Les Valades and new tent <excited>

[thekitchenfairy]

So I finally persuaded DH that own tent camping in France is for us -- he hated idea of water park Eurocamp option. All good and the pitch is booked... But we need a new tent as Khyam finally bit the dust and tbh it didn't really work for us. Too fiddly and missed sewn in groundsheet more than we expected, it deterred us from short weekend trips and we have not camped for 2 years.

No tent superstores for us to browse and I am overwhelmed by online choice. And have a serious love of the £600-£800 tents that are just out of our budget .

I think a tunnel option will give us good living space but are these easy/quick to pitch? Is it better to have central living space or this at front with sleeping space behind? DS are 11 and 8 and not fussed if we sleep in one room or separately

Also DH thinks we should be able to pick one up for change out of £200 ... I think not bloody likely and maybe c£300 is more reasonable.

Wish list
Sewn in groundsheet
Packs down small
Living space to cope with rainy day card games/cooking
Really does take 20 mins to put up not 2 hours
?awning how much do we need this?

So am i looking for the holy grail of tent?

First thing...think you'll need living space, if only to let air circulate if you get good weather! I'd go for a tarp to cook under rather than look for an extension. Check out Dutch site www.vjibuiter.nl ...they have great tarp selection. We've camped our way through France for last umpteen years but afraid we do it in large tent comfort that now takes about 30 mins to put up so best recommendation would be an Outwell Nevada. We have the two room option for our one night stays and every time we put it up we're impressed by how roomy it is! It's still quite a big bag though!
Good luck!

Wrong address... www.vrijbuiter.nl Sorry!! Also..check out YouTube for pitching videos...it's a great way of 'seeing' the tent!

I love the idea of les Valades - how long is the drive?

Blu it's 9 hrs from Calais. We are going again this summer and have a stopover near Sancerre.

Hmm, not as bad as I thought.

Wow thanks for all the replies

claire I spent our last holiday lusting after those sale awnings. They are amazing and such a good price. DH also noted the tunnel tents for way less than £200 but I can't find reviews online so think it is best not to experiment!

We borrowed a friend's Outwell yesterday to see size etc and it takes up a huge amount of boot space. Looks like a great deal but I think I need to find something that packs down a little smaller.

What about this one? www.somersetcamping.co.uk/detail.asp?p=1182&product=Marano%20600%20Moss%20Green

Really looking forward to Les Valades, I think we will stop in Nantes on the way down. We arrive Roscoff at 3pm so don't want to drive too far. Slightly worried we arrive on Feast of the Assumption day and nothing will be open....bad planning!!

Hillbilly I like the idea of stopping at Sancerre or Saumur on the way back. Not that the decision is anything to do with wine