Thinking of getting ferry from Dover to Calais- where should I camp?

[poppyboo]

Thinking of booking a ferry, we've never camped in France before so it will be a bit last minute. Anywhere nice to camp not too far from Calais? We have a 4 and a 7 year old that don't like to be trapped in the car for too long. We need the campsite to be affordable too so between ?20 and ?30. We don't mind 'basic' campsites! Any suggestions?

Look for a municipal campsite as they are always cheaper and usually next door to a municipal swimming pool.

here is about municipal campsites

this site is 150m from beach and very close to ports and not going to be much over 20 euro

We stayed here over the Jubilee weekend: www.chateau-drancourt.fr/en and liked it. IT is an hour/hour and a half from Calais and quite near Le Touquet which is a town we really like.

The site has mixed reviews but we enjoyed it. There is a covered heated pool as well as outdoor cold ones (including a paddling pool - too cold for me though - we stayed in the covered one). There is also a small playground - not brilliant but our DD enjoyed it and other children seemed to too. In the summer there are children's activities, although I am not sure to what extent you can get involved if you are not with Eurocamp or one of the other companies. I would not recommend their pizza at all but I gather the restaurant is nice but expensive - we didn't try it but ate out for lunch in local towns. THere are also tennis courts and a couple of table tennis tables - not sure what else as, at 2.5 DD wasn't gtting involved with too much else.

I think the price is within your range.

THis link seems to be more useful: www.camping-castels.co.uk/camping-domaine-de-drancourt-id253-id_camping22.html#tarifs1

This is closer to Calais but the rates are possibly a bit high - same company: www.camping-castels.co.uk/camping-la-bien-assise-id253-id_camping21.html#accueil1

Thank you! I will check out these links!

Le Clos Cacheleux is about an hour from Calais. Really nice site, low key with big pitches and quiet but with all the amenities (pool, bar etc) at its sister site Le Val de Trie, 5 mins walk down the drive. Great location in rural Picardie. We only stayed there two nights but it would have been very relaxing for a week with plenty to see and do if you wanted.

If you can get an ACSI camping card before you go and you go after 1 September, it's 16 euros a night for two people including electricity and two children up to the age of 5 or without the card 21.10 for two people inc electric (17.80 without). Children under 7 are 2.90 a night or 4.40 if counted as an extra person. On their website at the moment, it looks as though you could book a week from 18/8 for 181 euros including reservation feels (althouth I think you can book without paying these if you do it online via the Sites & Paysages website).

If the weather's good, we'll be going back on our way from the Drome at the beginning of September. It's a lovely site, stones throw from Calais but feels a world away.

We stayed at the Castel site La Bien Assise in Guines this summer for a week and it was a beautiful site. Only twenty minutes from Calais, easy to find, quiet area, supermarkets for shopping nearby, lovely bar on site and nice clean swimming pool. We loved it so much we are going back next year en route to Paris.

We're staying at La Bien Assise this Friday night. I think it's going to cost about 35 euros for the night. I think this is quite pricey but we're getting a late afternoon Eurotunnel and it's cheaper than a budget hotel. We won't get to use the amenities (except the bar for that celebratory, we're in France!, drink) but it looks like a great location and there's not much competition in the immediate Calais area.

Sorry, me again. Flipped to my email and wanted to let anyone thinking of a last minute European trip know that you can get 3 camping cheques plus a DFDS Calais/Dunkirk channel crossing for £99 (outwards Sun, inwards Fri - supplements for other times). Extra camping cheques £13.95 each. Need to book by 31 August and travel before end October. Camping cheques are for a pitch, two adults and electricity. You pay for children at the campsite's rate.

OP - you can use camping cheques at the Val de Trie, the sister site of Le Clos Cacheleux, from 18/8.

La Bien Assise is a lovely site - but it isn't as cheap as the op wanted. My dd2 stayed there for two weeks and lved the place thought the entertainment was great and I have stayed a couple of times on route else where