France July august (1 Viewer)

[Steve devon]

we usually go to France in June and wander aimlessly around for a month using mostly aires. This year due to work commitments we can't go until July or maybe august , I was wondering how busy France actually got in high season, if we could still get on the aires,do we stay away from the coast, how busy does Brittany get?ypour thoughts would be appreciated, bearing in mind we live in north Devon which gets inundated with tourists in the summer,, cheers!

 

[Teuchter]

We avoid France from the 15th July to the 25th August - popular area much too busy for us!

 

[magicsurfbus]

My job meant we had no choice but to holiday in July/August for 30 years and it didn't stop us going to France. Having also been one of those who inundated N Devon in summer I'd say you won't notice much difference.

As far as aires go in the high season, the trick is to aim for medium to larger sized aires (rather than tiny ones) and try to arrive around mid-morning when the natural turnover is greatest. People will also tend to stay put on aires over weekends in summer so if you're planning to hang around anywhere, try to get there before Friday lunchtime. Also keep an eye out for when French national holidays are on as the traffic will be crap.

Those who've had the privilege of choosing when they took their holidays will usually shudder at the thought of high season touring, but we didn't know any better and it never stopped us from enjoying ourselves. As a general rule the French don't do early (unlike the Germans) so you can take advantage of that and visit potentially busy spots first thing in the morning. It's after the extended lunch break that the beaches start to fill up.

We're just back from a month pootling around French aires in March/April and it's very different for sure, but you'll cope

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[KeithChesterfield]

We went to Brittany last year for the whole of July and had no problems getting on Aires - my videos are in the link below.

Avoid the obvious tourist places and you'll be fine.

 

[Steve devon]

Sounds like it should be good, thanks for the replies

 

[KeithChesterfield]

Post the pictures, post the videos - make us all be jealous.

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[Allanm]

Coastal Aires, especially smaller ones are generally full in August, if you want to stay inland and on larger Aires, you will probably be ok. Best thing about France is that there is usually another aire nearby if you find one full
You could always subscribe to France Passion, we bought it a few years ago, there seems to be a lot of places to stop, but we never found one near where we wanted to be.

 

[bluesurf989]

We have done france in july/august for years and never had a problem,aires are busy but always find a pitch.
We love it being full of life everywhere!

 

[meanders]

We totally agree. All of August last year and just one aire we couldn't get on which was Biaritz.

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[Anthea M]

We totally agree. All of August last year and just one aire we couldn't get on which was Biaritz.

Tied to holidays too and did Brittany last year busy but always a space if arrive lunch timeish!
Some are very cramped and obviously don't observe the 6 metre rules!! But when in France....

 

[Reallyretired]

Had to do August one year. The Aires were fine away from the coast.
Sites more expensive at this time and a lot of children, though not a huge problem as French kids are generally well behaved, unlike many of the British ones.

 

[Steve devon]

Had to do August one year. The Aires were fine away from the coast.
Sites more expensive at this time and a lot of children, though not a huge problem as French kids are generally well behaved, unlike many of the British ones.

Totally agree about the French kids

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[WynandJean]

Totally agree about the French kids

Maybe this is why. We were at an Aire last year and one of the local youths had carried out a minor misdemeanour (can't remember what). It was near the Mayor's office and someone who could easily have been the Mayor came out of his office, came across, gave him a good dressing down and went over and spoke with his mother. In this country no one would even approach someone in that position let alone tell them off without themselves risking prosecution. Too much tail wagging the dog in this coutry I fear!

Wyn

 

[magicsurfbus]

We totally agree. All of August last year and just one aire we couldn't get on which was Biaritz.

..and there's always two others nearby to choose from if that's ever a problem. Ave Milady, Anglet, & La Barre/Chiberta - all on the same bus route to the town centre.

I can only think of one or two occasions in France where we've had to go to our Plan B aire in high summer.

 

[Raybreck]

Just do it. We have been to France in August for the last few years having been tied to child care for our daughter. Have always got on aires or if meeting up with family on a site as long as you book those then you should be fine. Enjoy!!
Ray

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[nicholsong]

We went to Brittany last year for the whole of July and had no problems getting on Aires - my videos are in the link below.

Avoid the obvious tourist places and you'll be fine.

Keith

We are off to Brittany via UK in September.

I will be 'Tour Leader' as the 'followers' are our Doctor in Poland and her husband, who are renting a MH from Rennes and have not MHomed for many years.

Your reference to your videos is excellent info and good quality videos. Much more interesting than stupid drivers on the roads into Mansfield etc.

So many thanks for those, which will be very useful, alongside our 'campingcars-info' and 'campercontact'.

Keith, have you also done a Blog covering your travels, and Brittany in particular - I searched on MHFacts but could not find one - maybe it is filed elsewhere.

Once again thanks for videos.

Geoff

 

[KeithChesterfield]

No, I haven't got a blog anywhere, it would be a bit boring I'm afraid.

We are coming towards the end of a month in France and there are about 25 - 30 videos of our excursions around the Dordogne Aires to post in the next month or so.

No help for you in Brittany but, as you say, more use than recording mine and others stupidity in my local area.

Have a good trip and enjoy wherever you go.