camp sites in france, any experience??

scully74

hi all,
well we're heading on first overseas trip to france, landing in cherbourg, maybe head south along coast.:)
can anyone recommend any camp sites on the coast or areas to visit in this part of france ( bretagne or pay-de-la-lorrie areas)....... i have two kids so i'll need to keep them happy too
are they expensive? do i need to book in advance?
thanks a lot

stapeler

We've stayed a couple of nights in Le Domaine des Ormes http://www.les-castels.com/en-camping-LE-DOMAINE-DES-ORMES-id253-id_camping3.html which is about 3 hrs south of Cherburg near a place called Dol-de-Bretagne. Really nice inland site and is part of the Les-castles group.
Typically we book the first few nights of the holiday and then book a few days in advance depending on where we're going.
http://www.les-castels.com is a chain of high quality sites all over France all built on country estates. We've also stayed in South Britanny in La Garangeoire (also part of le-castles but about 10km from the coast)and have returned there a few times in the past few years.
The Vendee region is a fantastic area to visit with stunning beeches and attractions. Two sites we stayed in are
http://www.camping-ecureuils.com/ & http://www.solagogo.com/eng/index.htm Prices are typically around €30-35 per night.
A good day out with the kids is http://www.puydufou.com which out 5 & 9yr olds love...they also provide free overnight camping facilities.
In Pay-de-la-loire we've stayed in Saumur, about a 5 minute walk from the town centre is Camping Ile d'Offard which is quiet a nice site and lots to see in the area.
I'd recommend you drop into Easons and get the AlanRogers guide book. It's our "Bible" on the road....

When are you travelling?

scaldybelt

Just back from 2 weeks in the Cap Ferret region (Arcachon Basin area wouth west of Bordeaux).
(Was in a tent with the family and 2 dogs)

Stayed at the campsite http://www.trucvert.com/ . Our third time since 2000. Highly recommend it. 400 metre walk to the beach (out of the campsite, across the road and over the sanddunes).

If you're considering it - I recommend contacting them as this is peak and a lot of people book in advance (Yvonne runs the place - great English). Mind you - it is a large site. Very popular with the Germans, Dutch and French.
No pool, but onsite supermarket, restaurants, bar, amusements for kids, playground, bicycle rental.
Plenty of cycling can be done in the area on designated forest tracks.

Hard to beat the area for surf and seafood. I know where I wanna be in this cr@p weather!

aerosol

Hi Skully,I'm off to france tomorrow,nothing booked(2 kids also),height of season in France is first 2 weeks of Aug.This is when sites get really full.I'm heading home on 1st aug and be staying on aires/france passion sites

Have a look here http://www.motorhomefacts.com/forum-125.html
loads of info on France.

have fun

scully74

hi guys thanks for all the info so far, just thinking..what is the story with power hook up in france? is it the same blue plug we use in ireland. i also have the germany type gas connecter/bottle in the van is there a place in limerick area to get it refilled or changed, what do you guys use? or any advice you have be great too:)

stapeler

Yes they're the same, 'came across a site before using two pin plugs but they supplied adapters.
Your current Gas connection should be the same fitting as the Irish Propane connection. I used to have a French and Irish bottle, when in France I'd swap it for a fresh one. There a couple a posts going back a few month that discuss getting bottles topped up.

scully74

stapeler wrote: »

We've stayed a couple of nights in Le Domaine des Ormes http://www.les-castels.com/en-camping-LE-DOMAINE-DES-ORMES-id253-id_camping3.html which is about 3 hrs south of Cherburg near a place called Dol-de-Bretagne. Really nice inland site and is part of the Les-castles group.
Typically we book the first few nights of the holiday and then book a few days in advance depending on where we're going.
http://www.les-castels.com is a chain of high quality sites all over France all built on country estates. We've also stayed in South Britanny in La Garangeoire (also part of le-castles but about 10km from the coast)and have returned there a few times in the past few years.
The Vendee region is a fantastic area to visit with stunning beeches and attractions. Two sites we stayed in are
http://www.camping-ecureuils.com/ & http://www.solagogo.com/eng/index.htm Prices are typically around

35 per night.
A good day out with the kids is http://www.puydufou.com which out 5 & 9yr olds love...they also provide free overnight camping facilities.
In Pay-de-la-loire we've stayed in Saumur, about a 5 minute walk from the town centre is Camping Ile d'Offard which is quiet a nice site and lots to see in the area.
I'd recommend you drop into Easons and get the AlanRogers guide book. It's our "Bible" on the road....

When are you travelling?

hi,
and thanks for all the info very helpful,i went to easons and got the alan rogers book, very popular, was the last one:).
going on 28th july 4 2 weeks.

stapeler

Enjoy the experience. I hope to be sipping French wine on Tuesday evening (south of Paris) before a few weeks touring Germany :cool:

Torq

Hi Guys,
Got back last friday from 2 weeks in France, our 3rd or 4th year in a row over there. We have never booked a site in advance, we just turn up at reception, (usually about 9pm!) and hope for the best and out of about 25 sites we have only been refused once and that was due to it being full. The Alain Rogers book is ok but it only gives a fraction of the sites in France, if you have a word or 2 of french get the michellin book, it's more basic on information but lists far more sites.
Have never stayed in one of the Aires but have taken in a few municipals (most towns have them), the last one we stayed in was less than a tenner for the night and we were the only residents!!
Nearly every town on the Biscay coast has at least one campsite, the coast d'argent above Bordeaux has a beach that stretches for about 80 miles with several towns and loads of sites to choose from. Writing this post is making me wish I was back there!!
Keep well.
Torq

CJhaughey

We stayed at le Grande Metaire in Brittany, very popular site and deservedly so, it has everything on site, fantastic pool,Kids playgrounds etc.
It is part of le castels chain so quality is guaranteed.
The beach is only a short distance away and is huge and sandy and being on the gulf of morbihan is quite sheltered and safe, important if you have young kids.
I cannot recommend it highly enough.