Holiday Camping In France

The holidays are always a good time to go camping. And what more exciting is planning a holiday camping experience in France. The country is filled with thousands of campsites where you can enjoy a camping of a lifetime. Not to mention that France is a romantic and beautiful country to begin with so what you will experience is a double treat really: the great outdoors plus the scenic and picturesque landscape of France.

Camping is a totally different experience most especially for people who have been outside or people that have been too accustomed to hotels, inns, or bed and breakfast places. The open space, the chilling air, the trees, shrubs, and night sky are just a few of the perks that one enjoys when camping out. This is something that most camp “purists” recognize as one of the best things that cannot be rivaled by any hotel.

The freedom to move about is something that cannot be replicated by any hotel. This is also probably the reason why some camp managers would establish camp sites filled with hotel-like amenities. These sites are geared towards people that want to enjoy the great outdoors but at the same are unable to survive without specific amenities.

The holidays are a great time to go camping in France. Although you might be greeted with full campsites don’t feel down since there are other campsites where you can go to. There are more than 10,000 campsites scattered all over France. If the first place you went to is full chances are there would be another campsite nearby which could turn out to be more rewarding that your first choice. One way to have a sure selection of campsites is by getting a guide of the area. A good book or travel guide will show you a selection of campsites.

Now with the selection of campsites covered, the next steps you will need is to prepare the things for camping. Camping in France, more often than not, usually involve some wine especially when the campsite in a nearby vineyard. There are times when campsite owners will give away wine straight from their vineyard or include them in the campsite fees.

Despite the camping fees, more and more people are beginning to prefer the camping or outdoor experience since it is still cheaper that getting hotel rooms. This is true especially if you will be traveling with a large group or with your family members. Holiday rates in hotels are pretty expensive as well.

The campsites all over France offer a pretty great alternative for vacationers who want to visit different parts of France with just the minimum of expense. Plus, camping is a great experience to share with your family. You kids might not have had any camping experience before this which makes the trip more memorable. Just think about it, your kids’ very first camping experience is in France. That is a story worth telling to their grandchildren.

Holiday camping in France is a rewarding experience. It is not that difficult either if you plan carefully. Make sure to have camping guides with you as reference materials. Be comforted with the fact that the camping industry in France is well organized enough that you won’t experience that too much of a problem despite the country being a destination of Brits, Dutch, Americans, and other foreigners.

It is one of the more popular camping ground in the world, after all.

Getting The Most Out Of Camping In France

France is filled with lots of campsites, and when I say a lot I mean literally thousands of camping grounds scattered in every scenic area, from the coastlines to the rolling hillsides and stretching valleys. Getting the most out of a camping experience in France takes not only careful planning but also a real appreciation of the great outdoors.

Campsites in France range from the first star rated to the four star rated camping grounds. The number of stars of the campsite rating reflects how much amenities and services available to campers. The higher the star rating the more luxurious the campsite is. Luxurious campsites have swimming pools, beautiful landscaped gardens, unique restaurants, and other amenities at par with those you can find in top rated hotels.

If you like to take the most of the camping experience, it would be best to consider if you would go in France during the peak months of July and August. The weather during these two months is considered the optimum condition in terms of camping which is the reason why people flock to various campsites all over the country. But if you want to avoid the rush of campers and the possibly full campsites, you might want to schedule your camping trip a month before the peak period or the month after.

Or you could book early and reserve camping accommodations so you can go during the peak months. Or if you find the known areas too touristy, you can search for smaller and less known campsite in France and enjoy the old countryside, the vineyard, the wine, and the culture of rural France.

To give you an idea of what you can see in France imaging for a while the magnificent and charming view of the Alps and Pyrenees. If you’re camping more in the valley or down in the farm country, what you’ll see are old trees with wide branches covering the cool flowing mountain rivers. In the west you have the bigger Loire and Dordogne tributaries.

The coastlines of Frances like in the Straits of Dover, Brittany peninsulas and the Bay of Biscay are great destinations for campers as well. The unique, culturally rich towns and villages along the coasts as well as those located in land are quite a treat for campers and a visit to one of these villages should always be included in the itinerary whenever you are camping in an area.

In the southern portion of France you’ll have reasonable and yet very fashionable resorts that often have their own campsites or have some camping grounds nearby. From Le Touquet to further down the channel Normandy, you’ll find some basic and well-equipped campsites. The coastal resorts not only offer campers a great seaside experience but the food in and around the areas are just superb and is definitely a must try for all visitors of the region.

You’ll find some small resorts like the St Aubin and St Valery-en-Caux which have fairly big and four star rated campsites. The twin resorts of Trouville and Deauville also offer several campsites where vacationers can relax and have fun. Other great sceneries in France that is worth to mention include the medieval walled town of St Malo, La Baule with its magnificent beach, the charming Bénodet, and the busy fishing port of Concarneau.

Getting the most of the camping experience in France lies on how well you prepare, your particular preferences, and how much you want to enjoy. Everything is all up to you.

Nature has been very kind to France and enjoying what the country has to offer lies on the camper himself.

Finding The Best Campsite In France

With literally thousands of campsites in France, it would be a good question to ask where the best place to pitch a tent and enjoy the great outdoors. However, despite the intimidating numbers finding the best campsite in France is not actually that difficult. All you need is to look for reviews of known campsites and ask for recommendations from people who have actually gone camping in France.

