Right folks I'm tearing my hair out trying to get my head around our first trip to France. We are a family of 4 with 2 kids aged 3 & 6, although we are not big on family holiday park style places. Want to go school holidays. Can anyone recommend a nice coastal site for us and advise which ferry crossing we should take, they seem to vary wildy in cost so wondering if we should take to Dover-Calais crossing and motor West to save a few pennies. Really need to know where we are heading, one or two people have recommend I head to La Rochelle but seems a fair way south for our 1st visit. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
Probably have more luck posting this in the Caravanning & Camping Abroad section but I'm sure you'll get lots of well informed advice.
Personally I would say that the importance of the "good weather feeling" is the major factor in deciding where to go. Normandy and Brittany can be super if the weather is fine but can be like a wet week in Cornwall if it's not.If it's nice weather the Carnac area takes some beating. Generally speaking though the weather improves once you get below the Loire River. You don't need to got to the Med' the West Coast around the Vendee and La Rochelle down to Royan is super.
Post last edited on 08/12/2011 23:32:45
------------- Mother Nature always wins in the end.
My wife and I went down to Royan this year for our 1st time abroard we finished up at st Augustin sur mer on the le logis de bruill site we stayed 5 weeks we think that it is a brillant site for adults and kids as our family decended upon us over the last two weeks
I would recomend that you go via Dover on the DFD seaways its cheap and the motorways are very good with plenty of stop off sites
make sur that you stop off about 50 miles after getting off the ferry so that the kids can burn off energy then travel on down the next day
you might get more information via the 'caravanning abroad' section of the forum pages if you repost this there.
IOf you don't want to go too far, stay on the coastal area of Picardy around St valery. Lots of people try to advise new starters to go to the atlantic coast. That's fine if you want to drive that far. but if you stay close and enjoy your first trip, then you can expand your horizons the following year. Our daughter has 4 kids (8-3)and the last 4 trips have been to paris then to the northern coast. They are experienced vanners and are happy doing that. Long haul is for people with time on their hands like good old grandad. Val ' d'authie - ferm des aulnes chateau de drancourt are 3 i can think of in the area. Plent otherws to choose from, If you want to travel on, then west of rouen to the normandy beaches is another good area. colder than the south of france, but still good in a normal summer.
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
Thanks folks I'd completely overlooked he abroad section but some sound advice, spinneyclose3 I really like the sound of your suggestion so off to research now, thanks.
Check out Normandy Ferries for prices. I went Dover to Dunkirk 3 years ago and paid approx £90 return for car, van + 2. The previous year I paid £69, yes that's right £69 - too good to turn down and had a lovely holiday in the Normandy area.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: France 1st timers - Help!
