Planning On Camping In France - Help!

[Mojo80]

Hi all. Planning to take our campervan (and kids aged 1 and 4) camping in France this July, but it'll be the first time we've done anything like this and currently we're slightly overwhelmed by all of the possible permutations of crossings, regions and sites etc, so hoping for some top tips please!

We live near Portsmouth, so it'll be easiest to go from there, and my wife's stipulations are "Hot. Warm pool. Near a beach. Not too much driving". Easy then! Will probably look at going to one site for 10-14 days. We've been a bit put off Brittany by (probably unfounded) worries about the weather, so any reassurances about there would be gratefully received. Thanks in advance.

 

[Thogg]

Hi all. Planning to take our campervan (and kids aged 1 and 4) camping in France this July, but it'll be the first time we've done anything like this and currently we're slightly overwhelmed by all of the possible permutations of crossings, regions and sites etc, so hoping for some top tips please!

We live near Portsmouth, so it'll be easiest to go from there, and my wife's stipulations are "Hot. Warm pool. Near a beach. Not too much driving". Easy then! Will probably look at going to one site for 10-14 days. We've been a bit put off Brittany by (probably unfounded) worries about the weather, so any reassurances about there would be gratefully received. Thanks in advance.

Depends what you are after but check out Camping les vieux port near Hossegor. Ferry to Santander or Bilbao from Portsmouth will leave you about 3 and a bit hours driving.

 

[Thogg]

Campsite France Landes - Nouvelle Aquitaine

 

[DavRob]

Weve been campingvanning and caravanning in France since before the kids where born, They will be 5 and 8 when we go again in July. We are doing Lancashire to Calais the down to French Alps this year. Last year is was Charente Dordogne. We did 3 hours drive in a morning and aim for a campsite which we find on the internet. We then stop a week at our final destination and then work our way back up. Should be away for about 16-18 days. We love this way of holidaying gives the kids and us!! a real adventure.
D

 

[Loz]

If you want warmth you need to go south... my 2 cents worth;

1. Overnight ferry Portsmouth> Caen, lands at 7am you have a full day to get south, you could head for the Ile de Ré near La Rochele for a beach coast holiday.

2. my favorite, would be Portsmouth> Caen then drive south central and camp overnight in the Massive Central near Clermont-Ferrand then next day drive on to St Remy du Provence. There is a nice campsite in St Remy.
From there you have loads or options to visit like Pont Du Gard, Arles, Avignon, Carcassonne, Site Archéologique de Glanum, Les Baux-de-Provence. All of which are great for the kids. and the south coast.

 

[Nigel W]

I can understand your trepidation especially with two very small children.
My suggestion would be to download the ACSI camping app, (not the camping card version but the campsites Europe) this lists, with an interactive map, almost all the campsites together with descriptions and genuine reviews.
You can purchase just the French section so it doesn’t cost much and a few hours looking at different areas/sites will give you some ideas.

 

[Dogs Dung]

agree with Loz , if you want guaranteed heat, you need to head south, as a marker, we used La Rochelle as a cut off point.

going in July, you will need to book in advance.

West Coast has some lovely campsites within walking distance to Beaches.

check out Alan Rogers Guide or Castel Camping which are campsites based on Chateau Grounds.

one site for the 14 days would be a long pull, I would be looking for somewhere after 3/4 days, move on and see a bit more.

all the aires France guide if you fancy a safe overnight stop just to get to a destination.

don't stress over it, you will have a ball.

we always went via Channel Tunnel, as its just so handy, but as you are in Portsmouth I can understand you crossing from there.

you could stop at Disney for a night , 3 hrs from Calais, you can overnight in the motorhome carpark, or stay at Bernie Riviere Campsite for couple nights, which has bus to Paris & Disney

 

[Mojo80]

Thanks all, this is really helpful. Perhaps Provence or the Dordogne then, maybe with a stop at Disney if I can hack it

I definitely want to stay at multiple locations, just need to convince the wife that uprooting the kids and redoing the awning etc is a good idea!

 

[Phil_G]

Its been a while but when we went the AA did a package for an unturndownable price, tunnel, one night in a Lille hotel, continental motoring kit (RHD lamp lenses, bulb kit, triangles, first-aid etc) plus lots of touristy reading matter. The hotel meant we arrived at our destination well fed with dry gear. No idea if they still do it but might be worth trying.

 

[J8usx]

Do your preparation, get stuck in & enjoy it.

 

[Caulkhead]

Depends what you are after but check out Camping les vieux port near Hossegor. Ferry to Santander or Bilbao from Portsmouth will leave you about 3 and a bit hours driving.

If the ferry docks later in a day go to Zarautz between Bilbao and San Sebastian lovely little town with a very nice campsite high up on the cliffs overlooking a stunning beach and you can walk into town, the campsite has good servics,nice pitches and a cheap restaurant/Bar.
Nice people who run it as well.
Handy to use either way if you’re getting off a ferry or maybe catching one the next few days.

Also Brittany Ferries do arrange motorhoming trips, pop into the port office and get one of their magazines, whatever you do enjoy it, incidentally we have been camping/ motorhoming and have never booked ahead in over 25 years and still dont today but always find somewhere.

 

[keith baker]

If you're booking with Brittany ferries you can use my discount code to get 10% off the fare. Send me a pm and I'll send the details. Or join their club voyage for £75 a year plus £75 ish joining fee and get 30% off the fares.

 

[Mojo80]

Thanks everyone, really useful advice.

@keith baker - we have a code, but really appreciate the kind offer