We went to the Italian Lakes las year and had intended booking with Eurocamp who we'd used a couple of other times but they didn't have availability at the site we wanted. We then booked direct with the campsite instead - they only had availability for a mobile home but this still worked out cheaper than we would have paid for a tent with Eurocamp anyway.
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Basically if you go out of season book with Eurocamp/Siblu/Canvas etc. You can get 3 weeks for the price of 2, about £670 in a two bed mobile. High season about £2,000 for 2 weeks.
In season (school hols) book direct with the campsite) van or chalet.
Tents from all companies are about the same. Euro vans are better quality but cost more.
Agree with Feux Verts on this out of season can't beat keycamp/eurocamp/canvas etc low season we paid £246.50 this year for decent mobile 7 days Duinrell & 5 days Berney Riviere Easter (best weather so far this year even though it was snowing when we left Dover) including Ferry, Excellant value. But next year want to go in August so will take own tent as quotes from Keycamp best part of £1,800
We have been using Canvas and on occasion Eurocamp, for about 28 years (much prefer Canvas as their tents are a much better design and as we usually go in a tent this is important to us also for us they are much cheaper as we get a loyalty bonus and going low season 3 weeks for the price of 2. Probably costs roughly £500 and this includes crossing.
We have on occasion used a mobile but this does work out a lot more expensive and as we prefer tenting we usually opt for a tent. The equipment they provide you could never take, ie full size fridge and freezer kitchen table, full size comfortable beds , 4 electric lights and power sockets, patio furniture, dining table and chairs the list goes on and all this is in a tent. I cannot recommend them enough. Also the campsites they use are nearly all 4 star and good.
The last couple of year we have used Holiday Cheque which provide low and mid season chalets and mobiles and cost approx £30 per night . The reason we have changed is because of taking a young grandson and a mobile is more suitable. They are very good value also. and the couple of times we have been with them found them superb
French Freedom have some outstanding out of season offers. They are very competitive school holidays, too. However, the cheapest we have found for the school holidays is Vacances Directes and booking the crossing separately.
They have the full range of accommodation from tents, through caravans with awnings to big mobile homes. We used them for the first time last year and are doing so again this year.
If it is of interest my wife and myself are going to a mobile home at Le Vieux Port at Messanges for 13 nights starting 7th September. We are going with Venue Holidays and the total cost is £276 inclusive of P & O Dover-Calais return and £14 damage waiver insurance.
Obviously this is well out of season but we have few qualms other than perhaps a small question mark over the weather. Certainly having used Venue before we are confident about the accomodation.
We have been on this kind of holiday about 25 times in the past with few problems and have only ever felt the need to ask to be moved to another site once. In our experience Eurocamp are the most expensive on paper with little additional gain over other operaters but if you get the right person sometimes their prices are negotiable. Matthews Holidays and Leisure Direction are also well worth a look.
Quote: Originally posted by dart18 on 07/8/2008
Try some of the smaller companies ie French Freedom,Carisma or Fleur they have all the facilities of the bigger operatorsa but are a lot cheaper.
Fleur went bust last year but have been re-incarnated as In2Camping. They only have two sites now and the mobiles I saw on Berny this summer were a bit scruffy - beware.
My son went to work for Fleur a few years ago, (recruited solely over the telephone, no interviews) - getting as far as the site in Normandy - only to ring us from there, as the couple employed as couriers for Fleur were desperate. They had no back-up from Fleur and were trying to get the dilapidated mobiles ready themselves, by paying for supplies out of their own money. After 24 hours of telephone discussions with my son, and the tearful couple, he came home.
He went to work a week later for Canvas Holidays instead, having a very happy season at Bois de Valmarie near Argeles. We've spent many holidays, previously, with Canvas, so he knew what standard their accommodation was - and said that the accommodation offered by Fleur was dreadful in comparison.
Just out of interest I looked up In2camping - and found this website - obviously where other discontented couriers have posted messages. Also, their own website mentions that they are looking for couriers too!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
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: Eurocamp, Keycamp??
