First time France

Herbenny

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In preparation for my first France trip ( not my hubbys) but as the travel boss I have been reading all I can on location, aires, etc.
I have been suprised how good the aires actually are as I had visions of being big gravelly grey car parks rammed tight with hundreds of vans....:scared:

In our two weeks we would like to go a far down as Bordeaux ...with at least a couple of days at a good campsite.

Can anyone recommend a coastal site or sites...not overcrowded, adults only, dog friendly, preferbly swimming pool and a nice town close by ? ...I realise France is a very big place and I have been looking on line but nothing stands out to me.

Thanks
 
Y'know Jac, I will probably get shot down in flames, but I think you are being slightly optimistic if you plan to get as far as Bordeaux and presumably back, in two weeks. I'm not saying it's not possible, because it is but, I think all you might see is motorways instead of getting the flavour of the 'real' France. Right, I'll just go and put my tin hat on now..... and wait for the flack!
 
Hi Herbenny,

If you are going down the west coast you could look up Le Letty (see their web site)at Benodet near Quimper a family run site. 2 Port Louis Aires (no pictures but in Aires book) near Lorient, 3,Sanguinet Aires Le Bardet Resize_P150912_18.27.jpgP140912_09.57.jpgP150912_12.12_[01].jpgP140912_10.00.jpgbelow Bordeaux on coast
If you go via Le Mans you could try La suze-sur-sarthe a great Aires on the river next to a campsite if you prefer but Aires is only 5 euros with water and electric and a toilet.P270208_11.41.jpgP270208_11.55.jpgP280208_10.17.jpgP270208_12.14_[02].jpgP270208_11.38.jpg
Look at Aires Services et Stationnement pour Camping-car web site.


Have fun Regards Snowbirds.:lol-053:


Herbenny said:
In preparation for my first France trip ( not my hubbys) but as the travel boss I have been reading all I can on location, aires, etc.
I have been suprised how good the aires actually are as I had visions of being big gravelly grey car parks rammed tight with hundreds of vans....:scared:

In our two weeks we would like to go a far down as Bordeaux ...with at least a couple of days at a good campsite.

Can anyone recommend a coastal site or sites...not overcrowded, adults only, dog friendly, preferbly swimming pool and a nice town close by ? ...I realise France is a very big place and I have been looking on line but nothing stands out to me.

Thanks
Click to expand...
 
Don`t try and do too much or travel too far, just go with the flow and take it day by day.

Last year we only got approx a third of the way i`d hoped to get in the 17 days we had over there as time flew by.

1 day springs to mind, we only travelled 1.8 miles and popped into an aire just to have a quick look for future reference.

We liked it that much we stayed there 2 days and then did the blooming same again 12 miles further :wacko:

In 4 days we`d travelled less than 14 miles, at that point the rough plan went in the bin :lol-049:
 
Oh I see ....him indoors is used to travelling down to bordeaux in a lorry so yes does see a lot of motorway...Maybe I am being too hopeful with only two weeks to spare.

I really dont mind how far we get but I need to somewhere to head to i.e a campsite that is going to be a stopping place for a few days before turning back. I can see now how there seems to be so much to see and do in France I dont think I have a real perspective of how big it is....

We are travelling mid september from dover calais ...I hope the weather holds out as I think thats why I was hoping to get as far south as I could.

snowbirds that looks a nice place ....thanks for the photos ;)
 
I think you'll be fine with that agenda.

You can comfortably make it down with 2 overnight stops in France and about 5 hours driving each day. Yes, you may see at lot of motorway but stopping at 3-4pm each day will give you a good idea of the flavour of France - enough time for a wander around whatever town you may be near and enjoying the local restaurants/hostelries before settling down for the night.

This is an aire we stayed at in Jan on our way down to the South of France - absolutely fab for the dogs as it's in a park with walks around the lake, no idea about local facilities as we just stayed in and around the motorhome. There are signs from the main road but it can seem a bit weird and as tho' you are going the wrong way as it is behind a residential area.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM-v0lyHGVk

http://www.ville-avoine.fr/Aire-de-camping-cars.html
 
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Disagree - the weather is awful.

And anyway, re your point " the coastal resorts are all to do with paid camp sites" - this is exactly what Herbenny asked about.

"In our two weeks we would like to go a far down as Bordeaux ...with at least a couple of days at a good campsite.

