Any recommendations for first time touring in France with teenagers don't want to travel too far first time, but want decent weather in summer hols August.fed up uk weather good before kids finish school then it rains as soon as you go away
Tia
------------- Su & Jas
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Are you looking for a campsite where the activities and entertainments are largely on site ? - swimming pools, water slides, games, parties, discos and so on.
Or are you looking for an area where the activities are largely off site ? - surfing, canoeing, mountain walking, off road cycling and so on.
Some families with teenagers prefer the one and some prefer the other
The Vendee area is a popular first trip for weather.
Can drive in a 5-6 hours from a western crossing or take 2 days from Calais.
I would recommend stopping around Le Mans (Beaumont Sur Sarthe) for an overnight before the final leg down.
From Saturday 26th August most sites will be charging mid-season rates and should have plenty of spaces.
Guy.
------------- It's only an expensive hobby when it's parked on your Drive....use it, love it , live it.
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The Vendee area is a popular first trip for weather. La Tranche-sur-Mer - Camping Bel is a good site.
From Calais as Motorhomeguy suggested stopping around Le Mans (approx 240 miles) (Beaumont Sur Sarthe - great municipal campsite) for an overnight and then down to Vendee ( approx 200 miles). Try the tunnel, easy and quick.
------------- I have forgotten more than I now know
If you want decent weather I'd say you need to be south of the Loire Valley.
Which crossing are you taking as this will affect recomendatons.
Best advice I will say I'd use your time to drive south! Any driving east and west is a waste of time from a weather perspective. We did the vendee a few times but weather always poor.
We now head to Dordogne, Ardeche or south. A few hours extra south a good investment for 2 weeks of sun
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We love this site, Normandy had two hols here so far and going back, june/july weather been very good. but I think they might be getting what we have now.
After a washout in Devon one yr, I refused to main holiday in UK again. Bailing out tent and having Gollum feet - no fun at all. So we bought a caravan and headed for the Vendee region first and loved it. Our eldest was about 15 when we first started going but with a then 6 yr old in tow, we had to tick lots of boxes.
If your teens enjoy outdoors, then this is a good region to look at. The beaches are good, fantastic cycle routes (many off road completely) Go Ape type places,(without the over zealous health and safety) karting, canoeing etc
Most of all, on the whole, weather is good!
Mine love all these things and when I'm planning our holidays, I know I have to make sure there is plenty of above things to do.
In addition, we are all history nerds(eldest just got a first in history from Sheffield!) so love chateaux, old churches and villages etc
------------- 2026
Various weekends, weather and time permitting
April - Yorkshire and Yorkshire
June - Wiltshire and Oxfordshire
Autumn - North and Scotland
Either the Loire between Angers and Tours or the Vendee or Southern Brittany around Carnac are good first choices and usually decent weather. If you dont want to travel in France consider the Portsmouth - St Malo ferry which is more expensive but much more convenient for these regions than Calais.
I think you need to get to the Dordogne - or further - although even then it can be variable but hot days are scorching. You are looking at 9-10 hours towing with a caravan from Calais but it's worth it.
------------- 2017
Have caravan will travel
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I'd support Kitcat - the sun's power below the 45th parallel is that much stronger; and the farther south the more the likelihood of better weather. The Midi is reputed to have the sunniest and hottest climate (from Valence down the Rhone valley, and the Med coastal plain), with the Vendee close behind.
Our first French trip, many years ago now, was to the Vaucluse. A two day journey with trailer tent. I'm so glad we did that - the following year was in the Loire, and the weather was much more like home. But to make it worth the extra day, the journey has to be regarded as part of the holiday. Even the change in flora (first vineyard, first cypress tree and so on), in roof tiles, in cattle types makes it interesting, and the kids get a sense of the distance travelled.
For teenagers, perhaps a larger site with a bit of music in the evening, near to an interesting city like Avignon or Montpellier (both university cities, with something of a 'youth culture'). To be safe, you need to get them very involved with the research.
Have a good trip. The wine and food alone makes the journey worthwhile.
Our first foreign camping trip was to the Vendee. We sailed from Calais and stopped overnight at Noyen sur Sarthe near Le Mans. A leisurely drive from Calais and then a short hop to the coast the following morning, very easy. We were quite lucky with the weather, a few hot days (30c ish) and mostly sunny. Didn't rain at all for a week but I don't think it's guaranteed by any means. I'd say it's a decent choice for a first foray but don't go expecting Mediterranean weather.
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: First time caravaners france
