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Hi Folks,

in my endevour to find somewhere to stay in August on the cheap I found this website and thought it might be of use to some of you.  I've no doubt it's been mentioned before - if it has then here it is again - http://www.gaf.tm.fr/index.en.php.

Ho hum! Happy days here I come! 

DiZ-E-DEE

When are you going in August - if it's after the 15th or so, have you thought of using Camping Cheques - there are several sites which accept the cheques from around that date, including some actually on the med (Palavas near Montpellier).  We've used the cheques in August for the last four or five years - and always managed to find somewhere in the south where the weather is warm.  You may have to send for their book to find exact opening dates, or check out the website (campingcheque.co.uk) for available sites.

Hi Val,  Thanks for the info.  We are traveling around the 21st of August and need to stay fairly north (Lack of petrol money! - travelling on a shoe string is a misnomer, we are travelling on a bit of cotton!)  I was under the impression that the cheques are only valid during low season, do the French consider late August low season? (or 'lower' season)  we normaly go to France in May and June and usually use the big camping org's so I don't know abouth these things.  Any more advice much appreciated.

Byeee!

Yes - that's the big advantage of them - they do consider late August low season (or rather some sites do).  The fact they are advertised as low season puts a lot of Brits off - because they think of January/February/March and October/November/December - which are low season in England.  If you normally travel May/June - then that is also low season.  High season in France is really only between 7th July and 14th August!!!!!  Imagine that in England -where you've all on to find a space at Easter even if you book in August the year before!  The advantage is that Camping Cheque is 'owned' by campsite owners - who know their own low season and try to attract extra customers.  There are several sites which take cheques from mid-August onwards  Just had a quick look at the Camping Cheque website - and there are at least four sites in Northern France - Le Puits Tournant near Amiens, La Ferme des Aulnes in Picardy, Ile de France near Paris, and Bois de Bardelet near Gien on the Loire all take cheques during the time you want to stay as does Lac du Liez in the Champagne region - from 15 August - and within a reasonable distance of the Channel Ports.  We found it very pleasant on our stays there - with plenty to do/see in the area and a nice restaurant with terrace overlooking the lake.Bois de Bardelet is a good site too - big level pitches, town within short driving distance, with good supermarkets, and the Loire almost on the doorstep.  We watched Ospreys fishing in the Loire in August last year - from the supermarket car park!!!  Amazing. 

Each cheque costs only £9.95 per night, which includes pitch, for car and caravan/motorhome or car/tent/trailer tent, including two people, one pet, and electricity.  I don't think you'll be able to beat that on the quality of site offered.  We use them every year, and have always been very satisfied.

I've always found the GAF site a little disapppointing. Well, it ain't ukcampsite.co.uk is it!

These are all good, some get you straight to campsites websites: http://www.camping-france.com/ang/index.html , http://campsites.hpaguide.net/, http://www.les-campings.com/gb/index.html , http://www.campingfrance.com/index.jsp?lg=uk

If you can read a bit of French, this one's my favourite: http://www.camping.fr/  it's got everything camping-related as well as just campsites. I've never registered, but there's a member area too.

And someone ought to list ukcampsite.co.uk here: http://www.camping.fr/Recherche/Cat/Annuaires_de_campings.html

Liz