Can anyone recommend a coastal site or sites...not overcrowded, adults only, dog friendly, preferbly swimming pool and a nice town close by ? "
 
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last time i was in France was the first time i ever used an aire. in 5-6 weeks i think we used 4, as much for the novelty as anything. one near Mirabel was right next to a sewage works,they're not all great locations ! i would also stay off the route to Bordeaux,there's beautiful lakes and gorges and forests and rivers all through the centre of the country,and pretty much the whole place is an aire !
 
I agree with pretty much what has been said, La Rochelle Bordeaux there are aires and in June you shouldnt be as overcrowded as August.

Look on a Map from Bordeaux as the starting place and go East, through the famous vineyards and Apple plantations of St Emillion, Make your way to Bergerac fantastic parking by the River, Up to Monbazillac, the ancient caves in the Dordogne, Limeuil etc all not too far and possibly a bit more relaxing.

longish days but if you wanted to ROute Nationals all possible and arguably see more. If Husband drives trucks he will know all about Relais de Routiers and the food

Once you leave Calais throw a stone where it lands you can practically park

Channa
 
Really, a couple of days is plenty to get to Bordeaux if that's where you want to be - I would say it's worth it because it'll be warmer. If I was going that far I'd go a bit further to Biscarrosse-Plage, where there is an excellent (although not all that cheap) aire just off the beach and an easy cycle into the town. But that's up to you - Bordeaux itself is a big, busy town though which is a bit of a pain to drive through. The rocade (ring road) is fine, if a little push and shove.

You said you're going mid-September - outside the July / August school holidays a lot of coastal stuff will be shut. I can't recommend a campsite really, as we've only stayed on Aires in that region, although according to friends 'Camping du Soleil' in La Rochelle is very nice and right in the town. I can certainly vouch for La Rochelle itself, it's a lovely town, nicer than Royan I think and you could definitely make that in a day from Calais.

I think you'll struggle to find an adults only site though - I've certainly never seen one, although no doubt someone will be along to tell me otherwise... French campsites generally (there are exceptions) are pretty tranquil though, and the kids well behaved, plus they'll all be at school then. Camping is much more expensive by the coast than inland. Generally I'd say that the 'Campings Municipal' are the best bet - by the coast they are often to a very high standard and well equipped. Most will be closed out of season though, although some stay open until November, and the middle of September will be the tail end of the season for some.

Here's a site full of them: CAMPINGS MUNICIPAUX FRANCE I Retrouvez les Campings Municipaux en France sur cartes - the opening dates are in the info.

Hope this helps,
Richard.
 
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runnach said:
Buffalo Grill and you've been Flunched, are yummy, we never fail a Flunch lunch when out shopping! :tongue:

Jac, add these to yer list, lass.

LA PALMYRE.

Saint-Palais-sur-Mer.

Royan.

Saint-Augustin. < Mrs R had her house in this lovely village, you fall out the door into the forest, which is huge, one time I went for a walk and got lost, ended up miles away, no money, no phone, eventually got home, knackered, I took my pain out on a bottle of wine.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@45.6836502,-1.1081498,1175m/data=!3m1!1e3 some campsites within village and bound the forest.
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We love that area, we like cycling and walking so the South West suits us perfectly
 
I'd either stay close and explore Normandy and Brittany, or make the decision to do a full day + drive and get to Midi-Pyrénées going through Limousin. Once there it will be virtually empty, apart from parking in someones front garden, you can park anywhere, no one cares. Sure you'll have a great time which ever route you go, theres no bad route.
 


Trust this guy... He knows the score ! ". 2 weeks means one week out one,week back. Do you really want to drive every day , just to get caught up in Bordeuax traffic ?

Calm down, settle for a nice, easy taster of rural France.


Look out for Areas de loisir , on the outskirts of many towns,where there is ample parking and facilities for overnighting and sightseeing.
 
I went down to Bordeaux and further South last June, I took three weeks to do the trip but could have done it in two without rushing things, normally I only use Aires but on this trip decided that I would use campsites as well since I wanted to swim pretty much on a daily basis, also be aware that in popular places the the Aires can be more expensive than a good site when using an ACSI card (highly recommended). My driving habits are to depart early in the morning and arrive at the destination for a late lunch this means that when I am "on the way" to somewhere that I cover 300-350km a day in the old Hymer and I do avoid peages. The route I took and comments on the sites used:

Arrived in france mid afternoon and headed for the Lidl at Rue to get supplies, both aires at Crotoy were jam packed but I managed to squeeze in (I think this is the point that I decided I would use campsites more! I'd bought a new awning and wanted room to enjoy it)

Early start the next morning saw me clearing Rouen in two hours and a further three and a half hours down the N10 took me to Cloyes Sur Le Loir, temperatures were in the 30's so I headed for the ACSI site "Le Val Fleuri", great site with a much needed pool! Nice village, Market day the next day and a music festival the following evening prompted me to stay two nights.

