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Quote: Originally posted by peety on 03/8/2009

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Campsites
Just ordered the Alan rodgers book that everyone recommends and intend to book for first few nights probably to Brittany to get settled. then who knows... How easy will it be to just turn up to sites and get a pitch (the tent is 3m by 3.5m).

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Your deflectors go on the outside of the lens but unless your doing night driving I wouldn't bother, even then just dip you lights a bit more than normal.

If your ferry is in August I would book, esp at weekends, others may have better advice, I tend to do eurotunnel.

Municipal sites are great, and you can just turn up most of the time, sites near coasts/resorts will need booking in peak season unless your lucky!

Why not head off down the west coast? you never know you may end up in Spain before you know where you are!!!

Above all, just enjpy it, the french are much more camping friendly than us.

Quote: Originally posted by Sproz on 03/8/2009

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Your deflectors go on the outside of the lens

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Just stick the deflectors on the outer cover in accordance with the instructions in the pack. Unless yo are going to do a lot of driving at night anywhere will do, nobody will check.

If you are prepared to catch a ferry late evening or errly mornng then don't book.

Personally I would just head south down to La Rochelle rather than Brittany asyou will cover the same distance and have a better chance of decent weather.

Have you checked your car doesn't have a lever for swapping the lights over? my volvo does, i didn't know about it until the topic came up whilst chatting to a volvo technician, when you think most modern cars are designed for LH and RH drive so it makes sense.

As mentioned dont worry unless you doing lots of night time driving, count how many lorries going cross channel (UK and french) have beam benders, not many, if any.  

Quote: Originally posted by Mike+Co on 03/8/2009

Just stick the deflectors on the outer cover in accordance with the instructions in the pack. Unless yo are going to do a lot of driving at night anywhere will do, nobody will check.

If you are prepared to catch a ferry late evening or errly mornng then don't book.

Personally I would just head south down to La Rochelle rather than Brittany asyou will cover the same distance and have a better chance of decent weather.

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I may be very anal, however, I do not like leaving anything to chance, and always book accommodation and Channel crossing well ahead.

Can't comment on ferries/cats, as I don't like them, and shall always go by Eurotunnel.

If I were to go to France, I would book my tunnel crossing as soon as the prices are available, like October for June crossings etc., as I find the prices are far lower when I booked early in the past.

As for the deflectors, they go on the outside of the headlights. Whether you can adjust your lights without the deflectors depends on your car model.

Duct tape works as deflectors if you know where to stick them, and a lot cheaper too

I have not been to France recently due to the poor exchange rate, however, I have been eyeing campsites near Carnac and Vendee. Somewhere flat with lots of cycling opportunities by searching for sites with bicycle hire service. And a decent shop and eating opportunities, as food is very important to me when I am in France, as in eating out and cooking good food. I doubt if I would be taking much food wise when I go to France, as I always bring loads back!!!

DK

Last year we plucked up the courage to 'do France'. Packed up the truck, 4 children, 2 adults - only one driving, booked the ferry crossing from Plymouth to Roscoff, set off with the Michelin guide to campsites and a road map of France.  Never booked a campsite, would sometimes phone one during the day in the area where we were, looking in the Michelin book and ask if they had une emplacement pour ce soir.  We did 2,000 miles, went to the Pyrenees, Med and back through the middle - it was the best thing we have ever done.  Municipal sites were just the ticket - if we didn't like them we would move on.

Have a great trip!

I would also look at downloading the campsite list from the camping cheque site, you can purchase camping cheques for around £11.40 each this covers pitch,electric and 2 persons plus dog each night, this is a great saving against sites normal prices.

The sites in the scheme state dates cheques can be used in the download, normally from the end of August or before mid July. Cheques are valid for 2 years. some sites have offers ie stay 7 nights for six cheques. Please note tourist tax is paid direct to site.