France Camping Advice Please

carmel11

Some vineyards offer free camping for campervans

knightstyle

Most towns have free stopovers with facilities for campervans but you can only stay one night.

Bigmoney2

scaredofdebt wrote: »

We tend to go camping in the Summer Holidays as we've got 5 kids and so the cost of a package style holiday is usually too much for us.

However, the last two summers have been a washout and we've ended up spending around a thousand pounds for a week's camping in Wales (last year) and Norfolk (2011). The weather has been so bad that we've ended up paying for meals out and keeping the kids entertained and even came home a day early last time!

So, we were considering a camping trip to France, or possibly staying in a static caravan. I know the weather isn't guaranteed anywhere but at least it should be warmer.

Things I'd appreciate advice on:

1. Getting there - Ferry or tunnel, or possibly even flying.
Ferry will probably be cheaper, but if you have tesco vouchers you can use them for the tunnel (at 3x their value) so making it cheaper than using 'cash' , it is also a quicker crossing.

2. Which part of France?

3. Anyone know of any well priced places that offer tents that are already erected or somewhere that has static caravans etc.

Any other advice would be appreciated too.

We don't really have a budget in mind but anything that's going to save some money would be attractive, we would be able to spend around £1-£2k but lower is better! The 5 kids are aged 8-12.

Thanks for any advice.

http://www.tesco.com/clubcard/deals/product.aspx?R=3223& bci=4294967191|Travel*4294966445|Trains %26 Buses


http://www.aferry.co.uk/

Ruby_Roo

My other half and I are doing this for our holiday this year - cashflow isn't what it could be but we can't face another summer at home, wasting our precious annual leave with weeks of rain! We think we're going to head to Biarritz, we did think about Brittany but its too far north for my liking considering we're going looking for the sun (I know going south gives no guarantees, but it improves the odds).

We're planning on sailing Portsmouth-Caen, doing 9 nights at Le Ruisseau campsite, 1 night in the Loire Valley (its en route back to Caen) and then sailing back to the UK. All in all its coming in at £680 including ferry (in late June) - bargain

stressed_mummy

I went to a travel & tourism exhibition a couple of weeks ago and discovered www.justcampingfrance.co.uk
i haven't used them but had a quick look on their website & looked pretty good

SUESMITH_2

i know you said camping, but we have used owners direct - its peole who own their own holiday homes that advertise and you can get some amazing prices on there, cheaper than camping http://www.ownersdirect.co.uk/?cid=P_Brand_T_G_Brand%20-%20Exact_owners%20direct_E&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=owners%20direct&utm_campaign=Brand&k_clickid=01b09587-089b-7ce8-d2a6-00000d59918e&gclid=CN6x-cufjLYCFeXKtAodgFYAsQ

mustmakealist

I did this when the kids were little and they all had a fantastic time. If you go with one of the companies suggested above they often have kids club activities which will give you a little bit of peace and quiet during the day. The advantage of the pre-erected tents is not having to put it up when you get there and pack it away at the end. They usually have beds which I prefer to blow up mattresses, but the biggest advantage I can thinbk of is that they have a fridge!

If you've not done a long journey with all the kids in the car perhaps choose somewhere that is not to long a drive. I'm sure you'll have a fantastic time