Canvas/Keycamp etc - The Definitive Hints & Tips List

[ChippyMinton]

mildmanneredjanitor asked for tips for this type of holiday (she's off to Italy, I'm off to the Vendee) so i thought I'd start a new thread.

Please stick all your best tips here.
I'll start:

Take clothes pegs and a bath mat
Pack lightly as you may spend most of your time in a swimming costume
Other people will let their children stay up late - adjust your bedtime accordingly.

mummyincharge, how was it at La Baume? we go in 2 weeks. any tips for that particular site? do you know if the men have to wear tight shorts in the pool as i have been told this about other sites?

Thanks for trolley link CSWS. I hadn't thought of a hard sided trolley - easy to rinse the sand off.

sunnyshine - don't know that site, but in seven years DH has never had to wear skimpies despite the rules being posted up at the pool entrances. He has a cheapo pair packed just in case though.

thanks for that. will get some cheap ones just in case!

Yes Chippy, and looks like you could plonk a big soft bag on top of it too, for extra space. I've ordered one which was apparently dispatched today, so will let you know if it seems good in the flesh.

Get your insurance to confirm you actually have European Breakdown cover on your policy (hacked off emoticon having just returned from week in France with car being repaired at a garage 300 miles away...)

tips for wee medicine bag here

Finally I have got my wheelie bag for beach trips,from Ikea. Even better, the DC are fighting over who is going to pull it

Have used Eurocamp for the last 10yrs. As the children have got older we have gone from a tent to a mobile home. I have noticed over the last couple of years that Eurocamp have become quite expensive, so this year I have found a company called French Freedom.
The campsites are of the same quality as are the tents and mobile homes.
We are going to St Johns De Monts/Vendee the last week in July/first week in August in a mobile home.
Eurocamp quoted £1800 and French Freedom quoted £1200. Thats a saving of £600!!!!

Resurrecting this for this year...
Very useful tips - any more?

Anyone got any more tips?
Especially for the long drive with 3 children in the car!!
We are off to france in 2 weeks and canny bloody wait :D

In car dvd player. Plus enough earphones and splitter.

Bottled water frozen , acts as ice blocks and usually defrosts enough by the time you want to drink it

Small cushion and blanket each.

Bring a decent knife and a chopping board (the glass one eurocamp provide is painful to listen to!) We find a bagful of plastic bags v useful for a load

(Oops)
For a load of uses. We don't pack suitcases if we drive, just loads of supermarket bags, as they're easier to store. And tea towels!!

Take bottles of squash (if your DC drink it). I remember buying some Robinsons and it was very expensive. But I wanted to make sure the DC would drink fluids - they turn their noses up at just water... sigh.

Keep them coming!! Great so far!!