Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Camping

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Original poster

camping in france

44 replies

hercules · 22/02/2004 20:15

Dh, me, ds (8) and dd(willbe 10months) want to go camping in france but can only go in August.
For some reason we've never been there so want basic advice please.
We would like to take our car and quite a cheap holiday as i'm only just going back to work then.

Which is the best way to get over there? (we live in se, near london)
Dont want to go too far once we're there cos of dd and driving.
We'd like somewhere not too touristy, fairly cheap, places to visit, nice walks etc.

Also is camping in a tent a good idea or should we pay extra for a caravan or cottage?

Thanks in advance

OP posts:
hmb · 23/02/2004 16:18

Crunchie, do you know if there is a twin site at St Juilen des Landes, because we are going there, but to a campsite withe a different name?

Twink · 23/02/2004 16:48

There are 2 (at least) hmb because I looked at them. Couldn't get into La Garangeoire and the other one wasn't suitable for us, I think it was called La Foret.

Crunchie · 23/02/2004 16:55

There are other site one called Domaine La Forect and the other La Guyonnaire. I don't know these two, I just remember La Garangoire

Crunchie · 23/02/2004 16:57

Twink, what did you think of La Garangoire?? How come you couldn't get in? Is it full in peak season? All the main companies go there, but as we have our own tent it is usually easier.

hmb · 23/02/2004 17:06

We ar going to La foret.....do you know anything about it? It looks smaller, with less going on than the others, is that right, or have I messed up and is it c**P????

Twink · 23/02/2004 17:34

Don't panic hmb, I thought it looked great, it certainly met all but 1 of my critieria BUT the idea of explaining to my daredevil 4 year old that the campsite rules say she is too young for the waterslides didn't appeal at all.

We'd have had 2 weeks of 'but I REALLY want to go on them, really, I am big enough mummy' etc which would have driven us nuts !

Crunchie, like you I went to La Garangeoire as a child and really fancied going back but we're doing a 'company' holiday this year and it was full for our peak season dates.
This is our first 'camping' holiday en famille so I'm hoping that it goes well and we can go back to being independent with our own tent.

Although, I must admit that we're doing the mobile home thing this year to get past dh's worry that dd is too young (cobblers !! We went from my little bro being 14 months and it never did us any harm ! )

hmb · 23/02/2004 17:39

I'm going to have the same problem Twink!

We wanted something fairly quiet, but with a kids club so the kids can go if they want to. I was taken by the free bike/boats thing. Are they all on the same Chateaux site??

Crunchie · 23/02/2004 22:56

Twink it certainly didn't have the swimming pool like it has now when I was a kid. I hardly remeber it, except fo rthe horse riding I must ahve been either 5 or 7, so 28 yrs ago!!

JanH · 23/02/2004 22:59

crunchie! Have a look at the noticeboard!(new link at top of page) - someone wants to hear about people taking their kids to a place they went to themselves as children!!! (There is money in it )

JanH · 23/02/2004 23:00

Hm - he should have paid his fee to go on the media topic here though, shouldn't he?

Cha · 25/02/2004 16:38

Have you tried \link{http://www.ferrybooker.com\ferrybooker for fares? have used them in the past to book crossings and they were very reasonable. You can do it all on line (very long and tedious, but you get an idea of the prices) or you can phone and talk to a human being and let them do the research for you!
Whenever we have gone camping in France / Spain, we just go there, pick a destination that we like the sound of and then drive. There are literally hundreds of campsites and you can come across some really lovely (and not too crowded) ones just by luck. We use Michellin (sp?) maps which have a green line besides roads that are going through beautiful countryside - we pick a destination and then use the 'green' routes to get there, stopping along the way and camping when we see a place we like. I use a Rough Guide or Lonely Planet type book for general info on the area / towns / places to see so that you can pick where you think would be fun to go to. Or take recommedations from Mumsnetters who have been somewhere that they know is good! This kind of holiday is better if you have more than a couple of weeks and you aren't that fussed about where you end up. IMO, it is the cheapest and best way to holiday ever!

Cha · 25/02/2004 16:40

oops - link didn't work. Copied what they say to do but obviously not well enough. Let's try again.

ferrybooker

Cha · 25/02/2004 16:43

Nope - not allowed to go in that way. Look, this is the website address, just copy and paste!
www.ferrybooker.com

Janh · 25/02/2004 16:46

ferrybooker!!!

Thomcat · 25/02/2004 17:20

Hiya - just seen this - have you booked it?
I went to SW France, camping, when i was pregnant. Found an amazing campsite in Archachon om the dune, Europes largest sand dune. Camp site 5*, on the beach under pine trees, restaurant, pool, camp shop etc - amazing. Shall I look up the name of it etc for you??

Crunchie · 19/04/2004 09:59

Jut an update here!! Because I left it for a while and didn't get round to booking anything, ferry prices are now more So we have decided to go with Eurocamp as they are doing a great deal 50% off, to name the region, but not the site. I have managed to talk my way into knowing the site as well and am hoping to book Southern Brittany tomorrow. It will be £237.50 for 7 nights over Whitsun, I am so pleased. There is a Vendee site too, but the waterslides are only for 7yrs (my kids will not have that!) Fingers crossed Dh's work won't screw things up, as it is he will be working until the Saturday night and we will only be able to go on the Sunday 1st thing. It is a heck of a drive, we are hoping to do it in a day, but I can't wait, at least teh tent will be there on arrival

Tortington · 19/04/2004 18:15

ohhhh well done - good price - you will have to tell us which site you went to and what facilities it has - as we do this holiday every year

hedghog · 23/04/2004 19:32

sorry to revive this thread but on the subject of waterslides has anyone any experience of how strictly the age restrictions are imposed if at all, and how? My 6 year old can swim and will be nearly 7 when we travel. Will he have to show his birth certificate at the top of the slide and be turned away LOL

Tortington · 24/04/2004 19:27

it is usually 7 but they don't ask for i.d or anything. my son is a little pipsqueek and only looks about 8 and he is 11! so when he was actually 7 i never had any problems. but then i always go on the slides with them. i dont know what i will do when they grow up cos i love the slides

New posts on this thread. Refresh page