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tintin, we get into Calais about the same time(GMT),we are hoping to drive a couple of hours and do the same but haven't booked a hotel yet, waiting to finalise our route.

We have booked on Le Pin Parasol which has got good reviews on here.

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revid=7645n

Find a route with viamichelin.com, or mappy.com.   Put in start and destination, and select whether you are towing or not, and it will give you a map and an itinerary, as well as calculating how much fuel you will use, and how much tolls will cost.

Once you've calculated your route then try www.campingfrance.com for all 11,000 campsites in France, or perhaps someone has a specific site to recommend.  We usually stay over at the Aire de la Baie de Somme, near Abbeville (though we're not on route to the Vendee, but elsewhere), but I don't think I'd recommend it to first-timers - you need somewhere you can relax a bit more for your first night in France.

Have a read of the pinned topic 'Advice for Continental First-Timers' which gives you everything you need to know.  And DON'T WORRY - everyone has to do it for a first time, and it really is much easier in France than in Britain.

Pick an area on the map where you want to head to then either follow the above advice or just google for the local municipal campsite. I wouldn't arrive too late at a municipal as everyone else will have the same idea!! also remember that the barriers will close at 8pm ish. Are you arriving at calais 5pm UK time? remember thats 6pm french time.

We have a small site booked for our return to Uk, Les epinettes near the eurotunnel, the site is here; http://www.lesepinettes.fr/

If you have tomtom satnav I have my POI's that I'm sharing with people on here, they include a lot of french sites are are quite handy, also Burger King, tescos, etc etc!! you can get them here;  http://www.kitchenfoods.co.uk/forum/tomtom-satnav-pois-t-28.html

Quote: Originally posted by tsfive on 05/6/2009

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tintin, we get into Calais about the same time(GMT),we are hoping to drive a couple of hours and do the same but haven't booked a hotel yet, waiting to finalise our route.

We have booked on Le Pin Parasol which has got good reviews on here.

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revid=7645n

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Hi,

 we are heading through the tunnel then to Pin Parasol on 14th August. We are stopping at Château du Gandspette on the way back and it has good reviews.

On the way down we have an early crossing so are heading for Le Mans for our half way halt.

Mr UM

Hi tintin379

We too are going to the vendee via dover/calais, we have found this site http://www.camping-sainte-claire.com/ ,and its just off the new A28, with local supermarkets nearby, and its only about two hours from calais.

We have booked via email and they seem very nice, the cost is 14.4 euros for two nights (one out and one back), with electric at 6 amps.

When are you going ?