Because of having to wait around for GCSE and A level results and then packing kids off to uni we haven't been able to camp in France at our preferred time at the end of August/beginning of Sept for a few years (an apartment in Croatia just wasn't the same!) This year we have done, spending time in Touraine, Normandy and the Somme, meeting interesting people along the way - and it didn't disappoint!
However, we have decided that we are too old for another holiday in a tent on a saggy airbed ...........but don't be too sad for us as we are looking for a small campervan so we can continue our travels around Europe. We have to do some homework to find out what we really want first so hopefully we will be up and running for next summer - any advice along the way from campervanners would be most welcome. Can't wait for next summer ................
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Yep as dad1uk mentions, folding camper is a good solution, especially for the South of France etc, the Pennine Crusader and Pathfinder are both very nice FC's the new version the Quartz 6 is also very nice, having said that I still prefer the traditional cotton canvas Pennine and Conway models to the new Acrylic canvas that is now being used.
At the moment camping in France is fine for us, but I have set a target, for when I reach 60 in 2020 to make the change to caravan.
In order to still only be charged the car rate on the French Autoroutes, the caravan will have to be of the pop-top type, so no more than 2m in height when towing.
On the list at the moment is the Trigano Silver fixed bed 420 and also looking at the Rubis range of pop-top's to name but 2.
Thank you all for your thoughts - we're toying with the idea of a van either converted or doing a conversion (my brother has done this) or something like a little Eriba caravan. TBH we shall take a long time looking and so may spend next summer in a static abroad. I'm not sure how much use we will get out of a campervan at the mo so it will take a lot of thinking about including all the issues of height etc.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Hi Sunseeker.
I was set on getting an Eriba at first, viewed them down at the N.E.C. show a couple of years back, with them being pop-top, I thought they would go to under 2m for towing, but as it turns out they are slightly over, so I have now ruled them out, very nice vans though and they do hold there price extremely well.
Great idea....we did the same thing after summer 2009 on the back of many years tenting in France. Tenting is wonderful and I still love to mooch around sites looking at the different tent designs. For us the decision was made when pitching up after long drives only to see caravans and campervans turn up and be ready,wine in hand, in five minutes - while we spent an age sorting out guy ropes and canvas. Enough was enough.
Like you we considered either an Eriba van - Puck or similar , or a campervan. We started with a VW T25, a lovely thing and the VdUb scene is pretty nice too. We had a few problems in France last year with the engine and gearbox so reckoned something more reliable was needed. Even though we had problems the convenience of the campervan made a real difference and it was obviously the right decision. Granted anything can go wrong but a more modern camper would probably be a bit less risky.
We thought about a T4 or a bongo, and thought again about the Eriba. In the end we repaired and sold the T25 and got a Mercedes Vito , much cheaper than the equivalent T4 but a nice rust free example, ten years old and just 58k on the clock. The trip this year was fantastic. We've constructed a full width bed building a platform and an Ikea bed base from a LYkselle sofa bed - popular with campervaners. We use a full height pop up Quecha base seconds as an awning, again very quick and all the space you need for cooking stuff and everything else. There would have been no point moving away from tenting only to spend all the time pitching an awning!
I really cant recommend a campervan highly enough. Cruising at 70-80mph to your destination and being set up in no time is just the way to go. You can also do as much or as little as you want with your camper, full side unit, minimalist, but it can become a bit of an obsession! Theres also Renault CItroen and other makes which could be equally as useable and were seeing more and more of. The other good thing is that they can be used to get about whilst on holiday, which larger units can't always do.
Go for it you won't be disappointed.
------------- John
May/June.....France
Aug.......somewhere else in France
I want that!! Even though our Kyham tent 'pops up' in a few seconds (much to the amazement of our German and Dutch neighbours on the campsite) it takes so much effort to put everything away to move and then unpack it especially when you know the weather won't be so good at your next destination. For me the whole purpose of camping (etc) is to have the freedom to move and it's so liberating to get off the ferry/tunnel at the start of the hols and decide a) which country you want to go to and b) which region - we will only get that now with a van or camper. The research starts now and I'll let you know how we get on.
After many years of dithering (see above) we have made an impulse buy and now have a campervan -T5 with fold down bed and luxuries like electric hook up -it's fab! Inaugural run went well and now after a few weekends away in this country will be planning our trip to Europe in the summer - so pleased to be back in this forum!
Fantastic! I'm sure you will love it, and you'll notice the added convenience of a campervan. We're in a T4 now and will be off to France again in the summer as well as weekends closer to home.
Did you get an awning or even a pop up? It's still the best bit of kit we've got for the two of us, for short or long breaks.. We've also added a canopy to the side of the Campervan
------------- John
May/June.....France
Aug.......somewhere else in France
Pop top and canopy or awning is being saved up for as we speak, so scheduled for winter work. Bit concerned that we are going to overheat in France this summer but will put up with it! Now looking for a definitive guide to campsites in Europe with a village or POI within walking distance but haven't found one so far - anyone else seen one or am I being lazy and just have to do the investigation myself. So pleased that our holidays will be back on campsites...
Le Guide Officiel lists all the campsites in France. Includes maps with little tenty things on, to give you a clue where the campsites are. Descriptions written, but all in French, so not always easy to interpret. Makes the planning interesting.
The campsite search on this site is pretty good and includes a map feature so you can see which are near towns etc. Some of my faves are:
Camping du Massereau
Camping La Sabot
LA Plage (La Trinite)
Atlantique Foret...not really walking distance to atown but my fave site in France
Port De Limeuil
Also check out the ACSI site.
------------- John
May/June.....France
Aug.......somewhere else in France
Agree with franbee.
Le Guide Officiel covers every campsite in France .. all 9,500!
Including all municipals.
I use members reviews on here, too ... but in shere volume, nothing compares to LGO.
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: Last time in a tent ...............
