Do we really have to pay the price of a small car to camp in South of France?

[Linus33]

Really fancied camping in the south of France on the med, close to a beach in a tin tent/lodge but I'm reeling from the price just for accommodation. For the first two weeks in August the cost is £2,872! Is it me or is does anyone else find that a shocking price for camping?

With tolls (or flights), ferry crossing, fuel, food for 2 weeks and time we're probably looking at needing to spend about £4,500!

I think that might be out for us this year! It looks like good old UK camping is back on the agenda for our summer hols. Oh, the 2xDS will be pleased (not!).

I'm sure you could find a gite or villa on the net cheaper than that. Campsites in the South of France do seem really expensive to me, but looking at the fabulous pools, restaurants, free childcare, evening entertainment etc, I suppose that is what you are paying for. Surely you could do an all inclusive package for 4 for £4,500?

Thanks Practicalpam. I thought camping would be a cheaper option! Yes, you can do all inclusive for that price in the Algarve, Greece etc but I really attracted to France but spending that much on a holiday seems v. indulgent (when we've got a tent )!

If you take your own tent and go towards the end of August it would probably be considerably cheaper. Have you tried looking along the West coast?

If you're not desperate to go to the Med, then these are great campsites in south west France - Lot et Garonne & Dordogne respectively.

campinglesormes.com

www.lesvalades.com

Much cheaper than £4500… best thing though is to provide your own tent and then camping in France becomes really reasonable.

we're paying €900 for 4 of us for 2 weeks with our own tent, but with fridge and all furniture provided, so much cheaper than lodges/mobiles

Those sites both look lovely, Nat - have you been to both?

I've been to Les Ormes and friends have highly recommended Les Valades which we are trying this year for the first time.

Les Ormes is lovely, Dutch run and very laid back. We've stayed there twice, once in mid August and once the last week of August. Very busy earlier in August but quieter the second time as the French and Dutch leave earlier than the Brits (school hold slightly different timing).

We're going to Les Valades this year as it looks more peaceful with a lot of open land. Our friends, who went last year, thought it was so good that they're going back again this August for three weeks. I would happily go back to Les Ormes though - loved the laid-back vibe there but feel we ought to try something different. Having said that, might try to persuade DH to go to both this August!

Check out TripAdvisor and there is also a You Tube video of Les Valades made by a previous guest I think.

Are you looking at Eurocamp or similar? You'll pat a lit more fir that then if you take your own tent.

We went to Les Valades last year and had a fantastic time! Our DC were 5, 5 and 3.

We'd love to go back this year but need to do essential repairs on our house so can't afford to.

We've always said we'd never go back to the same place twice but would definitely go back there again - hopefully next year!

Thanks all. Some really good recommendations here and the sensible thing would be to take our own gear but DH dreads the drive with trailer which can only do 55mph! I'm kinda with him on that. Furthest we've done with the trailer is a couple of hours away.

That's why we rent the gear out at the site, we take top box and minimal kit, not trailer required = bargainous holiday!

Ooh mscnile - I'm assuming that you mean you hire the tent as in like a Eurocamp pre-rigged tent? I don't know of any other ways of doing it.

If the quote in your OP was from one of the big companies e.g. Eurocamp, google the site you're interested in and see if you can book direct or through another smaller company. Can be much cheaper.

Check out VacanceSoleil - they do tents and mobile homes in campsites all over Europe and are significantly cheaper than Eurocamp etc..... We've been away with them to different parts of France for the last 6 years and have had brilliant holidays

Les Ormes and Les Valades have tents/mobile homes or chalets on site.

Top box works for us when taking our own though which is a bell tent with all the extras!

Will look into non-Eurocamp tent options but definitely can't manage with just top-box when you have a sofa to pack (and I'm not joking!). Sad campers we are!

Hi Linus, we take our own tent, but rent chairs, table, fridge from the site. Try the camping et castels chain for starters.

Speed limits are different in France so for most un braked camping trailers the speed limit is the same as cars. Worth checking out if you only tow a small camping trailer. The other option is to go last 2 weeks in August and book campsite's own accommodation, as prices in France are lower then.