I am taking caravan to France for first time this year (July / August) and
wondered if anyone could recommend any regions / sites. I have the CC Europe
guide but would like to hear some personal recommendations.

I don't want to travel too far from the port (max 200 miles if poss) and am
keen that the site and its facilities are immaculately clean and well
maintained with UK style loos. Fairly quiet with not too many pitches if
poss.

It would be nice if the site had a pool and even better if it is indoors.
don't mind a few other facilities but don't want 'holiday camp' type site.

I would like a clean, safe, sandy beach within 5 miles if poss for the
kids - (aged 10 and 12). Walking, vineyards and nice towns / food close by
would be fantastic.

I know weather can't be guaranteed but would like to give ourselves best
chance of good weather. Some have recommended the vendee region but other
have said it is bedlam at that time of year - we don't want too many other
people around - I'm grumpy!

I like CC and CCC spacing's and general feel and have found some UK
commercial sites cramped, busy and not enough loo cleans per day!

Price is not an issue.

Thanks

Jon

"JRS"  wrote in message 
news:13offnup3uqtee0@corp.supernews.com...
>I am taking caravan to France for first time this year (July / August) and
> wondered if anyone could recommend any regions / sites. I have the CC 
> Europe
> guide but would like to hear some personal recommendations.
>
> I don't want to travel too far from the port (max 200 miles if poss) and 
> am
> keen that the site and its facilities are immaculately clean and well
> maintained with UK style loos. Fairly quiet with not too many pitches if
> poss.
>
> It would be nice if the site had a pool and even better if it is indoors.
> don't mind a few other facilities but don't want 'holiday camp' type site.
>
> I would like a clean, safe, sandy beach within 5 miles if poss for the
> kids - (aged 10 and 12). Walking, vineyards and nice towns / food close by
> would be fantastic.
>
snip

 Jon

200 miles max and 5 from a beach really only puts you in Normandy. Another 
100 miles could get you into the north coast of Brittany. We returned to 
Normandy and Brittany for the first time for many years last September and 
if it would be useful you can read about where we went here 
http://www.davidklyne.plus.com/september_in_northern_france.htm and you can 
also follow the links the the sites we used. We used two nice sites either 
side of the Cherbourg Peninsular Camping le Cormoran and Camping Haliotis 
both of which can be booked via the Caravan Club.

David - Milton Keynes
www.caravantravels.co.uk

You could go inland to  La Croix du Vieux Pont in Berny Riviere.  It has 
everything that children could wish for including sandy beach on one of 
their lakes.  They have 3 pools and many facilities - look it up on the web. 
They also run a bus every week from the site to Paris and another to 
Disneyland.  The site is immaculate and well kept.


"JRS"  wrote in message 
news:13offnup3uqtee0@corp.supernews.com...
>I am taking caravan to France for first time this year (July / August) and
> wondered if anyone could recommend any regions / sites. I have the CC 
> Europe
> guide but would like to hear some personal recommendations.
>
> I don't want to travel too far from the port (max 200 miles if poss) and 
> am
> keen that the site and its facilities are immaculately clean and well
> maintained with UK style loos. Fairly quiet with not too many pitches if
> poss.
>
> It would be nice if the site had a pool and even better if it is indoors.
> don't mind a few other facilities but don't want 'holiday camp' type site.
>
> I would like a clean, safe, sandy beach within 5 miles if poss for the
> kids - (aged 10 and 12). Walking, vineyards and nice towns / food close by
> would be fantastic.
>
> I know weather can't be guaranteed but would like to give ourselves best
> chance of good weather. Some have recommended the vendee region but other
> have said it is bedlam at that time of year - we don't want too many other
> people around - I'm grumpy!
>
> I like CC and CCC spacing's and general feel and have found some UK
> commercial sites cramped, busy and not enough loo cleans per day!
>
> Price is not an issue.
>
> Thanks
>
> Jon
>
>
>
>
>

"Stewart"  wrote in message 
news:fmaj09$pp8$1@aioe.org...
> You could go inland to  La Croix du Vieux Pont in Berny Riviere.  It has 
> everything that children could wish for including sandy beach on one of 
> their lakes.  They have 3 pools and many facilities - look it up on the 
> web. They also run a bus every week from the site to Paris and another to 
> Disneyland.  The site is immaculate and well kept.

