Thinking of going to France
hi, looking for some advice! My wife, me and our two little dogs are looking to take our caravan over the water to France at the end of September. Now, I am aware that many sites close in early sept but there still is some open, I am looking for somewhere 4-5 hrs max from Calais, ideally somewhere that has some facilities open such as a bakery or even a bar, and somewhere suitable for dogs! Not asking a lot am I!! Anyone got any suggestions?
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Yes, some sites will be open. A good site guide will list them for you. Four hours from Calais will see you towards Caen, Paris or Reims, and without knowing which direction you want to go, or what places you want to visit, I hesitate to suggest actual campsites. Spread your big map out ! Good wishes.
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I can't predict the weather ! But a gentle tour down the coast from Calais towards Normandy is an easy introduction to France. It was certainly our first trip.
We liked Boulogne on market day, had heard of Le Touquet but didn't think much to it when we got there, still remember an attractive campsite in the Chateau grounds at Eu, walked on the chalk cliffs at Yport and Etretat, went to an art gallery in Le Havre, and then strolled on the smart board walks at Deauville.
But you are not going to book anything in September, are you? It's go as you please time and go where you wish. I hope you have a good time. And try to brush up a bit of French before you set off.
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You mean to say that they don't all speak English!
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Have a look at the ACSI Card website www.campingcard.co.uk for a whole selection of sites in one easy to use website. You can check what facilities are available, but be warned that in September many sites close shops, bars, and restaurant. If you like the look of any of the sites then a quick email asking what facilities will be open will be helpful. If you choose a site within walking distance of a town or village then you can stroll in for your bread and croissants, and find a restaurant to eat out.
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My problem is that they understand my (very basic) French with no problem at all ..........but then respond in proper French which is totally beyond my comprehension. Probably something to do with the way we were taught French at school in the 60s .....you could pass 'O' level without ever speaking/understanding a word!
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Sorted! Found a lovely site called La Vallee at Houlgate near Cabourg, not far away from Caen. €17 a night with ACSI! The facilities are all open until end of October too! Can I still book a crossing through the club even though I don't book the site through them? Next question is do I go tunnel or ferry? I much prefer the ferry as I like walk about etc but we've never taken the dogs before so not sure how they will cope on the car deck with alarms going off etc. But the tunnel is way more expensive! Is it worth it?
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You could cross Portsmouth to Le Havre and have a 'pet-friendly' cabin on some sailings. We did that crossing two years ago, overnight, and had a perfectly good night's sleep. The cabin comes with free 'doggie treats'.... and your pet stays with you on board. You could still book through the Club even though you haven't booked sites.
It will no doubt be more expensive than a short crossing.
We have started using the tunnel because it is so much quicker - and as we travel backwards and forwards a lot of times, we have a 'Frequent Travellers' package, but many people with pets prefer it to any of the short-crossing ferries.
Don't forget to order your ACSI Card in order to get the discounted rate.
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Hi Aaronlps
You are more than welcome to just book a ferry with us and we can quite get discounted fares. Also, special package rates can quite often be available if you book 5 nights at sites or 5 camping cheques. There is lots of information on our Overseas section or you can give our Travel Team a call on 01342 316101 to obtain quotes for various routes.
Happy planning.
Tracy
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Camping Cheques are a way of obtaining a discount at some sites - they used to be paper 'cheques' which you bought in advance, and handed it at the site reception, at the end of your stay. Now they are electronic, added to a card, which you present at reception and basically are just pre-paying for the site. They cost £15.95 each at the moment, and this will cover the cost of the pitch, two adults, car and caravan, awning, and electricity, on around 300 sites in Europe - but check that there are sites where you will want to use them.
Their biggest advantage, now, is that they may offer you a bigger discount on the ferry crossing than the additional cost of buying the cheques, so your ferry (alone) will be less with the cheques than without them! This is because you are buying a 'package' of accommodation (the cheques) and transport (the ferry crossing). So if you use the cheques on sites, that means the sites haven't cost you anything.....!
As suggested, it's worth ringing the Caravan Club to check prices with and without cheques. There are sites in this country where you can use them, too, even if you don't find a site in France.
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