First time in France - lots of questions (1 Viewer)

[rosemaryd]

Hi all

Off to France for the first time. Travelling on the ferry to Caen and then planning to tour along the Normandy/Brittany coast.

What do we need to take to France?

Special stuff for the vehicle?
Different electric lead/adaptor?

Going end of next week and haven't booked anywhere to stay so starting to panic! Will we need to book, everyone on here seems to wing it and turn up at aires but I'm a bit worried about security on them. Travelling with two kids so want to feel safe.

Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance. Rosemary

 

[Two on Tour]

Have a look at this website for what you need to stay legal when travelling in France.

http://www.drive-france.com/checklist/

 

[JackieP]

Security wise you'll be fine. You'll soon get a feel for it as soon as you pull up and if you don't feel comfortable then move to the next one (probably just up the road when you're in France).

Have you downloaded Camper Contact to your phone? You can download the maps for France and use them offline. Lots of aires listed and lots of reviews and tops about individual aires. 5 squids a year it costs but well worth it.

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[DBK]

One of these will be useful, not all sites use the three pin connector used in the UK. www.amazon.co.uk/Streetwize-European-Electric-Adapter-SWTT44/dp/B006B3QTJ6
You can probably find it cheaper elsewhere but eBay deliveries can be very slow.
Aires are very safe in France, but avoid the "aires" on motorways, they are a different thing and not always very secure.
You should be able to get into campsites but popular ones on the coast could be busy but the end of August is after the main rush. I wouldn't book.
The ACSI books will identify good campsites for you although you won't get the discount until probably the beginning of September.

 

[Clarky]

It will be towards the end of August so there should be plenty of space on sites and aires. Don't drive too far in one day so that you arrive early to mid afternoon and you will be fine.
If you need EHU you might need a 2 pin French style adaptor to plug in the end of your cable although most sites now have the standard 3 pin socket, same as UK.

There are a few rules and regs. that you must abide by and can be found on various websites, AA, Caravan Club etc. For instance, you must carry hi-vis vests for each person and they must be stored in the vehicle and worn in the event of breakdown etc.

By the way, Aires are great and we have never felt uncomfortable on one. As many others have said 'If it doesn't feel right just move on'.

Enjoy your trip.

Richard.

 

[The Nomad]

If you manage to get out of Britain without being mugged, burgled, raped, road-rage-attacked, pick-pocketed, or murdered, you'll be safe as houses until you get back there again.

Crime rates in most mainland European countries are only a tiny fraction of those in Britain.

The time to worry is when you are IN Britain, NOT when you are in France/Spain/Portugal/Germany etc.

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[rosemaryd]

Thanks all for your replies - much appreciated. And yes, my hubby reckons if it can happen in France, it can easily happen here too so he's not too worried.

 

[rosemaryd]

I forgot to ask - is it expensive in France. I sort of feel it's no longer cheap but have nothing to base that on. What do you think is a reasonable amount of euros to budget for each day - campsite or aire, maybe a meal. I realise that can give a very open ended answer but roughly? And what do you do about travel money - pre paid cards, credit cards, cash, mix of all?

 

[DBK]

I forgot to ask - is it expensive in France. I sort of feel it's no longer cheap but have nothing to base that on. What do you think is a reasonable amount of euros to budget for each day - campsite or aire, maybe a meal. I realise that can give a very open ended answer but roughly? And what do you do about travel money - pre paid cards, credit cards, cash, mix of all?

I don't think there is an average for how much folk spend - it varies a lot I think.
Fuel - work on about £1 per litre, supermarkets generally the cheapest and easiest to find to fill up at. Avoid motorway service stations as you do in the UK.
If you can find a Lidl or Aldi you will be able to shop quite cheaply. Carrefour are one of the more expensive ones in our experience. We find we spend less in France on food than we do on the UK but you can spend a lot more if you want to eat steak for example. We live on pasta, salads, fruit and cheap cuts of meat like burgers, sausages and chicken bits. Rarely buy beef.
For money a debit card in an ATM will generally give you a good rate but if offered the option select to be charged in Euros not Pounds. If you select Pounds you will get the bank's own rate which could be very poor. If you select Euros you will get the official Visa/Mastercard rate. There might be a transaction fee so best to use ATMs rarely but take out a good wodge of money when you do.
There are cards you can load money onto but it is probably too late to get one. Avoid the Post Office card as it gives a poor rate. In slower time you could investigate the Revolut card. The ATMs speak English, either by selecting this option initially or some ATM's do it automatically - by identifying pale knees or something like that.
Aires vary between free with free water, through free to park but say 2 euros for water to more expensive ones taking a card - except some don't like UK cards but these aren't too common although they exist. In many you have to buy a "jeton" or token to use in the water dispensing machine from somewhere. There will be a sign saying where you can buy them. On popular aires don't leave it too late to arrive or you may find it full.

