First time to France with kids

[bigbutsrus1]

Hi, we are getting very excited about our two week trip to France. Just wanted ideas or do's. or don'ts when camping in France. Anyone use the automatic toll card thing that that's fare from your bank! Also what about those bank cards that you put money on before you go & you don't get charged for the exchange? Sorry sounding very basic!

We have the toll thingy and that is great. You just speed through. Don't know about the bank card though.

Many French campsites don't allow you (well, men) to swim with baggy shorts. You need budgie smugglers. You can buy boxer style ones though to avoid the full Speedo horror.

Also if you have EHU, be careful about the voltage. I think you can buy converters from the English ones but am not an expert. Someone more knowledgeable will no dount be along soon. What I can say is, if you don't have a converter don't plug your English kettle in like we did and blow the electrics!

French campsites are largely brilliant though - you will have a ball

Don't go for the toll thing if you have bikes on your roof - think there is a 2 m limit.

Obviously they have supermarkets etc there, but things like cereals tend to be pricey. IF your DCs are fussy, take some provisions.

Check out bison fute map to avoid busy routes.

You could get a credit card that doesn't charge for use abroad - Halifax Clarity, Santander Zero or the Post Office - to use for petrol and supermarket shopping. Don't know about the other cards - try MoneySavingExpert?

Sanef toll widget is useful.

Take double the amount of icepacks for cool box so you can have one lot in the box, the other in the campsite freezer.

Beware the hole in the ground loos, at campsites and on the motorway - the bigger stops with cafes usually best bet for normal toilets. Take loo roll and hand sanitizer.

Campsites can be dry & dusty, so worth taking extra groundsheets for outside under your table etc.

I'd say even more ice packs and a spare cool bag for taking to supermarket. Hire a fridge if you can as it's much less hassle.
Have a look on UK campsite for details abut about EHU. it can be complicated.
Most automatic petrol pumps don't take UK cards.
Also take a tarp if you can so you can get some shade - decathlon sell a good cheap one.