Any advice for our 1st trip to France. (1 Viewer)

[Shandyman]

Hello Funsters,

We ( 2 adults and a dog) are hoping to go to France for the 1st time in June or September for about 12 days having never done anything like this before we are really looking for some guidance.

1. Which is the best crossing tunnel or ferry given that we would be travelling from West Wales.

2. What area would be best for the 1st trip given that we like the sea, sand and chilling.

3. Which month would be best to travel.

4. Would it be best to stay on sites or on aires.

Any advice on the above or any other information we should consider would be greatly appreciated.

Many Thanks

Richard and Carol

 

[kelv]

Hi
We did brittany and the vendee last June highly recommend
Portsmouth to St malo on the overnight ferry a bit expensive but you save on driving and in my opinion the ferry is part of the holiday
Great campsites very cheap if using the acsi card average 14 euro a night

 

[Wildman]

Hi, Tunnel best all round for the dog, no messing about, June may be a bit warm for the dog if you travel too far south, depends on the breed really. Keep a card on the dashboard with an arrow pointing to the kerb to remind you to keep on the right. Buy local food, but take plenty of your usual dog food. Feed dog in the mornings to cut down on noxious gasses at night, hee hee. Avoid tolls and explore the little villages, roads are great, traffic minimal and parking easy.

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[Phill D]

Hi Richard and Carol

we are going in June this time, we take our dog also.
this is what we are doing this time, but there are infinite other options....

travel up to Ashford and stay a night at the CL at the back of the Dum Inn pub, elec if you want it and pub grub, its not cheap at £18 ( thats with elect ) but it is literaly 5 mins from motorway and 10 minutes from the shuttle. there is a field at the back to walk the dog and the dog is welcome in the pub.
we then cross using the Tunnel,,, TESCO vouchers so free travel except for the do (£32 rtn ) we tend to cross on an early ish sinday morning ( 8 / 9 am ) as we use the French motorways at least for the first jump. there being little or no traffic on the French motorways on a sunday particularly in the morning.

we only occasionally use aires but thats us.
we use both a mix of ACSI sites and Camping cheques, oh and municipal sites.

avoid Mid July to 3rd week in August its French Holiday season and prices and pitches are all at premium.

only ever book our shuttle over and back and nothing else. we then go where our fancy or the weather takes us.

we usually plan to go to a particular area but that is very loose and vary from that if the weather is not kind. have been known to just drive until the sun came out, found a nice site and stayed a week.

oh and we have only twice in 6 /7 years of trips ( 4 - 8 weeks at a time ) been turned away from a site full, then found another 20 minutes drive away.

I assume the dog has its Pet passport sorted.

 

[colinw]

travel up to Ashford and stay a night at the CL at the back of the Dum Inn pub, elec if you want it and pub grub, its not cheap at £18 ( thats with elect ) but it is literaly 5 mins from motorway and 10 minutes from the shuttle. there is a field at the back to walk the dog and the dog is welcome in the pub.

I will follow this thread closely as well . please keep nuggets like the one above coming ,thanks .

 

[Phill D]

if you want a town site about 45 mins from the shuttle French side.. there is a small simple site with a few nice eating places and a LeClerks for booze and cheap fuel within about a mile..
we often use it on the way back and use the vet, although the vet is not the cheapest at Euro 40 but he is thorough and helpful.

the place is, Montreuil-sur-mer, the site is La Fontaine des Clercs,

however there is now a new Aire close to the town centre which is level and hard standing.

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[Eddystone]

Hi Richard and Carol

we are going in June this time, we take our dog also.
this is what we are doing this time, but there are infinite other options....

travel up to Ashford and stay a night at the CL at the back of the Dum Inn pub, elec if you want it and pub grub, its not cheap at £18 ( thats with elect ) but it is literaly 5 mins from motorway and 10 minutes from the shuttle. there is a field at the back to walk the dog and the dog is welcome in the pub.
we then cross using the Tunnel,,, TESCO vouchers so free travel except for the do (£32 rtn ) we tend to cross on an early ish sinday morning ( 8 / 9 am ) as we use the French motorways at least for the first jump. there being little or no traffic on the French motorways on a sunday particularly in the morning.

we only occasionally use aires but thats us.
we use both a mix of ACSI sites and Camping cheques, oh and municipal sites.

avoid Mid July to 3rd week in August its French Holiday season and prices and pitches are all at premium.

only ever book our shuttle over and back and nothing else. we then go where our fancy or the weather takes us.

we usually plan to go to a particular area but that is very loose and vary from that if the weather is not kind. have been known to just drive until the sun came out, found a nice site and stayed a week.

oh and we have only twice in 6 /7 years of trips ( 4 - 8 weeks at a time ) been turned away from a site full, then found another 20 minutes drive away.

I assume the dog has its Pet passport sorted.

This is very much our format too.
We don't have a dog so can not comment on that aspect.

Have used the Drum Inn and also CC Black Horse Farm. Even stayed with C&CC temp hols site when we had an afternoon train.

Haven't bothered with camping cheques since getting ACSI but also use municipal sites and occasional aires. One point here though - some municipals don't take credit cards.

