I am doing some research and would like French campsite recommendations

[Smashtastic]

Looking for future years. I like camping, but I want guaranteed good weather and I'v heard France is a good option for this. We would be driving.

I'm looking for;

• Specific campsite recommendations
• Packing tips
• Journey Tips (as I just had a quick look and we would be looking at a 10hr + journey.
• Any tips for traveling in France
• Cost saving ideas

Thanks to anyone willing to help! 🙂

Oh, apologies me DH and two DC who would be around 9 and 6

Nobody? I thought Mumsnet was European camping central?

Would you be camping proper or looking to stay in a van/lodge/safari tent?
Quirky/quiet good or minimal facilities?
There's so much to choose from!

I've only been to a couple and they're really accessible from SE England -
La vallee in Normandy - lovely place, loads to explore but weather can be sketchy just like the UK.
La croix du vieux pont about an hour from Paris - big site, loads of stuff to do, easy drive to Disney always had good weather when we've been.

There's loads on my wishlist to go to though. If you search on here for French campsites you should get quite a reading list.

And you're probably better off posting in the travel camping section.

We always book direct and arrange our own crossing. Mainly because we use tesco rewards towards the tunnel. We tend to use Castel sites, which when you look are also eurocamp sites and nearly always have their own website too for direct booking. Twice now we have found sites via castel, booked direct, checked price on eurocamp indy and found direct is cheaper than both other options.
Also, even though we've never booked with eurocamp, they have always been happy to let our kids join in with their kids club when on site.
I would definitely say that booking direct with Duinrell and staying in a Duingalow is our preferred choice. You get more space, can park nearer to your accommodation, can even choose your own plot if you pay a little extra. You also get 2 hours free entry into the Tiki Pool every day between 10-2. It's true that there's no oven in the kitchen, just a hob and a combi-microwave but that didn't bother us at all :-)

Linen and towels can cost £80/week to rent – weigh up if it's cheaper to take your own. Pillows and duvets are usually provided as standard, though you need to hire or take your own linen and towels. (They can be included with some premium accommodation, depending on the company.)
It’s worth waiting togo away in the last two weeks of summer if you can. As with other holidays, campsite prices drop rapidly for stays at the end of August – likely because most people want to go as soon as they can.

You could start with EuroCamp / Canvas for ideas, then either book through them or book directly with the site itself. We always used EuroCamp when DS was younger as we are not good French speakers and it was reassuring to have an English point of contact on site should there be an issue (there never was!)

Travel wise, we have done the journey overnight or in two legs. Overnight worked better when DS was younger and would sleep from the ferry till we were a couple hours away. Latterly we have broken the journey and stayed overnight which shortens the holiday but means we arrive not already knackered!

The tunnel is cheaper and quicker, but we live in the southwest so the journey to Folkestone is 4 hours, plus Calais is often much further east than we need to be. For us it's actually better to take a local ferry from Poole or Portsmouth despite it being more expensive.

Buy a tag that allows you to pass through the tolls and pay at the end of the month. Massively time saving and invaluable if your passenger has dozed off as the toll booths are on the opposite side to the driver.

I also recommend getting the Emovis Tag for use in the motorways & avoiding toll queues. We’ve stayed at a couple of Sandaya campings - favourite was near Sarlat so we visited the pre-historic caves. We stayed in the cabins. Fab.