|
06/9/2014 at 1:50pm
Location: Oldham Greater Manchester
Outfit: Outwell Idaho XL and Hartford XL
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 15/6/2014 Standard Member
Forum Posts: 43
| Site Reviews Total: | 2 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
Hi everyone, we are relatively new to camping, had a few trips this year successfully, but really want to try out France next year hopefully, any tips, hints, ideas, pitfalls, experiences would be greatly appreciated to help our decision thanks :)
by the way we are a family of 2 adults, 3 kids that would be aged 11, 13 and 16 next year, with a regular car and trailer and Outwell tent with hookup...if that helps
|
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
06/9/2014 at 2:13pm
Location:
Outfit:
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 21/12/2010 Diamond Member 
Forum Posts: 3980
| Site Reviews Total: | 53 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
Family conference time - to decide what you all want. Surfing beaches, mountain walking up to the glaciers, a few days in Paris, five star camping with discos and cabarets, wild camping with campfires...? They are all possible.
|
06/9/2014 at 2:26pm
Location: Solihull
Outfit: Bavaria I740g
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 27/7/2011 Platinum Member 
Forum Posts: 625
| Site Reviews Total: | 3 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
When we first started going to France - we researched via the package camping websites such as eurocamp and keycap etc and then booked directly with site online.
We also have 3 kids and know the limitations of travel and arguments over who has the middle hump seat. - my first advice would be to decide between a more expensive western channel crossing and a shorter drive or a cheap Dover - Calais tunnel or ferry.
Other advice would be not to limit your choices to France - consider Belgium, luxumbourg or Holland - they have some fantastic family camp sites.
Wherever you choose I am sure you will all have a fab time.
Good luck,
Guy.
-------------
It's only an expensive hobby when it's parked on your Drive....use it, love it , live it.
|
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
06/9/2014 at 2:40pm
Location:
Outfit:
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 29/6/2008 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 12116
Tent Reviews: 1
| Site Reviews Total: | 4 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 1 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 14 |
|
If your looking for the best of the weather during July/August head South, and for outstanding weather go South East, and down to the Med.
Going of your location you may want to do one of the Western ferry crossings, Newhaven-Dieppe would save the torturous drive down to Dover, although not cheap at £300 return for car+trailer for the 4 hour crossing, of which there are only 2 per day each way.
Although Dover-Dunkerque crossings are tempting, we paid just £88 return (£44 each way) for car+trailer for our July crossing which takes just a couple of hours at most.
The NEC show is coming up next month, and there are show offers on for ferry crossings with codes posted on here,so no need to visit the show.
Plenty of campsite reviews on here, also look at the Zoover the Dutch are mad on camping in France, another good resource is ACSI we have there ID Camping Card (Camping Carnet) which we hand in at the campsite reception instead of our passport, when we are on a ACSI listed campsite.
Post last edited on 06/09/2014 15:12:14
|
06/9/2014 at 3:53pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: khyam's Vango's Terra Nova Outhouse
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 04/3/2009 Platinum Member
Forum Posts: 990
| Site Reviews Total: | 0 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
I'd also go for deciding what kind of holiday would suit you all best, then how far you're willing to travel.
With children I estimate journey times by using a site like via michellin then add 20- 30 mins for every 2 hours of actual driving. This covers delays, toilet, petrol, leg stretch breaks. A bit more if you want a proper lunch break in there. It usually over estimates but it gives me a nice minimum and maximum journey length.
Then, if you want pools etc. use sites like Eurocamp, Campeole, Vacansoleil, suncamp to get inspiration. Alan Rodgers website is good for searching campsites.
Don't count out countries like the Netherlands and Germany, we've had some great family holidays in Germany and some of the hottest weather.
|
06/9/2014 at 4:00pm
Location: Oldham Greater Manchester
Outfit: Outwell Idaho XL and Hartford XL
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 15/6/2014 Standard Member
Forum Posts: 43
| Site Reviews Total: | 2 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
Thanks all, I was wondering what this ACSI card was, seen it mentioned here before, to be fair I haven't thoroughly looked into it yet, I do intend to, just thought I'd ask you lovely people first for first hand experiences.
The drive isn't too much of a problem, the OH is a driver and used to long distance so he's happy to drive to Dover, we were advised to try the Loire valley or Brittany first, is there weather there not as good?
We would like a beaceh nearby but it's not a deal breaker, and not so bothered about fancy facilities, if we can hook up electric, shower and use a loo with nice scenery we are pretty happy :)
Must start to research.....
|
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
06/9/2014 at 4:50pm
Location:
Outfit:
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 29/6/2008 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 12116
Tent Reviews: 1
| Site Reviews Total: | 4 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 1 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 14 |
|
Yep, apart from ACSI listed campsites there is also ACSI CampingCard campsites that do cheap rates of season, worth getting the book even if you don't intend to go of season, as it makes for a good reference source, the the ACSI ID card is around £4 and the CampingCard book is roughly £10 they also do a DVD or all ACSI campsites.
You can download ACSI campsites to your sat nav for free although my Garmin already had them, but not as a separate POI but they are now.
We did a fortnight down at Roquebrune-Sur-Argens close to Frejus down on the Med, back in July.
Frejus makes a good base for visiting all the hot spots along the Cote D Azur, and we found the area surprisingly quiet for the time of the year.
We enjoyed Frejus so much, we have already booked with the same campsite for next July.
|
06/9/2014 at 4:55pm
Location:
Outfit:
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 05/8/2013 Platinum Member
Forum Posts: 862
Tent Reviews: 2
| Site Reviews Total: | 3 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
France is big, you can drive for miles and miles away from the ferry port.
If you use French motorways you can be stuck inside your small car for hours until you step out and find the climate, geology and vegetation are all different.
The further south you go the warmer it gets, Boulongne is warmer than Folkestone, St Malo is warmer still, while Bordeaux is positively hot.
There are loads of campsites in France, most have spaces left so no need to book unless you intend to head for somewhere popular.
My advice is that unless you are going somewhere for a reason then drive until you are tired, head for the coast and find a campsite that looks nice. Move on if you don't like it there.
Never trust French road signs, the first sign will indicate the big town the road s heading for, after that the signs will only indicate the next ville. Better to use even a cheap sat nav than to stop the car in front of a road sign trying to work out where to go.
-------------
Enjoy the liveliness of the syntax.
|
06/9/2014 at 10:48pm
Location:
Outfit:
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 03/3/2010 Platinum Member
Forum Posts: 505
Tent Reviews: 2
| Site Reviews Total: | 5 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
My teens come with us when we camp (15 & 18).
For the last two years I've had two pitches next to each other, them on their own pitch. It bumps up the cost but for us it was more than worth it. Still spent a lot of time together but the extra space allowed us to not feel like we were living on top of each other.
Wifi is essential for them too, this years campsite it was free which was a bonus.
Mine are sporty so being by a river was good for swimming and kayaking. Ping pong and tennis keep them happy too.
As for travelling, we sat our son in the front this year so he did the tolls, I had a nice break lol. Last year we flew him down to Toulouse while we drove!
-------------
July 2012 ~ Vallon Pont d
|
|
Topic: Curious rookie
