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Subject Topic: Ferry to France Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonKeithedwards161
20/7/2015 at 11:34pm
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Hi, we are a family of five living in Andover , Hampshire . We are thinking of going to France in our caravan for the first time. We are aiming to spend a week near the coast maybe Rochelle or maybe down to the languedoc - roussilon region in the south of France and a week inland. We are wondering the best crossing and any ideas of good places to go.
Thanks, Keith

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Keith


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


PersonKeithedwards161
21/7/2015 at 12:19am
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We have booked an overnight ferry from Portsmouth to le harve and arrive at 8am on sun 16th and leave on fri 28th at 12am, any tips would be appreciated.
Thanks

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Keith


PersonBaguette95
21/7/2015 at 8:01am
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Brouage, just south of La Rochelle is well worth a visit. La Rochelle does get busy in high season, I'd stay somewhere just a bit away from there.
There are so many campsites, if you've not booked, you might be better heading for 1 20 minutes inland. Have a look at the UKCS site reviews - click on campsite search at the top of this page.
Have a great holiday!


Personbofs
21/7/2015 at 11:05am
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Good planing to arrive in France on a Sunday, especially for your first trip into France, as there will be very few HGVs on the roads. We also aim to do busy parts of the journey (e.g. city ring roads) around dinner time where possible (12-2pm or so) as most French drivers stop to eat somewhere between these times and the roads can be a lot quieter. On the other hand, we avoid service areas, especially the full facility ones, at these times, for the same reason!
Would second the advice from Baguette95 to look at the site search facility/reviews for the areas you're thinking of visiting, and also look at the advice for first-timers post. Then come back with any questions you may still have.
Wherever you choose, I'm sure you'll have a great time and this will be the first of many holidays abroad.


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


PersonKeithedwards161
22/7/2015 at 11:30pm
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Thanks baguette and Bofs, that has been very helpfull 😄😄

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Keith


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Person4princesses
22/7/2015 at 11:44pm
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We're sailing to Le Havre on Friday and are traveling to that region, we're staying at Le Logis Du Breuil in Royan which is a little south of La Rochelle. Reviews are good and we're looking forward to it, we're going back via Paris as the children want to go to the Eiffel Tower, so spending 3 days nears Paris too :)

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Rhian, wife, mother to 4 daughters, and now a caravan owner


2017

Riverside Caravan Park, Aberystwyth
Au Lac de Biscarrosse

2016

Stowfords, Devon
Trefalun Park, Tenby
Le Logis Du Brueil


Personchrisandsandra
23/7/2015 at 1:12pm
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As you are arriving on a Sunday just be aware that in France a lot of things still close on a Sunday although this is changing.

Some supermarkets are now open until about 1.00pm but small shops will be closed unless in very touristy areas. Private petrol stations may be closed but you can get fuel from supermarket pumps by self service using a debit/credit card.

I am assuming that you arrive on 16th August in which case that is the weekend of Assumption which is a big bank holiday in France. It's also the end of the summer holidays for many of the French and the roads get very busy on the Saturday, but the worst should be over by the Sunday. There is more info here

You have chosen a graet arae to visit. Have a great holiday.


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


Personarthurdent
23/7/2015 at 1:20pm
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Rather than travel a long way to the South of France, have a look at Loire (somewhere around Tours / Saumur) for your inland week. Nice area, lots to see and do, and convenient to your planned week around La Rochelle too.

And another mention for petrol. Make sure you're full up before you hit France on a Sunday.


PersonBerriow
23/7/2015 at 2:03pm
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Quote: Originally posted by arthurdent on 23/7/2015


And another mention for petrol. Make sure you're full up before you hit France on a Sunday.


Surely not a problem now that French petrol stations almost always have 24 hour automatic pumps accepting UK credit/ debit cards even in the smaller places, and the autoroute service stations will be open as normal .


Personarthurdent
23/7/2015 at 2:12pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Berriow on 23/7/2015
Quote: Originally posted by arthurdent on 23/7/2015
And another mention for petrol. Make sure you're full up before you hit France on a Sunday.


Surely not a problem now that French petrol stations almost always have 24 hour automatic pumps accepting UK credit/ debit cards even in the smaller places, and the autoroute service stations will be open as normal .

It depends where you run out ! In some towns the only station is still the supermarket and is probably manned at the checkout station on the way out. It might be closed on a Sunday afternoon or even all day. You might have difficulty with not having a French card. The advice still stands, even today.


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PersonVWT4Transporter
23/7/2015 at 2:42pm
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Im just outside of Andover and always use the Portsmouth-Le Havre or Caen route and we always travel on the Saturday night.
Get a cabin, you will arrive early and be refreshed.
Sunday morning there is little traffic on the roads and no Lorries other than the rare freezer truck.

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Birth of the Universe?
Once upon a time there was nothing. Which exploded


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


Personchrisandsandra
23/7/2015 at 3:17pm
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We travel around France a lot and have just returned form 6 weeks there. We haven't had any problems at all using out debit card in supermarket petrol machines in France, even those in small towns, nor have we had for several years now.

The only problems you might encounter is if you have a low balance in your account as some pumps take a set amount, about 100 euros I believe, before dispensing the fuel to ensure that you have enough funds to cover your transaction then refunds the difference once you have finished. We found this when trying to use out prepaid Caxton FX card where the funds had run lower than we thought, but the pump was fine when we switched to our ordinary debit card. Also some don't like non standard cards such as Switch and Maestro or American Express so use a standard Visa/Mastercard.

My post was really only to point out that the difference in Sunday trading between here and France, and that many things may be closed as it's a Public Holiday which the French respect a lot more than we do, so best be aware of this if it's their first time in France and they were expecting to shop etc.


Post last edited on 23/07/2015 15:23:14


Personmadasaman
23/7/2015 at 3:30pm
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Thought it was the Saturday that was the Public Holiday, but knowing the French Sunday is part of Saturday.

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73 going on 25
Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder


PersonKeithedwards161
28/7/2015 at 11:37pm
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Thanks all for your replies, we have settled on going to the dordogne area to a campsite with a pool and have emailed a number of sites for availability , going to stay for 10 days and then a couple of days somewhere nearer le harve as we have a 12 o clock mid day ferry,
Thanks again
Keith

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Keith


Personwarbis66
29/7/2015 at 12:26pm
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New water park now open have a look at park d'inly webpage looks fab

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France Lover



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