Have been in May and also September and enjoyed both. Lovely long daylight days in May. Shorter in Sept but still warm enough to enjoy.

Go and enjoy the much quieter roads. BTW we only use toll free roads and see the real France .

 

[DBK]

From West Wales I would go to Roscoff from Plymouth, which is about two hours from Bristol. The channel is a very long and boring drive from where you live and Northern France can be depressing.

Brittany is delightful if the weather is good, which it isn't always. If it is damp head south towards the Dordogne which can be a bit touristy but virtually anywhere will be good. The Ile de Oleron is about halfway down the west coast and a great place for chilling. Has some good naturist beaches if you want to go fully native!

Use the aires around the smaller towns or villages. You only have 12 days so don't spend it driving.

 

[wingman]

@Shandyman Hi Richard & Carol. You will LOVE it! Remember that 12 days equals 6 days there, six days back if you go too far!

Armchair planning is the answer to a successful trip, but don't over-egg it. There is another section within MHF called 'Continental Touring' which has loads of info.

Firstly, make sure the basics are done...... Passports are ok, Meds If you need them, all of your vehicle is in order (with things like headlamp beam deflectors if requ'd) and remember that you need to take documents like your V5, (log book that was) MOT (if requ'd) your insurance doc's, driving licence etc. It's best to photocopy these and keep the originals in your vehicle safe, if you have one.

Decide on Toll roads or no tolls and set your Sat-Nag accordingly. It's always useful to have a pot of € coins for tolls. Saves you ferreting around for money at the booths.

Talking of tolls, once you've gone through one, you'll be an expert! Remember though that some approach lanes have height restrictions and are cars only, whilst others are for lorries or for those with a Tag. Just head for the icon on the gantry signs which looks like a bloke with a hat accepting cash.

Loads more, but others will contribute.
James

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[Mousy]

We drive from Llanelli to the tunnel, leaving in the morning, takes 5 hours. We use a mid afternoon crossing. We see how we feel and drive accordingly, stopping overnight in aires. We love aires.

We like the ill de rey but have two trips booked this year, first 2 weeks in July we are taking our dog and sons to lake annency. We will use aires on the way down then 2 campsites probably.

September first 2 weeks, no idea where but that's the beauty of France, it's massive and so motorhome friendly.

 

[Clive]

Well you are looking at the best two months to avoid the crowds and still get good weather. All I can suggest is pick an area that you fancy, then just play it by ear. I cross on th 6th June, turn right and head towards Bordeaux, whether I can there will depend on the interesting places I find in between.

 

[Baggers53]

Have a good Sat Nav.....be flexible, have a plan and some idea of where you want to go and what you want to see, but be open minded and in the end do what you wish to do with out tiring yourselves out.
Do a card with your vehicle details such as Length, height, width, weight, number plate and any other info and stick this to the drivers sun visor....you never know when you will need this info at short notice ie a bridge or a ferry.
Also do another card with a cross reference of MPH to Kph and put this where the driver can easily view it.
Just go and enjoy it!!!!

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[Rob and Val]

This book from Amazon should give you some good ideas: -
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1409387682/?tag=mhf04-21
We found it to be very useful as it shows you some of the real France and not just the tourist parts.

 

[Easyliving]

Hi

We are big fans of aires and the one at Merville Franceville (in Basse-Normandie region) might be worth a try if you want sea and sand.

Quite a small aire, only room for about 6 vans, but it is very near the beach and only a 10 minute walk to a nice town.

Photo below was taken on 17th June 2012, not exactly crowded as you can see.

Paul

 

[iandsm]

A few French phrases like hello,good morning,thank you,please, go along way when coupled with a smile

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[Larby]

Have a good Sat Nav.....be flexible, have a plan and some idea of where you want to go and what you want to see, but be open minded and in the end do what you wish to do with out tiring yourselves out.
Do a card with your vehicle details such as Length, height, width, weight, number plate and any other info and stick this to the drivers sun visor....you never know when you will need this info at short notice ie a bridge or a ferry.
Also do another card with a cross reference of MPH to Kph and put this where the driver can easily view it.
Just go and enjoy it!!!!

I set my sat-nav to read in KPH. Use it as the speedo. Speaking of speed, DON'T. If caught, on the spot fines. Gatsos are hidden between central armco and hedges! although there is usually a warning of cameras ahead.
The village or town name on entry is the speed limit change, usually 50kph (30mph).
There can be priorty to vehicles emerging from the right from minor roads, even in towns!
Unlike UK, you can park in supermarkets, no size restriction and park on the edge and no one cares then. No flipping Parking Eye to worry you.
Oh the joy of driving in France, so stress free. Yellow lines ? what are they !

 

[Easyliving]

A few French phrases like hello,good morning,thank you,please, go along way when coupled with a smile

We bought and found it really quick and easy to learn enough words and phrases to get by.

Paul

 

[Shandyman]

Thank you all for your replies so far there are quite a few thing we hadn't thought of.

