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

Original poster

Camping abroad

30 replies

Autumnpumpkin · 06/04/2021 07:31

We are a family of 5, kids will be 9, almost 7 and almost 5 at the time. We are hoping to get away to France next year camping. Just wondering if people take their own tent or do you hire a tent/caravan? We are hoping to visit at least 2 different campsite and camp often in the UK but is there anything I really need to consider for camping abroad, I'd hope to rent a fridge. Thanks everyone

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MildredPuppy · 06/04/2021 07:33

Its brilliant! We took our own tent. Yes to hiring a fridge. Some places hire a table and chairs too.
Check if bbqs are allowed as they can get banned in fire risk areas.

Winnithegreat · 06/04/2021 07:38

We’ve always rented a tent when camping in France. Beds, table, chairs, fridge is all included in the tents and through Canvas or Eurocamp it’s easy to book 2 or more different sites.
In the UK we take our own tent, but we tend to only camp for 3/4 days instead of 2 weeks in France.

Original poster
Autumnpumpkin · 06/04/2021 07:58

Did you find the nights too hot in a tent?

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Original poster
Autumnpumpkin · 06/04/2021 07:59

We were hoping to stay in a site near disney land paris as our first stop. When I priced up taking the tent or staying in a disney hotel it was £3,000 cheaper to take the tent!!

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averylongtimeago · 06/04/2021 08:01

Camping sites in France are fantastic- been staying on them for years.
Obviously taking your own equipment is cheaper, we have a caravan.
But the ready erected tents and chalets are very well equipped and comfy- plus you aren't all squashed into the car with all your stuff.
Where are you thinking of going? nosy

MildredPuppy · 06/04/2021 08:10

Im not sure disney would be too hot. In the south we had to go to bed later as it was hot and the whole campsite is up.

Original poster
Autumnpumpkin · 06/04/2021 08:39

This is the site near disney we liked the look of
etangsfleuris.com/
If anyone has any other suggests of lovely sites near disney let us know. This is about 30 mins drive which we are fine with.
I'll get the link for the place we liked and thought would be nice to move on to. We didnt want to go to south with it been our first time with the travelling and the kids....

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Original poster
Autumnpumpkin · 06/04/2021 08:41

www.camping-valdebonnal.com/

This is the second site. My husband is just slightly concerned this might be a bit remote if we dont have nice weather

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fizbosshoes · 06/04/2021 08:47

We camped in France when our DC were similar age, and it was great. We took our own tent. (Its canvas which is cooler than some of the other fabrics but it weighed an absolute ton) We have an electric cool box that we take and use as a fridge.
Teen DD doesnt like camping anymore but we stayed in a mobile home at this campsite a few years ago and it was one of our favourite holidays.
www.camping-bretagne-atlantique.com/en/

fizbosshoes · 06/04/2021 08:48

sorry realise thars not in the least bit helpful for disney!!Blush

Original poster
Autumnpumpkin · 06/04/2021 08:57

Any sites are helpful, we are only going to be Disney area for 4 days. The main part of the holiday will be else where. Thank you!

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TSBelliot · 06/04/2021 09:05

Beware once I started camping in France I somehow never got round to camping in the uk again. It was never the same without the weather, the bread and the pools...

Atalune · 06/04/2021 09:07

We camp on France every summer.

Rent a fridge. That’s the best it of advice. Flip flops for the showers and take extra loo roll as the loos often run out or have none!
A washing line or a socktopus thing is handy to hang your wet swimming things on.
We take our bell tent and the. A tarp to make an awning so we have a shady spot too. And a little floor mat for the area so we don’t drag i. Pine needles/dirt.

GuessWho57 · 06/04/2021 09:10

Go with eurocamp or Alfresco or similar

fizbosshoes · 06/04/2021 09:11

Oh yes def good shout about loo roll, and also when out and about, I took loo roll and a small container of soap as so many toilets in France had neither (some looked like they hadnt run out - but that it had never been available in the first place!Confused)
I can only assume that lots of French women must also be MNers who never go to the toilet outside the confines of their own home!

Original poster
Autumnpumpkin · 06/04/2021 09:28

@TSBelliot I said the same to my husband...this could be a slippery slope!

We have a trip booked to cornwall at the end of Aug, which will be our first big drive with the kids....hoping if this goes well we will bite the bullet!

Thank you for all the tips so far!

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converseandjeans · 06/04/2021 09:30

We've done a mix - few days glamping but taken own tent as well.

Try Huttopia they have really nice sites with a mix of accommodation. The times we have been tents were about 70Euros a night.

europe.huttopia.com/en/

averylongtimeago · 06/04/2021 11:44

If you are after site recommendations have a look at this one:

en.campingdelabaie.com/

Right by beautiful sandy beaches, plus rock pools, boats a pleasant walk along the cast to a pretty harbour town, big pitches, restaurant/bar/take out/ small shop and bakery right outside the gates.

Or this one in Provence. It's been done up since we last went, but is in a perfect position by the river Verdon, but 10 mins stroll into Castellaine. Everything you can think of to do in the area, make sure you book a shady pitch!

www.sandaya.fr/nos-campings/domaine-du-verdon/nos-emplacements#menu

TSBelliot · 06/04/2021 12:03

But even if it is it’s not a bad thing! We tend to go for as long as possible and sometimes plan a drive that involves stop offs else where. Taking your own tent makes it pretty cheap for a holiday

Original poster
Autumnpumpkin · 06/04/2021 15:35

Thank you for all the recommendations! I will sit and have a look at the all. I so hope we get to go next year!

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Original poster
Autumnpumpkin · 06/04/2021 15:47

Out of interest anyone stayed in any amazing campsites around La Rochelle?

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converseandjeans · 06/04/2021 16:33

autumnpumpkin

No but this one looks nice

europe.huttopia.com/en/site/camping-chardons-bleus-ile-de-re/

HelplessProcrastinator · 12/04/2021 10:02

We stayed at Etangs Fleuris for 4 nights in late August one year. We had a week elsewhere in our tent but rented a caravan from Canvas for the 4 nights. We got a great deal with the ferry doing it that way. It was 35 degrees when we went so glad we were in the caravan which was bad enough. We are from Devon and had only done Brittany before so the kids were in shock from the heat. Had a brilliant time though. We got annual passes which included DLP parking. We did a day in Paris parking at the Val d’Europe shopping centre for free and got the RER to the centre of Paris. We love taking our own tent usually but DLP/Paris is exhausting so would get a caravan or euro tent for this part of the trip if it was me.

lazylinguist · 12/04/2021 10:40

We took our own tent. My favourite camping holiday we did in France was on the Île de Ré- absolutely idyllic, and not far from La Rochelle if you want a bit of city.

Original poster
Autumnpumpkin · 12/04/2021 11:50

Thank you everyone! We are still looking but getting quite excited.

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