Message Forums

OK! Finally we have an itinerary and two holidays "on hold" with the the operators until 5pm tomorrow - so its decision time.

Both options are using the same ferries - Poole - Cherbourg (12.30pm), and Roscoff Plymouth (12pm) return

Canvas itinerary would be Chateau Des Ormes (5 nights) Ty Nadan (7 nights), Atlantique (9 nights)

Eurocamp is same sites but in the order Des Ormes (5), Altantique(9), Ty Nadan(7)

The price difference is £115 more with Canvas.... but they say their tents are better because they are full-height throughout and have a patented layout which no-one else has that works better with smaller kids and tehy give you two 'proper' chairs.

So... its not a great deal of money difference - but it is a difference (its a lot of wine!)

Would you pay the extra?

Anyone been with both companies who can comment?

Anyone know if one company vs the other gets better emplacements for example? 

Christine

Christine

I would have guessed that with Eurocamp your neighbours are more likely to be a mixture of German, Dutch & British and perhaps with Canvas holidays they would be more likely to be British.

On our French campsite last year, the Canvas static caravans & tents looked way superior to the Keycamp & Eurocamp ones, but were generally placed further away from the heart of the site (which in the case of our site was probably a bonus because of lower levels of disturbance).  Tricky with tents though because you want to be near to facilities but away from noise!

This probably doesn't help you at all - but was well meant!!  Sandra.

I can't speak for Eurocamp but we have been with Canvas before in mobile homes. Their service was superb and we couldn't fault them in any way. We have had a good look around Canvas tents and they seem to be far superior to any that the other companies have on site.

If I was go you I would stump up the extra cash and go for Canvas.

Thanks for your responses guys... on the grounds that 4 out of 4 replies have agreed with our 'gut feel' we are going to go with Canvas.

My experience on the phone is that the Canvas staff seem much more personable and experienced of their 'product' - they were able to find me someone who had been to the particular sites I was enquiring about and seemed in no rush to "process" my booking - Eurocamp seemed much more 'big company' in feel and I got deep sighs when I asked if a slightly different itinerary might be available (although reading between the lines I think that is because their computer system makes it difficult for them to do this - having battled with their online system if its the same as they use and it sounded like it is then I don't blame them) 

However, if this difference in corporate culture is mirrored by the on-site service then we feel the smaller-feel Canvas approach will suit us better.

Wish me luck getting through to book it tomorrow though - we had to visit relatives today so I couldn't do it - and tomorrow is the last day they do their early-booking discount!

Christine

We're booked!   We cut the number of days down to 19 to save the extra and so DH can have a day to recover from driving back from Plymouth before he has to work... so we are going Thursday - Tuesday 19 days... we will be 4 days at Des Ormes, 7 and Ty Nadan and 8 at Atlantique

We've measured the car and the bikes - and hope we are within the 2.6M height we have booked - we think its probably about .1M either way - so I hope they aren't too pernickity.  We'll take a spanner just in case so we can lower the handlebars if need be!

Off to worry about something else now for the next 8 months! ;-)

Christine

Well! Just shows you...you never know who is reading! - Hi Canvas!

Got a phone call yesterday from Canvas - saying they had seen my postings here and wanted to thank me for choosing them, and hoping I have a great holiday! 

Unfortunately though I still didn't get a discount to make it match the Eurocamp price - which I thought I deserved for the excellent publicity they've had here!

Anyway - I was impressed - if a little disconcerted that I was so easily 'track downable' to a phone number... but I guess it didn't take rocket science to tie up my itenary dates and our booking - very proactive!  Bodes well I hope!

I expect the case of wine will arrive any day ;-)!

Christine

Just goes to show you.

Anyway, I guess I must be Eurocamps worst customer.  We went with them once in 02 to berny Riviere.  Since then, we have gone it alone and saved about £850.  we book direct with the campsite (having flicked through Eurocamp and Canvas brochures!!).  With £88 for Speed ferries next year, we reckon the cost all in for 13 nights will be about £500 in peak season.

On the subject of Eurocamp, I found them appalling.  They talked about sprung beds and what did we get?  No springs but beds with iron bars that kept digging into my back. Would never go with these co's again - although I happily review their brochures!

We went with Canvas last year and it was great - the couriers were older and very helpful.  The tent was great - there is a stair gate you can put across the kitchen area which was invaluable (good place to dry the tea-towels too).  The tent was extremely clean when we got there and all in all it was a fantastic holiday.

we have also been with keycamp, and found that their couriers were much younger and more interested in having parties themselves than helping anyone (one night they kept us awake until 3 am) and also, the tents did not seem as spacious.

Good choice

M