First time to France any tips welcome
hello all
we are thinking of going to France this year for are summer family holiday
so we will need to book a family friendly site with good facilities like swimming pool bar entertainment ect
we have not been abroad before driving so nervous about that
so really what I am asking is what sites are good (recommendations) please
and an tips on going to France
many thanks I look forward to reading any posts on this
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Hi, if you can give a bit more info then I am sure you will get plenty of help and suggestions.
There are thousands of sites so who is 'we', how old are 'we',when are 'we' going etc but what I think of as family friendly could be a world away from your idea!
The driving is not a problem for most and can be a pleasure due to the relative lack of traffic outside the major towns and city's but maybe stick to within a days drive from your port of arrival for your first trip.
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Hi both.
France is a massive country and is very different from region to region. If you let CT members know how far you intend to travel and for what length of time it will help people on here who go to France year after year. Go on CC Overseas Holidays for some good ideas about sites and prices, you will also get help from the Caravan Club on what you will need to take with you, but don't get nervous about going to France because it's a great country for caravans, we have been many times and always enjoyed it.
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In general traffic is light on Sundays. Their roads are good/not as crowded as ours. Stick to speed limits as their speed cameras are difficult to see & I understand it is illegal to have cameras show up on Sat Navs. Lots to research on here. Happy planning.
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One tip I would give you is to get hold of a Sanef tag for your vehicle, for the small additional cost it saves quite a bit of hassle (This of course assumes you will be using toll roads / bridges).
Once you let us know some more specifics about your requirements you should get a few recommendations.
No need for nerves as the driving is easy compared to UK roads.
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My top tip is if you are going in August do NOT travel on autoroutes on Saturdays. They can be very very busy. There is an excellent website called Bison Fute that gives predictions on how busy individual autoroutes may be ..http://www.bison-fute.gouv.fr/calendrier-bison-fute,10375.html.
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thanks for the help
we are two adults 3 children ages from 9 to 16
so we will need a good family site not too far away from the port or euro tunnel
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Hi, we had a fantastic holiday in Brittany At a site called les mouettes, it is 15 miles from the port of roscoff and is a great ideal starter site to go to if you are green to driving in France!
The site has everything for a family and there are local amenities and sight seeing without venturing too far from site.
The site is available on the caravan club European holidays site.
hope it helps.
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If you want a site close to an arrival port then Camping L 'Anse du Brick is 8 miles from Cherbourg ferry port and Camping les Mouettes is that same distance from Roscoff. They are the closest I know. Both sites are by the sea and have all the activities your children will want, but I'm afraid may well be fully booked for summer 2017. They are very popular.
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If you are going in the summer holidays then you may struggle with a choice of sites. If you like the Vendee this is the best site I have stayed at which caters for children but doesn't make the adults feel like they are on holiday in a kindergarten
http://www.camping-la-garangeoire.com
We had our first time to France 6 years ago. New to caravaning and just went for it. The west coast is def better for sites for kids compared with the alps for example
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I know its your first time to France but seriously, close to the port or euro tunnel, why bother going at all. France is a huge country but the area around the ports and tunnel are not really where you would wish to spend your holiday with children. Head for the West coast, no need to go down to the Med coast. Brittany is also very nice.
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I would also head for Brittany or Normandy the area close to Calais is certainly not the prettiest. Although someone may come up with a nice family site near the sea. Newhaven - Dieppe is a good route. It really is quite easy driving most of the time in France but do check the speed limits! Have a great time - I suppose I suggested Brittany as it was the first caravan trip I took there with my parents when I was 7 years old!
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Get the Eurocamp brochure and see what's available. Don't book through them, just book with the site direct if something is to your fancy.. Many now have their websites in English these days,
Don't forget outside of the main holiday periods many smaller sites (and some large ones) just don't need booking in advance at all. To many of us that's one of the key differences with touring abroad but for a first time, I can see the attraction for you.
Best advice would be to leave any preconceptions in the UK, chill out and enjoy yourselves.
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Hi Karen we have been to Domaine de Drancourt which is situated about 12 miles from Abbeville near the Somme and it was an easy 2 hr drive i think from Calais, the site is pretty lively with a pool and things for the kids to do and you are right in the middle of W1 country with all the museums and war cemetrys to visit which we and our 14 yr old (at the time) daughter really enjoyed and the local town was Saint -Valery-sur-Somme which was very pleasant. But i would say we do love the South of France more but it depends on your time and budget constraints.
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Don't be too nervous about driving in France. I drove a caravan through France on my own last year (south of France via Switzerland!!) & it was a pleasure! the roads are quieter and people are more considerate - they are more tolerant & accommodating for caravans than in this country. Most large towns have a municipal campsite, though these vary on facilities and condition.
If you've not driven on the other side of the road before, i found if i kept saying 'keep right, keep right' at every junction, it soon became quite natural. Do watch your blind spots and make sure your mirrors are well adjusted & use them frequently.
Biggest tip - get a tag if you're using the toll roads - saves queuing and faffing at the toll booths. the toll roads are a dream with frequent picnic stops & dog walking areas, well worth the expense. This being said, if you want to do the scenic route, the main roads are ok - keep to the speed limits, but road conditions generally encourage that anyway...
DO explore - you'll find it so easy!
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Our first trip to France was far too many years ago to remember (its an age thing) but I do remember getting the Club to book up all the sites and the crossing so I knew everything was done and dusted and all I had to do was turn up. Took a lot of the stress out.
Now I just hunt around on the Internet, consider the 'Club' sites, use the clubs Touring France guide and make our own way around without a care in the world. Enjoy the planning and the anticipation and enjoy yourselves abroad.
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We are planning (my wife and I and two dogs) a trip to France staying for six or seven days at the Le Mas De Reilhe (Sommieres Nr Montpelier) followed by another six or seven days at Le Champ De Moulin (not far from Grenoble).
We would if possible like advice on which route to the first (from Calais) and route back from the second (to Calais). We are probably going to drive down to the Eurotunnel overnight so will be staying overnight within a hundred or so miles of Calais and do not want to do much more than 300/350 miles per day so will probably have another overnight stay on the way down.
On the way back we will probably (again) stay overnight near Calais and the same daily mileage as outward means another overnighter on the way back.
We live on the Wirral near Chester BTW and any advice on any subject would be very gratefully received as this will be our first overseas trip with a caravan.
Thanks
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Hi there, we holiday every year in France for the summer. We stay on a rustic french owned site on the west coast right down south. Its an absolute gem.
The French roads are excellent for towing and we only use the toll's to skirt around the big towns. In fact, we had only had the van 3 months before we made the first trek across the channel... and I've never towed before!
As a first venture check out http://www.camping-castels.co.uk for good quality French sites convieniently dotted around.
Bon Voyage...
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