First time abroad - advice on everything
Comments
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Does this sound doable? Any other recommendations?
Hi Rob, as ever lots, and a variety of, suggestions. Looking at the info in the last post I think that as you are travelling from Leeds you will need one overnight even if you stay within a days drive of the port, whichever that is, unless you take an overnight ferry.
We have traveled to Italy many times, and with young children, but in 2018 we did the Vendee to be with our daughter and family and its a lot less stressful knowing that you leave the port and that day you will be set up on site so that would be something I would strongly suggest would be good for travelling with small children.
Choosing a crossing will depend on your preferences but Portsmouth, and a possible good value combined fare from the club, is closer to you than Dover and the onward journey better too.
As for where, I can only say that in our experience our children/grandchildren are quite happy to leave the scenic/cultural bit to us-they just want a good pool and sunshine.
As for timing I would not be considering more than one main site for a two week holiday. We have done it in the past and would not do it again, its just not long enough and the work involved, setting up/awnings etc, takes too much of the enjoyment.
In 2018 we stayed at Pin Parasol for two weeks, booked the year before as it was an August stay, having stayed in the area for a couple of nights in 2017 so we could choose a suitable site.
Its a good example of how we can all differ as we looked at three sites and, whilst all were OK, the very well reviewed La Garangoire was bottom of our list.
The site is not on the coast, there are lots of beaches with free parking , but the pitches are large and well kept and the site is fantastically maintained with a great pool complex and an especially good toddlers pool plus an indoor pool which is very useful for getting a break from the sun yet still having fun.
As others have said June will probably be better for prices and availability but have a great time whenever and wherever you go.
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Hi JapanRed,
For what it's worth ......
We are also from Leeds and frequent at overseas Caravan touring.
Flexibility and following the weather is key to your Holiday enjoyment. Little need to book & pay now - research yes.
A Weather & News check 7 days prior to travel will confirm where you do or really really do not want to go. Summer floods, Fires & Tempest do occur.
Have done all sorts of Channel Crossing methods & routes (inc Flying Southend - Ostend with the Family car in 1964 !).
In 2020 ex Leeds with two very young kids heading for France unless you firmly intend going out towards Western Brittany, or you really like Ferries, I'd be seriously thinking to head for the Tunnel because :-
1. Less pressure travelling down as multiple trains every hour and flexible to early or late arrivals.
2. A 6 hours usually steady drive down (A1 M11 M20) and then the simple crossing (2 hours inc any wait) gives you the option to easily carry onwards into France or stop early if mood or kids dictate.
3. Self contained family unit on the Train with all your facilities & Caravan to hand for your baby etc. NB Ferry & it's un-load all gear and go upstairs !
Hope this helps as a starter and await critic ....
M
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Hello Rob,
Thanks for posting on Club Together and I hope the help and advice here has been helpful. You might also find it useful to check out our First Time Abroad section of the website.
When I was younger my parents always took me and my brother all over Europe in first our tent and then later in our Conway trailer tent, from a very young age (toddler and baby) to teenagers. We had some amazing holidays and I have wonderful memories of our time together - playing card games way past bedtime in the awning, making friends with kids from other countries and staying 'pen pals' for at least a month afterwards. Oh and the places we saw - beaches, chateaus, incredible food (including French crepes from street vendors), mountains, monasteries and caves.
We didn't go to Italy until I was 16 when we had a 2 week holiday in Tuscany. We had overnight stopovers there and back. The campsites in Italy were wonderful, although that's quite a few years ago. We visited both Florence and Pisa on that trip.
Now I have my son we have driven to France once with him last year when he was 2 and found the journey absolutely fine. We were only driving to Paris but the roads were amazing and there's plenty of places where you can stop to sort out a little one en route. My son loved the ferry and the whole experience.
As mentioned there are some lovely locations in France, I personally love Brittany and again have found the roads really good in this region of France and the ferry crossings very convenient.
Wherever you decide to go I am sure you will have an amazing time with the inevitable toddler meltdown now and again but you would get that wherever you went!
