Trying to plan camping in Normandy

[Jackieharris]

Hi

We're thinking of going to one of these eurocamp style places end of June/start of July.

We've never had a family holiday abroad together before so the planning seems overwhelming!

I'll be 30+ weeks pregnant and the only driver, never driven abroad before so want something not too far from the ferry (is Cherbourg best?)

DCs will be 12&7. They want a pool and slides and lots of friends to play with!

Dp & I just want to take it easy, read a book, go on the odd walk along the beach.

None of us are good in hot weather, would like it nice enough to sit out and be dry- is this realistic?

Dp is veggie- will he be eating bread & cheese all week? We intend to go to local supermarket and eat simply at park.

We have never been camping before- will need somewhere with a tent set up for us on arrival. Lots of the sites I've looked up are actually caravan sites, don't want this as have done lots of caravaning in UK.

What else do we need to take?

We don't even have passports yet!

Tia.

[TheHappyCamper]

Lots of questions here!

1. Get your passports asap. You are cutting it fine IMO, especially for a "first" passport.
   
   
2. Most of Normandy is perfectly drivable from Calais. The crossing to Cherbourg is much more expensive usually.
   
   
3. Check out Eurocamp holidays and Canvas holidays. Sounds like either a Maxitent or a mobile home would suit you.
   
   
4. France is not known for catering well to veggies sadly. You would be better to choose a site close to a big supermarket and self cater.
   
   
5. You will be pleasantly surprised how easy driving is abroad. I am not a confident driver by any means and have driven all over France, Germany and Holland. Just remember that there will be quite a few tolls. I think we spent around 300 euros on tolls down to Cannes and back last year.
   
   
6. I reckon the weather will be just what you need in Northern France. It's similar to Cornwall/Devon. Pretty much dry but not overly hot.

[Jackieharris]

Thanks, we are driving from the north west so thought it'd be best to head straight south to ferry rather than getting caught in London/m25 traffic heading to Calais?

I like the idea of a longer ferry so I can have a long break from driving.

Not been to Cornwall/Devon so not sure of weather there either. If it was rainy most days I think I'd feel it was all a waste of time but if it was Mediterranean type high summer heat we'd be hiding indoors most of the day!

Yes to being close to a supermarket. DP is a really good cook so we don't think we'd eat out at all. I'm pregnant so just want quite plain food anyway. I don't care if the kids live off chips & ice cream for a week.

Do many of the sites have nice tents set up for people?

I take it they are safe for kids to be 'set free' in?

[TheHappyCamper]

Sounds like Poole to Cherbourg crossing would be worth the extra money for you then.

Most canvas/eurocamp type places have these maxi tents, which have kitchen etc, they just don' have bathrooms.

If you want your own bathroom, you'd need to go for a mobile home.

All these type of places are perfect for letting your kids go off on their own. You'll hardly see them!

Just as an example - try this. It has an indoor and outdoor pool, waterslides, close to the beach. Sounds like maybe what you might be looking for?

[EmilyAlice]

I live in Normandy. Can't help with camping, but weather in the Cherbourg peninsula is wetter and more like the south-west of England than down here where we live in the Suisse Normande. Our summer weather is similar to Kent and Sussex, but more stable and slightly warmer temperatures. Last summer, when the south of France had a miserable time, we had a lot of sunshine.
Normandy is quiet and beautiful, but I am biased!
Other crossings to consider would be Newhaven to Dieppe or Portsmouth to Caen. The Newhaven one will be cheaper and there are some lovely places on the coast round Etretat.

[airedailleurs]

ooh how lovely, I can recommend the Camping Cote de Nacre, in St Aubin sur Mer. the campsite is walking distance from the beach (about 500m), but there are great water park facilities on the site. We've had a couple of really enjoyable holidays there in mobile homes (through the Sun), but you can also camp in tents.
www.camping-cote-de-nacre.com/accueil-en.htm

there are supermarkets nearby, I think we found a lidl, there is also a small basic supermarket on the site, plus launderette.

the last time we were there was 2 years ago for a week in mid-July and we had the most fantastic weather, a dream holiday.

you can get the ferry to Le Havre or Dieppe.

lots of interesting places to visit round and about: the WW2 beaches, Honfleur, Caen, Bayeux, Mont St Michel, beautiful countryside...just writing this is making me want to return!

[airedailleurs]

...and yes, it's very safe for kids, we took bikes and dd (then 8) enjoyed riding around the site happily and safely by herself...

[EmilyAlice]

St Aubin-sur-Mer is lovely. The obvious crossing to get there would be Brittany Ferries from Portsmouth to Ouistreham. Probably quite expensive in high season, but very comfortable and a twenty minute tootle up the coast road to St Aubin.
We love the little towns along that bit of the coast, which are our local beaches. It is never crowded even in high summer, though you need to swim at high tide or you have to walk halfway back to England. (Well it feels like it).

[airedailleurs]

yes I think the cost of sailing to Ouistreham is the reason we did Newhaven -Dieppe...lucky you living in Normandy Emily are you French?

[EmilyAlice]

No, English, but here for over ten years now.
I love the beaches here. Of course as you turn round to come out of the sea, you are looking straight at the images from the D-day landings, but it is such a peaceful and family oriented place now.
It is always worth trying BF prices especially well in advance. I hop over regularly as a foot passenger with cabin for under 30€.

[Jackieharris]

Thanks for all this help. I'm off to look up some of the suggestions.

With me being heavily pregnant I can't see me waddling far from the tent so we'll save doing day trips for next time.

As the DCs haven't been away before just the novelty of being abroad should keep them quite happy. They're not really into beaches. I like the sea air but they are more interested in a good swimming pool/games room/kids disco/friends to play with type stuff.

