"We are on our way back from a month touring in France (July). The camp sites have been all but empty. Why ? "
We were at Trewethett Farm CC site last week for a few days between Tintagel and Boscastle and were surprised at the number of foreign visitors in the area including caravanners on the site.Is it just that the area is a "Hotspot" for foreign tourists or is there an increase in visitors from across the Channel.When you think about it apart from the price of fuel, and the changeable weather, the UK must be a attractive as a holiday destination just now. Visitors must be surprised at the bargain shopping that can be had in places like Matalan, Sainsbury's Tesco, The Range, Trago Mills etc as we have never found anwhere similar on our annual pilgrimage to France - even the prices of household goods and clothes in places like L'Eclerc and Carrefour are much more expensive than at home (16.20 Euros for a 2 Litre of Aquaqem for instance!).With toll free driving everywhere in this country,and as long as they bring enough wine to last their holiday, the UK must seem a really good deal.
------------- Mother Nature always wins in the end.
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Just returned from France in our motorhome and I agree that the roads are a joy to drive on - we travelled about 1800 miles on quiet main and country roads. Very relaxing and enjoyable. We stayed at campsites and were more than happy to pay on average about €15 per night. We did notice lots of mobile homes (99% from the continent) using aires or car parks or the roadside and I must agree that they appeared to be doing their travelling on the cheap. However, there were still lots of mobile homes in the camp sites we stayed in but like other comments in this thread, we didn't see many Brits. We only use the facilities in our motorhome for emergencies and tend to use the on-site ones - after all, we are paying for them so why not use them. We also felt a lot more secure.
On our last night we stayed in the new aire (€8 per day) in St Valery sur Somme (our favourite resort - but don't tell anyone!). It was very good and I must say that the view over the Somme is much better now that the mass of mobile homes on the North bank have been banned to the aire.
Lastly, we found the Fench to be more agreeable than in the past - perhaps they are happy that we are travelling there given the near parity between the £ and the €.
"We are on our way back from a month touring in France (July). The camp sites have been all but empty. Why ? "
We were at Trewethett Farm CC site last week for a few days between Tintagel and Boscastle and were surprised at the number of foreign visitors in the area including caravanners on the site.Is it just that the area is a "Hotspot" for foreign tourists or is there an increase in visitors from across the Channel.When you think about it apart from the price of fuel, and the changeable weather, the UK must be a attractive as a holiday destination just now. Visitors must be surprised at the bargain shopping that can be had in places like Matalan, Sainsbury's Tesco, The Range, Trago Mills etc as we have never found anwhere similar on our annual pilgrimage to France - even the prices of household goods and clothes in places like L'Eclerc and Carrefour are much more expensive than at home (16.20 Euros for a 2 Litre of Aquaqem for instance!).With toll free driving everywhere in this country,and as long as they bring enough wine to last their holiday, the UK must seem a really good deal.
I spoke to quite a lot of Dutch and German caravanners when we were away. The two main obstacles to them coming to the UK, in high numbers anyway, is 1) they don't like the idea of driving on the left and 2) They don't want to have to pay to cross the Channel! Having said that there are some Dutch campers who regularly visit the UK with quite a few of them belonging to the Caravan Club.
We came back last Wednesday, Zeebrugge to Hull, most of the British cars were Scottish but we saw French, Dutch, Belgian, German and Swiss, many more than in previous years. We thought the ship was quite quiet at first but later on it just seemed as busy as usual, shops, restaurant etc packed out.
We recently returned from our 2mth 'Tour of Europe'
In Moustiers Ste Marie, at the start of the Gorge du Verdon, we stayed at Camping St Jean- ACSI 13 euros per night - highly recommended.
To walk up into the village we passed the motorhome aire.This was like a large gravel car park, with some views but no shade.
There was a barrier and a charge of 6euros per night and a restriction of 2 nights only. It was fairly full when we were there in June, but anyone who wanted to explore the area further had to move onto a proper site.
When we travelled through France in the past we used to see companies selling caravans on the edge of towns. This year all we saw were motorhomes for sale and it seems like the French have stopped buying caravans now that the local councils are all providing the inexpensive aires in downtown areas.
I really feel sorry for campsite owners.
------------- Marz
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Quote: Originally posted by allengenealogy on 28/7/2011
When we travelled through France in the past we used to see companies selling caravans on the edge of towns. This year all we saw were motorhomes for sale and it seems like the French have stopped buying caravans now that the local councils are all providing the inexpensive aires in downtown areas.
I really feel sorry for campsite owners.
We've noticed this too - and our 'rainy day' occupation of looking around caravan showrooms at the French alternative makes and models has now had to cease because we can't find any dealers with anything other than old second hand models!
We went to Mont St Michel in 2006 and I couldn't believe the number of camper vans there, there must have been hundreds of them. It was our first trip to France in a caravan for quite a whileand i was so amazed I took photos!
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: Empty camp sites in France
