French trip summary for those who don't read blogs. (1 Viewer)

Munchie

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First Trip To France


Summary​
[FONT=&quot]Here is a rundown of our trip.[/FONT]​
[FONT=&quot]Steph was full of trepidation when we set off. This dissolved at a rate of Knots. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Our typical day would be breakfast with the news, then tidy up and set off for our next destination. On arrival we would have a coffee and a short walk. Then lunch and off for a longer walk. Sit about for a bit before dinner then after approx. an hour, off for another walk. This more or less sums up our days.[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]We used mainly Aires (mostly free) and a site when we needed to do some washing. The Aires are fantastic and would recommend them to anyone. We never once felt insecure on them and there are some real crackers. Although we had company this trip we would not hesitate to use them if we were on our own.[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Our French consists of a few words (fully intend to learn more when we get home) and we never had a problem. Supermarkets and garages are just so easy. There are some differences in the food but we managed quite well and enjoyed all our meals. Generally meats and vegetables are expensive compared to the UK. Though the cheaper diesel helped to make up for this. I will put a rundown of our costs at the end. Please remember there would have been living and fuel costs in the UK so the holiday in our opinion was not expensive.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The French way of life seems to be much more sedate than the UK. Also they have a propensity to ignore rules and regulations as and when it suits them. In saying this they seem to avoid being a nuisance in any way to others. It has been striking the seeming lack of vandalism which blights so many places in the UK. The large towns may be different, I don’t know as we avoided them. [/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Diesel is much cheaper over here, meats and cakes are very expensive as are vegetables and they are not of the quality we are used to.[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Much as we love the UK and it is “home” we WILL be back to France, already thinking about a 4 month trip next year probably starting 1st March till end of June and venturing further South.[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]All in all a wonderful experience and we will be eternally grateful to Alan and Lynda (Laneside) for persuading us to come with them. [/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]​
[FONT=&quot]It all began on the 5th of May when we caught the ferry from Dover to Calais. All went as smooth as silk much to Steph’s surprise as we had her convinced that they don’t sink……very often he he.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]On arrival we made our way to Montreuil a campsite approx. 50 miles from Calais. Site was ok with free wi fi. Montreuil being an old walled town and very nice too.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]We then made our way to an Aire at Embry. Absolutely superb, 6€ for the Aire with all the hot water you needed free and toilets. Shower was 1 Jetton (2.50€} but you got 12 minutes which we found ample for two to shower.[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Then we went to Fort Mahon. A massive car park at 8€. Nevertheless it was ok with good walking and a nice enough little town.[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Then on to an town Aire at Ault Onival The Aire is in the middle of the town in an industrial area. In saying that it was free and no problem for a night. An old town 5 mins from the beach.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Then on to a campsite called Le Clos Cacheleux at Miannay. A nice site with free wi fi hot spot. Pitches were so big we both went on one with loads of room for our chairs and table between us. Walking good again and a small town not far away. 15 € a night.[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Then on to a free Aire at Val De Saane. Aire in town but very quiet. Nice town with shops but not great for walking. OK for a night.[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Then to an Aire called Cherry Farm at Heurteauville on the banks of the Seine 5€ a night and 3€ for water but toilet dump free. A great site luvverly walking along the river banks and out into the country. The cherries were nice too. We will return![/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]We then moved to an Aire at Thury Harcourt. 8€ a night. Smashing view over the fishing lake and walking good.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Then on to a campsite at Chateaux Lez Eaux at St Pair Sur Mer near Granville. 15€ a night with swimming pool though wi fi was a rip off at 4€ an hour. Our neighbours at home are working there so was nice to chew the fat.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Onwards to Le Mont St Michele. 12€ on a massive car park but in our opinion a must do. The Mount is absolutely stunning and well worth the money.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Then to a Pleneuf Val Andre. We called at the office to pay but was told to pay next morning but as it was his day off he could not charge us….I liked his thinking he he. A cracking Aire on a Marina with great views and good walks.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]On to an isolated Aire at Plouguenast. We used the nearby car park as the Aire is very sloped. No problem Aire has a toilet and basic shower and loads of hot water all free. Walking great along the river and through the woods. Wonderful.[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Then to another free Aire at Rohan. Again on a Marina with a good outlook. Do not stay on the actual Aire drive to the bottom of the small no entry (campercars excepted) and park there. Again good walking and very quiet.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Then to another free Aire at Scaer. This is a massive isolated car park with no sanitation (Though it was being installed while we were there)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]No problem at all with beautiful walks a cracking stay. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Onward to a free (you can tell we are Scots and Yorkshire) Aire at Riantec. Right on the coast where we spent some time watching the wind surfers. Good walking , again a great stop for us.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]We then decided on another ACSI site at Penboch in the Gulf of Morbihan. Swimming pools and a free wi fi hot spot. It was OK but a bit crowded for my liking and this was not helped by some noisy youths in a tent. 15€ a night.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The bay is picture postcard and good walks in the area.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Then to a, you’ve guessed it, free Aire at Nort Sur Erdre. Another marina car park but loads of room and very very pretty. Good town 2 mins away and nice strolls in the area. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Onwards to another free Aire at La Pierre Percee. What a cracking little find, absolutely superb. We are in a showground/park type area which is beautiful 2 mins from the banks of the Loire. No services but we are ok for a night maybe 2. Alan accumulated brownie points for finding this.[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Now at an Aire in St Georges Sur Loire, once again all free with water and loo dump. Lovely little town with a lake and a few shops. Blazing hot today so good to be in a nice place with strolls around the lake.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]At Villeveque now. Another free Aire with water at 1 token (1€)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] A cracking site, thanks Mel for the recommendation.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]We are parked in the car park area as the Aire was full of cars when we arrived.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Can be a nit noisy but by 11 o’clock all was silent. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Luvverly walks by the river and really enjoyed this Aire till a large group of Afro/Americans turned up with drums and that was the end of the peace and quiet. Even the French all moved away.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]So we drove 5 miles along the road to Briolly where we found a gem of a free Aire. Just been re furbished and now takes 10 vans. Services cost a Jetton (2€) but there is a toilet and washing facility free.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Great walking and fishing along the banks of the Loir.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Now at a campsite at Lac Des Varennes 23€ for two nights. Great site, massive pitches with free wi fi. Fishing 6€ on site. A really good site with great walking.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Now on the Aire at Amboise. 10€ a night with electric. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]A cracking town absolutely picture postcard with the Chateau Royale which was home to the Medici’s and also Leonardo Da Vinci’s last house.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Walks along the Loire which is pretty at this point. Highly recommended.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Now on yet another free Aire at Beaugency. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Right on the riverside (Loire)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Great walks and a small town 2 minutes away.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Obviously well known as there are now 20 vans on site the maximum.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Now back on the Loir, on would you believe a cracking free Aire at Marboue.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Nice village with a boulangerie next door to us.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Beautiful area with dome smashing walks. The Nutters fall lucky again.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Back in Normandy now on yet another free Aire for 6 vans at Bretoncelles.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Nice little town with a few shops. Once again really pretty walks. Got another photo of the Humming Bird Moth. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Now at another Aire at La Madeleine Bouvet just 4.5 Kilometres up the road. The Aire is a large car park (little used) next to a fishing lake (6€ a day to fish)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Once again a free Aire and 2€ if you want leccie or water.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Some nice walks but very poorly marked.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Headed for Rugles next but Aire is in a car park with only 3 places 2 of which were taken and anyway car park was full to overflowing. Sorry Mel not really impressed with this one. So on to an ACSI site at Breteuil for a couple of nights. Nice little basic site with free wi fi (which was rubbish, kept dropping out and painfully slow) Nice town though not much in the way of walking.[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Then on to a free Aire on the Seine at St. Nicolas De Bliquetuit. A 10 van Aire if you all breathed in. Cracking views and walks along the Seine very nice. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Now on an ACSI site at Veules-Les-Roses The site is good with very fast and reliable wi fi at 4€ a day. Large pitches and good facilities including an indoor pool and a jacuzzi[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The town is stunningly beautiful and boasts the smallest river in France at 1100mtrs.[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Good walks with great views along the cliffs. Highly recommended.[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Now sat at the campsite at Montreuil to sort Alans dog Lily out for the return to the UK on the 23rd.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]Average site/aire costs in France = £7 a night. ::bigsmile:
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lorger

