Hi, we have just come back from a week away in Weymouth. Brilliant apart from the british weather!!! We were hoping to camp in South of France next year. Is it cheaper to take our own tent and book own ferry or go with Eurocamp/keycamp???
We have 3 children and are looking at June (can't afford school hols), or will we save enough money taking our own tent to be able to go in the hols??
Any advice/tips gratefully received.
Deb
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
definetly much cheaper to book and take your own tent. French high season is mid July to mid August, this is when prices are at their highest. We always go the last 2 weeks of France when it is cheaper, still good weather and less crowded.
What sort of budget were you thinking of then we might be able to better advise you? How long are you thinking of going for? If its the south of France then you really need 2 weeks to allow for the getting there and back.
------------- Thistledown Easter
Nantcol June
Domaine du Verdon Castellane and Etoile d'Argens Frejus Aug
We are going to Spain, staying at Eldelfin verde we have paid £433 for 10 nights booked with the caravan club and this is good value for 5 of us on a site that has everything. Travel on the eurrotunnel with tesco voucher.
Going in total for 2 1/2 weeks stopping off at Disney going down and on the way back and an overnight stop near Clermont Ferand. We like to take our time and enjoy the journy.
Use Eurocamp/keycamp book to find info, then do a search on the internet for the site to find the prices. Could save a bit that way.
We have just returned from Narbonne - 4 of us in a caravan. It was 50 euros a night in the shool holidays. The site ( la nautique ) had individual shower/toilet/handbasin facilities on each pitch (which is luxurious) as well as water and ehu. The pool was nice with a waterslide and there was entertainment and clubs for the kids.
We used clubcard vouchers on eurotunnel, picked routes which for the most part avoided tolls and used large superstores for cheap groceries. Weather was hot and dry - perhaps too hot in the hols (30 degrees in the shade).
We do 3 weeks in France at top-price campsites and its still cheaper than 2 weeks in a Canvas/Eurocamp type tent.
Take your own and you should be able to afford the main school hols - or look for late offer Whitsun deals with the ready-erected tents.
If you have your own tent your costs are basically ferry (£150 max without a trailer), sites fees (£25-35/night will get a really decent site in July/August), petrol and food will cost the same whatever way you do it.
June is low season in France - and so will be cheaper than in the school holidays, but the last two weeks in August are also low season on some French sites, and prices will be reduced then too.
It will be cheaper to take your own equipment and book your own ferry, rather than Eurocamp or Keycamp - and it's also so easy with the internet. You can have a look at sites, compare and contract, and work out costings so much more easily than in the bad old days of libraries and travel agents!
You could think about Camping Cheques - www.campingcheque.co.uk. They cost just £11.70 per night and pay for your pitch, two adults, and electricity - and then you pay a small supplement to the site for the children (so always less than the site's own tariffs). They are intended for 'low-season' campers, but most sites take Camping Cheques until the end of June, and I have a list of sites which take Camping Cheques again after the 15th August (this year's dates) but I'm sure most sites will be offering similar dates next year. This means you can still get two weeks holiday before the children return to school in early September. You can choose to stay on one site, or move around as you please, and also use Camping Cheque sites for your overnight stops if you're doing a longer journey.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
We live in Newport, South Wales and have been looking at the ferry crossings. As there are 5 of us if we do a longer crossing, we will need to cabins. We are thinking of maybe not going to the South of France, but the Vendee. I'm really only looking for Sunshine. Thank you for all the advice, its brilliant.
We went in June (South Brittany) booked our ferry last Dec, we got a brill deal, Condor Ferry to Cherbourgh, only runs on a Sunday, 3 people, car and folding camper cost about £150 return
You wont need a cabin, crossing takes about 5 hrs, we booked reclining seats, but didn't really need them, out of season, the ferry was empty!
The best time to look for bargain ferry crossings is onwards from the end of September - when the ferry companies announce their schedules for next year. Sometimes they do special offers at this time, to attract early bookings.
Hi, we have just come back from a week away in Weymouth. Brilliant apart from the british weather!!! We were hoping to camp in South of France next year. Is it cheaper to take our own tent and book own ferry or go with Eurocamp/keycamp???
We have 3 children and are looking at June (can't afford school hols), or will we save enough money taking our own tent to be able to go in the hols??
Any advice/tips gratefully received.
Deb
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Hi Deb
We have offers up until June 6th at our place in Frejus if your interested,its £350 pw or 2 weeks for £600 and that includes 1 week of the school hols (May)in a luxury 3 bed mobile home.Have a look and see what you think
Mandy
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
I've been going to the South of France for 15 years & by avoiding August it can be so inexpensive that we used to use it as a second holiday.
At first I drove down with a tent. My favoured destination Les Prairies de la Mer, Port Grimaud. Just outside St.Tropez & a site that is on the beach.
But with the cost of ferries, petrol, tolls etc, I soon descovered a far cheaper way.
I CHEAT.
Easyjet, BMIbaby & Ryanair all fly into Nice. Booked well in advancethere are cheap flights out there. Best I've managed is £18 return. Then I have a hire car waiting for me & it's an hours drive.
Although there is camping on the site or you can book through many tour operators including Tompson & Club Cantabrica.
We book direct with an operator on site. Brenda Jones holidays. They have a range of 6 birth mobile homes & whats more they DONT believe in under occupancy. The price you see is the price you pay.
OK it's not really camping but it is a cheap holiday & agreat destination.
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: Advice needed please.
