Advertisement
Message Forums |
|
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
06/10/2016 at 1:54pm
Location: Derby.
Outfit: Karsten 350+Awnings
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 01/7/2012 Diamond Member 
Forum Posts: 9052
Tent Reviews: 5
| Site Reviews Total: | 40 |
|
| 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 Reviews 2018: | 2  |
|
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2018: | 6 |
|
For those wishing to guestimate the toll charges prior to setting off, the experts on here seem to recommend Via Michelin rather than Google maps (not used it myself though!), but other than that, I totally agree with the above post.
You really won't understand just how bloody fantastic it is, until you've tried it! 
We don't have kids with us, (although we are big kids at heart!) or the holiday park/water park type sites, so can't help on that score. However, a few comments that may be of interest...
First off, the aforementioned Euro Adaptor. That's just an example, so shop around. Basically, the experts over in the "camping abroad" section will have you believe that some French camp sites offer their electric hook up via a 2 pin socket, not the blue ones we are used to, hence the need for this adaptor. After 4 trips now, and staying on 8 different sites thus far, we haven't actually needed ours. I was going to kick off about the bad advice, but then thought that, for the sake of a few measly quid, I'd rather have one and not need it, than not have one and need one... so I've kept schtum, so as not to upset anybody! You, of course, can make your own decision! 
If you have sensitive teens, just warn them it is quite common to get unisex facilities. That is to say you may see the odd person of the opposite sex wandering around in a towel, or God forbid, a 60 year old bloke with his fat hairy belly on show! They still have private shower cubicles (and wash cubicles on some sites). It's not like the showers at school!
Some sites have toilet seats and loo paper, but many have neither. Indeed some don't even have loo's, as we know them. The infamous holes in the floor are still around, but are now called "Turkish toilets", to lessen the fear! This goes for public toilets too, be that motorway services or stations and the like. Many places offer the choice of either, loo wise.
Also, don't be surprised to see a bloke stood at a urinal. Some of them aren't exactly hidden very well!
As for tolls, we have recently (1st to 16th Sept) come back from Frejus, which is pretty much as far south as you can go, give or take a few detours west or east along the Med coast. We went toll all the way and it cost around €100 each way. That was in a car. I think they charge more for caravans/motorhomes. Don't think they charge more for a trailer behind a car, in fact I'm sure they don't.
You can of course avoid toll roads for all or part of any journey. Our recent trip was down as just over 10 hours driving (for the French bit) using toll motorways. (In reality, it was 12+, without stops). Avoiding tolls had it down as nearer to 16 hours. That's an extra day, in reality. Apparently more scenic of course, and obviously free, but whilst we could afford the toll charges, we decided, with only 16 days over there, that we couldn't afford the extra journey time! It seems the retired folk just love to brag about how many beautiful towns and villages they've been through, and how they lunch in the finest restaurants, all by simply avoiding the toll roads. Sickening really, but good luck to 'em, I suppose!
We are also hooked on picnic stops at the aires, which adds to travel time. These are basic pull-in's off the motorway, offering toilets, maybe a play area for the kiddies, and maybe an info board... and lots of picnic tables! Not to be confused with the service stations we are more used to over here, which they do have aswell, of course.
With that, and allowing for the fact we were overnighting in our tent, we decided to split that "10 hour journey" into three days each way, so 2 overnight stops each way. That's a fair chunk of holiday time, so bear that in mind!
Fuel is much cheaper at large supermarkets, as opposed to motorway service stations, as over here.
Another thing to consider is stop-overs. We now have the ideal tent for this (bought specifically for this reason!) so we stayed at camp sites on route. However, for our first couple of trips, and not wishing to spend 3 hours setting up a massive tent, only to fall asleep, wake up, and take it all down again, next morning, we opted for the cheaper budget hotels. Not sure how that'd work with a large family? They're ok of course, but still add to the budget. We'd much rather be in the tent, but a big family tent isn't exactly practical for overnighting, so you'll have some thinking to do on that score!!
Personally, as newbies, in your situation, and the timing of your trip, I wouldn't go much further than 5 hours or so from your landing point, all timed to get there in the one day. Take a chance with the weather (It'll be better than home LOL!), and get used to everything else for this first trip. You're bound to want to go again, so think about longer trips south, and overnighting, another time.
Good luck for now. Enjoy the research, and keep asking those questions... in the "Camping Abroad Section"!
Post last edited on 06/10/2016 14:01:00
-------------
2024: 38 nights thus far...
2023: 47 nights
2022: 40 nights
2021: 30 nights
2020: Just 24 nights
2019: A personal best 50 nights
2018: Just the 30 nights
2017: 34 nights
2016: 32 nights
2015: 38 nights
2014: 34 nights
2013: 36 nights
From July 2012: 23 nights
|
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
06/10/2016 at 6:46pm
Location:
Outfit:
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 29/6/2008 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 12115
Tent Reviews: 1
| Site Reviews Total: | 4 |
|
| 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 Reviews 2018: | 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 |
| Site Nights 2018: | 0 |
|
We stopped camping in the UK back in 1978! as we found the whole experience rubbish, mostly due to the appaling weather of course.
So we always head for the Sun, Argeles Sur Mer, Frejus and Antibes when our Son was young, his last fully holiday with us was when he reached 17.
Although he did fly in to spend a week with us back in 2014, well he had reached 29 by then, which was great, especially when I dropped him back of at the kiss and fly point at Nice airport.
We have also been to the Southern Ardeche in recent years, another stunning region, that we liked so much, we returned 3 years on the trot.
Your well located at Harrow, for getting to Dover or better still Newhaven.
Getting to the South East of France including the Med is a breeze using the Eastern autoroute's.
As we are from up North we do 3 overnights on the way South, all in France using the Premiere Classe budget hotels, and 2 on the way back North.
Back in the day we would pack the Pup tent for over night stops, always the municipal at Macon amongst others, happy days indeed, but to much hassle for us these days, pitching a tent for just the one night.
|
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
|
|
5588 Visitors online !
Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker - Recommend to Friend - Add a Missing Campsite
[Message Forums]
[Caravan Sites & Camping]
[Company Listings]
[Features / Advice]
[Virtual Brochure]
[Shop!]
[Reception]
[Competitions]
[Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale]
[Event Diary]
[Contact Us]
[Tent Reviews]
Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. Please report any error here. You may view our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. All copyrights & other intellectual property rights in the design and content of this web site are reserved to the UKCampsite.co.uk © 1999 - 2024 |
Advertisement
|
|
|
Topic: Camping in France