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[Hollyberry]

Tea bags.
Food in France can be expensive, especially in the markets. You'll find lots of artisan sellers, I always found the cheese very expensive (€40 a kilo ) You will find very fresh fruit, veg and fish though.
Auchan is a good mid priced supermarket, and you'll find Aldi and Lidl. Major roads will have hoardings showing which supermarkets are in the next major town.
Coastal holiday resorts tend to be a bit dearer than further inland but again if there's a major supermarket shouldn't be too bad.
Fresh milk can be a challenge to find. You won't find huge supplies and choice as long life milk is the norm.

 

[mikebeaches]

Last Friday evening - for the first time ever - we were turned away from a campsite because it was full! However, it was mid-August, weekend, and a site recommended on here at the resort of Binic on the north Brittany coast. Found another site in the same resort, but more expensive at 31Euro with a hook-up for the two of us (came out at £28 sterling on the credit card). Most campsites round here seem to be from about 23 Euro upwards for two with electric at the moment, but starting to reduce as the season progresses. And as others have mentioned, ACSI discounted prices will soon start becoming available again.

At the place we were turned away the lady said they would have space from the middle of this week onwards, so you should be fine.

Things have obviously got a bit more expensive because of the poor exchange rate. Best price we've been finding supermarket diesel is 1.16 Euro per litre, so a little over a £1 at 1.09 Euro to £1 - but still a tad less than in the U.K. I think?

Have a great trip in any case.

 

[Figaro]

Fresh milk was one thing we found a challenge in France, Aldi and Lidl only sell long life. Carrefour and Auchan sell fresh.
I need fresh cold semi skimmed for my cornflakes !
Also for the men, swimming pools often don't allow swimming shorts ! Budgie smugglers only, no idea why ?
We did find cost of living quite high, drinks and eating out particularly and exchange rate has worsened since June !
You won't get much change from 50 euro for a main course meal for two with small beer or coffee and that's in an ordinary basic type restaurant.

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[rosemaryd]

Last Friday evening - for the first time ever - we were turned away from a campsite because it was full! However, it was mid-August, weekend, and a site recommended on here at the resort of Binic on the north Brittany coast. Found another site in the same resort, but more expensive at 31Euro with a hook-up for the two of us (came out at £28 sterling on the credit card). Most campsites round here seem to be from about 23 Euro upwards for two with electric at the moment, but starting to reduce as the season progresses. And as others have mentioned, ACSI discounted prices will soon start becoming available again.

Thanks - what was the site in Binic called? We are planning to head to that area I think.

 

[rosemaryd]

Thanks all for your replies - gives me a good idea of spend. Heard about fresh milk from hubby - seems bizarre in a nation that prides itself on fresh food.

Swimming trunks are to prevent paedophiles apparently - a friend with a house in France told me that's the reason. I'd forgotten about that. Have to sort something out for hubby, can't imagine him in speedos.

 

[The Nomad]

Fresh milk was one thing we found a challenge in France, Aldi and Lidl only sell long life. Carrefour and Auchan sell fresh.
I need fresh cold semi skimmed for my cornflakes !
Also for the men, swimming pools often don't allow swimming shorts ! Budgie smugglers only, no idea why ?
We did find cost of living quite high, drinks and eating out particularly and exchange rate has worsened since June !
You won't get much change from 50 euro for a main course meal for two with small beer or coffee and that's in an ordinary basic type restaurant.

To stop/reduce the amount of loose pubic hairs floating in the water. Same in many (most?) other countries around Europe.

If you want to eat cheaply in France you'll need to eat in-van, not out at a restaurant. Prices for restaurant meals and bar drinks are NOT cheap in our experience.

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[Pete5996]

Also for the men, swimming pools often don't allow swimming shorts ! Budgie smugglers only, no idea why ?

Not too sure about the paedophile/pubic hair reasons, to be honest......

It's a matter of hygiene and pool cleanliness - swim shorts or similar may, as far as the owners know, have been worn for days or weeks beforehand and harbour all sorts of unpleasantness.

There's another factor, too - water conservation. Big baggy Bermudas etc soak up a lot of water, so it doesn't take a group of lads very long, diving in and climbing out of the pool, to deposit a significant quantity on the pool surround.

Quite a few also insist on swim caps too, for both male and female.

 

[laneside]

I don't think there is an average for how much folk spend - it varies a lot I think.
Fuel - work on about £1 per litre, supermarkets generally the cheapest and easiest to find to fill up at. Avoid motorway service stations as you do in the UK.
If you can find a Lidl or Aldi you will be able to shop quite cheaply. Carrefour are one of the more expensive ones in our experience. We find we spend less in France on food than we do on the UK but you can spend a lot more if you want to eat steak for example. We live on pasta, salads, fruit and cheap cuts of meat like burgers, sausages and chicken bits. Rarely buy beef.
For money a debit card in an ATM will generally give you a good rate but if offered the option select to be charged in Euros not Pounds. If you select Pounds you will get the bank's own rate which could be very poor. If you select Euros you will get the official Visa/

 

[Camping Gaza]

Some very interesting theories on swimwear today. Water conservation? Pedophilia? Hairs? It'll be for the amusement of gay lifeguards next, ha ha.

