Message Forums

My husband and I are bikers and have camped in the UK many times, mostly but not exclusively at bike rallies. This year we are planning on camping in France for the first time. We have been to France several times on the bikes, but always stayed in Gites.

Does anyone have any tips regarding where to stay or what to look out for with French sites? We are provisionally thinking of heading from the ferry in Boulogne to Picardie and then down through Ardenne to the Lorraine/Alsace regions. Any help would be gratefully recieved.

Obviously our rig is quite limited due to carrying it on the bikes. We have a Khyam Freelander tent, obviously no electric and two single burner stoves, an air bed, folding mini table and  2 chairs. Not exactly luxury, but comfortable enough. Also if anyone knows of any space saving items which are useful, that too would be appreciated, as we generally only camp for a maximum of 3 - 4 nights at a time this way. We are planning on a 10 day holiday this time.

Thanks in advance, Vicky

Quote: Originally posted by anniemac on 01/6/2008

---

I love the 'Hairy bikers' (although im sure you're not hairy !), their book about their trips all over the world on bikes if great reading.

Good luck

Annie

---

You've never met my husband!

Thanks for the reply Annie. You're right, the back roads are by far the best and we love hunting out little towns and villages. We are real France-a-holics, which is why I am so looking forward to camping over there and finding some new places to visit.

I would love to hear about peoples experiences and I  much prefer getting recommendations from people on their own experiences than relying on guidebooks and tourist info offices.

Quote: Originally posted by macaw on 01/6/2008

---

Hi another way to do the France trip is the way we did it on a bike (ditch the tent )
We stayed at F1 hotels basic but clean about 32 euros per three berth room per night.
Hotel F1
Hope that helps macaw

---

Vicky,

         if you intend to go outwith the "high season" (July/August) have a look at www.campingcard.co.uk  If you have an ACSI card which costs around £7 there are some massive savings to be made and it comes with a handy brochure containing loads of info about the sites and good directions to find them too !

Rod

Thanks to all for the help. We are travelling in main season (August) this year, although we normally go in September. This is one of the reasons we are camping rather than renting a Gite (cost). I am really starting to look forward to the new adventure and the ability to have a multi base holiday.

Would still appreciate any more help anyone can offer.

Vicky

Thanks for the recommendation Liz. I've had a look at the website and the reviews and it looks perfect for a stop-over. A spanner has been thrown in the works, only thanks to the fact that we have too much choice on where to go and are umming and ahhing over going back to the Loire valley, as we love it there.  

Luckily we still have a little time to decide.... conscious of us going during school holidays tho'.