Message Forums

If you're going peak weeks, mid-July to mid-August, and you want a particular site then it would make sense to book.  If you don't mind 'which' site, then take your chances. 

If you're going outside the peak weeks but still in the school holidays, then you'll generally find a pitch even on the most popular sites - but not always, particularly in the 'shoulder' weeks.

If you're going outside the school holidays then you never need book at all. 

I think the phoning ahead is a good option - with a 'second reserve' site, just in case!

My son and his friends found a pitch at L'Airotel d'Ocean at Lacanau Ocean (a very popular site) last Thursday - even though the website stated that the site was 'Complet'.  They just turned up, after cycling down from Cherbourg over the previous week, camping along the way!!!!!!

Hi,

We have gone to France for the last 4 years and have never booked a site yet.  We are off to France again in about 10 days time, for about 3 weeks and we have again not booked anywhere.  We just have a rough idea what region  we want to be and then when we get somewhere near we just look at one of our many books and decide on a campsite,  Touch wood, we have never been turned away yet and have probably stayed in over 30 sites in France in the 4 years as we usually only stay a few days at each site and we always go about the sametime of year.

Hope this helps and have a nice holiday.

Sandra.

Quote: Originally posted by Wibbers on 06/8/2010

---

Hello! We're hoping to get away next Saturday, to arrive around 5.30 pm at Calais and find a municipal a short drive away for an overnight stay. Unfortunately we can't get there on an earlier crossing.

Having never used municipals before, (a) what are the chances of getting a pitch on Saturday 14th, and (b) what time would you recommend to arrive to give ourselves a chance?

Thanks in advance for any help!

---

Quote: Originally posted by Wibbers on 07/8/2010

---

Yes, I had planned to try and get at least an hour south of Calais (Somme Estuary?) but was a bit concerned that it might be getting a bit late turning up towards 7 pm.

Is it still the case in France that the first two weeks of August are holiday time and the last two weeks are pretty quiet?

---

Yes it is still the case. The French Holidays are over by about 14/15th August so you should have no problem finding a pitch after that. The Dutch also all go home then. Mass exit!!!

I always book the first night in France particularly if arriving late, then you don't need to worry.