We have wandered around France and Catalonia for a good few years. Each peregrination lasts about 4 months, yet we have not seen everything that we want to.
Being able to speak French, Italian and Catalan makes it very comfortable chatting to the locals and immersing ourselves in the area.
It is our diamond wedding next year and we cannot think of anything nicer than spending it on a French campsite*.
* she actually wanted a world cruise, but they don't take Camping Cheques.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Our first ever camping trip to France was prompted on Christmas Eve (not Boxing Day) when we saw what must have been one of Eurocamp's first advertising pushes of the season, and rang up for a brochure. When it arrived on ***Boxing Day we were so impressed that we booked the following day! That was in 1981 and we've been back camping or caravanning in Europe (mainly France, but also Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Italy, and Spain) every single year since then. Now my eldest son, who was just a six month old baby when we first went, and my youngest son go camping there with their partners.
*** This was in Post Office days, pre 'First and Second class', when post was delivered in a day or two at the most - even over Christmas.
Hi Val,
Our first overseas trip was prompted when we looked at a Eurocamp brochure!
For us it was 1989-our frame tent had been wrecked by cats while put up in the garden to dry out-and our youngest daughter was about to turn 11.
I tentatively suggested that as she was going to be at secondary school from the following September that 1990 was our last chance to take a decent foreign holiday that we could afford as Eurocamp were offering a 3 weeks for 2 if your last night was the 21st June or earlier.
My wife agreed and so we booked and our last night, after visiting, France, Belgium,Luxembourg,Germany, Italy and back to France, was on the 21st June at La Bien Assise in Guines with daylight till past 11pm and the sound of pea harvesting through the night!
Whilst we had a lovely time it showed us that if we wanted to go abroad a van would be a better bet and we bought our first van and visited France again in 1991.
Several vans and numerous visits later we are booked for two weeks next summer in France with the same daughter and her husband and three children.
This took first place over Damvix (Marais Poitevin) and ... wait for the howls of derision: Le Tedey ... sadly, with no EHU hook up plots along the lakeside, it cannot deliver the sort of views I need to accompany my evening G&T and bottle of wine ... looking endlessly at pine trees ... however magnificent ... just doesn't tick the right box.
My first european venture under canvas was in 1966 ... camping at Lloret after driving a double decker bus there ... but that's another story!
Unless the pound plummets to 50% of its current value we are likely to continue our love affair with weather, people, culture, architecture, geographical features, culinary experiences ... and ... of course ... le monde du vin.
Quote: Originally posted by Val A on 18/11/2017
Are other sections of UKCS as quiet as this one? Usually at this time of year there are multiple new topics each day, asking lots of 'new' questions. At the moment there were no topics started in the last few days, and only four topics had replies yesterday or the day before.
I don't look at other sections of UKCS but wonder if others who do have noticed how quiet it is.
Perhaps we could stimulate more interest again by having another 'photo' topic - with favourite places, favourite sites, wonderful views, or funny holiday pictures. Maybe a 'photo quiz' - where is this site, or this scene, or might you see this? Anyone else got any good ideas?
I reckon it's quiet on here simply because it's that time of year when many - possibly most - people are making plans for home and Christmas, rather than thinking of holidays abroad. That's traditionally saved until Boxing Day, isn't it?
Our first ever camping trip to France was prompted on Christmas Eve (not Boxing Day) when we saw what must have been one of Eurocamp's first advertising pushes of the season, and rang up for a brochure. When it arrived on ***Boxing Day we were so impressed that we booked the following day! That was in 1981 and we've been back camping or caravanning in Europe (mainly France, but also Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Italy, and Spain) every single year since then. Now my eldest son, who was just a six month old baby when we first went, and my youngest son go camping there with their partners.
*** This was in Post Office days, pre 'First and Second class', when post was delivered in a day or two at the most - even over Christmas.
I think I must have misunderstood your original post; I thought you were commenting on how quiet these boards are at the moment, not relating to trips to France at this time of year.
We were there again last month - though just passing through - on our way to Ypres, to watch the Mesh Theatre Company's production of Journey's End. Bookings for 2018 open on 1st December and I'd recommend it to all (see review).
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
My first post was about quiet forums, but my reply quoted above was prompted by your referral to Boxing Day being the traditional day to book a holiday.
Sorry Val, I shouldn't have quoted since I simply meant the majority of replies seem to be about something other than the original post, hence my own post seems a bit incongruous.
My comment about Boxing Day was also a bit tongue-in-cheek...I hate the way that holiday ads commence before we've even finished the turkey!
I do still check these boards whenever I have time to do so but, with this being a particularly busy time of year, that's less often than usual for me. It's actually a bit of escapism to drop by and read posts which prompt thoughts of our next trip across the Channel, so every new thread is of interest.
All booked for next year with 2 dogs for 6 weeks away. Chamonix 4 nights, Mont Blanc tunnel, then 3 weeks on Italian Lakes, then Austria for 5 nights, then Lake Constance for 6 nights. Returning to Calais for 2 nights to get dogs vet checked. Just waiting for 6 December to book Black Horse for the night before the Tunnel. Just hope all goes to plan.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
In July we paid for the ferry crossing in September to Santander however as we had to reject our caravan, we were unable to make the trip.
Brittany ferries kindly transferred the crossing to new dates in 2018 so we never lost any money there however we now have 3 crossings booked for 2018 instead of two and doubt if we could afford three anyway.
It seems we cannot merge two of the crossings so we only have two "live" crossing instead of three which then means losing out on the £35 deposit paid when the bookings became available.
I guess losing £35 is cheaper than losing £1200+. We do have annual Red Pennant cover, but not sure if this is covered?
Quote: Originally posted by longcol on 19/11/2017
We intend to move to France next year - permanently.
We're off next Saturday for a week viewing houses in the Dordogne / Lot. We also intend to buy a caravan so we can spend a lot of the winter in Southern Spain or the Algarve.
Good luck, LongCol. I hope you find a village which is as friendly as the one where we have our holiday home. We have been made so welcome there, and have made real friends who will just drop in for a coffee (or even a cup of tea) when they're passing! We had an English Afternoon Tea on the Journee de Patrimoine in September, which was such a success that we've already been asked to repeat it next year.
Just a quick update - had an offer on a property accepted - just outside Cenac in the Dordogne. Hope to be moving out April / May.
Nice! We stayed nearby, at Saint Cybranet on one of our earliest Eurocamp holidays.
We used Eurocamp in the late 90's after we had our second lad and we couldn't get all the gear in the car. We went to Moulin de Paulhiac (which will be about 2km away from our house)between Daglan and St Cybranet in 1999 - then we discovered they had their own vans for hire - and in those days we paid about £250 for two weeks at the end of May begining of June. Alas when the eldest went up to secondary school in 2002 we had to move the main holidays to July / August - didn't return to the Dordogne until 2007 when we went to Soliel Plage and discovered La Bouysse next door - have been to La Bouysse 6 times in the last 10 summers - looking forward to regular visits to the SP/LB stretch of the river this summer for swimming.
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: Overseas - such a quiet forum.........?