8.30 start with the plan to head down the N10 then cut out west to St Jean D'angley, a place that I have been to before but not in the van, came across a long diversion so finished up driving down the Loire but still made Jean D'angley in 6 hours. There is a municipal with pool adjacent to the Free Aire, Opted for the municipal at 9 euros per night for two nights again. Municipal was fine but the pool wasn't heated very well! Jean D'angley a good place for walks etc. A good two hours entertainment was had watching a couple with a collapsible caravan put it together....

Pretty much done most of the driving now so sauntered down to St Emilion via Cognac in three hours, there is a good car park where you can stay up in Town for free but since it was very hot again I opted for Yelloh St Emillion with its waterslides and swimming pool, it's 3km from St Emilion, I took the curtesy bus up and walked by. The site is what it is, I was suprised to actually enjoy it but I imagine that in peak season it would be hell on Earth! Two nights here then headed off to pick my wife up from the Airport...

Picked up Sue then headed out to the coast at Lacanau and the five star site Camping Les Grands Pins, all very posh and only 16 euros a night! We are not really five star people but chose the site because it was right on the beach and within walking distance of Lacanau, Lacanau we loved, it has a slightly faded shabby exuberance, would certainly go back there. Had two nights then moved further South.

Short drive around the bay to the Dune of Pyla, I doubt anything can prepare you for how big this actually is! Finished up at Biscarosse Plage and the campsite Campéole Plage Sud, this was more us, much more open camping with lots of space, an easy walk into town and a good beach, we stayed for four nights which is the longest we have ever stayed anywhere on our travels!

I think I have covered the area you asked about, I will however complete this travelogue and post it again sometime. One thing I would close with is that this is the first time we actually finished up where we intended to in all our years of travelling to France! This, of course, is because I would have been in serious trouble had I not picked my wife up at Bordeaux Airport!

Last September for instance we set off intending to head for the Loire Atlantique and the Vendee, the weather was so good in the North that we never got further than three hours from Calais!

Have fun wherever you end up!

Steve
 
Herbenny said:
Oh I see ....him indoors is used to travelling down to bordeaux in a lorry so yes does see a lot of motorway...Maybe I am being too hopeful with only two weeks to spare.)
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It's all about what you want to do. Last September we went ferry Portsmouth-Caen and drove down to Chalon sur Soane (8hrs drive), stopped 2 nights then Verdon Gorge (6hrs drive), stopped 2 nights, then meandered back up through the alps and into central France, before a final dash for the ferry back, 2 week trip in total. First two weeks of May, back to Chalon for 2 nights, followed by a meander through the alps before a race back. First 2 weeks of September doing Plymouth Roscoff and drive to Nantes, followed by a meander down the coast or inland.
Once we finally get free to travel a bit more slowly, we will repeat most of these trips, but take 5 or 6 times as long. For now, start and end need to be long drives to see the areas we want.

Bordeaux in 2 days sounds fine, then a meander along the coast or a meander inland, don't plan to much, the beauty of the MH is you can change plans to suit the weather/mood/interest/etc.

Have Fun :)
 
Ive only motorbike toured France, but on my excursions I would say this:

1. The main route down the Atlantic coast to Bordeaux is pretty poor fare compared to (as Wints points out) the pleasures of further inland.

2. I'd prefer to cur through down to run down some of the Loire Valley, and then head toward the Central Massif area rather than main route it (even on N Roads) to Bordeaux.

3. Brittany. The week I spent riding around there was enjoyable - I only got really to explore the Eastern side away from the Atlantic (Such as Port St Malo, Mont St Michel, the Chateaus and small towns along the old Brittany/France borders such as Vitre and all that - the Isle de Brehat archipelago is nice right up the top (N) coast etc.) - we didn't get to explore the Western and coastal part of Brittany (yet) but reports I've had say its very nice indeed!

Calais is a bit of a hole (IMO) and best got out of asap if you cross there - if Finances allow I'd hazard that crossing to Cherbourg would get you to good stuff over the way you plan to head faster (I'd have said St Malo as its a nice port and town, but the crossing charges might be a bit too salty, and Cherbourg is only a couple of hours extra drive so may offer better value - it did when I was taking the motorcycle over in 2012).
 
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