Tempting but them I remember the empty motorways in France and just looking in the rear mirror and seeing only a few cars and this is in the middle of the day on a Saturday (obviously not near the main cities). Living in the south we have to endure the M25 if we want to go anywhere - except to Dover!!
If the climate was better than I would consider it - it is a beautiful country, we are good at queuing, have a great sense of humour and some of our landscape, cities, theatres and museums are the best in the world. However with nearly 70m people living in a small country it is just too crowded and stressful! Isn't it the case that France has the same population as us but look at the size of it?
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Val and others have mentioned the fact that in France the heritage is treasured every sizeable town has a museum or art gallery; every village highlights its history and beauty - go most places in UK and the tourist offices will push you to commercial exploitation and boozers!
There's the serious attitude to food, lunch and drinks are not to be rushed!
What hasn't been mentioned is the variety of wildlife and countryside in France and continental Europe in general - and this is the main reason I go on holiday so, no, whatever happens, I will travel abroad.
Oh, and the quality of driving is so much better on French roads.
I should say that with the exception of the last sentence () much the same applies to most parts of Europe - I'd go more often to Greece but it is rather time-consuming at the moment.
It would be nice to have the choice, and we would probably do both...we did both this year, and if we had not had wall to wall rain in Cornwall in July we would have gone back in August - it was much cheaper in Cornwall this year than in France and the campsite we found was OK (nothing like the French ones though, kids would have been bored on a long holiday).
I think Val in particular has summed up many of the reasons why we continue to love living in France, and loving what we do.
Our French friends and neighbours are fantastic. They think nothing of calling in with arms full of produce from their gardens, or from their frequent trips into the countryside, gathering as they go.
I think that even if the UK had similar weather to that which we enjoy here (16 degrees today) that there'd still be as many crossing the channel for their annual fix. It's so definitely not just about the weather.
Someone mentioned about the village 'bar' made by a local, and the lack of vandalism. we have similar things in the villages. There's a huge barn by our local plan d'eau. It's for weddings, boules competitions, exhibitions, meetings, village fetes etc. and it's spotless. The kids do hang around there sometimes, and yes they're 'lively', but they wouldn't think of vandalising it. Mainly because they know that if found out, they'll be marched to the Maire, ostracised by the village and made to pay for the cleaning up operation themselves. Or, their parents will.
Every now and again though, my heart aches for a Cornish holiday - like we used to have when our kids were growing up.
I'd still go to France. I think most of the campsites we've stayed on have been better quality than any we've been on in Britain. I like the semi-private pitches, the informality of sites - no pitching 'with jockey-wheel on the red marker', I like the ambiance in campsite bars at night with no emphasis on getting 'blathered', I like the cheap wine, and the quieter roads in getting to your site and back, and in touring about during the day. We go outside peak season - so this post only relates to that time of year - it's a long time since we holidayed during school holidays!
I love the laid-back lifestyle, the lack of litter and vandalism in most areas. I like sitting around over a coffee for hours just people watching. You can't do that here - you'd have to get back to your car before your parking ticket expired and you were clamped or towed away. I love the fact that in most places, including most beaches we've been to, you can park for free and that towns encourage you to shop there by providing plenty of parking spaces and no parking wardens (except in the very centre of the largest cities).
I love the fact that you can walk around any number of mediaeval villages without paying 'The National Trust' for the privilege. I also love finding these villages all over France - not signposted as tourist attractions such as they are here, but just 'existing' on that little road off the by-pass. When you get into the middle of these villages it really can be like going back in time. I like the Farmer's markets, where you can taste before you buy, and I love the night markets where the whole town goes out for a walk around and a communal meal in the square.
Yes, I've talked myself back into France for at least another year!
Just reading that makes me want to go there - clearly the French have a better life than we do in the UK - they seem to take Camping to a higher level - there sites seem better and no more expensive - but with more services to individual pitches - better weather and better food -
I can feel a big urge coming on to go camping french style !
Hi Victor , where do you come from ? your english seems very good to me , do you live here you certainly sound like you know a lot about camping in France , your french must be very good .
That would be the one with two days on the Exeter by-pass? Cornwall was fine but not built for cars .... <IMG alt=17 src="https://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/forum_images/smiley6.gif" align=absMiddle>
Quote: Originally posted by Floydfan on 11/11/2009
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Every now and again though, my heart aches for a Cornish holiday - like we used to have when our kids were growing up.
Nope. Only ever had that once, on a May bank holiday. The rest of the time we went down overnight. Kids slept, we arrived, set up and we were on holiday. Good old days! ;)
Quote: Originally posted by OaseWine on 11/11/2009
Hi Victor , where do you come from ? your english seems very good to me , do you live here you certainly sound like you know a lot about camping in France , your french must be very good .
I'm confused, I thought you WERE Victor!! You certainly signed yourself as Victor on the thread "Newbie to French camping".
That is because ladylala and oasewine are most likely one and the same person and using the same PC for some reason? and they obviously forgot to sign out of one account before posting !!!
Quote: Originally posted by OaseWine on 11/11/2009
Clearly the French have a better life than we do in the UK - they seem to take Camping to a higher level - their sites seem better and no more expensive - but with more services to individual pitches - better weather and better food -
I can feel a big urge coming on to go camping french style
Lets not be too hard on the country that allows us to finance our French hols. I would say its mainly about the better weather & less crowds(that'll be because France has same population as UK in 4 times the space)& certainly not all French sites have fully serviced pitches, very few in fact.
As my French friend says "of course you Brits love France, you only come on holiday here, you don't have to live here"
That is because ladylala and oasewine are most likely one and the same person and using the same PC for some reason? and they obviously forgot to sign out of one account before posting !!!
Cheers Ratty
Ah, that explains it, couldn't work it out, other than a bit of self-appreciation!!
Lets not be too hard on the country that allows us to finance our French hols. I would say its mainly about the better weather & less crowds(that'll be because France has same population as UK in 4 times the space)& certainly not all French sites have fully serviced pitches, very few in fact.
As my French friend says "of course you Brits love France, you only come on holiday here, you don't have to live here"
I agree that the UK has a lot to offer and indeed is the place which gives us the life and opportunity to visit other countries. However i think for most people, and certainly based on comments here, its much more than the space and weather that makes France such a draw. I think Val and Ina have really nailed why it is a draw to so many of us.
I also love old french cars and its nice to go and see some lovely old metal while we're there.
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: Would you still go abroad if........
) much the same applies to most parts of Europe - I'd go more often to Greece but it is rather time-consuming at the moment. 
