Bien Assisse is the only site we book as it's so busy. Last time I looked at their website they were charging a €10 booking fee. But I e-mail them and don't think they levy the charge for booking this way.
We have stayed at Bien Assisse many times. Each time the cost has increased, and a deposit and a booking fee has been required. We have continued to stay there on our first or last night in France partly out of habit and partly because of a lack of knowledge of other acceptable night-halt sites but we will not be staying there again - thanks to all those who have made alternative suggestions.
We once arrived there sometime late in the season only to find the place closed although we were allowed in for the one night and were instructed to park on one of the roads (not a pitch) without electricity and with toilet blocks locked. but still were obliged to pay the full normal charge. On all other stays there for one night we have always been directed to pitches near the busy (and sometimes noisy) road which are on sloping ground and not worth the exorbitant charges. There are, of course, some good facilities there including a pool, a snack-bar and a restaurant popular it seems with the local population.
Anyway, a change is as good as a rest and if the place we are now planning to stay at is as good as Swansea Jack and others say it is (and I'm sure it will be) we will be delighted so thank you UKCampsite.co.uk.
expensive and a poor site for the castels group. caters for passing trade and the ports really. this was my first site a million years ago when we first visited France. I was ripped off and given Italian money as change. Being overwhelmed by the whole experience I took my bullying. However, we have been back but have never been impressed with the place. Anonymous place overall - a mon avis!
There are plenty of sites a bit further afield which offer more at less cost. Beware Chateau de Gandspette north of St Omer. A similar expensive site catering for passing trade albeit there are many Briots who make a longer sojourn there.
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Some further information regarding the site Swansea Jack recommened.
We was advised from some previous reviews that the office is open at set times through the day - morning from 8.15, then 1.30pm to 2.15pm and for an hour or so in the evening, but when we was there in September it was only 9am-9.15am and 7.30pm-7.50pm. We arrived about 4.30pm in the afternoon and the reception was closed but was advised by a helpful dutchman that if we had prebooked to take a reserved pitch otherwise just find a pitch and setup, we missed the reception in the evening so just paid the next morning had we missed the office opening then there is a letterbox to drop payment into.
Quote: Originally posted by azusuk1 on 22/5/2011
We have stayed at Bien Assisse many times. Each time the cost has increased, and a deposit and a booking fee has been required. We have continued to stay there on our first or last night in France partly out of habit and partly because of a lack of knowledge of other acceptable night-halt sites but we will not be staying there again - thanks to all those who have made alternative suggestions.
We once arrived there sometime late in the season only to find the place closed although we were allowed in for the one night and were instructed to park on one of the roads (not a pitch) without electricity and with toilet blocks locked. but still were obliged to pay the full normal charge. On all other stays there for one night we have always been directed to pitches near the busy (and sometimes noisy) road which are on sloping ground and not worth the exorbitant charges. There are, of course, some good facilities there including a pool, a snack-bar and a restaurant popular it seems with the local population.
Anyway, a change is as good as a rest and if the place we are now planning to stay at is as good as Swansea Jack and others say it is (and I'm sure it will be) we will be delighted so thank you UKCampsite.co.uk.
its an area that merits more than just a stopover for the ferry / tunnel .. the view from the nearby clifftop is spectacular over to the white cliffs and there are some lovely villages & beaches on that stretch of coast as well.
we`ve done 10 days here in the past and never got bored , only an hours drive to le Touquet and about the same to get to Bruges / Ypres etc . If the weathers naff theres cite europe and the hypermarkets of calais / boulogne.
we love it
We booked at Bien Assise a couple of years ago for 3 nights in August - booked it in January - so was very surprised and disappointed to arrive and be given a pitch right at the back of the site away from the nearest toilet block and obviously further from the swimming pool.
So when you reserve and pay a reservation fee - they don't actually reserve you a pitch, you get whatever is free at the time - I paid the booking fee - and got a poor pitch - if I had just turned up at a different time of day, and there happened to have a space free, chances are I may have got a better pitch.
------------- Julie
Summer 2016 Camping las Dunas, Spain
Woop Woop I won £50 of Halfords vouchers for one of my camp site reviews - make sure you do yours!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Cost of staying at la Bien Assise, Calais
