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3 Responses to 'New to French camping – how and where to book?'

1. TallPaul - June 9th, 2010 at 11:33 pm

   TJ, there must be a zillion sites listing French campsites! Most of them will even send you literature and booking forms in English!

   Just decide roughly where you want to go first. I’d recommend Brittany.

   Edit: Here ya go:

   Edit to rob (below):
   “fairly cheap”? Are you having a laugh??

2. rob_forrest_9 - June 11th, 2010 at 10:02 pm

   you could try eurocamp
   they are on campsites all over france, they have tents set up ready when you arrive with lights/fridge/gas cooker etc
   slightly more comfortable than camping usually is and still fairly cheap
   hope this helps

3. richard b - June 12th, 2010 at 2:23 am

   There are two ways to go about organising a camping holiday in France. It really is a brilliant way to see France altho’ the pound has dropped about 15% against the euro recently so things are more expensive.
   However, the two ways.
   1. Go with one of the “ready erected” companies who rent out sited tents and/or mobile homes. Both are extremely comfortable – even the tents have sprung beds! And everything is provided except for personal things such as sheets and towels. However, in school holiday time this tends to be very expensive. The sites they use are usually 4* (that’s the highest rating in France) with excellent facilities such as swimming pools, table tennis, snooker tables, bike hire, crazy golf, etc., etc. These companies are Canvas Holidays, matthews Holidays, Haven France and others. Check their websites.
   2. The cheaper, more fun (in my opinion anyway) way is to take your own tent or caravan. I have been camping in France since 1962, first with tents and nowadays with a touring caravan. You can then have your pick of the sites. You could, for example, look at the ready erected brochures and then take your own tent. But you do need a guide of some sort. The best, again in my opinion, is the Caravan Club’s Guide (Volume 1) which includes sites in France and a few others. There are no photos in it but all the sites are described by members who have visited them and so you get a more accurate idea of their facilities and also their drawbacks, if any (such as being close to a main road or railway). This guide is available in most WHSmith’s and Waterstone’s or you could contact the Caravan Club at East Grinstead via their website. The book the french use is the Michelin Green Guide Camping et Caravaning France (WHSmith’s). Again, no photo’s and it’s in french unless you find an English copy.
   The best, large seaside sites can be pricey but the inland sites are much more reasonable. Every french municipality of any size has to have a camp site and some are provided by the local authority, often by the local sports ground/swimming pool, etc. These are very cheap and very good value.
   If you do decide on this form of holiday then take your own car so you can explore your surroundings. If you decide to “freelance” instead of booking with the ready-erected companies it may pay to book if you intend going in high season. Phone numbers are given in the guide books and many have websites which contain booking information and forms.
   Hope this has been of some use. If you need further info post another question.

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