We are fairly new to caravanning and are thinking of taking the caravan to France in the summer, heading off as soon as schools break up on the 20th July. does anyone know if we would have to book at that time of the year ? We plan to head down from Calais to Burgundy / Jura/Alps/ maybe Ardeche and then loop back up through the same areas. We've done a similar route previously but with Eurocamp. it would be nice just to meander along and stop where the fancy takes us but I dont know how feasible that is ? We can be away for 3-4 weeks in total. Any hints and tips gratefully received !!!
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Flysheet - if you don't mind the smaller, out of the way campsites in the countryside, you'll almost always find a free pitch, except when you get within 10 miles of the Med - but if you want family sites with slides and pools then you may have to book in advance. Indeed the popular sites will have been booked up since last year.
We have friends who 'tour' every year during the summer holidays - they're both teachers and never book anywhere. They always have a 'Plan B' just in case the first site doesn't have space - but have never not found anywhere to stay.
You'll need a good campsite guide - Le Guide Officiel de Camping Caravanning is a French publication which lists all campsites in France (except for one or two British owned ones). It's available from Vicarious Books in Folkestone (on-line) or from supermarkets/Maisons de Presse, in France. If you want to be in a popular area then it might be best to ring a day or two ahead just in case the sites don't have space - then you can implement Plan B!
As Val says, much depends on the sort of site you are looking for.
Don't forget the huge number of 'Municipal' sites, which are, generally, much cheaper than commercial sites.
A reasonable selection can be found here, and a comprehensive list here.
I have always found that book type guides/listings don't give a very good impression of what the site is really like ... with few exceptions (Some of Cool Camping's descriptions are good, as are some of Alan Rogers' specialist books). I prefer to check sites out on their websites (though many municipals don't have them ... or they're buried within the local Marie's website). For that reason, a laptop when touring is essential IMHO.
As Val recommends ... always have a plan B site, in case your plan A one is either full, or you just don't like the feel/look of it ... I usually have a plan C as well!
And I also leave the decision as to which area to go to 'til the last minute ... and let weather forecasts be the final arbiter.
But, with so many campsites in France ... you'll always find somewhere that's, at least, decent, and may be spectacularly good.
Looking at reviews on here can be helpful ... though, a bit like cinema or theatre critics, you'll need to find which reviewers match your tastes ... e.g. someone who raves about pool complexes/slides/wave machines, all-night discos and organised activities en-masse on site might be very different from someone who loves a more bucolic approach.
We seldom book.
Thats great advice thanks - i think we will need to go armed with plenty of campsites in mind and try and travel early in the day so if plan A fails we will still have time for plan B
Flysheet
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Three week is not that long, in fact if you are heading to the South East, Ardeche/Med then you will be spending almost a week on the road.
For July, I would definatley consider booking for your main stay at least.
For the last 4 years we have been back to the same campsite in the Ardeche, always in July, both early and mid periods and the campsite has always been full "Complete" apart from the very first week in July.
I am not saying that you will not find anywhere if you don't book, but I could not think of anything worse than chasing around to find a campsite with availability, whilst the mid day Sun beats down on you.
In fact I did try it once back in July 1978!, OK I was only 18 back then, so was beautiful, young and stupid.
I agree with Francais I would decide on a stop for at least a few days and at least book that one for a few nights then you will have less worry about getting somewhere where you are going. Then if you are planning on moving around you can plan your next move from there! I guess though if you have a few options you should be ok!
FWIW we camp from the end of July to the end of August. I normally pre-book us a campsite for the first night just so that we can do some hefty mileage safe in the knowledge that we have somewhere when we get there. Then we mooch around as the fancy takes us. Last year we rang sites when we stopped for lunch to book a pitch and apart from 1 occasion had no problems at all. The one problem we had was trying to go to Carcassonne during the festival (which we didn't know about) so I had to make 5 phone calls but other than that we got a pitch easily.
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Remember a good wife always helps her husband with the dishes.
Quote: Originally posted by Berriow on 07/5/2013
We take a phone and ring a site a day or two ahead if we are in a popular area, otherwise just arrive at T. time, or as we call it, G and T time
For the second time ever, I've booked our first two sites ... mainly because I'll be pushed for time and didn't want to run the risk of searching the area, or moving on, if the prime target happened to be 'complete'.
One rule I do stick to though ... utterly refuse to pay a 'booking fee' ... a real rip off!
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: Book ahead for France in July ?
