Hi,
We are hoping to go to France again this year. Last year we did Euro Tunnel and drove down to Normandy to a caravan/chalet. This year we are thinking about taking the folding camper but we want to do it on the cheap and we don't want to drive so far. I love the idea of St Malo and then driving across to the Vannes area but I am shocked at the ferry costs compared to Calais - Dover. So, I am also thinking about somewhere nice that is not too far from Calais but all the reviews seem to say that the campsites are for stop-overs on the way to somewhere more exciting. We have two weeks so I would also like to drive between 2 or 3 different campsites and as we have two kids, a pool and restaurant would be good although not essential. Can anyone share their experiences and give us some ideas or tips? Maybe it's cheaper to not take the camper and go for another caravan/chalet?
Thanks, Benski X X X
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
The area around Calais aint that great but the campsites although well used buy Brits as stopovers certainly atract French & Belguims, mainly working class families from a bit inland who cant afford the trip south, which actually gives the sites a great atmosphere, very 'French'
However if you can drive down the motorway a couple of hours down to Berk-sur-Mer & beyond the coasts get a lot nicer.
2hrs in the other direction & you can be on the coast in the Zeeland province of Holland, nice beaches & countryside with the added advantage that English is widely spoken.
I would guess Norfolk line Dover/Dunkirk will be your cheapest ferry but book asap or prices will rise steeply in June. The fare car+trailer is considerably dearer than just a car.
Know what you mran about the western channel crossing prices! Cheapest by far at the mo is Dover-Dunkirk with Norfolk lines.
There are plenty of good sites around Calais, Boulogne and down to Baie de Somme. We're staying a couple of nights at Bien Assise, and it's 35 Euros a night, which is dear. But multiple that by 7: about 200 quid. Could you get a static in August for £200 a week?
Hi TonyS99 - No you couldn't - Hi Benski there are some really good deals if June or September is an option - Look on here www.holiday-cheque.com or have a look at the special offers Canvas Holidays or Eurocamp have
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
I agree with Karim re the Calais area. Its the least interesting part of France that weve been to. Weather wise it is the most 'risky', and quite different even from Brittany/Loire. Having said that if its peak season you'd be unlucky to be totally spoilt by bad weather. If the site itself is all important then there are good spots around Bolougne and down the coast. France is well off for good quality sites wherever you go.
I got a return on Condor for £229 peak season to St Malo which is good but as you say quite a lot more than the calais ferries. Cooincidentally were camping near Vannes on the coast!
It may be worth travelling down to the west of Paris in the eastern loire. Its not too far and there are lots of good sites there.
Thanks a million for your brilliant advice. I will definitely look into your suggestions.... I hadn't thought of Dunkirk or the area around Bolougne. Where are the nearest really great, interesting, scenic, etc places to Calais?
I will also try and find a cheaper ferry crossing - the results I was getting were £400 plus! Too much!
Try LD lines we got a return crossing for car + 7metre caravan from Dover - Boulogne midday sailing and 5pm return for £162 all in which is reasonable , could be less for a trailer tent as it will be shorter in length
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
You could explore the Somme area - do some WW1 stuff and nice villages etc. Or head on towards Paris. The Aredennes in Belgium is supposed to be very nice.
You could save a lot of money on campsites by going for municipal sites. I've stayed on some lovely ones which are much cheaper than the commercial ones. Facilities vary a lot but I've stayed on some with a snackbar/cafe and with the town pool close by. There was a recent thread on here about how to find these. Or if you decide on an area to go to, you could google that area's tourist information and they will have a listing of places to stay including campsites.
We find the cheapest way (from the North of England) is to cross over from Dover but stay over at Bien Assise in Guines, then travel on. Its ideal for returning too, as you don't need to worry about calculating arrival times at the ferry after a long drive in France, Its a nice site with a pool and food at the bar. Its not expensive if you join the Camping Card ACSI scheme (www.campingcard.co.uk/) and get discounted rates - 15 euros at Bien Assise. It will pay for the card itself if you stop for one night.
I always suggest LD Lines too. From Portsmouth to Le Havre, then it's a 2 or 3 hour drive down to the Loire area, or the Alpes Mancelles up in the Mayenne which is lovely. Many, many great places to see & things to do. Or, you could just stay around the Le Havre area. There's Honfleur, a great little seaside town. Possibly push on around the bay a little into the D-Day landings area, where you'll fine tons of nice sites.
Many thanks again for all your help. I am now heading towards the idea of a LD Lines crossing to Le Havre and then a couple of nearby campsites - one all singing and all dancing and the other a quiet, rural, farm type place.... then we get the best of both worlds.
Just to confuse you when it looks like you've decided - we went to De Panne in Belgium the year before last, stayed on a lovely, very cheap little campsite about 20 mins walk from beach and had a great holiday.
There's lots to see and do around and about, we had several days out and didn't drive for more than an hour on any of them. We went to Brussels, Boulogne, Brugge, Ostend, Ypres, and somewhere i can't rememeber the name of cos my hubby calls it slushy - could be suisse or sluisse. Anyway, we had a fantastic holiday there, English spoken by almost everyone, and the weather was lovely too. Oh and the best mussels i ever tasted......mmmmmm We travelled from Hull/Zeebrugge, but friends we went with used the chunnel, and others went Dover/Calais. It's maybe 45 mins from Calais.
Writing this i've realised just how bad my memory is, but i think the campsite was called Greenpark? We were stuck between 2 campsites to use, 1 was on the beach and 1 (the one we decided on) about 20 mins walk from beach. One of them was defo called Greenpark!!
You are not confusing things as other half is now saying that we cannot afford to book anything right now which means keeping options open till last minute. I will definitely look into your suggestions - thanks, Benski X
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: Cheapest way to do France?
