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Subject Topic: Campsite Booking Fees Post Reply Post New Topic
Personmcclean
19/10/2016 at 10:50am
 Location: Co Armagh
 Outfit: Bailey Beachcomber View mcclean's Profile View Profile   Reply to mcclean Reply   Quote mcclean Quote  
Joined: 12/10/2016

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Hi Everyone,

I've recently bought a caravan, a '95 Bailey Beachcomber which is immaculate, a credit to is previous owners.

I'm planning a trip from Cherbourg to San-Sebastian in Spain for 5 days, then spending the next 10 days or so travelling back up to Cherburg.

I've narrowed down that I would Like to stay around Arcachon, then Charentes-Maritime then Normandy near Mont Saint-Michel.

Doing some searches and getting an idea of prices I found that the 'Booking Fee's for most sites are nearly and sometimes more than a nights stay. Can someone tell me is this only charged for pre-booking a pitch? and If pre-booking is really necessary? I already know my site in San Sebastian and I am pre-booking no matter what, but ill be travalling up France between 18th - 28th August 17.

Thanks.


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PersonVal A
19/10/2016 at 11:19am
 Location: West - North Yorkshire
 Outfit: Swift Speedbird 490 Mondeo Estate View Val A's Profile View Profile   Reply to Val A Reply   Quote Val A Quote  
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We holidayed this year from the 18th August onwards and didn't book at all, anywhere - and we were in a popular holiday area.

There are thousands of municipal sites, which are in towns and villages all over France. They are intended for people who don't want to book, and you can find details here: Municipal Campsites Just use the search facility to find those in the area you'll be visiting.   Another tip, on commercial sites (and municipal sites on busy routes) is to get there just a little earlier than the crowds, then you find the pick of the pitches.


PersonBerriow
19/10/2016 at 1:04pm
 Location: 
 Outfit:  View Berriow's Profile View Profile   Reply to Berriow Reply   Quote Berriow Quote  
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I don't know the Arcachon area but wouldn't have thought you would have any problem by you get up to Charente Maritime and Normandy - we go to those areas without booking, but you can phone sites a day or two in advance if you want to check the situation and say that you are coming. Enjoy your new caravan. Take care.


Personseanfdh
19/10/2016 at 1:27pm
 Location: North Devon
 Outfit: Robens Fairbanks Coleman Phad X3 View seanfdh's Profile View Profile   Reply to seanfdh Reply   Quote seanfdh Quote  
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You'll be fine round Arcachon without booking then, provided you're prepared to be a bit flexible and maybe move a little bit inland.

-------------
Sean


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Personmcclean
19/10/2016 at 1:29pm
 Location: Co Armagh
 Outfit: Bailey Beachcomber View mcclean's Profile View Profile   Reply to mcclean Reply   Quote mcclean Quote  
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Thanks for the replies. I think I'll chance not booking and have a couple of reserve sites in mind in case our first choice is booked, but from what I've searched on here, no-one has seemed to have a problem at that time of year.

Much prefer the flexibility of staying another night or moving on early.


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PersonIna
19/10/2016 at 5:37pm
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit: Coachman 460 VIP; VW Tiguan View Ina's Profile View Profile   Reply to Ina Reply   Quote Ina Quote  
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I'd second all those above who say it's not necessary to book at that time. We too go around the 19th or so (of August) and NEVER book anywhere. We've never had a problem, but if you did come up against a full site, then, being France, there's always another close by.

-------------
Ina


Personjaiash
19/10/2016 at 5:41pm
 Location: nr Derby
 Outfit: Phoenix 440+ View jaiash's Profile View Profile   Reply to jaiash Reply   Quote jaiash Quote  
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I wouldn't book at that time of year UNLESS you wanted a specific pitch on a specific site.

