Having taken our tent to the Loire and French Alps in the past two years we are thinking about heading further south next year since the only downside to our first two ventures has been slightly dodgy weather. We would like to try either the Cote D'Azur or even somewhere around Lake Garda in Italy.
Our worry is whether it will just be too hot in a tent both during the day and at night. How have people with tents found either Italy or the south of France in these conditions in July/August and what ways have they found of dealing with it?
Thanks!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
We were at Cote D'Azur this year and it was as hot as 45 (according to the car). Was very hot during the day but we were hardly ever in the tent during the day and it wasn't a problem. In the evening the tent cooled down considerably and though I fell asleep with no covers on they were always on in the morning so it must have got cooler!! Just stay at the pool/beach and you'll be fine. Really the only thing that we had to consider was where to put the fridge in relation to the sun to try to keep it as cold as possible.
Shade is everything when you get down to southern Europe--check the campsite website pictures to see if there are plenty of trees around the pitches--take a compass with you so you can work out sun direction-when choosing a pitch you probably wont get shade all day--sun in the morning when its cooler is better than hot evening sun--if you can get a pitch that goes into shade about 11am & stays shady for the rest of the day yoove cracked it!--
Consider taking a canvas tent, it will still get hot but will breath much more effectively than plastic and will give you a more pleasant trip. Also look for something without a SIG, a plastic bag on a pitch in the sun is going to get very hot!
------------- Piglet
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
I don't think you need to worry being in a tent particularly, as caravans and motorhomes will also heat up when baked in the sun. Just make sure you have a tent with lots of vents, and mosquito protection on openings. As said before, site yourself in the shade as much as possible. Enjoy!
We used a gazebo to sit under and played games with the children. Then about 3pm we would wonder down to the camp site's pool and spend a couple of hours there, stop at the bar on the way back and have a beer and icecream and then back to the tent where by then it was lovely to sit out in.This was in the Ardeche this August where the temp reached 35 (again according to the car).
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
We were in the South of France this summer. We were only in the tent at night and kept it opnened up during the day. There was a cool wind every evening to keep things comfy. Some days the Mistral really blew and had everyone checking their pegs and guys etc.
For the day we rigged up a tarp with an old sheet etc - looked like Carry on up the Jungle, but it worked very well.
Slept on the bedding on the couple of nights it got too hot, but it gets surprisingly cool at night.
Alan
It's essential to get a shady pitch, and sun in the morning is always good (for drying your tent in colder climes!). We have sun umbrellas and a door that serves as an awning, we've always had enough shade. You're likely to sleep on top of your sleeping bag, so a little sheet might be a nice thing to take.
We find we don't stay in the tent much during the day, we always have plenty to do. If we are at the tent we're outside in the shade. The sleeping compartments *are* hot during the day.
Spent part of our break in the ardeche, 32 degrees but nice and cool at night. Like others have said we never actually spent any time in the tent during the day Im sure if wew had we'd have melted.
Mark & amanda
------------- Had a 2 year break from camping but ff to france this summer hopefully
We have just got back from our first venture to the south of france in a tent. It was very hot in the tent during the day, but as others have said, you tend not to be in it. I found if for some reason we were around the tent then a quick trip to teh pool cooled us all off. I was suprised by how cool the nights in the tent were. It was warm enough to sit out, mostly in just t-shirts, but at night I was glad of my sleeping back. By time we went to bed the outside of the tent was often quite wet which I guess condensation from the rapid drop in temperature.
It was much more managable than I had expected. We have 3 young children and I must admit I was a bit apprehensive before we went. I would now happily go back, but this time I would hire a fridge from day one. The first couple of days trying to manage with an ineffectual cool box were a little trying!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
We too have been in temperatures up to 45 in the South of France over the last few summers, in a canvas tent. Everyone on here seems to have the right idea. You won't be in the tent during the day too much and by the kids bedtime it's cooled down enough. We too started off with no covers but pulled them on during the night. This year we were in the caravan and there wasn't much difference in the heat. You'll be fine - have a great time!
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: Too hot in a tent?
hot in a tent both during the day and at night. How have people with tents found either Italy or the south of France in these conditions in July/August and what ways have they found of dealing with it?