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Thanks for that Ken i have been reading your bloggs also sounds like you have had a great time and being a good Scot you seem to have used the word free often :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:

Safe trip back to all of you

Gerry
 

gozomike

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Hi


Sounds a great trip to some nice locations, in most cases I find France easier and more enjoyable than the UK.:thumb:

Mike

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champers

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Yes thank you for listing your route as the details are always helpful to us newbies venturing to France with our motorhomes :thumb::thumb:

Sounds like you all had a great time, and enjoyed reading your blog

Look forward to seeing you again

John n Kath
 

sedge

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Thanks, I love it when people tell you what's actually there rather than just saying wonderful, beauty is after all in the eye of the beholder/one man's fish etc.

I'm gobsmacked though that you are saying the meat and veg isn't up to UK standards!! - it's much better than what we can get round here!!
 
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Munchie

Munchie

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Thanks, I love it when people tell you what's actually there rather than just saying wonderful, beauty is after all in the eye of the beholder/one man's fish etc.

I'm gobsmacked though that you are saying the meat and veg isn't up to UK standards!! - it's much better than what we can get round here!!

The meat is great but the veggies are not of the standard we get in N.Yorks and the price wow:Eeek:

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sedge

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You'd die of starvation round here, if it don't come in a polythene bag they don't sell it.

I like the meat in France because it's hung properly (which makes it shrink, therefore the price per lb increases) and butchered properly. Again you don't get that in a supermarket here, and there is nowhere else within half an hour to purchase meat from.
 

Chris

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Sounds like a great trip. When we go to France we are either heading for the South or Spain so tend to bomb down the autoroute without appreciating France. We did though go to Brittany a few weeks back which showed me the error of my ways. Your blog has reinforced that so thanks.:thumb:

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May 7, 2011
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HI , Your blog very helpful ,we will put it to good use in sept when we visit the loire. thanks again great blog.
 

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