First motorhome trip to France - please help!
We are planning to take the ferry over to Dieppe and do a ten day tour in our fully equipped motorhome in mid July before the UK schools break up (but the French ones may already be on holiday). We're not sure where to go and would like to visit a scenic area which is not too busy. Originally we were thinking of the Loire but it's likely to be very busy. Have already visited Brittany and Normandy and don't want to drive all the way down to the South, so the northern third/half of France would be best. Any advice on regions welcome!!!
Also, we want simple, quiet campsites without fancy (and expensive) facilities. However, there doesn't seem to be an equivalent to CL sites, or if there is, please advise. I understand you can stay in Aires but they say 'no camping behaviour', meaning no outdoor dining, tables or chairs. Any advice on how to find hidden gems welcome - our ideal is an empty field!
Thank you kindly.
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Lots of quiet sites in the Loire - two which we picked from the Club Touring France site guide (do you have that book?) and liked were Camping Municipal at Chatillon sur Loire near Briare, and Camping Rural de Chatillon at Huisseau sur Cosson between Blois and Chambord. There were no more than three or four other outfits at each of those two sites. Lots of other small sites are listed there.
Small municipal sites in small villages are always a good choice. French schools will be on holiday by you get there so avoid sites with swimming pools if you want quietness. And municipal sites are usually close to village shops for motorhomers who don't want to drive out from a site. I'm sure others will give you ideas for Aires if you want to try them.
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Hi, the holidays in France start around 14th July and last for around 5 weeks so very busy at these times in the popular areas.
We are over in France just now, we have been down to the med coast but wasn't that interested in just laying in the sun so headed for the Provence. Good decision we loved it, then it was onto Lake Annecy, even better, fantastic views and a dream for cycling and walking. Sites were busy as it was a holiday week but there are plenty to choose from. We are now on Lake Geneve on the French side just 20 kms from Switzerland so again the views are great.
As you only have 10 days it will limit how far you are willing to go though, there are many small sites (not 5 vans) have you looked at French Passions, they are worth a look. I would normally say look at Acsi but at that time of year it won't bring you any discounts. Municipal sites are good if you avoid the big cities.towns. We don't use Aires but there are many that do and from what we have seen they vary from place to place. Some are very nice with grass and areas where they do put out tables and chairs and even canopies. Again I think the rule here is stay in the out of towns and villages and you will find so real gems.
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Even going in peak season, you should find pitches. Our friends are teachers and go in the English school holidays, choose smaller sites, and have always been able to find somewhere. They tend to use mainly municipal sites or Camping A La Ferme - use the Bienvenue a la Ferme website, and selection 'Camping' under the Sejours tab, then look on the map for areas you fancy.
Having said that, we took our caravan away for two weeks in mid-July last year, and had no problems finding pitches even on the larger commercial sites, which is what we prefer (bar and restaurant on site).
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Thanks for this. Where do you get the book from? Interesting to hear it has quiet sites, not just commercial ones.
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The Caravan Club book is available through this website 'Shop', or you can sometimes find a last year's one in charity shops or bookshops, or on Amazon.
You can also find the smaller sites (in fact all 10,000 French campsites) in Le Guide Officiel Camping Caravanning which is available from Vicarious Books.
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No camping on Aires - that's what they say; what they do is another matter. Some Aires do have the 'feel' of CLs.
One at Briare - there are three in the town and the one to which I refer is along the banks of the Loire, next to a campsite - has 12 individual grass "pitches" each with its own water supply and hook up. The motorhomer next to us put up a pup tent for his son. We sat out and used our Cadac. That was 7 Euros a night (barrier controlled) when we last stayed there. Briare is a lovely canal basin town with a pretty aqueduct.
Two others which we like are also in riverside locations, have marked "pitches" and picnic tables provided. They are probably too far south for you, and I am just using them as examples, but there are many others like this. The guide book "All the Aires", available from Vicarious Books, will give you some ideas, and have a look at the camping car infos website.
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It is a fallacy that dining out with tables and chairs are banned on Aires.
The vast majority of French, and other nationalities, eat alongside or near their Motorhomes on Aires and sitting inside to eat on warm days is a rarity.
Awnings out, tables, chairs, and quite often barbecues, are normal and we often eat outside when on Aires.
Many Aires are provided with picnic tables and are well used.
You suggest the Loire is busy in July but having a Motorhome means that you can park and stay virtually anywhere even when areas are busy.
We were in France a couple of years ago from July 14th for four weeks and we never had trouble finding an overnight stop in the 28 days we were there.
For places to stop have a look at CamperContact.com – the App costs around £5 and is well worth the price.
They show Aires and Campsites close to where you are and we use their App on our Ipad to find places to stay within the area.
I've just had a look at the sites they show close to Tours alongside the Loire river – Campsites at around €23 a night and Municipal Aires that are free – the choice is yours.
If you've travelled with a Caravan in France on previous holidays then adjusting to the chance of more freedom in choice of stopovers can take some time.
You may prefer the Campsite option but at least give the Aires a try.
And as for 'an empty field' – we stopped on four Aires in April and there wasn't sight, sound, hide nor hair of others – only rabbits, squirrels, otter and deer to be seen.
Whatever you do, enjoy your holiday.
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This was us parked in a field, with our previous Motorhome, a few years ago and parked on an Aire - we were the only ones there ---
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Hi Keith, Yours looks a better Aire than this one at Saran near Orleans. Yet people use them - a caravan there too .
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