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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Motorhome route through France

7 replies

BoattoBolivia · 10/06/2023 07:38

We have done a lot of traveling around northern Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway in our 7m motor home and would like to spend some time in France this summer. Don't need lots of campsites, although a few would be useful, but need suggestions of places that people have experienced in a motorhome. We were thinking west coast, we do like a beach. We also have a hard to please 13- year old with us.

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Fivemoreminutes1 · 10/06/2023 09:08

Our most northern campsite that we stay at is Le Cormoran. It’s usually the first and/or last site that we stay at on a trip because it’s so close to Caen, Le Havre and St Malo. It’s right on the beach and has luxury pitches with private wash facilities. We also like that it’s got a covered heated pool so we can guarantee a swim even if the weather isn’t great.

From there we normally head to a campsite in the Tours/Angers/Poitiers region and visit Futuroscope, Puy du Fou, Beauval Zoo or Terra Botanica. I would recommend La Roche Posay campsite (again, it’s got private facilities).

One of the prettiest campsites we’ve stayed at is Le Chatelet. You can get pitches with a sea view.

BoattoBolivia · 10/06/2023 23:27

@Fivemoreminutes1 Thank you , I will investigate your tips.

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stringbean · 11/06/2023 00:20

If you have a motorhome, look at France Passion here - we have a caravan which doesn't qualify sadly, but love the idea of touring France this way.

stinkywiskers · 11/06/2023 11:49

Noooo! Seriously. Don't bother with campsites with a Motorhome in France. There's no need. It's all about aires and wild camping in France. France is setup for motorhoming. It's easily as good as Germany.

For context, we've had a Motorhome since 2012 and been at least once, if not three times a year in ours since. Including a 5 month long trip during my mat leave (although we also got Portugal and Spain in too). I reckon we've clocked up at least two years worth of over nights in France. We've stayed on a campsite twice!!!!! Both municipal. It's nice because it was cheaper and more spacious (very spacious) than the aire. The other time. Gorgeous spot, 5€ a night.

I'd suggest downloading Park4Night app. I used to have the Vicarious media aire books - but everything is on the app. Then you get the benefit of reading up to date recent reviews, these always help me decide!

If you don't know what an aire is, don't confuse it with the French motorway aires. Do not overnight in those - unless you fancy risking being robbed.

An aire is a parking lot designated for Motorhomes to stay at overnight. Basically the same as a German stellplatz which I assume you'd be familiar with? They usually have free fresh water, a drain for grey waste and toilet disposal point. Some have electric. But that is irrelevant for us as we have a solar panel. Some aires you pay a small amount to stay over. Many are free. For some you'll need to pay to use the water. Avoid the camping car park ones - expensive! Most towns, villages and cities have them. Some are restricted to 24 hour stays, others 72. Some not restricted.

Park4Night will also show you spots for day time parking suitable for your van. It'll show you tolerated spots for overnighting too. It shows farm stays, some campsites (but why bother) and France passion. Legally you can wolf camp in France, although there are restrictions in some areas. But it'll be quite clear when you are there where these are.

France is a Mecca for Motorhomes. You'll see zillions!

Our van is 7m 30 for context. Never had issues not fitting anywhere.

The west coast is Brittany. It's lovely but maybe not in the school hols. It'd be teeming. We do Brittany over Easter or October when it's quiet! The Normandy coast is spectacular and people tend to make a bee line for Brittany. Further down from Brittany, like La Rochelle, Il de Rey and to coast down to Bordeaux is uninspiring and busy.

There are a wealth of rivers and large lakes which I would pick over the coast to escape the masses during the hols. The Lot and Lac de Vassiviere are two faves.

I would suggest joining some Motorhome full time France groups on Facebook. Then posting your specific requirements - but be very specific! Eg what works for your family won't necessarily work for ours. We pick areas for wild swimming, kayaking, cycling and walking. And. Most importantly to get away from it all. The traffic in those groups on Facebook is high so I'm sure you'd get helpful suggestions as long as you are very specific about what you want.

Enjoy! You won't be disappointed! If it helps - we avoid pèage (unless to skip round a huge city). The D and N roads in France are awesome - not as fast as Germany. But good. We always say it's about the journey not the destination! We also tend not to plan more than a night or so ahead. That way if the weather isn't great, we'll head for where it is. For example we'd wanted to go back to Brittany for a few years, but only recently made it. The weather had always been bad so we went where it was good!

letstryagainnow · 11/06/2023 11:53

This is so helpful. Watching with interest as we're hoping to do the same.
Can you suggest any of the fb group names please?

BoattoBolivia · 11/06/2023 16:24

@stinkywiskers Thank you! Yes, we usually use Stellplätze in Germany and use a combination of park4night and a big Stellplatz book that gives great details. Top tips re staying inland- I love a lake swim. Really helpful, thanks.

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napody · 11/06/2023 19:15

France Passion is a great scheme if still going. Stayed in some beautiful spots: cider orchards etc, with nobody else around.

If your role takes you down near Avignon it's a beautiful city with a campsite and a little water taxi/ferry across the river to the city... wonderful.

Aires are great but campsites with pools etc are a godsend with kids! I'd probably alternate a bit.

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