Riva Bella, Ouistreham
Hi
Having stayed at the campsite last year, we saw migrants running through and around the site. We will be travelling to Caen in August and wondered if anyone has any recent experiences? The site is really convenient and we want to stay again
thanks
snooky
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We were there at the beginning of June around thirty outside the site a lot more around the seafront but none on the site itself. A large police presence, I doubt if they would put up with any nonsense. Just take some sensible precautions such as ensuring you keep the car/van locked when not in use and I doubt if you will have any problems from what I saw, we go back in late August and it not a concern to us. (not from a holiday point of view anyway)
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Came back on 10th July and groups of migrants outside in the small wood near the entrance, they were just playing football. We walked up to the town and back passed them and there was no problem. They know the ferry time and when HGV's start to come in and then move towards the docks. There wasn't a problem.
The biggest problem was the cost now charged by Riva Bella, €34 per night.
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Toilet block nearest the overnight area has been renovated last year and is ok.
If you are using the afternoon ferry, arrival 9.30pm, they like you to pre-book. I would suggest you do this because you will be ushered straight through the gates which by-passes those queuing up at the office
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car, caravan and 2 people booked via club in August will be £27.85
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Hi Has has anybody come through Ouistreham in the last couple of weeks as we are going over from there in 3 weeks and having seen migrants trying to get into lorries on South Today news the other night a bit worrying and would like an update from folk.
Many thanks.
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All the reports you have seen are correct. There are groups of young men trying to get into unlocked lorries heading north - but not into locked caravans heading south.
If you are alarmed by what you see you can change your return booking to one of the other four ports served by Brittany Ferries, which are all reported to be very quiet.
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I read that review and it certainly sounded alarming - and other recent reviews on here on this forum make similar points.
But then I read through a string of recent reviews posted on Trip Advisor over the last few days and they paint a completely different picture. They are not alarmist, they compliment the site owners on the improvements which have been made, and they say that despite groups of migrants around the town security within the campsite is good. There are no reports of any tourists being molested, attacked, robbed or harmed.
So I am left wondering if some C&MC members are more easily alarmed and frightened by migrants in the town than other visitors are ?
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When in France this year, one or two Brits who came in via Ouistreham, and were going back the same way, did express concerns. They said they would not be using any site(s) close to Quistreham, and would aim for arrival at the port close as possible to boarding time.
For the last few years we have used the Portsmouth-St Malo route. If the migrants are working westward, how long before Cherborug and St Malo become targets? One single thing that helps would-be migrants to continue this annoyance, is the presence of "aid workers" keeping them supplied with food, water and protective clothing, etc. I am surprised that the French authorities have not come down hard on these "helpers", particularly after the police raid on the Calais refugee camp.
The future? - A short stay in south Devon/Cornwall, then a Plymouth-Roscoff crossing, and return by the same method???
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I totally agree with David's post.
It seem like an alarmist report from someone who made up their mind that they didn't like the site as they drove in the gate.
Unkempt, it is definitely not. The new owners have made massive improvements including totally refurbished shower block, lots of old static type tourers, so common on a lot of French sites, have been moved off. All privacy hedges have been pruned back and lots of static accommodation, chalets etc, to a high standard have been built. Plus it now has a swimming pool. All the grass was cut short and just because the site chooses not to provide toilet seats or loo paper shouldn't put people off, I have seen that on many sites over the years. None of this comes under the word, 'Unkempt'.
I think to sum up, the large number of British using this site for an overnight to or from the ferry tells its own story. If there was any problem of serious concern then those numbers would decrease rapidly.
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I have posted a link to this discussion as a comment on that review in the hope that it gives a bit more balance. I think we do have to be a bit careful in that experienced overseas travellers take a lot in their stride but it may be a bigger worry for the newcomer or occasional traveller to France. Many of us cut our teeth on watching the fortification of Calais!!!
David
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We have used this site on a number of occasions but this year we have used the overnight crossing from Portsmouth, both ways, as we felt the migrant and refugee presence unsettling.
On our return this year at the end of July, we saw several groups of young men hanging around, I guess waiting for an opportunity to stowaway, so we didn't even fill up with fuel as intended. Our choice of itinerary was beneficial for other reasons. On the outward journey we left home in the Midlands during the afternoon, arriving at Portsmouth for the late evening sailing, arriving Ouistreham early the next morning fresh for our onward 4-hour journey to the southern Loire. On the return, the same campsite kindly let us stay on until the afternoon so that we did not unhitch until we pulled on our driveway late morning the following day. Not the cheapest way, I don't suppose, but more relaxing and convenient for us.
It's a matter of personal choice of course, but we felt happier not using Riva Bella. A shame really as we used to enjoy our final evening strolling through the town and having our last moules and frites.
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We were due to stay at Riva Bella last night ready to catch early morning ferry: however, like you Lynn, we changed our travel plans due to the current situation.
the site now has barriers leading from the road to the site entrance to keep the entrance clear and migrants are camped both sides of the barriers. Whilst they may not be on site it is very intimidating and not a way we would choose to end our holiday. There are also large groups of migrants/refugees along the banks next to the site. There is a large police presence at the port and caravans are being searched along with underneath of cars
We would not choose to stay at this site in the near future although I acknowledge this is personal choice
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I have used Riva Bella for night stops twice in June and twice in August, arriving home yesterday. I must say that there is no issue with the immigrants, yes they do hang around outside the site entrance but that is because the lorries slow for the island, but they have one goal, to stow away on a lorry, we are of no interest to them. We have walked from the site into the town and back after dark, passing through their groups, without issue. The site is much improved from the original municipal and offers caravanners the option to stay hitched if they so wish. This site has been busy on each of our visits. As for cost, use ACSI CampingCard out of season, in season book direct using their Brittany Ferries, ticket holders discount for the best deal. The cheapest fuel we found was at E Leclerc just a few miles towards Caen but they do not allow caravans through the fuel station, so you have to go solo.
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Same as when we were there in July. They never bothered us walking to or from the town.
We did fall foul of LeClerc down the road. I tried to get in with the van on the way to the site. I committed myself to pass the sign at the entry road so just pulled into the pumps and filled up. Nothing was said.
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We have used Riva Bela many times over the years. It eas quite grotty at one time but convenient for a overnight stay on our way down through France. I must say the site has improved beyond recognition over the last two years under the new owners and would recommend it as a clean friendly and well equipped site, as for the migrant problem we have stayed on it twice this year last time only a few weeks ago when we stayed for two nights on our way home and yes they do hang around in the small wood outside the site but at no time did we feel threatened or intimidated by them and we certainly didn’t see any of them attempt to enter the site, as someone else said their only interest I getting on a lorry to the UK Would recommend it and will certainly be using it again next time we travel down through France
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When are you travelling, Freddy? The situation there can vary from week to week.
We were there last September, there were a few migrants hanging about outside the supermarket, but they were no trouble at all. Kept themselves to themselves, just having a chat by the looks of things. Certainly nothing for your wife to be concerned about.
If you’re just staying overnight at the campsite you might not spot them at all.
Don’t worry!
😊
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When we returned from France at the beginning of October there was about a dozen sleeping rough in the trees to the left as you drive into the site, none of them paid any attention to the comings and goings of the site.
If your wife is not happy with that the there is another site not to far away that might suit.
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