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Topic: Summer hols 2020

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longcol

29/9/2019 at 8:14am
Location: Perigord Noir
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Did the Ile de Re 3 times in August between 2010 & 2016 - never had any hold ups as we crossed midweek. Well, we did have one coming off the island once because a car had caught fire on the bridge!

Always travelled down via Tours rather than Nantes (usually had a couple of days at Azay le Rideau). Again, no problems with traffic.

Anywhere in France near the coast is likely to be busy in the school hols!

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

Pixie_Hez

29/9/2019 at 10:50am
Location: Liverpool
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We have totally different requirements to you as we go out of peak season and don’t have any children so I can’t really give you any specific advice. However, one thing that I would say is that France is massive and what looks on a map to be a manageable journey may actually take you a lot longer than you think. Also, completely ignore any suggested journey times given by route planners such as google maps as in our experience they are always really far out. For example this summer google maps told us our journey would take 3 hours and it actually took us nearly 5 with a brief stop for lunch. Also, if you want to take the shortest route to anywhere you will need to use the toll roads which will significantly add to your cost. Look at ViaMichelin and put your journey in to get a reasonably accurate price for tolls which might surprise you when you see the cost. If you choose to use non toll roads you will see a lot more of beautiful France but your journey will take you much much longer. On our first trip to France with our tent back in about 2001 we severely underestimated the actual distance and ended up with a very long stressful drive in peak French holiday season on really busy roads that took the joy out of the holiday.

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Francais

29/9/2019 at 11:25am
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So true Pixie, and that’s why we do 3 overnight budget hotel stops on the way to Frejus, and 2 on the way back home to North Manchester.

French Autoroute Tolls for this year came to £206 car only.

OK it means that I have to book 3 weeks of work to spend 14 nights on a campsite at Frejus, but oh boy is it worth it, no stress at all when you have got almost 4 days to travel just 1,100 miles to the campsite, and arrive there at 11am leaving you more than ample time to get the tent pitched and everything set up.

And of course since our our Son was old enough to do his own thing (now 34), it’s ACSI Camping Card all the way for us, for our June/July campings.

Although not next year due to work commitments etc, Grrrrr!

macburns36

06/11/2019 at 9:48pm
Location: None Entered
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Thanks to everyone for all for your help and information - I have booked Ferry Portsmouth-Caen and am going to book La Bouysse in the Dordogne - looks perfect for our needs.

I'm still still trying to find a decent beach ish campsite - not too hi de hi but not too remote either in our price range. La Baie d'Anais looks lovely but is too expensive - so far I've got it down to :

Camping de la Gères
Camping la Grisse (tending towards this one)
or Camping Il de Re but prices aren't out yet ....

don't really want to spend more than 30Eu per night if possible - would like to spend more money on food, wine and surfing!!

The ideal location would be 10-15 mins max from the coast/beach - we are proper campers though so don't need too posh toilets as long as they are open and the showers are warm and work!

If anyone can give any recommendation or has visited any of those above I would really appreciate it - I seem to have spent hours trawling through campsite websites !!!

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

longcol

08/11/2019 at 10:12pm
Location: Perigord Noir
Outfit: Outwell Oakland XL

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Did you mean the municipal at St Martin for Camping Il de Re?

Never used it myself but know people who have - and been past in many times so know how conveniently situated it is for beaches, shopping, town, cycle paths etc. You might not need to use the car whilst camped there.

Pixie_Hez

11/11/2019 at 7:40am
Location: Liverpool
Outfit: Swift Challenger 560

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If you want a site near the beach part way back north from the Dordogne, look around the La Tranche sur Mer area. We have stayed at Camping Bel twice in the past and it is a nice location, a few minutes walk to the beach and 10 minutes walk along the promenade into town where there are loads of shops and restaurants.

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macburns36

via mobile 18/11/2019 at 8:31pm
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Well, having looked at our budget more carefully, we are going to have to use municipal sites ..(my own fault for being greedy & taking the kids for 17 days!!) ..they work out so much cheaper, so now my choices are:

Ille de re - St Martin's -le Remondeau or La Pree ..is there much to choose between them? I like the idea of the island & not having to use the car for a week ...
Or Fouras le Caforet.

For the Dordogne, La Bournio seems fine & looks like it will be great.

Does anyone know if we can use pools/facilities on other campsites if we use their bars/restaurants if the kids get fed up of exercise, fresh air & culture lol?!! I know there are water/activity parks we can book for the day, I was thinking more of just a couple of hours here & there..

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

macburns36

via mobile 18/11/2019 at 8:53pm
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Ooh just found Camping Essi ...il de Re....on the beach & with a pool ....! Looks ideal ...until anyone else tells me differently ..?

Val A

19/11/2019 at 7:31am
Location: West - North Yorkshire
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Quote: Originally posted by macburns36 on 18/11/2019
Well, having looked at our budget more carefully, we are going to have to use municipal sites ..(my own fault for being greedy & taking the kids for 17 days!!) ..they work out so much cheaper, so now my choices are:

Ille de re - St Martin's -le Remondeau or La Pree ..is there much to choose between them? I like the idea of the island & not having to use the car for a week ...
Or Fouras le Caforet.

For the Dordogne, La Bournio seems fine & looks like it will be great.

Does anyone know if we can use pools/facilities on other campsites if we use their bars/restaurants if the kids get fed up of exercise, fresh air & culture lol?!! I know there are water/activity parks we can book for the day, I was thinking more of just a couple of hours here & there..

There are sites where you can use the swimming pool if you use the restaurant and bar. Our local site near our house in the Aude has this arrangement and it's a popular place for our visitors to cool down. However, I think beachside sites, in the school holidays, are unlikely to offer this facility. Perhaps you could email the nearest sites to those sites you fancy and ask them.

Ironned

19/11/2019 at 9:51am
Location: None Entered
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Some municipals offer free use of the local town's sports facilities including some rather good pools (not many with water slides etc but still nice outdoor pools). This was certainly the case at Fresnay Sur Sarthe and i believe at Azay le Rideau. Also worth checking what other attractions the locality has - for example the municipal at Lude (sorry, again on the Loire so maybe not what you are looking for) doesn't have a restaurant but there is a gorgeous riverside restaurant 5mins walk away.
Might not be the same at more southerly/coastal sites but worth looking into.

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Kelper

19/11/2019 at 11:35am
Location: Northern Ireland
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Have you looked at this one ... close to the wonderful La Rochelle, has a pool and on the coast ...

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

SGThomas

19/11/2019 at 11:42am
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We have always preferred Ile d'Oleron to Ile de Ré. No toll to and fro mainland, better,wider cycling and generally less screamingly commercial. And generally cheaper!

Netherton

19/11/2019 at 11:45am
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There's a big public municipal pool at Saujon - six miles inland from Royan. Details are on the town website Saujon.fr

Didn't I suggest an agreeable campsite at Saujon costing under €20 a night for three adults in peak season in my very first reply in this thread?

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