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 Topic: Staying in France in a Day van
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Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
10/1/2014 at 6:45pm
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You will be ok, French sites ain't bothered what you camp in, you can sleep in a car if you want & I've seen it done. The only problem you might have in April is finding sites open as many French sites don't open until May. No need to book anything though, sites will be empty at that time of yr.
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Regards, Jack+Jon.
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10/1/2014 at 6:45pm
Location: Essex
Outfit: None Entered
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I can`t imagine you will be turned away. In our many years of camping I have seen many variations of tents, caravans, motor homes and converted vans. So long as you are willing to pay for your pitch I am sure you will be fine on sites, and in motor home aires there is not usually even anyone to monitor who stops.
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10/1/2014 at 7:48pm
Location: West - North Yorkshi
Outfit: Swift+Speedbird+490+
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We have a friend who drives a Renault Kangoo - and has no problems staying on French campsites, or motorhome Aires. We've seen a whole variety of other camping outfits, including a tractor pulling an old gypsy-type caravan - so I don't think you have any need to worry.
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Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
10/1/2014 at 7:48pm
Location: Lancashire
Outfit: Leisuredrive VW T6 campervan
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If you are going in April, it might be worth buying a copy of the ACSI book with the discount card. Not only can you get a discount at the listed campsites, but by checking the dates, you will see when they are open.
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10/1/2014 at 8:23pm
Location: West Midlands
Outfit: Various tents
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Quote: Originally posted by franbee on 10/1/2014If you are going in April, it might be worth buying a copy of the ACSI book with the discount card. Not only can you get a discount at the listed campsites, but by checking the dates, you will see when they are open.
Agree with Franbee the card is a good idea, but you could check the sites' opening dates, and the dates when the ACSI CampingCard is accepted, on their website before buying.
Also check with the ferry/tunnel operators whether they will class your van as a commercial vehicle.
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10/1/2014 at 8:36pm
Location: West - North Yorkshi
Outfit: Swift+Speedbird+490+
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If you book with the tour operators themselves, then they will often charge a van at a 'van' rate which is quite high. However, if you book with the Caravan Club, or Camping Cheques, there is no option to select 'Van' in the booking process and you can book your Kangoo as a car. I've done this several years running for our friend with his Kangoo.
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Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
10/1/2014 at 9:34pm
Location: Lancashire
Outfit: Leisuredrive VW T6 campervan
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The advantage of having the ACSI book with you is that you don't need to decide where to stay beforehand, just see where you are, and look up a site. Having had a quick glance, there are lots of ACSI sites open from 1st April, if not before.
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11/1/2014 at 9:43am
Location: Cheshire
Outfit: Volvo V70 Swift 570
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Having been a RoRo freight driver All ferry operators and channel tunnel do not class a van as commercial unless its actually carrying goods or is over a certain size but we are talking 7.50 Ford Cargo size here and the like not the OP size
If the vehicle is clealry a panel van and empty of goods then its classed as a private vehicle and as such the regular car though it may pay a height supplement if needed. if its loaded with camping gear you will also be ok. If it was loaded with furniture youd be charged commercial rates
Clearly if they decide to look in this the OP vehicle they would find it converted to a day van and therefore no extra charges.
Vans would only be charged at a commercial freight rate if they were carrying goods, The way to book this RDH is as a car but put the height in.
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Mark
Uttoxeter (Race days)
Le Serignan Plage (clothed one) August and Scheveningen on way back
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Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
23/2/2014 at 9:16am
Location: West - North Yorkshi
Outfit: Swift+Speedbird+490+
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I be a bit 'iffy' about your second site. Some of the reviews on the ACSI website are very poor (mentioning filthy sanitary blocks) and there are even worse reviews on a Dutch campsite review site, which scores it only 5.6 out of 10 and similarly brings up time and again the dirty toilet facilities. Recent, ones are just as poor as older ones.
There are other sites in the area, which score higher, and which are open at the same time of year.
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