We are hoping to go to France (next year), where do you start looking for campsites? I have tried searching but not got very far. should we book before you go or wait til you get there and take our chances? can anyone reccomend the best area to go and time of year. Should we go from Plymouth or Dover? and will we need any extra equipment etc.. to what we use for camping over here? all advice most appreciated!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Just got back from LeMans, we stayed on a municipal site just north of LEMans at a town called Beaumont. The site was flat and exceptionally clean. The warden spoke no English, so my mate had to summon up his old O level French, not very good. We managed. Ok though.
Final cost including EHU was about £5 per night for the pitch. THe Loire Valley is a beautiful area, and the trip most enjoyable. Found a Vineyard to fill the car with win on the way home. Pink champaign at £6 a bottle, tastes superb.......bring it on!!
We booked in advance via Email and eventually selected it from the "Alan Rogers" book. The book is available from most Camping Shops and bookshops. They are all pre checked before they go in the book.
It didn't mention though that there were 3 clocks chiming in the night!!! Still a few beers sorted that problem.
Speedferries from Dover to Boulogne, 50 minutes, £39 return with car mid August. I live near Portsmouth but 1/10th of the ferry price is worth the extra drive. Ferries from Poole are less than Portsmouth but still nowhere near Speedferries.
Not forgetting that there are two campsite owners in the Loire Valley that post on here....La Touche is near Loches, whereas we're re-locating in July close to Saumur.
Seriously, do you have to go in school holiday time? If not, we really like going in June and September, when it is plenty hot enough, and yet obviously much less crowded. France is excellent for camping, with all sorts of sites, from all singing all dancing sites with huge pool complexes, to small peaceful family owned sites where the welcome is warm. What would you be looking for?
If you're a member of the caravan club or camping and caravanning clube then they do brochures for camping abroad. We have been with the cc for the last 2 years and were great going to france again this year, worked out cheap with cc than c&cc.
We borrowed a friend's Caravan Club book with sites abroad and member's reviews. We got a map of France, decided what area we wanted to go to and looked in the book at what camp sites were in that vicinity. When we found ones that matched our criteria, i.e., near a beach, with a swimming pool, we wrote off to them for brochures and prices - not all camp sites are on the Internet.
As for booking, I think it depends when you are going. If you are tied to school holidays then I'd say yes it would be best to book.
We're staying at La Touche in August in the Loire Valley. As Floydfan has already said, the owners are English and have really put such a lot into improving the site. We are going to benefit from superb facilities, a river running through the site, an onsite swimming pool, fantastically friendly campsite owners Stu & Jo and not forgetting baby Louis and very reasonable prices.
There is a village just under 1 mile away with pubs, restaurants, lovely church & town hall etc.... We just can't wait, if you're interested, just post a message on here and I'm sure Stu or Jo will contact you to give you as much information as you require.