlike the Biscaya which can't be pitched without the groundsheet in situ) and lots of doors (ie good ventilation - door to front and one on each side). This one has alloy poles, so shouldn't be such a struggle to pitch as the steel frame Outwells. Not a cheap option, but not as scarey in price as the Biscaya.

Hope this helps, and best of luck with whatever you decide.

Sorry, took so long typing the above I missed your post about needing separate bedrooms.

Quote: Originally posted by pager33 on 16/1/2007

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kids need seperate space, 11yr old son is autistic and finds it hard to settle and disturbs younger sister. We have seen some cabanons that you can get additional annexe for which we thought was an option.

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Yes, these are the 'A' range, and there is a four-berth Andorra on that Forest Camping list, at just £179 (don't know if they will have a matching bedroom annexe in stock?) - 2007 price over £400 more than that.

The Aruba has 3 bedroom inners already (and you could add a utility extension, for storage or for a loo, if you fancied). Cheapest I have seen new is around £600 mark, but there are lots of 6 berth Cabanons on ebay at start of season, so might be worth looking for a used one, if you fancy a conventional frame tent? (If you have used Eurocamp before, in France, then this is the type of tent you will be used to, I guess?). They don't take long to pitch, are comfortable and will last forever (if properly cared for).