Hi
After recommendations of areas and campsites for next summers 14-16 night holiday. A 50plus couple towing our touring caravan, we enjoy walking, sightseeing old towns + villages + great scenery. Flexible with dates but intend to use ACSI or camping cheques, so slightly out of high season. Only looking to stay in 1 or 2 sites, they must have very good toilet/shower facilities. A pool, bar and restaurant would be nice and preferably a walk into a town or village. We fancy SE France, Rhone Alps, Ardeche, Languedoc ish with maybe a few nights in the Loire Valley on our way down.
Any Thoughts?
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Les Ranchisses, at L'Argentiere (Ardeche) with Camping Cheques - lovely restaurant, nice pools, and quiet(ish) out of season. Good toilet facilities (cleaned with lavender scented steam clean when we were there). Walk down the valley to L'Argentiere with a twice weekly market, and a few bars/restaurants, a castle and lovely mediaeval streets, plus all the attractions of the Ardeche itself on the doorstep. La Beaume for a coffee under the plane trees, Vallon for the bustle of the Thursday market, Ruoms for another market, but a lovely part of the river to just sit and watch the current, the Pont d'Arc down the gorge from Vallon with sandy beaches, the Gorge itself for some absolutely spectacular views, Balazuc further north from Vallon and Aigueze at the bottom end of the Ardeche gorge - both beautiful villages to visit. Plus you're only a couple of hours from the Med in case of rain, or wanting a change of scenery.
Thanks for the recommendation Val, that sounds pretty much spot on for us. I had a look at the reviews for Les Ranchisses and the last one wasn't very flattering but it was in August so I'm guessing that it should be ok at the end of June. There certainly looks a lot of choice in the area, we holidayed in the Bavarian Alps last summer, the scenery + walking into beautiful villages was one of our highlights but we rather fancy France next summer and the potential for a bit more sun.
Yes, campsites can be very different 'animals' in high season, and of course can change from one year to another with management, staff changes, or extra static accommodation...........!
On the other hand, my OH had one of the best 'campsite meals' we've ever had, at the restaurant at Ranchisses - and I very much enjoyed my morning swims there, but we do go in low season!
The Ardeche area is lovely, and you can pick up some great local walks from the Tourist Information offices. We've been visiting the Ardeche off an on since our first visit in about 1983 - and never run out of things to do and see! There are huge choices of campsites, plenty more to have a look at - and in low season you don't really need to decide until you get there!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Its a bit pricey but I'd recommend L'ardechois in Vallon itself. It has a pool bar/restaurant and has a river location. Last year the restaurant was under new management and service was a bit hit and miss but it doesn't really matter too much as you can easily walk into Vallon which has daytime and evening markets plus bars, shops and restaurants. We went last August and didn't find the traffic a problem at all, yes its slow in certain areas but it doesn't hold you up for long.
I'd recommend the larger pitches as they are nearer the river and more peaceful
We first started going to the Ardeche back in 2009, and were smitten, having previously always done the Med.
This year will be our third vist to the same campsite, for our fortnight stay in July, it's a very cosy campsite with just 40 touring pitch's, but we just love it.
Back in 2010, we arrived, 30th June on a Wednesday, and for the first week of our stay, the campsite was almost empty, and we almost had the swimming pool to ourselves, and the weathers was idylic with temps into +40DegC.
Although an ACSI CampingCard campsite, 16Euro ACSI prices only go upto 24th June, and start again 27th August.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Thanks so much for the recommendations + info, the Ardeche really looks like an area that we will enjoy.
L'ardechois is a site that really caught our eye but with the pitch prices at around 40 euros a night at the end of June it may be out of our price range. Domaine de Gil is another on our list, with an ACSI card + full price combo for the last couple of weeks in June the price works out not too bad.
Thanks again, much food for thought, sounds like the Ardeche sites are nice + quiet in June so 'turn up + take a chance' although not something we've done before + a bit against my nature seems a good option, cheers again.
Quote: Originally posted by the whitehouse on 02/1/2012
so 'turn up + take a chance' although not something we've done before + a bit against my nature seems a good option, cheers again.
If you're worried about just turning up at that time of year: DON'T!! We've gone for the last 9 years in May/June and again September/October, and have NEVER booked. We've never had a problem, and that is something which a lot of the regular posters on here will confirm.
Go for it, don't book, in France the freedom to go where you want, when you want, still applies in low season.
You could book, and still use the ACSI card, although I don't think it would be nessasery, and it would incur a booking charge, of some kind, such as 20Euro at Domaine de Gil, a small price to pay, though for peace of mind, to guarantee a pitch. and the ACSI saving would more than ofset the booking fee.
Having said that, the year we got there, was just after the ACSI period, so maybe the place was choka, for the last week of ACSI, somthing I may find out, if we go back again in 2013, as I would like to go at the end of June during the ACSI period, as that would save us a good £200 on a fortnights holiday, but there again, there are ACSI campsites in the Ardeche, that will be on ACSI price upto 7th July, so I am temped to go to another campsite, using the ACSI card.
Although the owners at Domaine de Gig, are real nice folk, and I would love to give them my, support during the ACSI CampingCard period, maybe if they are reading this, they could extend the period for 2013!.
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: Recommendations for France
