Just to say a big thank you to all who post help and advice . I've spent the last year reading the messages on here in prep for our first camping trip on the continent.
We are a family of 5 (OH, 6, 4 & 2 year old).
The plan was to cross via the tunnel. Spend 2 days travelling down through France to Camping Las Dunas (pre booked for 24 July) on the Bay of Roses in Spain. Then after a week in Spain travel back up to France and camp on the coast in Agde or cross over to the west coast for a week. Then head to Disneyland Paris for the final 3 days of the 3 week adventure. Maybe a little over ambitious for our first trip!
In reality the trip to Spain was great stopping over in Bourges and millau (the viaduct and swimming with the kids in the Tarn was an experience in itself). Las Dunas was fantastic if you want that sort of campsite. The kids loved it, played with other kids from NL, B, F, DK, D etc. The site itself was clean, well run and had everything you needed. The weather was fantastic. A great start so far. France was different. Very busy on the coast near Agde. No availability on the coast (we must have tried all the sites - next time we will book). Ended up on a site 10 km inland from Agde. Turned out to be perfect. Easy drive to the beach and away from the commercialism of the coastal resorts. After several days we moved further inland/along coast to Avignon. Great site and brilliant pool complex for our little ones. Then drive north up the Rhone valley. Stopover in Beaune before heading to the camp 25 mins from Disney.
Reading the advice on this site was essential. Thank you to you all. The main points I've realised from our adventure:
1. France is a really big country to drive through - don't be too ambitious with the journey
2. The heat in July/Aug was extreme in Spain and France - the kids coped better than me and the OH
3. Have somewhere booked rather than just thinking you an tip up and get a pitch on the coast in France (especially with small kids)
4. It is difficult to find French hotels for stopovers that do family rooms like premier inn/travelodge in UK. They tend to have a double with a single bed over the top of it.
5. Still don't understand which lane of the toll (peage) to go in. Just followed other cars!
6. Didn't worry about electric amps on the sites. Just used common sense and unplugged equipment rather than having everything plugged in at once
7. Don't assume credit cards will work in petrol station pay at pump machines - sometimes did, other times didn't
8. The wind in Avignon was extreme - apparently normal as it blows down the Rhone valley
9. The electric cool box packs in the heat - hire a fridge on the site if you can!
10. Disneyland was fantastic. Kids had a ball, but it's spend, spend, spend!!!
Next year we are planning on going back to Las Dunas and maybe we will make it to the west coast of France this time.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
It's good to hear that you managed, even in peak season! I think one bit of advice is that if you're loooking for near the coast, in peak season, you need to book. If you don't mind inland then even in peak season there is no need to book.
(4) French non-chain hotels can be more accommodating for families. You'll often find Logis de France with family rooms, and sometimes at not much more than a budget chain.
(5) Look at the overhead signs - Man with cap is manned booth - with no height restrictions.
(7) You were unlucky - our credit cards and debit cards work everywhere, it's years since we had a problem. Sometimes prepaid cards don't though.
(8) There isn't always a wind in Avignon! If there is it's usually the Mistral. Sometimes it's very still and calm.
(9) Get a better coolbox/proper three way fridge - there was (sorry edited in later) one for sale on here for £25, which is less than the hire cost of a fridge. We bought ours about ten years ago for the same amount.
It's good to hear that you managed, even in peak season! I think one bit of advice is that if you're loooking for near the coast, in peak season, you need to book. If you don't mind inland then even in peak season there is no need to book.
(4) French non-chain hotels can be more accommodating for families. You'll often find Logis de France with family rooms, and sometimes at not much more than a budget chain.
(5) Look at the overhead signs - Man with cap is manned booth - with no height restrictions.
(7) You were unlucky - our credit cards and debit cards work everywhere. Sometimes prepaid cards don't though.
(8) There isn't always a wind in Avignon! Sometimes it's very still and calm.
(9) Get a better coolbox/proper three way fridge - there's one for sale on here for £25, less than the hire cost. We bought ours about ten years ago for the same amount.
It was a steep learning curve but I think we will have more of an idea for our next adventure (that's what we wanted) next year.
We tried for non-chain hotels but where we wanted to stay they seemed to be pretty expensive. We stopped in Mister Beds and B&B Hotels and a great hotel in a lovely village just south of Millau (forgot its name). I will do more research on the stopiver hotels for next year.
I think a confusion about the tolls was also compounded by how to pay? Should we use our card or cash? We used a mixture of both in the end. We wanted to save as much cash as we could for the campsite etc.
The credit card issue seemed to be at pay at the pump petrol stations but worked inside the shop???
We must have dropped on the Mistral wind in Avignon. It didn't spoil our stay but made it difficult to put the tent up and down (although other campers came to the rescue). Also the dust was blowing about more than I anticipated which the OH and kids didn't like.
Thanks for the advice about the fridge. If I can get one for that sort of money I will be interested. Also need to consider size for transporting in the car (5 of us and just got new pup so it will be tight in the VW Touran).
Try the Logis de France website for hotels - we booked one this year on our route south, which was as cheap as a chain, had a swimming pool, and did a great three course evening meal for 9 euros. It was 'brown' and characterful, but run by a lovely friendly family, and was a nice place to stay.
Looking around Millau there are several at 40 euros upwards.
Re the fridge, it's worth looking on here and on 'selling' websites, but we bought ours after putting a 'Wanted' ad on our local supermarket noticeboard. It's done sterling service for both us and our friends for years (they borrow it). We though it had packed up last year, but standing it upside down for 24 hours, and then the right way up, put it right again! We can even make a tray of ice cubes which is absolutely great for quickly chilling the wine!
We bought a standard, table top, fridge at 99 pounds ... three shelf variety (as opposed two two) ... with the one already in the camper, it's an absolute boon ... especially in high temperature zones ... one fridge is nearly always full of drinks ... means you can shop for two or three days worth of food at a time, instead of having to do a daily trek.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
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: 1st timers camping in Spain and France
