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26/11/2013 at 2:31pm
Location: County Armagh
Outfit: Hobby 700
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Joined: 13/2/2007 Gold Member 
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Motorhome now sadly sold due to economics so wondering how we 'do' our beloved France next year. We have done gite,caravan, and motorhome over the years but never camped. Then we remembered a tent in the attic thats hardly been used so think, why not?? 2 (slightly arthritic) adults and 4 dogs in a tent for 3 weeks in France. Whats not to enjoy? Are we mad? Certainly we've met people over the years who appear to be enoying themselves under canvas.....
We're looking forward to the extra freedom it will give us just having the car (4x4), and the fact we can scoot south quite quickly, but what extra things do we need to think about with a tent? What do we definately need to take? What do we definately NOT need to take? Oh, and Beds. V important. Airbed or folding camp bed? what is preferable?
Pam
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Sometimes You're the windscreen; sometimes the fly
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26/11/2013 at 4:14pm
Location: South Yorks
Outfit: Vango Typhoon 300
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We're well into our sixties and until this year (see moany thread!) have had few problems with camping and enjoy it (as opposed to hotelling &c) for the economy and choice of site.
We do it with a small car (or none at all) so we have the absolute minimum of luggage. Tent; bed rolls, pillows and sleeping bags (the lightest weight ones from Go!); a small gas heater and kettle; a hanging lamp; one plate, mug, knife, fork, spoon, plastic glass, for each of us; sharp knife (but check the size carefully or it may be confiscated at customs), bottle opener, sealable plastic boxes (for carrying breakfast or picnics in); a bucket (for rinsing clothes in or cooling wine); a book or two and that's about it. To give an idea of the size, when we travel without a car, everything fits in to two large ruchsacks, a large wheely bag and a small wheely bag!
We have gradually reduced the amount we carry - partly because we didn't use much of it - we now don't carry any saucepans &c because we don't cook! toast and jam for breakfast, picnic for lunch and eat out for dinner!
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26/11/2013 at 4:18pm
Location: Wirral
Outfit: Swift Freestyle 520 on seasonal pitch
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We tented in france for several years, then Trailer-tented.
essentials for us were a decent cooker with a grill, one with a stand. A good airbed, in our case a king-sized extra deep Coleman to get us off the floor. Some insulation between it and the floor. Hookup and a cool-box. Tent that you can open right out when it gets hot - preferably without a sewn-in groundsheet, unless you like being in a sealed plastic bag.
You might think about a second hand trailer tent. Have a look on e-bay. Cheaper to insure, tow, store, maintain ferry etc. more comfortable to sleep in and plenty of space.
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26/11/2013 at 6:48pm
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Bring down and put up the tent in your attic before you pack it and head for the ferry ports. Things left and forgotten in attics are often are often not quite as you remember them when recovered.
If you have too many people, animals and kit to fit in one car then send some of your adult people by train with their personal kit and pick them up at the rail head.
Take essentials, cut luxuries and buy food etc. locally.
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26/11/2013 at 9:17pm
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Joined: 29/6/2008 Diamond Member
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Well this is our "Cotton" canvas haven, and even though we are now into our early 50's we just love being under canvas, the Tent cost just £699 new back in 2008 and it's gives us a wonderfull holiday each year for our fortnight campings in the South of France during July. Maybe one day when we have saved up enough cash to buy a caravan, things will change, but for now the Tent just suits us fine. 
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27/11/2013 at 1:45pm
Location: Surrey
Outfit: Rapido 741f motorhom
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Depends where in France you will be going but if anywhere hot, take a canvas/cotton tarp to use as shade - a godsend. And will even keep off rain unless it is lashing down. We take self inflating mats and a mattress topper to be really comfy but have also used air beds in past. Until last year we never had electricity so just used a cool box - absolutely fine even in v hot temps. However, we wanted a fan for the med so were having electricity and borrowed an electric coolbox. I love my tent and sleep better in that than at home/fancy hotel or anywhere.
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lizzie
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27/11/2013 at 2:41pm
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Is it not Marechal, if it is there are a lot of images on Google, but maybe not yours.
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XVI yes?
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
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27/11/2013 at 8:32pm
Location: south west
Outfit: Rialto caravan combi tr quecha tents
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hi,
we decided to go back to camping due to not being sure about money for the following year and because we are mad reckless things.
We have previously done tents to trailer tents to caravans to chalets.
Well it was fab.
Essentials for us were:
A good mattress (bliss in a tent).
A fridge to keep things cool in the heat.
Some good seats.
An extra gazebo for shade (it got really hot).
Other half made a funky fold-out kitchen area and storage.
A barbque.
Washing line to dry wet swimming gear.
and fairy lights to give the right atmospheric lighting.
Give it go you'll love it if you go with a positive mind.
also saved up 1,000.
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sueze
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30/11/2013 at 12:05pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: None Entered
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We use an inflatable double airbed, with a thing we plug into the car's cigarette lighter to inflate it. Comfy and easy to inflate/deflate. Definitely take folding chairs and maybe a table - I don't know about you, but I get really sick of sitting on the floor after a couple of days!
We're planning a trip to France next year and I think we're going to look into options for keeping food cool - we've done a couple of trips with just a coolbag and icepacks, but not all campsites have facilities for freezing the icepacks and there were some times when we had to manage without, so I think it'd make things easier to have a better way of cooling things (possibly including me - I'm a bit worried about the south of France in summer in a tent, I've never camped anywhere really seriously hot before!)
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01/12/2013 at 12:01am
Location: Kent
Outfit: adria adora 432uk
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Have you thought about having 4 dogs with you? Apologies if this is not a problem but many campsites only allow two dogs per pitch and you have the cost of passport and vet fees for travel. If this is not an issue for you then I apologise but thought I would mention it
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Topic: France in a Tent
