What’s happened to the Chalons-en-Champagne site?

jon47
jon47 Club Member Posts: 4
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in Overseas Campsites & Touring #1

The club website still lists the Chalons en Champagne site, which we’ve found useful as a stopover. I went to book it again today, and it shows as “full” for the entire year. Doing a bit of digging it looks like the ownership has changed.

does anyone know what’s going on?

Best Answer

  • Rowena
    Rowena Administrator, Club Member, Staff Posts: 546 admin
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    edited February 10 #2 Answer ✓
    https://clubtogether.caravanclub.co.uk/discussion/410326/what-s-happened-to-the-chalons-en-champagne-site

    Hello Jon47, Chalons en Champagne has changed ownership recently after being bought by OnlyCamp and this has caused a delay in our usual contract negotiations.  However, we're pleased to advise that we are very close to finalising the details and you should be able to make a reservation with us by the end of February, early March at the latest.

    As this is such a popular stopover site for members we're delighted to continue working with the new owners.  We highlighted the feedback that we received about some of the site facilities and the new owners are aware that some investment is needed with one of the toilet blocks.  Work is planned to start in winter 2027 and as usual our teams will monitor progress on this very closely. 

Answers

  • Not_going_gentle
    Not_going_gentle Forum Participant Posts: 44 Participant
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    #3

    You can make a booking directly with the site via the umbrella group Only Camp.

  • Lutz
    Lutz Forum Participant Posts: 1,682 Participant
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    #4

    According to the campsite's own website they're open from 02 March until 01 November and it will accept reservations. Maybe they're just not co-operating with the club anymore.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 14,726
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    edited February 8 #5

    It long ceased to be a municipal campsite and entered private ownership many years ago. The advantage of this site is its handy location close to the autoroutes. We have stayed many times over the years and if you are happy to use your own facilities its fine for a short stay or just an overnight. In all the times we used it be didn't book in advance but just turned up and we always got a pitch. Interestingly if you do a Google search it shows as temporarily closed. Now whether that is just a seasonal closure I don't know but as Lutz says you can book via their website it probably is?

    David

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 7,264
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    edited February 8 #6

    Club made a lot of bookings there for members - many of them were members travelling first time in Europe and first night in France because it was an easy 200 miles from Calais. But those members were very alarmed to find that it wasn’t a bit like a Club site and wrote “This place is disgraceful” type reviews. I imagine the site has decided to cut its bookings arrangement with the Club in the hope that those sort of visitors will go elsewhere and that as a result their reviews will improve .

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member, Member Moderator Posts: 6,339
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    edited February 8 #7

    We also used to use the site frequently for short stays on the way South... and, I remember the days it was called Chalons-sur-Marne... 😀😀

    David

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 14,726
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    #8

    Funnily enough ET it was a bit like a Club site as unusually it had quite a few hardstandings which also had their own water and waste. From my point of view what let the site down was the terrible toilet block which as you suggest was the reason it gets such reviews. It seems from the reviews that they have not been improved?

    David

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member, Member Moderator Posts: 6,339
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    #9

    Glad to hear that the new owners appear to have things in hand, @Rowena . It has always been a popular stopover site.

    David

  • Not_going_gentle
    Not_going_gentle Forum Participant Posts: 44 Participant
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    #10

    But the OP doesn't need to wait for the Club to arrange a booking. As I said in the first reply, you can book now, via Only Camp. And others have said that bookings can still be made. Sites exist outside the confines of the Club.

  • jon47
    jon47 Club Member Posts: 4
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    #11

    Thanks @Rowena for explaining! That all makes sense. A note on the club’s web page about the site would have helped.


    to the others who suggested I book direct with the site - we’ve already done this with most of the places we’re staying. In the end we chose not to use Chalons this year - the site’s own website is inconsistent, the French language pages take you to one booking site, the English pages to another… though they may have fixed that by now.

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 7,264
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    edited February 11 #12

    Like DK we stayed at Chalons many times. It was functional enough for an overnight stop, but we never thought to book in advance - that never seemed necessary .
    But then we found the Epernay municipal campsite and town , about 20 miles away, to be more atttactive than Chalons. So if members are passing through the Champagne area I suggest that as an alternative.

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