But seriously folks (taken from an article in the guardian) :

Why the enforced parading of Frenchmen's bulges? "Hygiene," says Emmanuel Dormois, a head pool attendant in Paris's 11th arrondissement. "Small, tight trunks can only be used for swimming. Bermudas or bigger swimming shorts can be worn elsewhere all day, so could bring in sand, dust or other matter, disturbing the water quality. By banning them outright, we're not forced to stand there measuring what can be defined as swimming shorts. I accept that some men feel very ill at ease wearing small trunks, but others don't mind."

Similar reports of enforced Speedos come from traumatised English visitors to a Belgian water park where bigger swimming shorts were also banned.

Yet on the comparative freedom of French beaches men's crack-splitting tangas and tight nylon slips have gone out of fashion. The smallest tasteful covering is what French stylists call the "boxer" trunk, tight, Daniel Craig-style mini-shorts that look less like ladies' knickers. Not that public pool rules are never challenged. A feminist group has staged topless protests for the right of women to wear only bikini bottoms in line with men. Others argue that if bald men have to wear swimming hats how come others don't have to shave off their beards? And so the debate continues.

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[laneside]

Ooooops sorry old fartitis
Fresh milk is available in all French supermarkets but not Aldi and Lidl, food wise chicken and pork is a really good buy. Eating out, many restrauants have mene du jour from around 12 euros each including beverage.

The savings you can make using some of the excellent free or very cheap aires will soon offset any higher prices, oh and driving over here is so much easier, in fact France can become habit forming as you may detect from our location.

 

[mikebeaches]

mikebeaches said: ↑
Last Friday evening - for the first time ever - we were turned away from a campsite because it was full! However, it was mid-August, weekend, and a site recommended on here at the resort of Binic on the north Brittany coast. Found another site in the same resort, but more expensive at 31Euro with a hook-up for the two of us (came out at £28 sterling on the credit card). Most campsites round here seem to be from about 23 Euro upwards for two with electric at the moment, but starting to reduce as the season progresses. And as others have mentioned, ACSI discounted prices will soon start becoming available again.

Thanks - what was the site in Binic called? We are planning to head to that area I think.

It was Camping les Fauvettes at Binic, a municipal site:

http://www.binic-etables-sur-mer.fr/camping-municipal-les-fauvettes/

We were disappointed not to get in, but found a pitch at Camping Panoramique, which is on the side of town that you enter the resort. It was perfectly fine and had a covered swimming pool, but not terribly 'panoramic' from my perspective.

Binic is a lovely little resort, bustling with quayside cafes and restaurants.

 

[peterc10]

If you want to eat out then try lunch rather than dinner. Many restaurants are open and usually offer good value 2 or 3 course meals, sometimes including wine in the price. Much cheaper than they charge for similar food in the evening, and often very good quality.

Or do what many of the French do and use the Flunch chain for lunch, which can be found in shopping centres such as Cite Europe. Cafeteria type service but the food is fresher (often cooked while you wait) and better than the equivalent in the Uk and at a reasonable price.

We do not like UHT milk, which is common in France. But we can usually find the fresh semi skimmed alternatives in even small supermarkets. Needs looking carefully though because there will only be a few bottles of it.

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[chaser]

Ooooops sorry old fartitis
Fresh milk is available in all French supermarkets but not Aldi and Lidl, food wise chicken and pork is a really good buy. Eating out, many restrauants have mene du jour from around 12 euros each including beverage.

The savings you can make using some of the excellent free or very cheap aires will soon offset any higher prices, oh and driving over here is so much easier, in fact France can become habit forming as you may detect from our location.

Get truckfly app on your phone , tells you where all the plait de jour truck stops are also loads more.

 

[yodeli]

Budgie smugglers only, no idea why ?

Really? you can't guess why?

A nice drawing may be to explain? Ok going to try and find the right words to make you face some hard reality: You've got to be aware that , NO, not everyone showers everyday. Those shorts can let everything in and out, and so in France we don't want people to wash their private bits in our clean swimming pools. Therefore you have to keep them tight with you in your budgie smugglers. Hygiene I think it's called

 

[yodeli]

The smallest tasteful covering is what French stylists call the "boxer" trunk, tight, Daniel Craig-style mini-shorts that look less like ladies' knickers.

Ohoooo I do LOVE boxers . I think that men are at their best in those shorts. But then, I'm French after all, aren't I?

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[busby]

Thanks all for your replies - much appreciated. And yes, my hubby reckons if it can happen in France, it can easily happen here too so he's not too worried.

Thousands of us go every year and most of us return unharmed,,BUSBY

 

[rosemaryd]

Thanks everyone for your replies, they've been helpful and amusing too! I'm busy making lists now!