That's something worth noting.  The French know how to use their rivers and 
lakes for leisure.  In the UK it's extremely rare for lakes or rivers to 
have 'beach' type areas whereas in France it's common and they are well 
used.

If you don't mind going a bit further the Ardeche is spectacular, has good 
weather and has many safe rivers to swim, pedaloe, canoe or dive into with 
many 'beaches' to play on.

Rgds

Andy R

"JRS"  wrote in message 
news:13offnup3uqtee0@corp.supernews.com...
>I am taking caravan to France for first time this year (July / August) and
> wondered if anyone could recommend any regions / sites. I have the CC 
> Europe
> guide but would like to hear some personal recommendations.
>
> I don't want to travel too far from the port (max 200 miles if poss) and 
> am
> keen that the site and its facilities are immaculately clean and well
> maintained with UK style loos. Fairly quiet with not too many pitches if
> poss.
>
> It would be nice if the site had a pool and even better if it is indoors.
> don't mind a few other facilities but don't want 'holiday camp' type site.
>
> I would like a clean, safe, sandy beach within 5 miles if poss for the
> kids - (aged 10 and 12). Walking, vineyards and nice towns / food close by
> would be fantastic.
>
> I know weather can't be guaranteed but would like to give ourselves best
> chance of good weather. Some have recommended the vendee region but other
> have said it is bedlam at that time of year - we don't want too many other
> people around - I'm grumpy!
>
> I like CC and CCC spacing's and general feel and have found some UK
> commercial sites cramped, busy and not enough loo cleans per day!
>
> Price is not an issue.
>
> Thanks
>
> Jon


Jon,
We have been camping and caravanning in France since 1982  but it is 
difficult to give advice because two of our three kids were grown up before 
we went abroad and the youngest does not really thank us for subjecting her 
to our idea of camping paradise.  I am sure the parent of any teenager 
understands.  I love camping in France but have never, ever, prebooked a 
site. French camp sites are like French bars.  You do not pay until you 
decide to leave.  You can spend all evening in a French bar with friends and 
it is not until you leave that the patron reckons up the bill.  I have never 
known it to be incorrect.  Same with the camping.  I am a touring caravanner 
and we never know exactly how long we will be anywhere.  In France you 
present yourself at the office on the evening before you are moving on and 
pay up for the time you have spent at the site.
The beaches of the Vendée are second to none and the area around St Jeans De 
Monts has many campsites to suit families.  Likewise at Royan.  If you want 
vineyards then it is Bourgogne with no beaches or Bordeaux with beaches 
along the Gironde that are not really 'teenager friendly' unless you push on 
to the Arcachon area on the Atlantic coast.  On a lesser scale The Loire 
Valley has fewer vineyards but many beautiful buildings.  Would it suit 
teenagers?.  I do not know.  Normandy and Brittany are fantastic but the 
weather is just as variable as the south of England.  The area around 
Bordeaux and south to the Mediterranean and the Languedoc are our favoured 
places but we are almost seventy
Thinking a bit more about it I would recommend somewhere near Royan.  Lively 
but not too noisy.  Beaches, yes.  Good shops in the town centre.  Many 
kilometres of cycle paths. Find a lively commercial site in this area and I 
do not think you will go wrong.
Regards.
Dave.
You can see the Isle of Wight from here:-)

