Calais to Biarritz - Overnight site stopover

Banton
Banton Forum Participant Posts: 8
edited May 2017 in Overseas Campsites & Touring #1

We are travelling in a motorhome with 2 children to Biarritz via the Eurotunnel to Calais mid August returning beginning of September.  We normally stop overnight at Calais and make the long 10-11 hour trip down to Biarritz in one day.  For medical reasons, we are unable to do that this year. Can anybody recommend a good convenient stopover site to break up this journey.  Would prefer a proper site rather than a municipal one.  I don't have a copy of the Tourer guide which a lot of you refer to unfortunately.

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  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #2

    Where please?

  • Banton
    Banton Forum Participant Posts: 8
    edited May 2017 #3

    Somewhere half way, say Le Mans / Tours.

  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2017 #4

    This is another duplicated thread, which has split after a couple of replies, and I've replied in the other one.

    Here's what I put there (after quoting Banton's original Post):

    Can you say what exactly you mean by 'a proper site rather than a municipal one'?  Municipal sites can be just like any other - some have just a few pitches, a sanitary block, and electric hook-ups, but some have all those as well as swimming pools, one we've seen even has toboggan slides, and many have bars and restaurants, and even a little 'supermarket'.  With that long drive it's not likely that you'll arrive in time to take advantage of a swimming pool, however and as there are so many more municipal sites it would seem to complicate things to be driving much further to find 'a proper site'. 

    Half-way is probably somewhere between Tours and Poitiers - you could try Le Futuriste near Poitiers, but there are plenty of municipal sites along that stretch of the A10 if you change your mind about what sort of site might suit you.

     

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #5

    The Chateau de Chanteloup might perhaps be suitable if you want a 5* site. The Club travel desk could book it for you but it will cost around £50 for one night in the summer. But if you Google Camping Le Mans or Camping Tours or Camping anywhere else you see what the alternatives are at more economical prices. 

  • Banton
    Banton Forum Participant Posts: 8
    edited May 2017 #6

    What I meant by a proper site was a safe site which has electric hook up and possibly a shower block but the latter is not a necessity. We wouldn't be taking advantage of any other facilities such as swimming pool, entertainment etc.

     

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #7

    Good. That widens your choice considerably as all campsites in France have electric points and a toilet/shower block. I suggest you do an internet search and make a pencil and paper list of sites down a 100 mile stretch of your route and see how far you get on the day. Stop by 4pm and give the children a run. Good luck. 

  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2017 #8

    Municipal sites are 'proper' sites, run by the local town hall (Mairie), to attract visitors to their town or village.  They always have hook-ups, a shower blocks, and as per my earlier post, sometimes a lot more besides.  Often they have a barriered entrance, so make sure you get there early.

    Have a look at the website:  http://www.camping-municipal.org/

    An alternative is to have a look at Archie's Camping, where there is access to 'all campsites within 15 km of the major routes through France' .  Here's a link to the page showing sites along the route to Biarritz:  http://www.archiescampings.eu/parafoeter/route/fr05/.  It's a printable PDF so you don't even need to take Eurotraveller's advice of a pencil and paper.

    If you see any that you fancy then post again as many of the seasoned travellers on here are bound to have stayed there.

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