We are looking at taking a family holiday at 'Camping Les Mouettes', in Carantec, Brittany (taking our own tent) during August 2010.
1. Has anyone stayed at this site? if so appreciate any feedback good or bad.
2. In addition we are not sure whether to take the Euro Tunnel to Calais, then stop over 1 night at a campsite half way between Calais and Carantec, breaking the journey as its a long drive . Or whether its worth paying the extra cost to go by ferry. We have Tesco club card vouchers - so the Tunnel journey would be for almost next to nothing. (The ferry costs Plymouth / Roscoff are approx £600.
This is our first time camping abroad so appreciate any guidance. Thanks
------------- Jayney
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You'll get different views on the ferries - some like us prefer the shorter cheaper crossing, and then overnight stops in France. Others just want to get to their main site and are willing to pay the extra for the shorter journey. It depends on you, really. Would you enjoy the drive and make that part of your holiday? Some people with tents stay on sites, but use those small pop up Quecha tents which are small and easily unpacked and packed again, just for convenience. Others stay in hotels for their overnight stop. There are lots of lovely places to overnight in, and budget hotels make the cost more reasonable if you don't want the inconvenience of putting the tent up and down. You can also choose small family run Chambre d'Hotes - and get a flavour of real France and often lovely home cooking.
If you do decide on the shorter crossing/longer drive, then someone on here will know and recommend either a good campsite, or hotels or Chambre d'Hotes on your planned route.
Have a look at the route planning websites such as Viamichelin, which will give you the costs and journey times from the various ports to Carantec, and then weigh up the cost disadvantage against the time advantage - then make your own judgement about what would be best for you as a family. If your children travel well they might enjoy the trip through France.
Thank for the reply. The idea of smaller tents for the stop overs is a great idea and definitely one we will consider, though I guess we would have to pay for 2 pitches (2 tents for 5 of us). I'll check out the route planning. A stop over hotel is another good idea but we are taking a car with trailer - we would need to find a hotel that has sufficient room to park it overnight. Maybe a country based hotel would be a better choice?
No, in France you pay only for the pitch and supplements for any extra children - not extra tents! There would be absolutely no problem putting up two pop ups on one pitch. We've had three Khyam two man tents, and our caravan and awning on one pitch when we took lots of teenagers with us!
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The Condor fast ferry from Poole to St Malo is about 1/3 less than the Plymouth Roscoff ferry in high season. Arrives in St Malo at about 19:30 so you might want to book a stopover, but the drive is a lot easier than going from Calais.
Why have you settled on that particular site, if you don't mind me asking? We have spent several years' holidays around Brittany and I love it but OH wants to go somewhere else.
If you have Tesco vouchers, you can use them for the entire cost of your stay including ferries with Siblu. Not everybody's cup of tea, but worth a look.
Val - Thanks for the letting us know about no extra supplement if we have 2 tents on 1 pitch - much better than putting a large tent up just for 1 night. This kids will enjoy it too.
We liked the look of the Les Mouettes site - stuff for all the kids to do. No other reason so open to any suggestions - having never camped abroad before. Will have a gander at Siblu and see what they have to offer - and if we can use our Tesco vouchers then that would be a bonus. Can you recommend any sites to use In Brittany? Or place we should def visit when we go?
Siblu is the old Euro Haven. The word Haven makes me shudder but we are giving it a go this year, mainly because of the Tesco Vouchers. OK only because of the Tesco Vouchers.
My favourite area is South Finisterre, particularly around Bénodet. Lots of sites around there. I'm not an expert on touring pitches because we usually rent a mobile home or sometimes a prepitched tent. Don't need to load up with tent, cooker, etc. Leaves room for wine on the return journey!
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Just to add to what Spampman says the Condor ferry is indeed much cheaper than Plymouth/Roscoff, BUT they use a catamaran style which is quick but very bouncy, hence its nickname - the vomit comet! If you use it be certain to take some anti sickness pills. We are regulars in Brittany as well, it is such a beautiful place so thumbs up for your choice. If I could make a suggestion - you might want to have a mooch at some of the sites around the Vannes area of Brittany and stretching up the Morbihan and Finistere coast towards Concarneau. They are fabulous for kids and I reckon its a particularly nice bit of Brittany. Just my view.
Take a look at LD lines. They have ferries to Le Havre which may give you another option. As mentioned this is really a question of balancing the conveniance and extra cost of a ferry to a western port with the much cheaper Calais ferries. If you add in the extra fuel and stop off costs both ways to your Calais cost, you can make an informed decision. Like everyone else im always on the lookout for a bargain, but dont mind paying a little bit more for convenience. Having said that, lots of people here love the long drives in France, either way good luck, its great fun sorting out hols!
Take a look at the site reviews via the camp site search link at the top of this page. There are loads of helpful member views. Click on Brittany on the map of france, then you have a list of sites. You can then view them on a detailed map by clicking on 'view results on map', which is probably the best way to peruse.
Three sites you may want to look at - Camping Les Driuids, Camping Kervillor and Camping La Plage. All are near Carnac. However there are lots further west just as nice, and I agree with Spampman, Benodet is particularly lovely.
I think I'll give the Catamaran a miss - I've not got the best sea legs and I only need to see someone else being poorly ..... you know the rest.
I've checked the Siblu sites - looks good for kids (and we need to keep them happy) - the thought of using the vouchers is very appealing. Only problem maybe the size of the pitch - our tent it too big for some sites (our tent is rather large (8 metres by 5 metres). I'll check out some of the other recommendations above - they are a great help. Its a minefield but least I have now have some inspiration and things to look at. Its all quite exciting. The other half will leave it to me to book. I'll just tell him which direction to point the car in!
Jayney, 1 crossing out of 7 was a bit dodgy. It ain't that bad. I like it because it gets you closer to where you want to be faster than driving to Dover and then from Cally to Britney. There are loads of sites I want to stay as well as the few I have stayed. Here is a selection: Camping du Letty Ty Nadan[Le /URL" target="_blank"> Orangerie De Lanniron Les Embruns