We have been going to the south of France for decades near the pont du gard. We have been through nylon to polycotton to camper and finally caravan.
Nylon is fine if you get up early and like being outdoors, anything else and you bake. It also suffers badly if in the direct sun, it fades and goes brittle quicker than polycotton. We then had several polycotton tents: sunncamp shadow 800 PC (bargain if you can find one as decent size and not too bulky), outwell bear lake 6 then wolf lake 7 (massive, nicknamed the barn). The outwells were fantastic, easy to put up with all the convenience of zipped groundsheet, but used up a lot of luggage space even with a trailer.
I think we are pretty much decided that we will buy a canvas or polycotton tent.
A trailer tent is a no-no as far as OH is concerned. We do a lot of trundling down very out of the way roads, to find idyllic picnic spots. The thought of having to reverse a trailer in a tight spot! Say no more. Life is a trade off, trailer or struggling up off an airbed. I know the one OH would opt for.
If I was on my own I would have a Cabanon Guadaloupe and a camp bed.
But I don't want to be on my own.
Latecamper
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Another thought - have you looked at the Classified Adverts on here - quite a number of canvas tents for sale and it might be worth trawling through to see if there is anything in your price range, and 'style'.
Quote: Originally posted by Val A on 19/5/2019
Another thought - have you looked at the Classified Adverts on here - quite a number of canvas tents for sale and it might be worth trawling through to see if there is anything in your price range, and 'style'.
Thank you Val, yes I have trawled all the ads on here and couldn't find anything in striking distance of us.
Have posted a request on freecycle as per your suggestions. Each morning I check gumtree and ebay, I am getting a bit obsessed.
Try pre-loved or Gumtree (as has been suggested). These are selling sites which focus on your local area and they do not have selling fees like ebay does. However they are not really suitable for distance purchases. If you are buying a 'new' (to you) tent I expect you will arrange to see it before you hand over your money.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!