Hi I've just checked our Eurocamp Independent brochure as it less than 1 week before we go!! and it says for the site we are going to that it is Charcoal BBQ's only!
Does anyone know why some say gas and some say Charcoal? - and has anyone used gas on a charcoal site?
Thanks, Martin.
------------- MUtley
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No idea Martin. We stayed on one last year that said the same, but we used our Cadac without any complaints. I can understand why some sites won't allow the use of charcoal BBQ's on sites that are close to forestry areas and the like, especially when the weather's hot. Gas BBQ's seem to be the better alternative as far as I'm concerned.
Hi I noticed that you have a Cadac. I'm going to France this year for the first time camping and have been looking at the Cadac Safari Chef Delux because it uses cannisters instead of gas bottles. I'd rather not take another gas bottle with us due to the weight but am concerned that this model may be too small for 4 persons. Which Cadac do you have and do you have any comments on the one I'm looking at? I can only find them online so I'm guided by a picture only. The cheapest iprice I've found is at www.fiammaonline.co.uk at £49.99 is this a good price? Thanks for any advice
Joto
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
No idea why some French sites are charcoal only and others gas only - I've stayed on sites that specify one or the other and never had a consistent explanation of the thinking! Eurocamp are pretty good at saying which ones are acceptable on the site(s) you are visiting. We have a Cadac and a folding charcoal one (B&Q).
A couple of years ago went to one site which was charcoal barbecues only and the Eurocamp reps were so awash with bags of charcoal that they were giving it away - Barbecued every day at their expense!!! (mind you, they charge you enough to organise the holiday!).
Quote: Originally posted by Technophobe on 13/07/2005
Eurocamp are pretty good at saying which ones are acceptable on the site(s) you are visiting. We have a Cadac and a folding charcoal one (B&Q). Jon
Sometimes local conditions are out of the control of Eurocamp. They were very quick to apologise to us that although the brochure had advertised that charcoal BBQs were allowed, the campsite had just banned their use because of the dryness of the area. This was in the heatwave of two years ago and we had just come from a campsite where we had narrowly avoided having to evacuate due to forest fires, so there was no complaining from us!
Good question 'mini'. I have no idea, although it wouldn't surprise me if they said no gas bbqs but allowed camping-gaz type stoves. Rules are sometimes that illogical! All I know is that there are several sites accepting tents as well as caravans & motorhomes but ban gas bbqs, yet allow charcoal ones.
Many regions thst suffer from drought, such as the Ardeche, ban barbecues using charcoal. Some sites even ban other types of berbecues.
In the drought of two years ago we were on a site in the Drome and were were informed that the Gendarmes would immediately close the site for the season if anyone was found using a charcoal barbecue.
Just recently several thousand acres of the region between France and Spain was devasted by an idiot using a charcoal barbecue.
Please take great care with all types of fire (cigarettes included) as this year the drought has returned to Europe with a vengance.
We are off to Saumur (L'etang de la Breche) in August and the brochure (Eurocamp Independant) says charcoal only. As the last time we were at a site in France it said this too, and loads of people had Cadacs, and since the site documentation said nothing about barbecues, I decided to check with Eurocamp this weekend.
They checked their files and informed me that the site allows BOTH types!
I would recommend checking with the site or travel company (if you are using one) for a definitive answer as brochures may not be entirely accurate.
we were at L'Etang de la Breche last year, and they did indeed allow both types. We normally do all of our cooking on our Cadac, as it's just so versatile. The site shop sells charcoal, and the small bucket type BBQ's. The site's fantastic, by the way.
There's quite a few UKCS'ters going to L'Etang in August, including quite alot of my mates, round about the 13th - 20th Before they de-camp up to Normandy for a week they're all coming to a house-warming party at our camp-site that we've bought close to Saumur. Why not pop over & say hello, come & see our place?
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: Gas vs Charcaol BBQs in France
