First time heading for France (1 Viewer)

Dognewf

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We have decided to head for France for the first time in September to Normandy and as far south as La Rochelle, thinking of Brittany Ferries Portsmouth to Caen or Cherbourgh. Any comments/advice gratefully received. and if anyone felt inclined to PM the discount code, very gratefully received.

many thanks
 

Ivory55

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Oradour sur glane is well worth a visit and has a nice aire to stop on as well.

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Oct 5, 2012
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A night in the La Rochelle aire could be an eye opener......Last time I was there, there was a late night drugs fuelled party in the park next door, mad camper van man talking to himself and half of Africa turning up and leaving in some very old vehicles during the night....apart from that it was quiet :Eeek:
 
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If you are staying on sites, get an ACSI card, a few nights will pay for itself. Don't drive to far straight from the ferry, have a night close to the ferry, get your bearings before moving on. The municipal in Ouistreham is only 5 mins from the ferry, dated and tired, a few euros more than the aire (for which you get ehu and a bit quieter), stays open late for the evening ferry and is only a minute from fuel / supermarket going towards Caen.
 

Vlad The Impaler

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A night in the La Rochelle aire could be an eye opener......Last time I was there, there was a late night drugs fuelled party in the park next door, mad camper van man talking to himself and half of Africa turning up and leaving in some very old vehicles during the night....apart from that it was quiet :Eeek:

How do you know it was a drug fuelled party ?
You've got me curious .
A couple of questions of I may.
Do they happen often ?
Is it free entry ?
Whats the going rate for a couple of E's and a bag of bush ?



Vlad the Raver.

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A night in the La Rochelle aire could be an eye opener......Last time I was there, there was a late night drugs fuelled party in the park next door, mad camper van man talking to himself and half of Africa turning up and leaving in some very old vehicles during the night....apart from that it was quiet :Eeek:
Exactly why we would never stay on an aire!
 

magicsurfbus

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A night in the La Rochelle aire could be an eye opener......

Which one? Avenue Jean Moulin Park 'n' Ride/Relais or the other one? Never had any bother in the many times we've stopped at the P 'n' R.

Any comments/advice gratefully received.

Cheapest option by far is early Dover-Calais ferry/tunnel then drive to Normandy. You can be in the Honfleur aire in about 3 hours, with the classy resorts of Deauville and Trouville nearby. You can be into Brittany same day if you stop at the Fougeres aire.

Agreed with the comment above about Ile de Re - put 2-3 days aside for it and take bikes. La Rochelle's interesting too. If you want a theme park with a difference try Parc Puy du Fou - well worth going on a Friday or Saturday when the Cinescenie spectacular is showing at night.

The less time you spend in Normandy the less likely you'll get rained on, but Bayeux is worth stopping by for the tapestry and the D-Day heritage. Mont St Michel is a commercialised tourist honeypot that you might choose to view only from a distance - you have been warned. Not sure how far into Brittany you plan to go but I can recommend the Pink Granite Coast, Carnac, Concarneau, Quiberon, and Locronan (in no particular order). Further down towards the Charente coast you've got Le Croisic which isn't bad. There are aires in all these places.

You might consider going a little further down than La Rochelle and taking a look at La Palmyre and Saint Palais sur Mer, again best explored on bike. There's also Ile d'Oleron which is like a slightly less flashy version of the Ile de Re but it's still worth a look.
 

Flamenca

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I have sent you a PM regarding Brittany Ferries discount code if you decide to travel with them.

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snowdrops

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Exactly why we would never stay on an aire!
We've stayed at a lot of proper camping car aires, never had an issue. The motorway service aires are a different matter, although to be fair, we always kip for a few hours at one of those on the way down south. We prefer acsi camp sites, mainly because part of our hols is to chill outside and read, swim etc. Otherwise, if it's just siteseeing, they're fine :)
 
Oct 5, 2012
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How do you know it was a drug fuelled party ?
You've got me curious .
A couple of questions of I may.
Do they happen often ?
Is it free entry ?
Whats the going rate for a couple of E's and a bag of bush ?



Vlad the Raver.
In answer to your question I am a man of the world so I know what Bush smells like, and I smelt it in the clouds of smoke drifting from the park. I don't know the going rate is in France as nobody has offered me any. Unlike in wild west Lisbon where the local drug suppliers were offering me stuff every 100 meters!!
 
Oct 5, 2012
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Which one? Avenue Jean Moulin Park 'n' Ride/Relais or the other one? Never had any bother in the many times we've stopped at the P 'n' R.



Cheapest option by far is early Dover-Calais ferry/tunnel then drive to Normandy. You can be in the Honfleur aire in about 3 hours, with the classy resorts of Deauville and Trouville nearby. You can be into Brittany same day if you stop at the Fougeres aire.

Agreed with the comment above about Ile de Re - put 2-3 days aside for it and take bikes. La Rochelle's interesting too. If you want a theme park with a difference try Parc Puy du Fou - well worth going on a Friday or Saturday when the Cinescenie spectacular is showing at night.

The less time you spend in Normandy the less likely you'll get rained on, but Bayeux is worth stopping by for the tapestry and the D-Day heritage. Mont St Michel is a commercialised tourist honeypot that you might choose to view only from a distance - you have been warned. Not sure how far into Brittany you plan to go but I can recommend the Pink Granite Coast, Carnac, Concarneau, Quiberon, and Locronan (in no particular order). Further down towards the Charente coast you've got Le Croisic which isn't bad. There are aires in all these places.

You might consider going a little further down than La Rochelle and taking a look at La Palmyre and Saint Palais sur Mer, again best explored on bike. There's also Ile d'Oleron which is like a slightly less flashy version of the Ile de Re but it's still worth a look.
I stayed in the one next to a park and it cost €1, to be fair it is the worst one I stayed in, in France out of many!

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MikeD

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I would also recommend Oradour Sur glane. A must visit place

But if u do visit stay at parc verger. It's not to far away and a great peaceful site

Usually always a few funsters there and Franc and Lisa will give you a warm welcome
 

magicsurfbus

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I stayed in the one next to a park and it cost €1, to be fair it is the worst one I stayed in, in France out of many!

The Ave Jean Moulin P'n'R costs around €10 but for that you get return bus travel to the town centre for up to 6 people included, grassy parking with a bit of space and free water at the MH service point. We use it a lot.

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