Our intention next August is to visit Paris for five nights staying at Camping Paris/Bois de Boulogne near the centre. I have heard some mixed opinions about the campsite but I reckon the location for proximity to the centre cant be beaten. Has anybody got any real horror stories?
I would also be grateful for any tips or hints about visiting Paris with a family in tow aged 11 and 14. We intend doing the usuals, Eiffel Tower, Notre Damme Sacre Coeur etc, that is as long as i don't end up driving around the Arche de Triomphe with the caravan on the back for a week.....
Many Thanks
Post last edited on 06/09/2018 22:42:58
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No info about campsites but having been to Paris in August I will make two comments.
It's holiday time for the French too, so some small shops and restaurants will be closed and certain areas can be a bit like a ghost town! Business as usual for the touristy bits!
It can be extremely hot and sticky so be prepared for this. However there are some lovely shady parks such as the Tuileries and the Jardin de Luxembourg and you can easily find a kiosk serving sandwiches, beers and ice cream, which will be a big step up from what you would get in a UK park. An ideal lunch stop.
On our way back (last wk) from Millau we stayed at 4 Vents site. Its only 40mins train into Paris. Train was clean, comfy, air conned and cheap (less than £50 for 3 adults including all travel in Paris, train, bus and metro!) free parking at station too!!
We took a big bus tour of Paris, its hop on hop off and a great way to see many attractions. Although both OH and I have been, our son hadn't and he enjoyed taking lots of photos!
------------- 2026
Various weekends, weather and time permitting
April - Yorkshire and Yorkshire
June - Wiltshire and Oxfordshire
Autumn - North and Scotland
if you have children, you must go into the Catacombs. Skulls and bones everywhere. It isn't at all creepy, and youngsters seem to love things like that. You have to go underground obviously, and it's a fair old walk once down there, but something totally different and unforgettable.
------------- Beenie xxx
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Another vote for the Catacombs but be warned, the exit is nowhere near the entrance......can be a bit disorienting. Also, parts of the Bois de Boulogne are notorious for "night-time activities"
For transport I can recommend "Bateau Bus" which is a river taxi. You buy a day ticket which allows you to hop on/off one of the frequent boats which stop at various points along the river. It's been a few years since I used it but I recall the price being pretty reasonable.
Rod
------------- "quando omni flunkus moritatus"
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Sorry - no knowledge of Bois de Boulonge campsite - but - we have stayed at Camping Campix which he really enjoyed (see Reviews on this site). It's not too bad to get into the centre of Paris (from memory - 15min. drive to local station then 40min. RER) - and - if you are a so-inclined family group you could mix up Paris sight-seeing with a trip to the nearby Parc Asterix theme park (great live shows as well as the rides).
PS - I see there is mention of 4 Vents in this thread - we have stayed here as well and liked it - but - Campix definately gets my nod (the words Swallow and Amazon spring to mind).
We stayed at Camping (Indigo) de Paris this August in the Bois de Boulonge, during the very hot spell, 36 degrees every day... Phew! We booked through The Caravan Club, and were very happy. It is a very large site, with a lot of turnover, i.e most people only stay a few days, with a LOT of Motorhomes. No-one stayed long enough for you to get chatting to them! Staff however, were very helpful and worked hard to keep things moving and also keep the facilities clean. I wouldn't want to spend two weeks there, not much to do onsite apart from a small bar and Paris is very expensive. The shuttle bus to the Metro (10 mins to Porte Maillot) was great, every 15 mins in high season, be sure to get there early, as mid morning there was a queue for the bus, and we once had to wait 15 mins for the next one as it was so busy.
We had a decent sized pitch with good shade, however the ground was hard and dusty, but then it was an exceptional summer. We shared a water point with 3 other pitches. A nicely stocked shop onsite (with Baguettes and Fresh Milk still available in the evening!), and newly refurbished toilet blocks. 10 mins walk away over the Seine bridge there was a modern concrete commercial centre with a few restaurants, shops and a small supermarket.
We found the drive to the site from Calais with our caravan straightforward. Satnav took us down the Autoroute to within the last couple of miles and then a wide boulevard along the river Seine to the site avoiding the Peripherique. I wouldn't plan to stay at Camping de Paris for a relaxing break, but as a base for exploring Paris from your caravan/motorhome/tent it was ideal.
Just a wee aside , we also visited the Catacomb's and our bags were checked on the way out !
The bones would be useless for soup after all these years
Our best ever Paris highlight was an electric bike guided tour of "Alternative Paris" one December
Many thanks for the input folks. Have booked six nights in Paris then off to chateau Des Tilleuls in the Bay de Somme for a week to relax after the stresses of Paris.
Again, many thanks.
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: Visiting Paris
