Deleted member 12539
Guest
Just got back from a 14 day holiday to La reserve (a Siblu camp) near Bordeaux with our 12yr old son.
This has been, to date, the longest we have spent in our motorhome (had it for a year now).
Would we do it again? NO!
We went about it the wrong way... we got a late night ferry from Dover to Calais, drove to Berck on the coast expecting to get a slot on the Aire by the sea. Fat chance, because, it looked like quite a lot of french motorhomes had camped there for their holidays.
Awnings were erected, chairs and tables were out and washing hanging on lines! The Aire was full, but fortunately the car park next to it was almost empty (it was dark o'clock), so we got our heads down for the night. In the morning before our son was up we drove out of the car park, which was filling up with people with fishing gear, and found a quiet spot in a rest area on the A28 to have breakfast. Trip showing 126 miles from Calais.
After breakfast, we headed for Poitiers a distance of 295 miles avoiding the Peage.
Eventually we found a municipal campsite in Dissay for almost 12 Euros for the night and settled there for the night.
In the morning we set the Sat Nav for La Reserve near (60 miles) Bordeaux, and arrived at about 5pm.
We were given our pitch number and went to find it. Our pitch was a mere 7m X 8m, which created problems reversing the van under the trees which had to be 'trimmed' after the first attempt had branches tugging at the roof lights. The brochure says you get an average of 80sqm per pitch... ours was obviously the lower average of 56sqm.
Other caravans and tents were also squeezed in to their 'average' pitches which meant conversations whilst in bed could almost have been had between campers !!!!
So we arrived at the Siblu camp on the Friday having paid for a 10 day period (mistake) and during the following days tried to make the most of where we were and what was available, this included awful evening entertainment, a crowded pool, noisy neighbours and a 5 year old french lad who insisted on shaking the guy ropes on our windbreak til it fell down. We made full use of the excellent beach by the lake and water sports facilities. Our 12yr old had three hours of one to one instruction on canoeing, sailing and windsurfing for only 40 euros, a definite bargain, and we will be writing to Siblu at La Reserve to let them know how pleased we were with the instructors there.
We cycled the 6 miles into town every 3 days to collect rations because the shop in the camp was horrendously priced, but as we enjoy cycling this was no problem.
We left one day earlier than booked so we could get to see more of France, so on the Sunday morning we set off for La Rochelle and parked in a Aire near the town centre. The aire was almost full and I spotted a van with the title 'Brian Carol and Sam living the Dream' on the back and was sure I had seen a post from them on this site, but was not sure. Went for a walk twice into the old port once during the day and then at night. What a stunning location.
From La Rochelle, we headed for Rouen and parked near the city centre by the river. We then moved on to Pont de l'arche to an Aire that was already full with 4 vans, but decided we would stay overnight anyway.
In the morning after breakfast we drove to Abbeville and had a walk through the town, then headed off for Le Tourquet via the D940 and finished up staying in a municipal campsite in Etaples right next to the WW2 cemetery. We stayed at the campsite for almost 19 euros, with electric and showers.
In the morning we set off towards Calais through Bolougne stopping at a WW2 museum on the D940 coastal road, and finally back at Calais for our return ferry at 5.20pm.
The mistake we made was the 9 day stay at La Reserve! We should have used the van for the purpose it was made, touring!
Our 10 days at La Reserve cost £600, that was £60 a night! We could have moved from one campsite to another with nearly the same on site attractions for a third of the cost.
For me the best parts of the holiday was when we were moving from one location to another.
Next time we intend to combine two night stays on campsites, to allow for showering and washing clothes, and overnighters using Aires for the longer mile stints.
Statistics:
Set cruise control at 60 mph for the majority of the time.
Total mileage - 1818 miles
Total fuel £ - £447
Peage £ - 64 euros
MPG - don't ask
This has been, to date, the longest we have spent in our motorhome (had it for a year now).
Would we do it again? NO!
We went about it the wrong way... we got a late night ferry from Dover to Calais, drove to Berck on the coast expecting to get a slot on the Aire by the sea. Fat chance, because, it looked like quite a lot of french motorhomes had camped there for their holidays.
Awnings were erected, chairs and tables were out and washing hanging on lines! The Aire was full, but fortunately the car park next to it was almost empty (it was dark o'clock), so we got our heads down for the night. In the morning before our son was up we drove out of the car park, which was filling up with people with fishing gear, and found a quiet spot in a rest area on the A28 to have breakfast. Trip showing 126 miles from Calais.
After breakfast, we headed for Poitiers a distance of 295 miles avoiding the Peage.
Eventually we found a municipal campsite in Dissay for almost 12 Euros for the night and settled there for the night.
In the morning we set the Sat Nav for La Reserve near (60 miles) Bordeaux, and arrived at about 5pm.
We were given our pitch number and went to find it. Our pitch was a mere 7m X 8m, which created problems reversing the van under the trees which had to be 'trimmed' after the first attempt had branches tugging at the roof lights. The brochure says you get an average of 80sqm per pitch... ours was obviously the lower average of 56sqm.
Other caravans and tents were also squeezed in to their 'average' pitches which meant conversations whilst in bed could almost have been had between campers !!!!
So we arrived at the Siblu camp on the Friday having paid for a 10 day period (mistake) and during the following days tried to make the most of where we were and what was available, this included awful evening entertainment, a crowded pool, noisy neighbours and a 5 year old french lad who insisted on shaking the guy ropes on our windbreak til it fell down. We made full use of the excellent beach by the lake and water sports facilities. Our 12yr old had three hours of one to one instruction on canoeing, sailing and windsurfing for only 40 euros, a definite bargain, and we will be writing to Siblu at La Reserve to let them know how pleased we were with the instructors there.
We cycled the 6 miles into town every 3 days to collect rations because the shop in the camp was horrendously priced, but as we enjoy cycling this was no problem.
We left one day earlier than booked so we could get to see more of France, so on the Sunday morning we set off for La Rochelle and parked in a Aire near the town centre. The aire was almost full and I spotted a van with the title 'Brian Carol and Sam living the Dream' on the back and was sure I had seen a post from them on this site, but was not sure. Went for a walk twice into the old port once during the day and then at night. What a stunning location.
From La Rochelle, we headed for Rouen and parked near the city centre by the river. We then moved on to Pont de l'arche to an Aire that was already full with 4 vans, but decided we would stay overnight anyway.
In the morning after breakfast we drove to Abbeville and had a walk through the town, then headed off for Le Tourquet via the D940 and finished up staying in a municipal campsite in Etaples right next to the WW2 cemetery. We stayed at the campsite for almost 19 euros, with electric and showers.
In the morning we set off towards Calais through Bolougne stopping at a WW2 museum on the D940 coastal road, and finally back at Calais for our return ferry at 5.20pm.
The mistake we made was the 9 day stay at La Reserve! We should have used the van for the purpose it was made, touring!
Our 10 days at La Reserve cost £600, that was £60 a night! We could have moved from one campsite to another with nearly the same on site attractions for a third of the cost.
For me the best parts of the holiday was when we were moving from one location to another.
Next time we intend to combine two night stays on campsites, to allow for showering and washing clothes, and overnighters using Aires for the longer mile stints.
Statistics:
Set cruise control at 60 mph for the majority of the time.
Total mileage - 1818 miles
Total fuel £ - £447
Peage £ - 64 euros
MPG - don't ask
