First timer in France
We're going to France for our first caravan holiday abroad, Portsmouth - Caen end of April for a Month. We've never holidayed in central or northern France and plan on driving down from Caen to somewhere, then up to view the Loire and it's Chateaux; across to a couple of sites in Brittany then a couple of days to view the Normandy beaches before returning home,
Can anyone recommend touring sites in those areas and recommend a possible start location about 4 hours south or east of the Loire. We really have little idea of what and where to go and plan on using Tripadvisor to help us with sight seeing.
thanks
Kev
Comments
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Kev
You could head for the Dordogne area of France. It's probably about five hours south of the Loire area but as you are going for a month then I feel an extra hour would be neither here nor there. The Dordogne is a very ancient part of France with much to see, somehwere around Sarlat area is a good area to head for. It's then about 5 hours back to the Loire area. You would probably need a stop on the way down, around the Poitiers area would take you to mid afternoon. Then onto Sarlat about another 4 or 5 hours on another day,
Coming back to the Loire, perhaps Saumur would be a good area as its quite central or for more chateaux then head towards Blois.
Coming back towards Brittany then keeping to the eastern side, perhaps the area around Mount St, Michel would suite then just a straightforward run back to Ouistreham
As you are going out of peak season then look at the websites of Camping Cheques and ASCI. These are two organisations that have enlisted many sites to offer out of season reduced rates. Well worth using.
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The two websites Harry mentions are
www.campingcheque.co.uk and www.campingcard.co.uk.
I'd echo his suggestions about the Dordogne, which is a very pretty area, lovely sites along the river, fantastic villages in golden stone, and absolutely beautiful and uncrowded in May. You won't need to book sites in France at that time of year, so you can really go as you please once you've got the ACSI guide and card. You can just follow the weather, and stay as long or as little as you wish, in whatever areas you choose. That's the beauty of early and late season caravanning in France - the total ability to go as you please.
You can read reviews from people who have visited the sites, at the bottom of the ACSI Card information about each site, and base you judgements about what will suit you. Whilst it might seem great idea to ask for recommendations, everyone has different preferences - and as you don't need to book, if you find a site you love you can stay or if you don't like a site when you arrive to book in, have a look around and then leave. You won't have to pay anything up front for the privilege.
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I would echo Harry and Val's comments but add that as you are going end April for a month you should follow the sun and expect to have to get a long way south. When we lived in Languedoc we expected to start being able to use our pool (happy days!) from
early/mid May - Sep. So would recommend you put the likelyhood of having to get a long way south into your plans. Whatever you do have a great holiday in that lovely country. Languedoc/Var/Inland Provence are beautiful parts of France - we are off there
in end Aug for a month.0 -
Hi thinking of going to France end of August ourselves and for about 2 weeks and wonder how far South we need to go to get better weather in September.How long would it take to get to Languedoc and which would be best French ferry port to start from. Currently
have a caravan but should have motorhome by then.0 -
Martatin. Two weeks is of course possible but 3 would be better bearing in mind that day one will be getting to the ferry port. I think regardless of which port you use you could reach Languedoc with just one night stop en route although that would be a rush; it's about 700 miles from Dover. Which ferry port? Well from Cheshire you could use any but the further south you enter France the better so perhaps Caen would be a good bet (but if you have Tesco points look at Tunnel) then follow that route used by many of us via Chatres, Dreux, Orleans then south via Clermont Ferrand. You should get good weather south of the Loire so also the Vende could be on your list (port of entry St Malo). Don't forget to join ACSI. Val will be here soon to add her comments and look at Dianne's 'Joys of European Caravanning' site.
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We spent 10 weeks in France last year from the beginning of May. We stayed in Normandy (Port en Bessin) for the first two weeks and the weather was pleasant - about 18-20 degrees. We then headed for the Dordogne where it was a lot warmer and eventually
end up in Collioure on the boarder between France and Spain - this was mid June and it was 36 degrees! We asked at reception what the weather was like there in May and the chap there said they have a saying "keep your jumper on in April and with you in May"!
The further south you head, the warmer it will be but it won't be boiling at that time of the year. As has been said, if you do that, you could spend a week travelling which isn't a great idea when you only have two weeks. There's a site near Limoges which
is in the club's book - think it's called Chateau de Leychoisier which is a great base for touring round the area. If you are going to Normandy. take a look at Camping Portland in Port en Bessin - it's in the club's overseas brochure. It's about 4 miles
from Omaha Beach, the American Cemetry and the same distance to Arromanche in the other direction. Also not far from Bayeux which is a must if you're there. There is a gate at the back of the site that leads onto the cliffs and a quiet road down into the
village which is right by the sea - we loved it so much we're starting our French adventure off there again this year. Have fun
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Many thanks for the great replies. Looks like the Dordogne is a starter.
We'll be setting out from Caen in the moring I guess around 9ish so hopefully we'll be able to get down in just the one day and then take a liesurely small jumps back up.
I'll start looking at campsites as possibles but I've been told and indeed read on here that's it not necessary to book so I think we'll take it as it comes. The site in Normandy sound ideal for what we want to do there.
Anyone know of a site in the Dordogne or indeed further north, that's withing walking distance of a vineyard?
cheers
Kev
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