Feedback on France

MickOR

Hi,
Planning a trip to france for 3 or possibly 4 weeks in June. We've two kids, a 4 year old and a 2 year old. Going to go with Celtic Ferries - Rosslare to Cherbourg - as they are the best price @ 460 euros. We have to meet up with friends of ours for a week in Languedoc-Roussillon (Portiragnes - Camping les Sablons). Planning on driving down the west coast and then across. Would like to take our time going down without doing any more than 3-4 hours driving per day.
Does anyone have any experience of this kind of trip?
Would a week be enough time to get to Portiragnes without rushing too much? What would you need to budget for deisel for that kind of driving per day(3-4 hours).
Has anyone used Camping Cheques? http://www.campingcheque.co.uk/
Each 15euro cheque is good for two people/night. On average what extra charge would you need to pay for 2 kids(4 & 2)?

This is our first trip of this kind so we'd really appreciate any feedback from all ye seasoned campers.:)
Thanks
Mick

T650

Hi there,

I use the ViaMichelin website to find the most direct route to my ultimate destination. You will see when it displays your route that it gives distance, time and toll fees. I then use the time column and map to see where we would be after approximately 3 hours driving. Then search for sites near that location. We travel with our children too so I like to know where I am staying for the night throughout my journey before setting off. Some people prefer to go on spec and use aires de service but we like to have a site booked with pool and playground for the children.

Here is the returned result from a search from Cherbourg to Portiragnes. I know you want to travel down the west coast but just as an example of what route search result looks like - click on the link:

http://www.viamichelin.com

We also use the satnav to find diesel off the motorway. At the motorway service stations you'll pay 15-20c more per litre compared to buying at a supermarket.

Yes motorways have tolls but are the fastest route from A to B. However national roads will allow you to see more of the country, towns and villages.

Hope that answers some of your questions for you. I have no doubt you will receive more over the next few days

MickOR

Thanks a mill for the quick reply. Had a look at the website, it looks loaded with useful info. Thanks again

T650

Oh and here are some links to find campsites

http://www.eurocampings.co.uk/en/europe/france/

http://camping.hpaguide.co.uk/

http://www.eurocampingcar.com/carte.php3?envoi=uk1010000 (this one to locate aires de service )

http://www.campingqualite.com/

http://ie.franceguide.com/Event/home.html?NodeID=406 ( this is the page on the Official French Tourist Board website where you can search for festivals and events that might help you decide where to stop )

stapeler

The camping cheques are handy but don't buy too many, check with the campsites as most don't accept them during peak season. You're probably okay using them during June but verify with the camp sites.
From experience I find that 3-4 hour drives on the map/sat nav always tend to become 5-6 hr drives stopping a few times, doing a few shops/sites and taking it handy on the smaller roads.
A few years back I did a leisurely drive from Montpellier to Cherburgh over 3 days. Regular stops for a bit of sunshine and a relax. At the time I drove 5-6hrs per day mostly motorway driving. Can't quiet remember but I think I refilled about 3 times.

MickOR

Thanks stapeler, thats good to know. Stumbled across the Camping Card ASCI site since and that seems a better deal as you don't have to book all the vouchers in advance. Just buy the card for 15euro and then avail of a max 15euro rate in all their affiliated campsites. Prefer this idea as it allows for some flexibility for wild camping also.

T650 thanks for the list of sites. plenty to get stuck into there.

T650

MickOR wrote: »

Thanks stapeler, thats good to know. Stumbled across the Camping Card ASCI site since and that seems a better deal as you don't have to book all the vouchers in advance. Just buy the card for 15euro and then avail of a max 15euro rate in all their affiliated campsites. Prefer this idea as it allows for some flexibility for wild camping also.

T650 thanks for the list of sites. plenty to get stuck into there.

And one of the sites listed above

http://www.eurocampings.co.uk/en/europe/france/

is actually created and maintained by ACSI

Bessa

Hi we used the ASCI card last year great camp sites also, some we would never have stumbled on without it. We have the card and and book for this year again.

Mountainsandh

Just seeing your post now, we actually did that trip last year, to Les Sablons, but took a different approach down ! We went inland straightaway, and stopped twice on the way down. The duration of trips (with breaks) was just right for our 4 and 2 1/2 year olds (at the time).

Arriving in Cherbourg, our first stop was in Le Kormoran, just about 40 minutes coming out of the ferry... great little campsite for a first night, cross the road to Utah beach, bouncy castles, playgrounds, dwarf goats, and pool. We're stopping there again this year on arrival/departure, it's nice not to be in a rush the first and last nights.

Then we moved on to this site http://www.mignardiere.com/index.html , outside of Tours, for a night stop. It's a lovely quiet and friendly spot, with good facilities. If you get there early enough, there's a (paying) kid's park across with poneys etc... and the pool is great.

We then stopped a bit South of Clermont Ferrand, in this campsite : http://www.camping-le-clos-auroy.com/ , very very clean, great pool, run by Dutch people, good for a stop near to motorway, but a bit too "cold" for our taste (we like the good old French friendliness ). Pool and a bit of a playground kept kiddies happy for the afternoon though, and nice pizza on site, so can't complain.

And from there it was straight down to Les Sablons, with a stop at a fantastic motorway aire on the way down, can't remember the name for the life of me, but famous castle on a rock to be admired from the aire, and you really can't miss it (restaurants+tourist shops). Great for a picnic and a break.

The motorway down through this region is amazing, we saw eagles on the side of the road, and a lot of places we are planning to visit some time (will be doing some this year in fact).

Les Sablons is a brilliant campsite with and for the kids, and with the ACSI card we got a fantastic price on 5 nights, so whip it out the minute you go in. There are lovely restaurants outside of the campsite, turn left and head for the lights and bustle, and have some change for the merry go rounds. in Les Sablons don't be tempted to settle too close to the pool, it does get a bit loud at night with animations... we settled in an area called Golf, and it was right beside facilities, quiet at night, and plenty near enough to beach and pool during the day.

Sorry for the really long post, I figured it might help some planning similar trips, have a great time !

PS : by the way, however good Les Sablons was, we felt we had made a mistake last year by settling in the one spot for 5 nights. I guess we just got itchy feet, and wanted to be on the road again... but it's just us, and we didn't have any friends to meet down there or anything. Oh yeah ! and a special afternoon you must absolutely experience if you're down there, on a hot day : a trip on electric bark on the Canal du Midi. As you branch off to Portiragne, you will see the canal on your right at some stage, with fruit sellers and a pizza/snack place. A fellow has a few electric barks to rent for an hour or so. It's cheap enough, and the canal is fresh and just stunning on a summer afternoon. Our entire family loved it. pic here : http://www.flickr.com/photos/38994151@N03/4756188928/

MickOR

Thanks a mill for all the info Mountainsandh. It's good to know as we've changed plan and decided to go down through the centre/east(maybe through Lyon) because we're probably gonna hit disneyland for a day after we arrive. Figured it would be better to do that at the start to avoid our four year old harping on about "when are we going to disneyland?" for the entire 4 weeks!
Thanks again.

Mountainsandh

Yes, and the less touristy places inland are just as beautiful, you often have the pool (nearly) to yourself, the heat and weather are the same, and everything is cheaper. All is less crowded, meaning, less hassle and more pleasure with your kiddies.

I'm from Lyon actually, don't hesitate to ask if you need any info about that area