We have booked our summer holiday to the Vendee, first time abroad in the caravan. We are at a complete loss what to do! We have booked the ferry Dover to Calais arriving in Calais at 5.00pm. My hubby only wants to drive for an hour or so after that and then stop overnight somewhere en route to the Vendee. In the morning we will then set off and drive straight to the Vendee. Does anyone know of a decent campsite and also the best route to drive and which roads etc or any websites that could help!
Also, do we need an air conditioning unit and are there any other useful tips anyone can give us!
Thanks a lot!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
tintin, we get into Calais about the same time(GMT),we are hoping to drive a couple of hours and do the same but haven't booked a hotel yet, waiting to finalise our route.
We have booked on Le Pin Parasol which has got good reviews on here.
Find a route with viamichelin.com, or mappy.com. Put in start and destination, and select whether you are towing or not, and it will give you a map and an itinerary, as well as calculating how much fuel you will use, and how much tolls will cost.
Once you've calculated your route then try www.campingfrance.com for all 11,000 campsites in France, or perhaps someone has a specific site to recommend. We usually stay over at the Aire de la Baie de Somme, near Abbeville (though we're not on route to the Vendee, but elsewhere), but I don't think I'd recommend it to first-timers - you need somewhere you can relax a bit more for your first night in France.
Have a read of the pinned topic 'Advice for Continental First-Timers' which gives you everything you need to know. And DON'T WORRY - everyone has to do it for a first time, and it really is much easier in France than in Britain.
If you are arriving at 5pm you could go to camping du Lapin at Bleriot plage at Calais. Easiest way to get there, out of docks onto motorway spur, couple of miles to A16 motorway turn right towards Boulogne. Couple of miles & then off at j43 which is just before the Eurotunnel exit. Turn off right & head towards the coast. Big roundabout just before sea turn left & campsite is 1 mile on right.
Alternatively if you dont mind stopping at a services there is a services on the A16 10mins towards Boulogne.
Pick an area on the map where you want to head to then either follow the above advice or just google for the local municipal campsite. I wouldn't arrive too late at a municipal as everyone else will have the same idea!! also remember that the barriers will close at 8pm ish. Are you arriving at calais 5pm UK time? remember thats 6pm french time.
We have a small site booked for our return to Uk, Les epinettes near the eurotunnel, the site is here; http://www.lesepinettes.fr/
If you have tomtom satnav I have my POI's that I'm sharing with people on here, they include a lot of french sites are are quite handy, also Burger King, tescos, etc etc!! you can get them here; http://www.kitchenfoods.co.uk/forum/tomtom-satnav-pois-t-28.html
tintin, we get into Calais about the same time(GMT),we are hoping to drive a couple of hours and do the same but haven't booked a hotel yet, waiting to finalise our route.
We have booked on Le Pin Parasol which has got good reviews on here.
we are heading through the tunnel then to Pin Parasol on 14th August. We are stopping at Château du Gandspette on the way back and it has good reviews.
On the way down we have an early crossing so are heading for Le Mans for our half way halt.
Mr UM
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
We too are going to the vendee via dover/calais, we have found this site http://www.camping-sainte-claire.com/ ,and its just off the new A28, with local supermarkets nearby, and its only about two hours from calais.
We have booked via email and they seem very nice, the cost is 14.4 euros for two nights (one out and one back), with electric at 6 amps.
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: Overnight stop from Calais to Vendee