"Dave D"  wrote in message 
news:3_rij.73922$wD5.49697@newsfe3-gui.ntli.net...
>
> "JRS"  wrote in message 
> news:13offnup3uqtee0@corp.supernews.com...
>>I am taking caravan to France for first time this year (July / August) and
>> wondered if anyone could recommend any regions / sites. I have the CC 
>> Europe
>> guide but would like to hear some personal recommendations.
>>
>> I don't want to travel too far from the port (max 200 miles if poss) and 
>> am
>> keen that the site and its facilities are immaculately clean and well
>> maintained with UK style loos. Fairly quiet with not too many pitches if
>> poss.
>>
>> It would be nice if the site had a pool and even better if it is indoors.
>> don't mind a few other facilities but don't want 'holiday camp' type 
>> site.
>>
>> I would like a clean, safe, sandy beach within 5 miles if poss for the
>> kids - (aged 10 and 12). Walking, vineyards and nice towns / food close 
>> by
>> would be fantastic.
>>
>> I know weather can't be guaranteed but would like to give ourselves best
>> chance of good weather. Some have recommended the vendee region but other
>> have said it is bedlam at that time of year - we don't want too many 
>> other
>> people around - I'm grumpy!
>>
>> I like CC and CCC spacing's and general feel and have found some UK
>> commercial sites cramped, busy and not enough loo cleans per day!
>>
>> Price is not an issue.
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> Jon
>
>
> Jon,
> We have been camping and caravanning in France since 1982  but it is 
> difficult to give advice because two of our three kids were grown up 
> before we went abroad and the youngest does not really thank us for 
> subjecting her to our idea of camping paradise.  I am sure the parent of 
> any teenager understands.  I love camping in France but have never, ever, 
> prebooked a site. French camp sites are like French bars.  You do not pay 
> until you decide to leave.  You can spend all evening in a French bar with 
> friends and it is not until you leave that the patron reckons up the bill. 
> I have never known it to be incorrect.  Same with the camping.  I am a 
> touring caravanner and we never know exactly how long we will be anywhere. 
> In France you present yourself at the office on the evening before you are 
> moving on and pay up for the time you have spent at the site.
> The beaches of the Vendée are second to none and the area around St Jeans 
> De Monts has many campsites to suit families.  Likewise at Royan.  If you 
> want vineyards then it is Bourgogne with no beaches or Bordeaux with 
> beaches along the Gironde that are not really 'teenager friendly' unless 
> you push on to the Arcachon area on the Atlantic coast.  On a lesser scale 
> The Loire Valley has fewer vineyards but many beautiful buildings.  Would 
> it suit teenagers?.  I do not know.  Normandy and Brittany are fantastic 
> but the weather is just as variable as the south of England.  The area 
> around Bordeaux and south to the Mediterranean and the Languedoc are our 
> favoured places but we are almost seventy
> Thinking a bit more about it I would recommend somewhere near Royan. 
> Lively but not too noisy.  Beaches, yes.  Good shops in the town centre. 
> Many kilometres of cycle paths. Find a lively commercial site in this area 
> and I do not think you will go wrong.
> Regards.
> Dave.
> You can see the Isle of Wight from here:-)
Jon,

Only things missing(?)
Basque area (Atlantic coast)
Catalan area (Med coast)
Rhone Alps (Lakes Geneva, Annecy - paragliding trips, Bourget)
etc.
As a generalisation, the French like to take one's money but always offer 
value.  Just returned from a C&CC site - Toilet block closed, daily, for two 
hours for cleaning (as are CC sites) - not known it to happen in France (nor 
Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Austria and Germany) - mind you, the further 
south you venture the more likely you are to encounter 'mixed' ablutions.
Keith

got to agree with dave d . Royan butiful area great been going there for 
years.
"JRS"  wrote in message 
news:13offnup3uqtee0@corp.supernews.com...
>I am taking caravan to France for first time this year (July / August) and
> wondered if anyone could recommend any regions / sites. I have the CC 
> Europe
> guide but would like to hear some personal recommendations.
>
> I don't want to travel too far from the port (max 200 miles if poss) and 
> am
> keen that the site and its facilities are immaculately clean and well
> maintained with UK style loos. Fairly quiet with not too many pitches if
> poss.
>
> It would be nice if the site had a pool and even better if it is indoors.
> don't mind a few other facilities but don't want 'holiday camp' type site.
>
> I would like a clean, safe, sandy beach within 5 miles if poss for the
> kids - (aged 10 and 12). Walking, vineyards and nice towns / food close by
> would be fantastic.
>
> I know weather can't be guaranteed but would like to give ourselves best
> chance of good weather. Some have recommended the vendee region but other
> have said it is bedlam at that time of year - we don't want too many other
> people around - I'm grumpy!
>
> I like CC and CCC spacing's and general feel and have found some UK
> commercial sites cramped, busy and not enough loo cleans per day!
>
> Price is not an issue.
>
> Thanks
>
> Jon
>
>
>
>
>