Travelling around France - Smaller tent recommendations please

[flame17]

Hi
This summer we are hoping to go over to France and just move about every couple of days, going wherever takes our fancy.

For camping in the UK we have a Diablo 600 and I don't fancy putting that up and down every few days.

So can you recommend a smaller tent that will sleep 2 adults and 2 kids (4 &5 yrs)?

Thanks

[snorkle]

We went with just two 2" tents a couple of years ago and had a great time. Decamping & loading car was easily done in under 10mins (including deflating airmats & rolling sleeping bags into stuff sacks & everything). We found we were happy with just the sleeping pods, but if you wanted a bit more of a living area add a seconds base - they are more of a fiddle to put up compared to the 2 second tents, but still very easy compared to a lot of other tents.

[Lucycat]

well you either need a couple of Quechua 3 man pop ups which is what we use as our overnighters - with a tarp inbeween them to create some shade - or maybe something like a vango venture 500? or a Khyam pop up type?

sounds a great holiday btw. we are doing 4 french sites this year, but those stops vary between a one nighter and 13 nights!

[flame17]

I think I would be happier with the kids in with us and don't think DH would go for 1 of us with each child.

The Vango venture 500 looks like it could do the job though!

Lucycat- you sound like you know France, it's our first time, any reccomendations of places to see?

thanks

[Lucycat]

Where are you crossing to?

We personally love anywhere south of the Loire where there aren't too many English people! I do love the Dordogne but its horribly busy in some areas in the summer. the Tarn and Lot are beautiful but a fair way south.

and i'd love to make it to the mountains (Alps) but not made it camping yet.
Your best bet is to get hold of a few tour operator brochures (the ones with the pretty pictures, Eurocamp etc lol) and then get on the Alan Rogers website to look at areas which take your fancy.

Busy areas will get very full in July and August but most French villages have municipal sites which can be great - depends on how many 'attractions' you want i guess..
hth?

[Lucycat]

here is the Alan Rogers website

this website is useful too

and this one has lots of smaller sites

just raided my French campsites bookmark there!

[flame17]

Thanks very much
I wil have a look through them.
We are crossing to Dunkirk.

[Fillyjonk]

just to say, we have a venture 500 and would really recommend it, we have 3 kids aged 5, 3 and 1. I can put the venture up in about 10 minutes on my own, if need be.

Also it will take 2 x double airbeds side by side-tight fit but will just about do it. which can be handy.