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Tempting but them I remember the empty motorways in France and just looking in the rear mirror and seeing only a few cars and this is in the middle of the day on a Saturday (obviously not near the main cities). Living in the south we have to endure the M25 if we want to go anywhere - except to Dover!! 

If the climate was better than I would consider it - it is a beautiful country, we are good at queuing, have a great sense of humour and some of our landscape, cities, theatres and museums are the best in the world. However with nearly 70m people living in a small country it is just too crowded and stressful! Isn't it the case that France has the same population as us but look at the size of it?   

Val and others have mentioned the fact that in France the heritage is treasured every sizeable town has a museum or art gallery; every village highlights its history and beauty - go most places in UK and the tourist offices will push you to commercial exploitation and boozers!

There's the serious attitude to food, lunch and drinks are not to be rushed!

What hasn't been mentioned is the variety of wildlife and countryside in France and continental Europe in general - and this is the main reason I go on holiday so, no, whatever happens, I will travel abroad.

Oh, and the quality of driving is so much better on French roads.

I should say that with the exception of the last sentence () much the same applies to most parts of Europe - I'd go more often to Greece but it is rather time-consuming at the moment.

Quote: Originally posted by Val A on 09/11/2009

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I'd still go to France.  I think most of the campsites we've stayed on have been better quality than any we've been on in Britain.  I like the semi-private pitches, the informality of sites - no pitching 'with jockey-wheel on the red marker', I like the ambiance in campsite bars at night with no emphasis on getting 'blathered', I like the cheap wine, and the quieter roads in getting to your site and back, and in touring about during the day.  We go outside peak season - so this post only relates to that time of year - it's a long time since we holidayed during school holidays! 

I love the laid-back lifestyle, the lack of litter and vandalism in most areas.  I like sitting around over a coffee for hours just people watching.  You can't do that here - you'd have to get back to your car before your parking ticket expired and you were clamped or towed away.  I love the fact that in most places, including most beaches we've been to,  you can park for free and that towns encourage you to shop there by providing plenty of parking spaces and no parking wardens (except in the very centre of the largest cities).

I love the fact that you can walk around any number of mediaeval villages without paying 'The National Trust' for the privilege.   I also love finding these villages all over France - not signposted as tourist attractions such as they are here, but just 'existing' on that little road off the by-pass.  When you get into the middle of these villages it really can be like going back in time.  I like the Farmer's markets, where you can taste before you buy, and I love the night markets where the whole town goes out for a walk around and a communal meal in the square. 

Yes, I've talked myself back into France for at least another year!

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Just reading that makes me want to go there - clearly the French have a better life than we do in the UK - they seem to take Camping to a higher level - there sites seem better and no more expensive - but with more services to individual pitches - better weather and better food -

I can feel a big urge coming on to go camping french style !  

That would be the one with two days on the Exeter by-pass?  Cornwall was fine but not built for cars .... 

Quote: Originally posted by Floydfan on 11/11/2009

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Every now and again though, my heart aches for a Cornish holiday - like we used to have when our kids were growing up.

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Quote: Originally posted by paul_M on 11/11/2009

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That would be the one with two days on the Exeter by-pass?  Cornwall was fine but not built for cars ....  <IMG alt=17 src="https://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/forum_images/smiley6.gif" align=absMiddle>

Quote: Originally posted by Floydfan on 11/11/2009

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Every now and again though, my heart aches for a Cornish holiday - like we used to have when our kids were growing up.

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Quote: Originally posted by OaseWine on 11/11/2009

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Hi Victor , where do you come from ? your english seems very good to me , do you live here you certainly sound like you know a lot about camping in France , your french must be very good .

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That is because ladylala and oasewine are most likely one and the same person and using the same PC for some reason? and they obviously forgot to sign out of one account before posting  !!!

Cheers   Ratty

With good weather ?  No where better than  Argyll and Bute, Arran, Kintyre, Islay.

Fantastic scenery, friendly people, excellent food, and the finest whisky, what more could anyone want?

Problem is you get 4 seasons in one day.

Makes Normandy look good.

FM

Quote: Originally posted by OaseWine on 11/11/2009

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Clearly the French have a better life than we do in the UK - they seem to take Camping to a higher level - their sites seem better and no more expensive - but with more services to individual pitches - better weather and better food -

I can feel a big urge coming on to go camping french style

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Quote: Originally posted by Ratty on 11/11/2009

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That is because ladylala and oasewine are most likely one and the same person and using the same PC for some reason? and they obviously forgot to sign out of one account before posting  !!!

Cheers   Ratty

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Quote: Originally posted by Laurent on 11/11/2009

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Lets not be too hard on the country that allows us to finance our French hols. I would say its mainly about the better weather & less crowds(that'll be because France has same population as UK in 4 times the space)& certainly not all French sites have fully serviced pitches, very few in fact.

As my French friend says "of course you Brits love France, you only come on holiday here, you don't have to live here"

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I agree that the UK has a lot to offer and indeed is the place which gives us the life and opportunity to visit other countries. However i think for most people, and certainly based on comments here, its much more than the space and weather that makes France such a draw. I think Val and Ina have really nailed why it is a draw to so many of us.

I also love old french cars and its nice to go and see some lovely old metal while we're there.