Overseas touring in october whers open?

ginajim
ginajim Forum Participant Posts: 2

Help! planning on touring France or Spain first 2 weeks october 2016 but a lot of france seems closed would we be better in Spain? looking to cycle as well any advice welcome - first timers aboard in campervan! should we pre book or do last min? thank you
in advance!

Comments

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #2

    Certainly no need to book anything for October. Just point your campervan South and aim towards the Mediterranean. There will be sites open there till later in the month and Aires too. You have guidebooks for each?

     Take care. 

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #3

    We spent Sept - Nov 2015 in France and Spain. There is no need to pre - book most sites, some of the popular ones start to fill up around mid October in Spain but there is plenty of other sites available. France is a little more of a problem the later it
    gets but again there are still quite a few open. If you haven't already done so I would suggest you get the ACSI discount book/card at that time of year you get very good rates on hundreds of sites.

    Spain certainly would be warmer come October but if its touring rather than sitting on a beach you're after then southern France should be ok. Cycling is good in both countries. 

    If you would like more information I would come back with more details of when you are looking to travel and from which port, there are many CTers that have lots of knowledge of both countries and would be of great help.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,873 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #4

    There are sites open in France to the end of October and a few all year but you have to do your research. The Caravan Club Touring Europe guides might be of help to you. Having spent two or three holidays in France during the first half of October I have never had much luck with the weather so maybe Spain is a better option however it is a long way to go for just two weeks? One option if you are geared up to manage without electricity is that there are hundreds of motorhome aires in France which are open all year although sometimes the water supply is turned off during the winter.

    David

  • JimE
    JimE Club Member Posts: 353
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    edited March 2016 #5

    One of our favourite spots is Camping Salata on the bay of Roses.  It's only 400 yards from the seafront and offers a number of cycle routes that you can follow.

    The site is open until 31st October and this year they have joined the ACSI scheme where you can stay for 19€ a night during the discounted period.  See the ACSI website here.

    It is worth getting the ACSI book and card if you haven't already done so, as it has one of the most comprehensive listings of sites for out of season travel.

  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004 ✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #6

    The ACSI Card website is www.campingcard.co.uk and if you use the search facility (typing in the date 31/10/2016 in both boxes or 01/11/2016) in the second box, it will show you all the sites which are still open at the end of October.

    Don't pre-book - you could be sitting in pouring rain in a booked site - where one hundred miles away the sun could be shining on an even better campsite.  No need to book at all in October, and on some of the quieter sites you may find yourselves the only
    people there!

  • InaD
    InaD Club Member Posts: 1,701 ✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #7

    As another who travels in off-peak season May-June and Sept-Oct) I would echo comments made above - don't book anything, no need.  Yes, quite a few sites close on the 15th of September, some others on the 30th, but there are plenty open in October.

    As for cycling, we cycle a lot too, and have found nice routes all over France, along various canals and old railway routes and others.  There are a couple of useful websites
    HERE and another
    HERE although the GB flag appears not to work on this one.  However, it's pretty easy even in French, it'll be good practice for when you get there in October
    Winking

  • ginajim
    ginajim Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited March 2016 #8

    Thank you all very much for the excellent advice, ok we will be brave and just go! will get the ACSI card/book.  Thanks again been really helpful and reassuring. Gina