Recommendations for campsite in the South of France
- Thread starter NicolasH
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Do you have to go in July? I'm asking as it will probably be seriously hot then - we were at the other end of french bit of the coast (Argeles) in mid-June last year and had planned to stay for a coup[le of weeks but bailed after a few days as it was just too hot to do anything - mid 40s during the day and not much less at night isn't really conducive to a decent night's kip in the van.
Sorry, can't help much with the campsites as we tend to stay away from that part of France because we find it a bit busy for our taste.
Sorry, can't help much with the campsites as we tend to stay away from that part of France because we find it a bit busy for our taste.
Very busy, even in the Autumn we wanted to visit Monaco, tried parking in Menton but ended up driving back over the border to Ventimiglia which is rough as rats, stayed in a small secure compound on the beach. Got the train to Monaco.
That said there is probably a greater density of criminals in Monaco than anywhere else along the coast including Ventimiglia which is rock bottom poor but we never got any hassle.
That said there is probably a greater density of criminals in Monaco than anywhere else along the coast including Ventimiglia which is rock bottom poor but we never got any hassle.
@DXX reminds me that I did stay at the municipal campsite in Menton about 10 years ago (in a tent rather than a camper). At the time it was very good and the restaurant did great pizza - it was also in a very good position at the top of the hill overlooking the town but I've no idea why it's like nowadays. Menton is a nice town and only about 10 Km from Monaco.
That’s really useful and something I hadn’t considered about the heat. It might be better to rethink our destination. Thanks.
Unless you have a specific reason, e.g. fixed holidays, avoid France in July and August like the plague. May /June/September are the best times.
The way the weather is nowadays, it seems that most of southern europe is like a furnace over June/July/August. We've been going every June for a long time but over the last 5 or 6 years, it just seems to get a bit hotter every trip. We will be going in early May this year and hope it's a bit more tolerable.
If you do get a train get one a couple of hours earlier than you need to be there, big delays while Police check for illegal immigrants stowed away.
School holidays for us.
That’s a bugger! We had 30 odd years of that until Mrs Spuds retired. France is painful from the 2nd week in July to the end of August. France basically shuts down and decamps to the coast. Prices literally double for those 7 weeks. Indeed, many campsites only open for 2-3 months a year, cash in and close down for the rest. I can’t offer you any meaningful advice apart from decide where you want to go and book. Your chances of rocking up and getting a pitch are slim.
Plenty of free or near free aires in France but not so many in the South of France.
The Mediterranean coast is pretty filthy, you certainly wouldn’t want your kids swimming in it.
I’ve had plenty of good family camping holidays on the French Atlantic coast, clean sea and huge beaches. Have a look at the Vendee region.
The Mediterranean coast is pretty filthy, you certainly wouldn’t want your kids swimming in it.
I’ve had plenty of good family camping holidays on the French Atlantic coast, clean sea and huge beaches. Have a look at the Vendee region.
Have you decided what sort of holiday you're looking at yet? Do that and post again - there's a lot off knowledge on here but be prepared to maybe get some contradictory recommendations as personal preference also comes into it (ie. in the La Rochelle area, we love Ile d'Oleron but are not so keen on Ile de Re whereas others are the reverse. Also some (like @DXX) prefer staying in aires whereas we like 'proper' campsites - nothing wrong with any choice they're just individuals opinions.
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Oleron for us too
Isle de Noirmoutier here especially with kids as they've got Oceanile water park at l'Epine.
Similarly St Jean de Monts and Les Sable D'Olonne are decent seaside destinations.
Sticking with St Jean de Monts and again with kids you can drive into Nantes and visit Les Machines de L'Ille...
Slightly further down the west coast you've got Arcachon with Cap Ferret opposite and Dune du Pilat just outside town to the South, we visited there on the local town bus...
Arcachon and Dune du Pilat...
I do like France but as said earlier the South is heavily over subscribed during July/August and promptly dies on it's backside third week in August however go up into the Alpes Maritime above Cannes and there's epic mini mountain ranges with the Gorge de Verdon, Gorge de Loupe and pretty tourist towns like Grasse as destinations rather than the thrashed seaside towns like Frejus, Antibes etc.
Personal favourite days wander about this year was Forteresse de Chinon which wasn't a million miles from the West coast again...
Similarly St Jean de Monts and Les Sable D'Olonne are decent seaside destinations.
Sticking with St Jean de Monts and again with kids you can drive into Nantes and visit Les Machines de L'Ille...
Slightly further down the west coast you've got Arcachon with Cap Ferret opposite and Dune du Pilat just outside town to the South, we visited there on the local town bus...
Arcachon and Dune du Pilat...
I do like France but as said earlier the South is heavily over subscribed during July/August and promptly dies on it's backside third week in August however go up into the Alpes Maritime above Cannes and there's epic mini mountain ranges with the Gorge de Verdon, Gorge de Loupe and pretty tourist towns like Grasse as destinations rather than the thrashed seaside towns like Frejus, Antibes etc.
Personal favourite days wander about this year was Forteresse de Chinon which wasn't a million miles from the West coast again...
This is brilliant @Stay Frosty, thanks for sharing.
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