Having decided against a Northern European holiday due to the abysmal weather, we are currently surveying the hundreds of wonderful campsites in Southern France. We are going from 18-31 August and considering "flying by the seat of our pants" i.e. NOT booking ahead. I am a real control freak, so this does not come naturally to me. My question is, what is really considered "high season" in France. We went to Spain at this time last year (L'Amfora - wonderful !) and there were plenty of pitches available. Will it be like this in France - we are planning a route to take in Dijon, Lyons, maybe Lake Annecy and finally getting somewhere close to the Riviera - although probably not on the coast itself. Would be really grateful for advice from you "well-seasoned" travellers.
Many thanks
p.s. We'll be taking our vintage Motorhome abroad for our first trip with her, although she apparently managed 9,000km in Europe last year before we bought her, so she should feel at home !
------------- AliGreen
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
You should be fine - the second weekend in August is when a lot of French go home, and the remainder have almost all gone by the following weekend. Obviously have a back up 'Plan B' for a second campsite if you're driving hundreds of miles to an area - don't pick an area with just one campsite in a fifty mile radius!
The campsite Lac de Panthier, at Vandenesse (near Dijon) takes Camping Cheques from that weekend, as do many others, suggesting it is moving into their 'low season'.
I would avoid the Riviera though, unless you must - stay well inland! Traffic will still be manic down there, and campsites busier than elsewhere, right up until the first or second week in September. Perhaps those who 'do' Lake Annecy will know what it's like then - but we've never been to that area so can't help.
With a motorhome you have a choice of 'Aires de Camping Car' too, so between them and campsites you should find somewhere everywhere you want to be.
....hi Aligreen... i am not as well travelled as some on here but would say given the dates you are travelling you will have missed the French high season- generally 15th july- 15th August ( approx!) although it can keep going to the following weekend, when you arrive. I would say you are fine to live dangerously.Do some research on here, read reviews, visit websites & local tourisme wesbites- get a short list of a few sites you would be happy to stay at, then that gives you the option should some still be busy.
Dont blame you re. the weather we are hoping to do the same, we usually do southern brittany but that is looking like home... so are thinking of finding sun too- just waiting for all clear from dr after my hysterectomy!!
We never book ... even in July and early August ... so I wouldn't bother ... gives you the opportunity to move on if your first choice doesn't live up to your expectations.
I'm feeling pretty nervous for the same reason - normally I have my campsites booked but this time we are going to chance it and head for wherever the sun is. I think the plan is to use municipals for the early part of the holiday - we are going out on 22nd July - and then maybe book better ones later (in August).
I am hoping that municipals will have spaces available. I have the horrors of driving around and not finding anywhere to stay and the holiday will be a disaster and it will all be My Fault!
I've come to the conclusion nervousness about lack of bookings/baked beans/toilet rolls etc is just displaced excitement. We've been turned away rarely, in twenty years, usually at very obvious tourist targets - the Ardeche, and on Castels site in Normandy. In the first instance we moved on to the Rhone valley, and the second used a camping guide to find an alternative.
When touring, we try to stop about 4-5pm, looking for a site with either restaurant or close to a town, and go for a wander about, maybe take a glass of something or a coffee.
We do tend to book 'destination' sites however. Never been to the Riviera or Haut Provence, though have been tempted by the Gorges du Verdon and the Route Napoleon. It's the light, isn't it? Something we've been a bit short of lately.
Hope you have a lovely time, I can sense the expectation!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Thanks everyone for your comments - the people on this site are SO helpful ! Think we will chance it - as you say, there are always the Aires if we get desperate ! August can't come soon enough for me though. SO fed up of all this rain. Hope you all have wonderful adventures yourselves.
AliGreen
April, Ashford, Kent
May, Devon
July, Oxford (adults only whilst kids are at Scout Camp !)
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: To book or not to book - France ?
... so are thinking of finding sun too- just waiting for all clear from dr after my hysterectomy!!