We are trying to do it all as cheaply as possible so not bothered about 'slumming it' in a tent with no bathroom.

[airedailleurs]

OP your kids would love the "Cote de Nacre", there's loads for them to do and all well-organised, you just need the weather to be on your side really

[airedailleurs]

Emily do you mind my asking if you work and if so what do you do?

[ChippyMinton]

OP, having done several of these holidays when the DC were younger, we always went for a mobile home for comfort and convenience.

You might want to consider the benefits of having your own loo, as you might be a distance from the nearest shower block? Also the 7yo having to go at night, it's handy to have your own facilities.

Also nice to have a sofa to stretch out on for a rest! And a bed that is more than 8 inches from the floor.

And mobiles usually have a full size fridge-freezer which makes self catering easier, as you can store more fresh food,beer and ice-lollies.

[Jackieharris]

Cote de nacre does sound exactly what we're looking for but is a lot more expensive than I was anticipating.

I'm now rethinking a couple of things-
-I'm a confident, daily on motorways driver in the UK, have driven into cities I don't know without worrying so maybe I shouldn't be too bothered about driving abroad? I've just not done it and worry about going up the wrong way at junctions etc! But if we look further from the ports there is more choice of sites.

• I was wanting a tent rather than caravan/mobile home but given how pregnant I'll be, probably needing the loo during the night, suddenly a toilet less tent doesn't sound too practical!

[ChippyMinton]

You could take a bucket along for the night!

The French roads are good - once you are on a main road, the miles will get eaten up without junctions to worry about. That puts more sites within your grasp - Brittany or the Vendee perhaps? A good route planner site is //www.Viamichelin.com.

[EmilyAlice]

No airedailleurs I am retired (teacher), though I taught English for a bit here at first.
Driving on the motorways is very easy OP as they carry very little traffic. Elsewhere you just need something / someone to jog your memory at roundabouts and junctions. In towns and on some rural roads, you (sometimes) give way to the right, which takes a bit of getting used to (though it is quite common to see English cars who just ignore it!).
Normandy is generally quiet in summer. We know it pretty well so can probably advise on the area if you find somewhere.

[airedailleurs]

OP yes cote de nacre is quite expensive (5 star site!) but it was literally 20% of the price going via Sun Holidays with no catch!

I would also recommend a mobile home rather than a tent btw if you will be so heavily pregnant!

Emily thanks, I was wondering if you'd taught English. I'd love to return to live in France to retire, not sure which part yet though...

[Jackieharris]

Thanks, we are now looking further afield.

Found a site in Brittany that is half the price of the Normandy one.

Are ones away from beaches usually cheaper? As we aren't too bothered about a beach I suppose we could stay inland and just do a day trip to a beach.

Ones with kids clubs- will there still be kids about who aren't in the clubs?

I like the idea of ones with amusements to keep DCs occupied but I'm worried about the extra charges- the websites don't specify! I don't want to be constantly saying to the kids you can't do this and that because it's too expensive!

Eg DS will want to play tennis, table tennis, pool (table) with other kids- how much should I budget? Do sites charge similar amounts?

Some sites have cafés. If DS sees one he will be begging for chips/pizza/juice/ice cream constantly rather than wanting the cheap supermarket food we'll have in the tent. How much are these things likely to cost? If we give DS £50 pocket money for the week is that enough to keep him happy re: 'extra' food & games? We don't want it can't afford to be like a day at xscape where he can go through £100pd!

What about our phones? We can live without data for a week and we won't need to call home but I'd want to be able to contact DP & DS around the campsite. Should we buy local SIM cards for this. We are on ee & Vodafone here if that helps.

Do we need travel insurance? I tend to think of this just for flight holidays in case a flight is cancelled or they lose our luggage. We'll get our e111 forms for basic medical cover. If I'm pregnant will they even give me 'proper' travel insurance anyway? Does the car need extra insurance for driving abroad? Should I get European roadside cover in case we break down?

Should we take some food ourselves eg tea bags/sugar. What things are very expensive in French supermarkets? As I said DP is veggie. DS is quite fussy. As I'm pregnant I won't be having wine or French cheese! I've seen that the ads say 'full kitchen' but don't have ovens- we oven cook most of what we eat!

It's all so complicated and unknown!

[EmilyAlice]

Goodness. I can't answer all the questions, but I can do the food bits. Overall, with some things cheaper, some more expensive, it works out about the same. You might want to bring tea bags though you can always get them. There are lots of Brits here so most big supermarkets have a section with things like Marmite and golden syrup. Markets are good in summer and Lidl is pretty cheap. There are fewer ready meals in the supermarkets but you can always get some and stuff like pizza, salads etc.
You need the old E111 now called EHIC. Remember that you have to pay tolls on autoroutes so factor that in.
Just a thought but have you considered a gite? They can be cheaper than camping! Have a look on Owners Direct. I guess if you want entertainment for the children then it doesn't work, but you would be comfortable! If you get one with an on site English owner it can help on a first trip.
Texts are quite cheap I think, I wouldn't bother with a sim.

[Jackieharris]

airedailliers I think we are going to go with la cote de nacre, thanks!

It's only 6 nights available rather than 7 but we will probably stay at night in a hotel in the south of England to break up the journey so it will still be a week away.

We are going to get the new haven to dimple ferry. That seemed to best compromise.

[Jackieharris]

Dimple?

Dieppe obviously!

[airedailleurs]

Hi OP, really glad to have been of help!
If you've decided to go for a mobile home instead of a tent, there is a new Sun Holidays offer starting on Sat 11 April, you should be able to book the week you want, i think this link should work:
club950.co.uk/
PM me if you'd like more info about how to book a Sun Holiday...