Hi, Big group of us (8 adults and 15 kids aged 1 - 13!) want to camp within 1 hour of Calais in May this year - any good campsites you can recommend please? Or ones to avoid!!
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Depends on what direction you want to go in, but we stayed at Le Paille Haute near Arras last summer. We were towing and it took us about hour and a half to get to the tunnel. Lovely owners.
Thank you - for the hard of thinking can you explain camping cheques to me please?! First time I have read about them today as new to the Euro camping!
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If you want to keep costs down you will need to find a municipal type campsite, a party of your size will cost a fortune at somewhere with indoor pools etc. You need to supply a few more details really for specific advice. Do you want a coastal site, or inland, do you want a pool, you will probably need indoor in May, is cost an issue, etc?
Oh help - didn't realise it was so complicated!! We haven't gone for specifics really as yet but just want a nice simple campsite on a par to uk ones where you can sit around a campfire at night and eat/drink(!) - is that possible to find in France or is it a totally different kettle of fish?! I guess somewhere to cycle would be nice and maybe activities for kids and pool, but not top priority if expensive. Many thanks in advance!
Depends what you actually mean by "sitting round a campfire at night". Almost certainly, you will not be allowed to have an open fire on H&S grounds. Some campsites even restrict BBQ's to special areas with BBQ facilities already in place, and often have adjacent tables/benches. You might be able to use one of these, without actually cooking food, if that's your wish.
Bertie.
------------- The 2 Tops
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
You will see they do a ferry deal with Norfolkline/dfds too. Using the cheques will probably be cheaper than standard site prices - the point of them is to make staying cheaper at certain times of year.
I doubt many french sites would allow a campfire but you could consider a big bbq and load up some wood onto it? - you'll soon find out if they disapprove!!
Take note of what the price includes - 2 adults, pitch electric - anything else is paid at local rates. Some sites do 6 mights for the price of 5, 7 for 6 etc. so saving even more.
If you want a site nr the sea only 40mins from Calais, the camping municipal at Wimereux should do you. It has no website & you can't book it but I don't think French & UK half term hols correspond so it shouldn't be crowded.
The pitches are grouped together in areas so ideal for a large party like yours. There is a nice seafront with sandy beach at Wimereux which is a traditional French seaside town & it is next door to Boulogne which has an indoor pool etc.
If you google 'camping municipal Wimereux' You will find directions, dead easy to find.
With Camping Cheques £13.95 per night pays for a pitch, two adults and car and tent (or caravan or motorhome), and an electric hook-up. Child supplements would be on top of this, and at Gandspette (mentioned in the post above) these would be 3 euros per child under 6, or 5 euros per child over 6. These would be paid, anyway, even if you paid the normal site tariff of 22 euros per night, so it's still quite a saving.
You could have a look at the website to help you make up your mind! Tents are usually in a paddock area, rather than on separated pitches, so you could camp together. The pool complex is outdoor, however, and may be cold in May.
Within about an hour there are two more Camping Cheque sites, La Ferme des Aulnes, and Le Val d'Authie - both of these have covered pools, and Le Val d'Authie offers 7 nights for 6 Camping Cheques. Supplements at Ferme de Aulnes are 7 euros for an over 7, and 4 euros for a younger child and at Val d'Authie 6 euros for an over 7, 3 euros younger than 7, free under 2's.
Both sites swimming pools appear to be open from the beginning of the season - at least there is no indication that they aren't!
Each couple of adults would be covered with the cost of a Camping Cheque, then you'd add the supplements for the number of children 'per couple'. Hope this helps to explain things
We use Camping Cheques, and also go about mid-May. But look carefully in the Camping Cheque guide; some sites don't open their pools until into June, and the odd one even until July. As you have kids, it is worth noting that many of the on-site facilities do not open until later in the season; often in July and August, when Camping Cheques are not accepted. Again, the information is in the guide.
Bertie.
------------- The 2 Tops
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
This is a great campsite for kids of all ages - not expensive either as they take camping cheques during may. It is about another 1 1/2 hour but it may be worth driving that little bit further. Take a look at the website - there will be lots of brits heading there for the may halfterm.
Quote: Originally posted by bommer on 01/3/2011
This is a great campsite for kids of all ages - not expensive either as they take camping cheques during may. It is about another 1 1/2 hour but it may be worth driving that little bit further. Take a look at the website - there will be lots of brits heading there for the may halfterm.
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: Camping within 1 hour drive of Calais?
