French Campsite 5 hours from calais for family

Scoota and Dixie
Scoota and Dixie Forum Participant Posts: 18

Hi, I'm looking in France for a good family campsite around a 5 hour drive of Calais. Wants to have a good pool area, kids entertainment and ideally on a river or by a lake you can swim in. ( hoping to go in May)

Thanks,

Happy Christmas 

Comments

  • indoors
    indoors Forum Participant Posts: 222
    edited December 2016 #2

    Le Pin Parasol 

    Lovely Family run site, next to lake, ideal for days out to seaside or The Grand Parc Puy da Fu.

    Enjoy.

    Mod edit to create shortened link

     

  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2016 #3

    In May, you could use an ACSI Card and have the pick of loads of sites, at a discount.  Check out the website; www.campingcard.co.uk for details and see if you like the look of any of the sites.  On some sites children under 6 go free.  You can use the Advanced Search selection to pick out those things which are important to you and then have a look and see what sites are available   

    You may not find exactly what you want (ie on a lake or river) within five hours of Calais, but it may be worth a bit longer drive on lovely French roads if you find a site you really like the look of.  

     

  • JillwithaJay
    JillwithaJay Club Member Posts: 2,485 ✭✭
    500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited December 2016 #4

    As you posted this in the UK Sites and Touring Section, I've moved it here which is more appropriate.

     

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited December 2016 #5
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • harryb
    harryb Forum Participant Posts: 1,536
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2016 #6

    Agree with David. You will get a lot further south, if you are going south, than you will from Calais. By booking a ferry and camping cheques direct with the club can work out cheaper overall than a ferry to Calais.

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2016 #7

    The Loire valley is a good starting place if you are visiting France for the first time and it is about 5 hours to Blois or Tours. As Val recommends, take a look at the ACSI sites as many are Dutch run and Dutch = Good in my experience. There are also sites in the Club's touring brochure although booking is totally unnecessary May/June in that part of France.

  • MDD10
    MDD10 Forum Participant Posts: 335
    edited December 2016 #8

    Vendee is about an 8 hour drive...worth it though

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2016 #9

    agree, La Rochelle area is 5.5 hrs from Cherbourg....crossing price for us from Poole for January is around £130.

  • Scoota and Dixie
    Scoota and Dixie Forum Participant Posts: 18
    edited December 2016 #10

    Thanks for all your replies. 

    Le pin parasol looks a nice site.

    i have booked the crossing but I may be able to change the date as we are planning a few trips in 2017.

    how long is the Portsmouth/ Normandy crossing?

  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2016 #11

    Until the 16th July, Le Pin Parasol is an ACSI Card site - meaning you will pay just 17 euros per night for pitch, two adults, car and caravan, awning, and electricity. On top of that you will pay the standard site supplements, but the ACSI card daily rate is a few euros less than the standard site tariff for the same package and over two weeks will give you a little more 'ice-cream' money to spend!  

    See the ACSI Card website for details - then if you think it's worth it, order the ACSI Card from either The Caravan Club, ACSI itself (cheapest), or Vicarious Books at Folkestone.

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited December 2016 #12
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2016 #13

    Poole-cherbourg is 4 hours ish (from memory)