Message Forums

Hi,

We have decided to take the leap and take thecaravan to France next year,  We are planning in using tesco clubcard vouchers to pay for the crossing so which would you book first the crossing or the campsite?

Also is it better to book direct with the campsite or through the camping and caravanning site as direct seems cheaper?

Many thanks and Happy Christmas

I would book the crossing first. There are over 11000 campsite in France to choose from but crossings, particularly at peak times, will start selling fast when the New Year turns.

Carol

Thanks for the advice will get vouchers ordered ASAP!!

Sarah

If you are going peak july/august season you need to check availability if you are dead set on a particular site. Beyond that I have always chosen the dates that suit us and then work to that starting with the crossing.

I have found that booking direct is cheaper than C&CC - sometimes by quite a margin. I have no doubt CC are the same.

2010 We will be using camping cheques or camping card ACSI to save significantly more.

How do use camping cheques and ASCI (what is it first), can you tell we're novices!  Thinking of going in August if that makes any difference.

Sarah

Camping Cheques (www.campingcheque.co.uk) and ACSI (www.campingcard.com) can save you money on site fees in 'low season' - however some sites have a very long 'low season' and there are many sites which offer the latter half of August in the low season.  There's even one French site, and others in other countries, which will take Camping Cheques through all of August!  BUT - due to the adverse weather the Camping Cheque website isn't yet updated with 2010 dates - it was due on the 21st December, apparently but hasn't happened yet - so if you want a particular site you can download a PDF version of the 2010 brochure from the current website.

As others have said, book your ferry/tunnel asap and then find a site.  Except for the very peak weeks (last two weeks in July and first in August) you'll find a pitch in almost all areas without booking.  However, if you want the security of a booked pitch then most sites now take website bookings which makes the whole process very easy to do.

David

I have just booked our sailing from Jersey to St Malo and once there we shall go whatever direction the wind is blowing (well unless it's blowing towards Jersey), no plans just a go as we please holiday with no return booked.

Oh the joys of retirement.

We always book the site first. Sailings are quite regular but some sites get booked up very early and places are harder to get than ferry crossings. The site we went to last year was fully booked by Sep/Oct last year I believe.Also, in France bookings can be for any day of the week and not as in the UK main weeks where it can be mainly Sat-Sat.

 We normally book the site on our last day there  ( 3 weeks ). Book the ferry then look for another site for the remaining 2 weeks of the summer hols.