For Charente-Maritime you might consider LA Palombiere

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


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Personlizex
19/10/2016 at 7:36pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: n+1 tents View lizex's Profile View Profile   Reply to lizex Reply   Quote lizex Quote  
Joined: 21/1/2004

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You should be ok at the end of August, as the others have said. I just wanted to add that there are millions of sites so I never book one with a booking fee as there's always another one nearby. The ones with booking fees do tend to be the 'all singing all dancing sites' though, I think.
When I book I also mail them and ask if I can pay when I get there as I don't want to incur bank charges. I find they'd rather trust me than the banks and are only too keen for me to do that.


PersonGrandad Kenny
19/10/2016 at 9:40pm
 Location: Essex
 Outfit: Fiat Ducato 3.0 Autotrail Mohican View Grandad Kenny's Profile View Profile   Reply to Grandad Kenny Reply   Quote Grandad Kenny Quote  
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Val, what does ns mean in the ouverture bit of a sites details? Thanks


PersonVal A
19/10/2016 at 10:20pm
 Location: West - North Yorkshire
 Outfit: Swift Speedbird 490 Mondeo Estate View Val A's Profile View Profile   Reply to Val A Reply   Quote Val A Quote  
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Interestingly rather a lot of sites in certain areas have 'ns' - something I've not noticed before. Clicking on the 'website details' on the one or two that I tried leads to messages of 'website not found' or similar.

I do hope that this means that the sites no longer exist but I rather suspect it does. Lots of municipal sites have closed in recent years, or been taken over as private sites by either managers or new owners.   We stayed on two in the last couple of years which were ex-municipal sites.

Another problem is that the person who started this website died suddenly in May 2015 and I'm not sure whether it's being kept up to date either!

Perhaps there's a case for asking those who visit, or contact any sites selected from this website report back as to whether details were current, and (hopefully) that sites were actually open.


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Personseanfdh
19/10/2016 at 11:18pm
 Location: North Devon
 Outfit: Robens Fairbanks Coleman Phad X3 View seanfdh's Profile View Profile   Reply to seanfdh Reply   Quote seanfdh Quote  
Joined: 20/2/2011

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I think nobody has taken on the Municipals site. I'd be more inclined to use http://www.campingfrance.com/uk/your-vacation-in-a-campsite/guidebooks. Either the website, though it's terribly slow or lash out on the book.

-------------
Sean


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


PersonGrandad Kenny
20/10/2016 at 8:22am
 Location: Essex
 Outfit: Fiat Ducato 3.0 Autotrail Mohican View Grandad Kenny's Profile View Profile   Reply to Grandad Kenny Reply   Quote Grandad Kenny Quote  
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Thanks Val, I tend to travel when the majority of municipals have closed for winter but will report if we come across that are open


PersonVal A
20/10/2016 at 8:53am
 Location: West - North Yorkshire
 Outfit: Swift Speedbird 490 Mondeo Estate View Val A's Profile View Profile   Reply to Val A Reply   Quote Val A Quote  
Joined: 19/10/2004

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Quote: Originally posted by seanfdh on 19/10/2016
I think nobody has taken on the Municipals site. I'd be more inclined to use http://www.campingfrance.com/uk/your-vacation-in-a-campsite/guidebooks. Either the website, though it's terribly slow or lash out on the book.


Unfortunately that too is somewhat out of date. Friends and other forum users have reported that site entries are not always correct and several sites have closed.


Personseanfdh
20/10/2016 at 12:55pm
 Location: North Devon
 Outfit: Robens Fairbanks Coleman Phad X3 View seanfdh's Profile View Profile   Reply to seanfdh Reply   Quote seanfdh Quote  
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I guess that they probably both depend on sites updating their own details to a great extent. We were obviously lucky this summer.
As others have pointed out though, there's bound to be somewhere nearby.

-------------
Sean


Personiank01
21/10/2016 at 12:25pm
 Location: Worcestershire
 Outfit: Buccaneer Cruiser View iank01's Profile View Profile   Reply to iank01 Reply   Quote iank01 Quote  
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As we have a twin axle we always contact a site first to ask if they will accept us as many sites state on their website no twin axles. In every case we have been accepted, but have never actually paid and booked.



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