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We have a large family and large tent, would like to go to France this year. Ant suggestions for good sites....

Do you have a region in mind?

How big is big? Mine is 5metres wide by 7 to 9metres long, depending on whether we put up the extension, and I've not yet had an issue with fitting it on. Sure, sometimes we need to park the car elsewhere, but that's not been a big deal. If we're booking a long stay in peak season I will check beforehand with the site that they can accommodate us.

TT.

This is a list of previous postings asking about First-time in France.  I'd ask "What sort of site do you have in mind?"  France has over 11,000 campsites - everything from 'all singing, all dancing' sites, to just a tap in the corner of an orchard.  "Do you want a site with pool, and kids' clubs", for instance, or just a quiet pitch on a farm?  "Again, how far do you want to travel - and from which port?"

If you want large sites, with full facilities, then have a look through the brochures of operators such as Eurocamp, Keycamp, Canvas Holidays - they tend to operate on the bigger sites - if these are the sorts of sites you like then someone on here will have been and been able to give you advice on a specific site.  If not, and you'd prefer a quieter sort of site, maybe on a beach, or in the mountains, then again someone will have a site to recommend.

If people have a bit more of an idea of what you want, and what your 'essentials' must be, then they can make more informed recommendations.

These websites are useful  , this one for criteria based searches 

http://www.campingfrance.com/index.jsp?lg=uk

..and this one for sites that subscribe to the Camping Qualite charter

http://www.campingqualite.com/gb.html

I'm sure there are loads more sites, but I've used these for the last few years.

Johnny Hamster

Thanks for the advice, We have 7 kids, our tent is a Sunncamp Manta 16 man. It takes up 11mtrs square. My kids are aged between 2 and 15 so somewhere with a range of family activities. Or close to somewhere with activities.

Keith

Wow that's big.  We've seen some Dutch families with really big tents, but I don't think I've seen a 16 person one!   Somewhere I've seen details of a site with pitches up to 400 sq m - but can't remember where.  If I do I'll get back to you with details.  

If you don't want to go too far for your first time, then in Picardie (cheap Dover/Calais crossing) then La Ferme des Aulnes has a children's club in high season, and is near the beaches, has a heated indoor pool with spa, archery, sports pitch, children's playground, and fitness room.  It's average pitch size is 135 sq m - but I presume some pitches will be bigger, and you could email and tell them what size you're looking for - and perhaps park your car off pitch.  Le Val d'Authie, also in Picardie, advertises average pitch sizes of 160 sq m so I presume they have even bigger ones available.   A bit further to travel, but only about three hours from Calais, a good site for first-timers, with loads going on, is La Croix du Vieux Pont at Berny Riviere - this has some very big pitches, and an average pitch size of 130 sq m. There are lots of other British families on this site - and organised coach trips to Disneyland.   La Garangeoire in the Vendee (lots of reviews on this site) has pitches of average 150 sq m.  All these sites have plenty going on, particularly in high season and the reception staff will all speak enough English to be able to help with your requests by email.  Hope others on this site know of sites with even bigger pitches. 

I think it really depends where you go, the closer to the south coast, the smaller the pitches tend to get.  We've been turned away from some, but have always found somewhere.  It's best to ask the site when booking.  Usually we find that we are limited to one choice of layout/orientation by either the width or depth of pitch and usually have to park somewhere else.  Also, you have to remember that guy ropes can add a couple of metres, we've had to peg these out in the hedges.

We've tried La Nautique in Narbonne - advertises huge pitches but we found that most were just extremely long and narrow (ours was 6m x 12m) - not much use if your tent is square.  Also the pitch surface was pretty poor - just rubble.  Did have private facilities, though, which was great and good kids club and pool.

Alan Rogers' guide book normally mentions pitch size.

We have a 12-man tent and have been able to find pitches without booking so far for the last 2 years. It was a bit close on a site near Pont du Gard but we still got on. We go in August (for most of it TBH).

I've seen a 16 man tent and its not that much bigger than ours so you should be fine. Nice having all that space isn't it?