Richard and Carol

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[whoa]

Hi our van due soon but have never motorhomed in France, driven and stayed etc, so can I mention not to forget your EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) If you never had one, and if renewing or obtaining the first one, and online please make sure you go to the govt dept for free, and not those websites that might want to charge you, hope it all goes well, be interesting to hear how you enjoyed it all

 

[Larby]

You mentioned a dog, all very simple, get it chipped, get a rabies jab and passport, wait 21 days then you can travel, France is dog friendly, get dog checked by vet more than 24hrs but less than 120 hours prior to returning. Typically 30 euros depending on size of dog. Dog stays in MH on ferry on Dover-Calais route. Mine is OK with that, walk him prior to crossing but he is a very accommodating dog so curls up and sleeps. With the tunnel, he stays with you, but I'm too tight for the tunnel.

 

[magicsurfbus]

In answer to your questions:

1. Road miles are always cheaper than ferry miles, if cost is your main consideration. Our personal preference has always been the Dover-Calais ferry, which is about 270 miles from home. When driving through France to our destination we use aires overnight, which are either cheap or free. If time is of the essence you might want to go for Portsmouth - St Malo or Plymouth -Roscoff.

2. There's a perfectly understandable tendency for first-timers in France to stay fairly close to the arrival point, so a lot of first trips end up in Normandy or maybe Brittany. It's important however not to be over-apprehensive about driving on the right, as you adapt very quickly and the French main roads and autoroutes are much better quality than ours, and rarely as busy. The 270 mile drive to Dover often wears us out more than a 400 mile drive through France! Couple that with the very English-style weather you encounter in northern France, and I'd say head a bit further south than your instincts are maybe telling you, especially if you want sunshine. For sea and sand I'd definitely say go for the Atlantic coast - head in the direction of Nantes, try touring the coast between between Quiberon and Royan and you won't be disappointed by the variety I promise you. Below the Gironde Estuary (near Bordeaux) there's no shortage of sea and sand backed by large dunes and pine forests but that's pretty much it all the way down to Biarritz, and most of the seaside resorts are just that - resorts as opposed to quaint fishing villages.

3. September - fewer people about, sites cheaper, and weather still good, especially further south. Only my opinion mind. Plus it's generally sunny in England in June, whereas September can be a bit varied, so September sunshine abroad always feels like a bonus.

4. For touring, if you don't mind not having a grassy pitch with a neat privet hedge around you I'd say aires every time. Also handy when en route. If you want to go to one place as a base and stay for a while in comfort with showers, laundry and other such luxuries then probably a campsite. Some aires are time restricted so you can't park there forever but it varies a lot from place to place. Our default choice is aires as we tend to move around a lot.

For more aire info check the links in the signature below. Only other advice would be to take a good SatNav with you, preferably one that accepts third-party POI files so you can put aire, campsite and supermarket (Carrefour, Leclerc, Super-U, Intermarche, Auchan) details into it. Fuel is always cheaper at supermarkets - sometimes by a fair margin.

Bon Voyage!

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[hilldweller]

Don't go too far. Loads of people equate distance to excellence. Olde Fartes know better.

 

[FIDGET]

Remember when approaching villages that the village name sign is indicating the speed limit change ( it's not numerical just namel)down to 50kph or about 30 mph, when you leave village name sign with line thru it is end of limit, Def stick to speed restrictions instant road side fines !!

 

[mitzimad]

if you dont want to travel far try the Belgium coast fabulous beaches from Dunkirk to Ostend 40 miles several nice promenades and bars etc

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[FIDGET]

Personally I would travel down the west coast from Ile de Noirmoutier down to the Ile de Re
lovely coast line plenty of beaches & aires / campsites.
Use tunnel for dogs sake , we once ended up on the dunkirk ferry for over 5 hours instead of 2 hrs , not nice for dog couped up in the moho on the lower deck for that long.
Calais to Ile de Re is about 450 miles nice drive spread over 3 days, then pootle north up the coast before heading back to Calais.
We use aires most of the time, if you need suggestions just ask.

 

[Wardleyweb]

hi fidget do you have any favorite aires on this route

 

[FIDGET]

Hi @Wardleyweb,
We go via Yvetot to avoid Rouen,
Saint Nicolas de Bliquetuit aire small 6 spaces along side the River Seine free aire no services very rural nothing else there.
or La Mailleraye sur Seine riverside aire 5 euros
nice town , very good stop.
then down to St Denis du Maine aire lakeside free, + free services parking on grass.
or Villiers Charlemagne aire again free +free services parking on grass ,near fishing lakes & campsite.
Mesnard la barotiere Lake at Tricherie
parking near a boating lake free --water 3 euros
then over to Ile de Re

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[Lynne Steele]

I would recommend Portsmouth to Caen and head for the Il de Re, if you need a ferry code p m me.
Brittany is lovely if the weather is good. we sail 8.15 am June 20th and have our fingers crossed for nice weather, we prefer June for the light evenings

 

[Wardleyweb]

hi there , thanks for that i think we will give it a go in July, where do you stay when on il de re. look like a very nice place to visit

 

[mike mcglynn]

Hi, just a word of warning make sure that you are covered by a good breakdown policy as we certainly weren't but did not know that at the time we bought it ADAC seem highly commended by many funsters .

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