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Hi, we are thinking of trying  France next year, I would love some nice warm weather, so would love any info on where best to travel to.

We have a folding camper and I was wondering how much we would expect to pay for ferries traveling etc, as we have no idea.

Also the last time I travelled through france 20 years ago, we had a break at a picnic area and I felt like I was being bitten, this was during the day, and I had terrible wheel like bites only on my legs that looked so bad over the next two weeks they looked like ring worm. I am just a bit worried about it happening again, insects love to bite me!!!!!!

Hi,  The insects love to bite me too.  I use several preventative measures which do seem to help a lot.  Well before my intended trip to France (two months, at least) I begin taking Vitamin B1 (Thiamine).  Whilst in France I also use an insect repellent spray (Autun) on exposed skin.  I have also just purchased (www.ecoclub.com) a solar powered device (on a keyring) which emits a sound that supposedly will keep the biting mosquitos away, I will be testing this in France soon.  In the caravan, I have a similar 'sound emitting device' plugged into a socket.

Keeping covered up in the evening does help too but when you do succumb to a bite, which you surely will, the product 'Afterbite' (available at the chemist) applied as soon as possible helps relieve the itching and 'eurax cream' deals with it in the longer term.

I have also read on this site that putting a piece of sellotape over the bite stops it itching - it may work for some but not for me.....................

Good luck, travelling in France is well worth the trouble, although I don't think anything will protect you from the insects of the Carmargue region!!!  

They do say that drinking plenty of red wine keeps the insects away and that is the best excuse I've come across, so ....................... 

''Cheers''..............................Adnyl

Hi Lopo

We went to France for the first time last year and also took our pennine sterling folding camper. As it was our first time we choose the safety net of booking through Eurocamp Independent (well their sites abroad brochure slightly cheaper) We travelled Dover - Calais had a one night stopover in Normandy then went on to The Vendee which we loved. The total cost of our 2 weeks was just over £500. The one advantage we noticed with the camper was that we payed less through the tolls than our friends following behind with the caravan because they were charged by height.

We are returning to France this friday but now have a caravan we are going to Sothern Brittany this time and we are sailing Plymouth - Roscoff so we have less of a drive when we arrive although this crossing is more expensive so holiday is around £900 this year.

However if you look at the post I have on here 'Spain 2007' I have had lots of advice from people and I think I will book independently next year. You will see one guy has only paid £124 return for car and caravan on the Norfolkline Dover - Dunkirque crossing.

If you need to know anything else just ask and I will help if I can.