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Subject Topic: Caravaningcrew in France 1st time. Post Reply Post New Topic
20/1/2015 at 2:46pm
 Location: Kent UK
 Outfit: Caravan
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Hi all,

We want to head to France this year for the first time ever and would like as much helpful hints, tips and views for sites, travelling and stop overs etc.
We are a family with two children (boy of 11 and girl of 8) and would love to hear of some good sites in the south of France. I've been advised to stop over night half way down?

I'm new to the site and caravaning and am looking forward to hearing from everyone........


Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!


20/1/2015 at 3:20pm
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit: Leisuredrive VW T6 campervan
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Hello and welcome to the forum!

Apart from any other advice, have a read at the sticky thread above about camping in France, there will be lots of useful info for you on there.

Yes, you will probably want an overnighter on the way down, it's a long drive without, and it gives you an opportunity to see a different place.

I'm probably not the best person to advise on sites for children as I don't take any camping, but I'm sure others will be along to help soon.


20/1/2015 at 3:25pm
 Location: nr Derby
 Outfit: Phoenix 440+
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Hello and welcome........
perhaps you could supply a bit more info to get more 'targeted' advice. What do you like doing, do you want country or beach, what onsite facilities are you looking for etc etc. Do you have any restrictions price/time wise?

Personally I would make the journey with two stops ... even without the kids but setting off from Kent certainly makes a difference.

an example... not the coast but further inland in the Cotes du Rhone wine region and close to a very nice town,

-------------
Grahame


20/1/2015 at 3:53pm
 Location: Kent UK
 Outfit: Caravan
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Thanks for the quick responses...... I see now there are many threads in connection with France and have been looking through all afternoon. I think it's going to take a serious sit down planning session and not just find what we want in a quick surf.

Graham the link you sent looks real nice place and the pools, slides and fumes sound prefect and sounds like I've been imagining what to hopefully expect.

I suppose heading that far down a beach would be good....... Onsite will really be family orientated so the children could do things in the day, playground and swimming pool, evening entertainment isn't a must as we generally chill in the evening sitting back.

Nice French towns nearby would be good to visit for local food and drink and eat out some nights........


Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!


20/1/2015 at 4:05pm
 Location: sunny south east!
 Outfit: Coachman
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Carvancrew

Welcome and good luck with the planning - your head will be spinning as all of ours usually are at begining of year!

Going from Kent certainly helps in that you have access to the cheapest crossings at Dover or possibly Newhaven -Dieppe depending on area you head for in France

As you are towing a van I would say you certainly would be looking at either two very long days with one overnighter or maybe two overnighters for more manageble chunks

Rather than solely looking at south of France have you considered the West coast which has fantastic beaches and some great holiday resorts and huge numbers of campsites of all sorts.
In height of summer you should be looking at decent weather for much of west coast from Vendee/Charente/Aquitaine regions although no where is guaranteed don't forget.
The advantage is certainly Vendee and Charente are easily reachable with one overnighter or even same day if using a more western ferry crossing


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20/1/2015 at 4:44pm
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How long do you intend to go for? A leisurely drive down and back can form part of the holiday itself. If it is just a mad dash to the sun or Med, then you may be thinking of toll roads.


20/1/2015 at 7:15pm
 Location: Northern Ireland
 Outfit: Sterckeman Alize Concept CP480
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We usually did the 'mad dash' ... still do ... but even with small children we did, often driving through the night so that they'd sleep.
Don't forget to check on the possibility of using your Tesco vouchers (assuming you save them) ... you can get three times face value on the Chunnel and several ferry companies ... can be a serious help to costs.


Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!


20/1/2015 at 9:16pm
 Location: Sheffield
 Outfit: Sterling Eccles Sport 636
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Le Serignan Plage is a nice site owned by Yelloh. It's near Beziers, has good entertainment, direct beach access, nice pools and onsite shops. It is a big site though, around 1000 pitches from memory but we enjoyed it with our two girls who were 2 and 5 at the time.


21/1/2015 at 4:19pm
 Location: Kent UK
 Outfit: Caravan
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Thanks guys for all your help........ Wow I think France is definitely going to be our holiday destination for the next three years!!!
West coast, South and now Loire valley looks appealing.....

I understand what everyone means about a month of preparation. We are glad we joined this community........


21/1/2015 at 6:09pm
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Yep, France has something to offer for all types of campers, since 1962 I have mostly been to the Cote d Azur, and this year July will be no exception.

We did 3 years going to the Southern Ardeche, loved it but I yearned for the Med, so much so we did a day trip, from Aubenas to Le Grau du Roi, now that was a beach in more ways than one!.

Did Argeles Sur Mer one year, superb beach, and well Sunny.

For 2016 though we plan to break from tradition, and I am currently looking at campsites between Beziers and Castres, a nice quiet 3 Star campsite with no animations would suit us.

Planning a camping holiday in France, is all part of the fun.

One of the chaps at work was asking me if my camping holidays to France are abta protected, I just sighed!


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22/1/2015 at 1:54pm
 Location: North Somerset
 Outfit: Fiat Rollerteam
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Hi Caravanningcrew, we did France in winter during Xmas-NY. We have 3 kids age 7-10. We decided to drive a motorhome. As there are plenty of choices, we planned ours around Paris and Disneyland. Our campsite is standard but its the location that was ideal. We mapped out distance to each POI in Paris that kids would like to visit and distance to Disneyland. From Carlisle, its 3 hours drive to campsite called Le Beau Village, web: Le-beau-village at wanadoo.fr. Everyday we woke up and walk over to the train station that took us to all the locations we have chosen like, Eiffel Tower, De Louvre, Notre Damme etc. Everything is mapped out clearly in their train's map which you mark before hand and off you go, its simple plus we had a fantastic outing of each town where the POI is located. We were very impressed with the layout of Paris train stations. The campsite owner is as helpful as he can be and friendly despite us not speaking French. Disneyland is more a less an hour drive from here. We camped in the motorhome outside Disneyland dedicated camper's area which was fab as you're actually there without further travel...with kids, if you know what I mean. There's a block of standard toilets and showers, 20euros per night, we pack our sandwiches, drinks as it can be expensive, stayed 3 nights until park closed as we didn't need any coaches/buses to get home, treated ourselves in the Hollywood Restaurant which kids loved and yes, we would do it again. To save time and make the best of it, spend a day in each park and not go back and forth, plan and mark all the areas you want first as some rides can be long queue, so do the short ride in between. Look out for Disneyland ticket offer online as it saves plenty and do book any restaurant offers alongside. Tesco token for Eurotunnel, Folkstone-Calais saves a lot. I hope these helps as this is travel via motorhome. Happy to help and good luck planning.




-------------
Mmm...I think I am happy! Always ask my kids and friends as its key to everything! As a family of 5, camping and motorhoming have been the most treasured sanity to our getaways, rain or shine as abroad holidays are costly. I am happy to share our experience with all lovely humanbeans outhere :)


Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!


22/1/2015 at 2:00pm
 Location: West Midlands
 Outfit: Various tents
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If you really mean "From Carlisle...", there's a Shortening the Road thread here.                    




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