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Sort of camping in France - what to bring on plane?

7 replies

BiddyPop · 24/05/2017 11:39

Hi,

We are going to a mobile home type place in France on hols this year. By plane, with some checked in luggage. Plan is lots of sailing, watersports, and also some sightseeing trips in week 2.

Are these mobile home chalets generally well kitted out or are we sensible to bring some of our camping gear with us? (DH and I used to camp as teens/early 20s, I have got back into it again now that DD is in Cub scouts and I am a leader there, so we have had a couple of "girls adventures" as well as Cubs stuff, but DH is "too old to sleep on the ground" in his own words, hence a chalet-thing with proper beds).

We've only ever done apartments before in France (and over 10 years ago). We've done Centre Parcs in the UK, so we are assuming similar but a lower level of comfort etc. But more heat!

We don't mind cooking a fair bit, and I know there is a hob at least in chalet.

I'm not even sure what I am thinking of - more what seems really useful to bring (other than clothes). We will be there for 2 weeks, with a car but hopefully staying on site a fair amount and just taking it easy.

OP posts:
Milliways · 24/05/2017 16:23

They usually have outdoor furniture, and a decently stocked kitchen. Bottle opener may be worth packing. We bought decent mugs out there one year when they only gave us tiny espresso cups and we wanted a normal mug of tea, but other years mugs were there too.
Pegs are useful for drying your swimming things/towels (they normally have an airer of sorts).
Take a dish cloth and tea towels, as well as beach/pool towels. Are you getting bedding provided? If not will need pillow cases and duvet covers.
BBQ tools. (They provide BBQ but not tools)
If you are missing anything the reps should sort you out, and the supermarkets are huge and full of everything you may have forgotten.
If you like PG tips/ Yorkshire tea etc, take some, you can only get Liptons in most places and my DH is fussy! Otherwise just drink the beer and wine :)

BiddyPop · 24/05/2017 18:34

Thanks Milliways, that is exactly the sort of thing I need to know!

I will be packing some proper Barry's tea! But my camping pegs and a couple of tea/hand towels is a good idea.

OP posts:
blueskyinmarch · 24/05/2017 18:40

We did this when our DC were younger. will you have children wth you? We just took clothes (but you don't need loads as there are usually laundry facilities) and some games and toys for the DC. We also took some favourite foods and tea bags etc but the supermarkets are usually well stocked.

BiddyPop · 25/05/2017 07:51

DD is 11 so not terribly young, but a pack of cards is probably a good idea. In case of bad weather. The intention is to send her off doing watersports for a week while we unwind, then tourist stuff in week 2.

OP posts:
WindwardCircle · 25/05/2017 08:04

We've done this sort of holiday a few times. The little things which we found make life easier are-

Bin bags, the bins are always tiny and there's usually recycling on site so it's good have something to sort your rubbish into

Hand soap for the bathroom

An old towel to use as a bathroom mat

A decent sharp knife, the ones provided are never sharp enough

Proper mugs, French mugs are always tiny, I want a huge cup of tea in the morning

A big bag to put your dirty clothes in

That's all I can think of for now!

BiddyPop · 29/05/2017 11:14

Thanks Windward - a few things there to add to my shopping list on arrival, and some for the suitcase.

I have quite a few kitchen knives now as a result of buying them when away as the ones provided are so bad - and its a key part of my "self-catering/camping" box. So I must get that out.

Mugs - very important for my morning tea!

I might throw in an Ikea blue bag as a clothes hamper.

Thanks again!

OP posts:
snowgirl1 · 30/05/2017 14:13

Agree with dishcloth/scrubby thing, tea towels, sharp knife, bin bags, tea bags and I'd also add salt & pepper to the list. DH also chucks in the things he needs to make decent coffee. If there's room in the case, I also take one of those small fabric-type insulation bags and a couple of freezer block so we can take cold drinks to the beach/on days out).

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