Message Forums

Can anyone help.. I am planning to go camping (tent) to France for the first time.

I am not sure which area to visit and there seems to be a wide choice to choose from. Ideally would like to visit an area that’s drivable and has good weather and that is suitable and caters for young children.

Your recommendations would be appreciated.

Raj

Would recommend Brittany, we went camping there with our children when they were quite young. If you don't want to drive that far, Normandy also has some nice beaches.

Many of the campsites have play areas, swimming pools etc.

Even Northern France is slightly warmer than Britain as it is that bit nearer the equator.

If you want the weather then I would recommend the Vendee down the west coast of France, just below Brittany. Lost of seaside and sites that cater for families. The weather is also sunnier and more reliable than it is further north. You would be looking at a 6 hour drive from the northern ports which are cheaper but you could cut this down by using the longer crossings into Brittany which are dearer or by having an overnight stop at a campsite.

Carol

HI Raj

Another Carol (aka campingcaz) replying

We agree with the Brittany idea for young kids. We went to the Vendee in 2003 and hated it due to overcrowded sites and beaches and even supermarkets ( full of Brits).

Brittany has much more culture and the beaches are interesting as well as warm if the weather is good. Vendee does have the better temperatures as mentioned above.

Have yourself a nice time!

IF there weather is good then there is a site a couple of miles from Cherbourg, practically on the beach, leisure facilities, snack bars the lot!

5 minutes from Cherbourg ferry port -[if any one is still going there!] at Tourlaville

Hi

We've just returned from the Vendee (south of St Gilles) and loved it. The weather was hot and sunny, there are lots of smaller uncrowded beaches (all with free parking), picturesque villages and lots for the children to see and do (zoo, aquariums, quad biking, pony treking etc). We drove from Bolougne and took an overnight stop at a b&b near Le Mans-it was out of this world, we also split the journey on the way back. Normandy on Friday was like the middle of winter so I don't think I would risk a 2 week holiday there and would travel further south even in the height of summer. From what we saw the area around St Jean de Monts was very geared up for the Brits (not a negative view just not our thing) but go a few miles further south and not only is the scenery better it is a lot more 'French' if you see what I mean! Wherever you go have a lovely time.

Julie

Hi Raj,

we were in Brittany, Normandy and Paris. Brittany was our favourite place - though the site wasn't too good - the place, beaches and people are warm and friendly. It is warmer than the UK, even though the temp was supposd to be in the high 20's it felt much hotter. The beaches were pretty uncrowded and very few brits were there, it was mostly French and Dutch. The French all left the beaches alone until about 2 pm, so most of the time we had the beaches and coves to ourselves!! Even the sea was alot warmer than the UK. The biggest differnce we found was the supermarkets. Even the hypermarches have a limited amount of tinned food, I think the French use alot of very fresh produce bread, bakery, veg, fish and cheese being the major ones. The meat tended to be quite expensive wherever we went. But the choice of veg and fish was amazing!!

It depends on what you want and expect of a campsite, but I'd steer clear of the 4 and 5 star sites, they are very noisy!! Next time, we'll be going for the 2 and 3 star sites.

Good Luck,

Jackie

Hi Raj

This summer we were in the South Of France, then the Vendee and then Normandie.  The weather was completely bizarre.  In the South of France we had days of rain, cold, cloud and wind until we gave up and left.  We moved to the Vendee where the weather was brilliant, nice and hot and sunny.  We stopped off in Normandie on our way home and found the weather there to be much the same as the UK and rather cold at night!

If you are taking children I would recommend the Vendee as one area where you are most likely to get good weather without the long drive South.  There are hundreds of camp sites in the area of all sorts from the all singing all dancing holiday centre type site to small, quite rural sites.  I would advise you to buy the Alan Rogers Guide to Camping in France.  We have found the campsite descriptions in there to be very accurate and helpful.

I hope you have a great time when you go.  We love France so much that we would not camp anywhere else now.

Hi Raj,

We've camped in Normandy, Brittany, a site nr Disneyland Paris and this year the South of France. Our favourite so far has been Brittany, great for lovely beaches and great for 'real' France not just 'Brits Abroad' France if you know what I mean!

Our kids were 6 and 8 when we went to Brittany, great site with lovely pool and entertainment at night, but you could get away from it if it wasn't what you wanted. Also superb for eating out - as is most of France - very affordable and welcoming to families. Brittany is one place we would return to without doubt.

We went to the Massif Central this summer, staying about 18 miles from Vichy.  It was very uncommercialised, beautiful scenery, all rivers, gorges, extinct volcanoes etc.  We went canoeing which was a real laugh and there were loads of places to picnic and dangle your feet in the water.  We were there in June and it was mid thirties which was rather warm, but can't praise the region enough.  You can take the kids to Volcania which is a science park based around volcanoes and was very interesting.

Ali