We are going to France next year, leaving UK on 21.8.11 and returning 2.9.11.
I cannot decide whether to prebook a pitch or whether just to follow the sun!!
We are thinking of going either to the Ardeche or back to the dordogne and are looking at 4 star sites, however I would rather go to Normandy in the sun than the Ardeche in the rain!
So do you think sites would be full on those dates and therefore I would need to prebook or can we just follow the sun and would there be pitches likely to be available wherever we decide to go?
------------- Laura
August 19 somewhere in France!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
You're trip next year is exactly the same time of year as we go - and have been doing the last two weeks in August/first in September for years. We've never booked anywhere - and follow the sun every year! This usually means going south - we've found consistent sun in the Languedoc at that time of year, and have managed to avoid bad weather elsewhere! This August (15th outwards) we had a week in the Dordogne, a week in the hills of the Haute Languedoc, and a week on the coast near Narbonne - and found plenty of free pitches on all the sites. We had three weeks of almost constant sunshine, by following the sun south. I think we had one half day of dull weather, and one afternoon when we had a shower of rain but nothing to worry about!
Don't book - it's much more fun - you have no stressing about booking sites, and you can use your caravan for what it was designed for - touring!
We use Camping Cheques, or an ACSI card, and find between them there is a great range of sites, including a lot of four star sites, but at great rates of between 11 euros and 15 euros per night, inclusive of electric hook up, two people, car, caravan and awning (or tent or motorhome)!
One year we did - we'd planned on heading to Italy, but the weather forecast was dire - thunderstorms and heavy rains, so we went down the Rhone Valley and turned right instead of left, and had two weeks in Spain instead (with lovely weather)!
Two years ago (our first driving in France) I booked all the sites. This year I booked only the first and last site. I do find this restricting though so from now on I won't be booking anywhere - will go with the flow(ish)! I do have a rough idea of places I want to go, planA, planB and planC for areas! Followed by a planA, planB and planC for sites in those areas LOL
Quote: Originally posted by savanne1 on 24/10/2010
Unless you have you heart set on certain sites I wouldnt book at that time of year, we go the last two weeks of August and sites are never full.
...err ditto. The last two years I've booked the first site and just headed towards somewhere for the second stop. I say somewhere but I usually have alerady decided which area I'm headed to so I don't leave a long haul from site to ferry port on the homeward leg.
follow the sun and your inclinationas but try not to pitch your tent on the inclinations we have been going to europr 'for ever' and the busy holiday times are a must to book in the popular areas otherwise chaque un a son gout phone them a couple of days beforehand just to make sure bonne route
Quote: Originally posted by feeblecat on 24/10/2010
Two years ago (our first driving in France) I booked all the sites. This year I booked only the first and last site. I do find this restricting though so from now on I won't be booking anywhere - will go with the flow(ish)! I do have a rough idea of places I want to go, planA, planB and planC for areas! Followed by a planA, planB and planC for sites in those areas LOL
Yes indeed, it seems to create more work than had you planned in advance! What you describe is what we're going to do - land at Caen at the end of May, check the weather forecast, and then peruse our prepared shortlist of sites at Normandy and the Atlantique coast. Hopefully we'll find some decent sun between the two!
leaving the campsite to chance is a definite no no!!
Don't book! Sites will be two thirds full max at the start of your trip, and nearly empty by the end! You should find plenty of sun without going too far south - we went last week of August this summer, and it was phew HOT in the Loire.
And here's another vote for NOT booking any sites! We went on the same date as you this year, 21st of August, and followed the sun. You'll have no problem getting on sites, and if you have good weather in the northern part of France, why travel all those miles? You have to travel them back again as well, our motto is to travel to where the sun shines, then potter around there in different places. Of course, if there is anywhere in particular you want to go to, that's different, but if you are only bothered about good weather and don't really mind where you end up, then that's the way forward IMHO.
In May/June this year we had 6 weeks, we spent nearly a fortnight in Holland, then went down into France. We only went as far as Burgundy/Champagne area, as the weather was scorching, so no need to travel any further.
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: Following the sun or prebook?
LOL