If you need to speak to a member of our overseas travel team they would be more than happy to check for you that your outfit size is ok for any of the sites on our overseas network and answer any questions you may have to ensure your holiday is as stress free as possible. You can call our Overseas Travel on 01342 316 101 or email europeanholidays@camc.com
Also as I'm sure you've noticed our members have lots of help, advice and a wealth of experience that they are happy to share here. I hope you have a wonderful time and let us know all about your travels and how you get on.
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Given your available time allowed I would say that 2 x 1 week stops would be doable.
If you cross from Dover then allow a day or 2 to get down to somewhere where you would like to be, like the Loire, then move onto say the West coast or how about Ill de Re, just off La Rochelle.
There is no reason why you couldn't take a ferry out from say Dover and come home via Portsmouth we have done this a few times. Why drive all the way up from the West coast to Calais when you can get a crossing from Caen to Portsmouth, might be a little more in cost but in time and fuel it works out about the same.
We used to travel with our 2 children from birth, they were happy in the car and used to it. We used to stop every couple of hours or so to let them out and have a run around. It used to take us 3 days to get to our chosen holiday destination but it was worth it.
As suggested if going in June then no booking should be required, get an Acsi card before going it will make a big difference in what you can pay for sites.
I probably wouldn't bother with a full awning but I would take either a canopy or as suggested the roof and poles of your full awning.
Have fun and make happy memories with the little ones.
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Hi Rob,
Another ferry to consider if you are going to North/Western France is the Poole/Cherbourg by Brittany Ferries. About 250 miles from Leeds and you can safely and legally sleep-over in the ferry terminal. Ferry leaves at 0830am every day and is a 4hr 15min crossing. Enjoy...
BillC
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Totally agree David, we got our first caravan when the boys were nearly 2 and 4 years old because we couldn't face taking them to hotels on holiday. I had flown with both the boys many times by then from Germany to Scotland when OH was away, which was fine, as we stayed with my parents but taking them to a hotel was a different matter.
The boys took to the caravan from the word go and loved going away in it.
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Thanks all for the comprehensive advice.
Rowena I have been looking on the club website and it’s really very helpful thank you. We have decided to stay in just 2 locations on the west coast of France, plus a stopover for one night en-route down and back up. We’ve got a few ideas of sites from all the information provided. Also been looking at ferry and tunnel crossings and as several people have advised, it may be easier to get a Poole-Cherbourg or Portsmouth-Caen crossing as we will be heading west anyway once in France.
Thanks again to everyone who's taken the tome to reply; I’m sure I’ll be back with more questions before the trip.
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May be like telling you how to suck eggs but for your overnight stop choose a site with all facilities such as showers and a restaurant (or near a town) then you do not need to set up for the night with water/waste etc. Just use a 5l container for boiling the kettle and night time tooth brushing and you will be able to get away the next day with ease. Also if there is a swimming pool and play areas the kids will be happy too
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Hi JR, Good to see that you have had helpful comments. Re the comment by Montessa regarding using Eurotunnel;
Self contained family unit on the Train with all your facilities & Caravan to hand for your baby etc. NB Ferry & it's un-load all gear and go upstairs !
If you take an overnight ferry then you would not need to look for a site as you could do the West coast very easily by mid afternoon. I would, as said, mean being prepared to carry all your 'stuff' but less hassle than an overnight site.
Also, if travelling with BF its possible to ask to be positioned near a lift to make things a bit easier. My wife has had some mobility issues over the last year or so, hip and knee replacements in space of 13 months, and BF were happy to help.
We have used the tunnel a couple of times and one drawback for us was that it did not give an opportunity for a leg stretch to break the journey.
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I'm with those who say go for it! Many, many years ago we used to take our children when they were your children's ages on holiday in tent/caravan to France and they had a whale of a time; and, if they were happy we were! However, surely kids that age would prefer a beach rather than Chateaux! Why not get the Portsmouth/Caen ferry? To avoid stressing yourselves get the afternoon ferry staying near Portsmouth the night before. There is a very nice simple site at Titchfield near the Abbey (Drove Lea, Mill Lane) only 20 mins from the port with a nice pub for a meal 5 mins walk away. At Caen stay at Seasona Riva Bella just 5 mins from the port, they stay open for the evening ferry arrivals, and then the next morning you are all fresh and happy and ready to go. Returning stay at Riva Bella and get the morning ferry and drive home. There have been plenty of suggestions as to where to go so have a great time
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