Southern France campsite suggestions

[Ven]

Hello there,

We are about to embark on our year long adventure around Europe. We've finished at work and just have the to pack up ready for tennants now.

Please could anyone recommend some nice but affordable sites on the Atlantic coast or med side of southern France? Basically my parents, sister and 11 yr old nephew will be joining us for the summer holidays so we want somewhere near water for swimming and maybe walking distance of a few facilities.

I have searched but would love some first hand recommendations and experiences.

Thanks

 

[yodeli]

Hi!

In Valras plage there are many camp sites all very near from the beach (walking) and not too far from the facilities . Tape" Syndicat d'initiative de Valras plage" on google search. You'll have details.I don't know which ones have hard standing pitches, but if there's a camp site that suits you, considering prices and facilities, let me know i'll give them a ring . If any thing you want me to translate for you, give a shout:shout:!
I won't be far!


Amicalement


Frankie

 

[hilldweller]

Please could anyone recommend some nice but affordable sites on the Atlantic coast or med side of southern France?
Thanks

Have you bought the ACSI DVD ?

When you use it you can click on a country and it displays the campsites. Do this on France and the whole country explodes into a mass of overlapping red triangles. You have to zoom a lot to separate them.

Now this is not as good as a recommendation but it does show how many sites you have on offer, plus a load more not in the scheme.

 

[Ven]

Thanks very much, I'll have a look at the sites mentioned.

We have got the ACSI book so i'll have a look through that for ideas too. I did not know about the DVD when i ordered the book but I've seen it mentioned a lot since so perhaps I should have got that instead :Sad:

 

[hilldweller]

Thanks very much, I'll have a look at the sites mentioned.

We have got the ACSI book so i'll have a look through that for ideas too. I did not know about the DVD when i ordered the book but I've seen it mentioned a lot since so perhaps I should have got that instead :Sad:

You need both. The book gets you the discount card ( though not much use in summer ) and the DVD gets you the computer program which makes searching easier. Both are brilliant value.

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[neilmac]

Don't know if it is of interest but we stayed at one of the Aires a couple of weeks ago in Mimizan Plage, which is between Bordeaux and Bayonne. Right off the beach and on the edge of local amenities, shops, bars etc.

Quite good services for an Aire but no toilet/showers so would need to use your own.

Hope this helps.

Neil

 

[scotjimland]

Hi

Bear in mind most French sites have a short season .. April - Sep ..
Aires are by far the best way to see France, the one at Mimizan Plage mentioned in the previous post is one of our favourites ..we have stay on it many times and for as long as you like ..

€5.50 low €11 high .. 16 EHU, drive over dump point and plenty of fresh taps around the aire.. It was just re surfaced last March and re-lined, but unfortunately the new lines are very close, best avoided Jun to Sep as it gets very busy..

Further down the coast there is a cracking aire at Capbreton.. similar to Mimizan in size and right on the beach but closer to the town with a bustling Marina / harbour and lots typical French cafe's and night life..

I suggest you buy any of the French Aires guides .. also click on the link in my signature for many more we have used .. RV Suitable Sites.

 

[olley]

Hi we stayed at Le Palais de la mer in Sainte-marie de la mer a couple of years ago, smallish family owned site with swimming pool etc. and direct access to the beach, web site here: camping pyrenees orientales CAMPING PALAIS DE LA MER location pyrenees orientales camping

Very friendly owners but little english spoken, they asked a Dutch couple to translate for us so we could join them in a game of bingo.

Short walk into the village, numerious restaurants, more beach, and buses to Perpignan ect.

olley

 

[Braunston]

Hi,

ACSI offer a DVD Plus a Couple of rather large site guides (3000+ and 7000+) in book form and a Camping Card, which is a smaller guide book but it contains the camping card and a very helpful folded map which is really useful outside of the main season as it will provide you with a listing of around 1600+ camp sites throughout Europe (18 Countries including France) where you can stay for under 15 euros a night, so its well worth having,

Link Removed

Sorry if you already have the camping card, but I just thought it was worth explaining as a lot of people just buy the ordinary ACSi guide books and then find they can't get the discounts, the correct book has the card as part of one of the inner leaves of the book cover

hope that helps

I find the DVD very helpful in the winter as you can enter the dates between which you want to travel and it will sort out just those campsites that have indicated they will/should be open, you can then ring them to confirm.

Thanks very much, I'll have a look at the sites mentioned.

We have got the ACSI book so i'll have a look through that for ideas too. I did not know about the DVD when i ordered the book but I've seen it mentioned a lot since so perhaps I should have got that instead :Sad:

 

[Ven]

Thanks for the additional replies, lots to think about!

I do have the ACSI card, look like i'll be ordering the DVD too

A small library now exists in the limited storage in our Mondial of Guides including the Aires books - I guess that is the problem - knowing where to start Plus of course you cannot beat personal recommendations from people who have been there.

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[Stephen & Jeannie]

le gurp

On the Atlantic coast is a great municipal site right by the sea with facilities very close by. We go every year and as we were leaving last year they were busy building a borne for the aire in the beachside car park. If you google le gurp then all the information you need is there !! miles and miles of forest cycle tracks and villages nearby. regards Stephen. :thumb:

 

[Stephen & Jeannie]

On the Atlantic coast is a great municipal site right by the sea with facilities very close by. We go every year and as we were leaving last year they were busy building a borne for the aire in the beachside car park. If you google le gurp then all the information you need is there !! miles and miles of forest cycle tracks and villages nearby. regards Stephen. :thumb:

Just googled it myself !! Better to google le gurp camping then there are reviews of the campsite !! :thumb:

 

[Heyupluv]

Don't know if it is of interest but we stayed at one of the Aires a couple of weeks ago in Mimizan Plage, which is between Bordeaux and Bayonne. Right off the beach and on the edge of local amenities, shops, bars etc.

Quite good services for an Aire but no toilet/showers so would need to use your own.

Hope this helps.

Neil

Neil....Cracking Photos, what camera are you using....Mel

 

[neilmac]

Well, thanks Mel!

I use a Canon 400D and these were taken with the 18-55mm kit lens.:thumb:

Neil

 

[Ven]

Thanks again for all your suggestions.

We will be right in the school holidays, so will have to hope for the best about getting on to those Aires.

Those photos make it look like as beautiful spot.

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[haganap]

Hi Mel.
We have been going to the west coast of France for the past few years. Lovely area and great surf, sea and sun (mostly)

We have used Mimizan plage and it is nice, however our favourites are down closer to Vieux Beucout and Soustons. Good aires to use and a fantastic (But very pricey campsite or two) that we use some times.
One word of warning with the aires in this region during holiday periods, Although fingers crossed we have never managed not too get on one, they are normally very busy, so all ways have a back up plan in place.