Dog friendly campsites/beaches in South France
Thinking of going to French Riviera next summer, an area which is new to me. I have used the Club's search engine - to no avail! So need your knowledgable help please.
We prefer quieter sites, good quality facilities, near to the beach (I can't walk miles) and will visit outside of the European holiday season.
Your suggestions and help will be most appreciated
Comments
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For the true French Riviera (Nice, Cannes, Monte Carlo) my guess is that looking for dog friendly beaches is impossible, but in the less fashionable parts of the French Mediterranean coast it will be easier. Where exactly do you want to go?
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EuroT.......not really bothered, just want a nice site with good quality facilities near a beach. I have read that dogs are banned from June-September (pretty much the same as some beaches here) but any help/recommendations are greatly appreciated, such as your suggestion as the less fashionable areas.....it's all new to me. Thanks
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Perhaps the Frejus area ?
I think you once you get away from the main town beach you will find beaches where dogs can go - there are beaches at St Aygulf and Les Issambres where dogs are said to be allowed, and smaller roadside coves in that direction with nearby parking too.
I am assuming that with a car you can drive to them from any one of the Frejus campsites, though I keep reading good reports of Camping Le Vaudois, a few km. inland at Roquebrune sur Argens,and if I were going back I would be looking at that one, but it's not one I know personally.
Good wishes.
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Here are the results of a search of the 'Eurocampings' website (not Eurocamp of ready tents) which finds all sites which accept dogs, has a dog walking area nearby, and is within 0.5 km of a beach. There are thirty three shown, and a quick look through them might eliminate the sort of areas you don't want, and the sort of sites you don't want.
As Eurotraveller says, the western end of the Med is quite strict on 'no dogs' (even in low season in many areas) but the western med is more relaxed and dogs in that area don't seem to be able to read.
But, for a complete change of tack, why 'beach'? Is there any particular reason why you want a beach? Have you considered an inland site by a river or a lake where there will be no problems with your dog having access to the water? From experience we've found that sites inland have a nicer 'ambience', are often very much quieter, very much cheaper, and you can do down amongst the crowds and the traffic, and paid for parking if you absolutely must have a 'beach day' or two. Usually it's easier to get out and about and go sight-seeing, cafes, bar and restaurants are less crowded than down on the Med, markets are more 'authentic' and less full of tourist stalls...........
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Sorry, forgot to include the link - so here it is. I excluded dog-walking area, and included Mediterranean - and there are 81 sites to look through - one must take your fancy but if not there are very many more inland.
What sort of sites do you prefer when you say 'nice' with good quality facilities - do you want a pool/bar/restaurant, or just clean sanitary blocks?
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If there is a CC symbol against any site it means it accepts the ACSI Card (www.campingcard.co.uk) which in low season will often give you a significant discount in the price, particularly on more expensive beachside sites.
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Valda, we like to relax, preferably on smaller sites, although open to offers! A swimming pool is nice but not essential and the reason for being nearer to the beach, is not only for dog walking (our dog hates water!) but generally for a sea breeze to hopefully keep the mozzies away! A restaurant and bar are always welcome, but dancing/nightlife/noise/ is a definite 'no no'
Clean, modern sanitary blocks are also essential.
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Try La Vielle Ferme near to Nice - bookable thru the Club and VERY dog friendly. Dog beach available about 10 mins away but very stoney.
We were in Le Lavandou in June and were told off in no uncertain terms by the Beach Ranger for having a dog with us - I think the sign said no Dogs from April to September but I am not sure.
good Hunting
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Our favourite site is Caravanning Saint Clair near Le Lavandou. It's a family-run site just 100 metres from the beach, a small promenade, brasseries, restaurants and a few shops - all very stylish. The beach in June is not too crowded but gets a bit busier at weekends when the locals come along from Le Lavandou.
The campsite is well maintained and managed, and the pitches are generous in size. Be aware that there are one or two Brit cliques who have been going there for years! Dogs are permiited on site, but not on the beach from April to October.
This section of the coast, west of Presqu'île de Saint-Tropez, is quieter and the traffic is less frenetic.
Our Pitch June 2017
The beach
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Our experience is that most sites will allow dogs but you will be hard pushed to find a beach that allows dogs in season (April-October). We have virtually given up going to beaches now, although we still like going to Provence. We've come to the conclusion that we prefer inland sites these days.
Part of St Aygulf beach nr Frejus is (or was the last time I looked) dog friendly all the year around, near the mouth of the Argens river but it's a bit of a walk and not such a nice part of the beach so I have been told. We've not been up that far.
David
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......you might find an inland 'lake type beach's that is dog friendly. Just wondering about the lake at Roquebrune near Puget sur Argens or even inland at the Lac du Sainte Croix at the Verdon Gorge end. I feel sure we've taken the dag at the East side of Sainte Croix lake.
David
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With regard to taking your dog onto a Med beach, always be aware that the Med stretches from Gib in the West to Italy in the East and further and stray rabid dogs trot along the length of this very long beach looking for food. My Vet warned me of the risk.
BillC
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If this is true (and it sounds very doubtful to me - though I'm not a vet) please don't let this post put you off taking your dog to France - even if a Mediterranean beach which allows dogs is difficult to find. This shouldn't be a threat to dogs taken into Europe from this country as they all have to have had a valid rabies injection before travelling. Nor is it really a threat to humans, since there have been few cases of animal to human rabies transmission originating in any western European country recently - those reported were transmitted by animals from countries outside Europe (Mali, India and Morocco, where the person was in Europe at diagnosis).
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The other thing to consider is that the sand can get very hot in the summer months - sometimes too hot for us to walk on in bare feet. I guess that dogs are probably going to be able to stand more than we can, but personally, I would think carefully about the risk to paws. Perhaps I'm being over sensitive. I wonder what others think?
David
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