Be aware though that the best campsites are not just the commercially and commonly known ones. You’ll find a couple of smaller sites that have quite unique appeal. You will eventually find the right campsite that will fit your specific needs with a little patience and hard research.

Probably one of the more popular campsites is the Romarins, Èze. Nestled in the hills near Monaco you will have a great view of the coast from your tent. The rosemary and olive trees add to the ambiance. If you’re looking for a camping place that have amenities like swimming pools and other forms of entertainment, then the Romarins is not the campsite for you. When you pitch your tent here, what you will enjoy is the quietness and calmness of nature.

Another good place is the Les Ormes, St. Étienne de Villeréal. This is a campsite that has more class with rattan loungers and a designer pool. The site is patterned from a famous and high class tent hotel so don’t be surprised to find some comfortable spring beds. This campsite is famous for its vineyards that looked pretty much like the pictures you see in travel books. You’ll find some castles and paper mills as backdrops during camping. And of course, the wine is made from sauvignon and semillon grapes at Château Monbazillac.

If you want a more seascape view, then the camp in Les Criques de Porteils in Argelès-sur-Mer would suit you just fine. Located on the Mediterranean, south of Perpignan, it has lots of wide spreading trees that keeps the campsite well hidden from passersby in the nearby road. To add to the charisma of the place are the old Franco-Spanish buildings and the Catalan street signs. You can see three beaches which are exclusively reserved for campers. You can also find a diving school nearby.

A totally different feel is the agricultural ambiance of Domaine le Poteau in Castlenau d’Auzan. In this campsite you’ll hear the tractors passing by instead of the waves arriving at the shore line. The campsite is situated in Gers’ bountiful wine producing country. You’ll find a vineyard near the campsite and the area itself is surrounded by a garden of small shrubs and trees. Another great appeal of the campsite is the covered communal dining area where the owners often prepare meals for their guests and serve white wine from their vineyard.

Another similar camping experience is the one in Lacave. The farm camping experience in this site is another great experience. With the River Ouysse flowing past the farmhouse and under a canopy of walnut and poplar trees, the site is a great place for a hike. You’ll find a tightrope bridge there which leads to the woods for a refreshing hike.

There’s one thing that you should carefully look for when you find the best campsite in France that fits your needs. And that is the price. Yes, more often than not, campsites in France charge feeds for adults and children campers alike.

So carefully look at the advertised price so you can weigh your choices and prepare for the expenses.

Ethics You Should Practice While Camping in France

Camping is a great recreational activity and each experience is always different from the last. In order to preserve the beauty of the place, there are some ethics you have to practice even while camping in France.

When you camping similar to staying in a hotel, remember that you are a guest. So before you get there, plan ahead and prepare everything that you need. You should also abide by the rules and regulations set at the campgrounds as this is for the safety of everyone there.

You can’t help but sometimes get lost when you go camping. Instead of marking where you made a turn by using paint or flagging, bring a compass instead or bring along a device that is more high tech like GPS.

Setting up camp should always be done on durable surfaces specifically dry grass, gravel, rock or snow. If the area has been designated as a campsite, leave it just the way it is since alternation is not necessary. You can do your share of protecting riparian areas by camping at least 200 feet from lakes and streams.

If your group is walking or going on a hike, walk single file when the soil you are stepping on is muddy or wet. If you some interesting things like historic artifacts or historic structure, look but don’t touch. Never bring home or introduce anything new in the area.

One of the things you have to do while camping is cooking your own food and for that to happen, you have to set a campfire. Since this causes impacts on the ground, it will be a good idea to bring a long a light weight stove and a lantern or flashlight.

If you have to build fire, be sure to establish a fire ring, fire pan or mound fire. Since you also need wood, be sure to only use sticks that can be broken by hand. The following morning, make sure all the wood has been burned to ashes and then scatter it around.

When you go camping in the forest, you are entering a domain where wild animal roam. If you seem them from a distance, don’t make any attempt to follow or approach them. Since some camps in France allow you to bring your dog along, make sure it is leashes and their waste disposed of properly.

Chances are you not the only one going camping so if you see other people, be considerate and courteous. This means resting and making camp away from other groups, stepping to the downhill side of a trail when encountering pack stock and avoiding making loud noises.

When you go camping, you can’t help but produce some waste. Before you leave, don’t just leave it there but pack everything up and dispose of this properly. For human waste, dig a hole at least 6 to 8 inches deep and cover it up when finished.

For those that will be washing dishes, carry water 200 feet away from any lakes or streams. Use biodegradable soap and then scatter the strained dishwater.

Now that you know the ethics of camping, practice it. This will make the camping trip in France a memorable for you and your family as well as to whoever goes there in the future.

Do the Maths in Planning Out Your Camping in France Agenda

In travelling Europe, one of the activities that you can include on your agenda without costing you too much is camping in France. If you will dig deep about the matter and plan it accordingly, you will be able to find comfortable accommodations at prices you can afford. There are many campgrounds throughout the place. So make sure to check them out and see what fits your allotted budget and where can you go given that you would want to finish an agenda during the course of your stay at France.

The campgrounds at France are given star ratings like how it is done with hotels. Such task is being handled by the French government. This can be a very god guide for someone unfamiliar to the place. But you must not solely base your decision on the star ratings alone. This is said to be not always accurate. Some people who have experienced what they thought was a four-star campground would say that the condition of the place is mediocre. But in most cases, when you opt to those that are rated three and up, you will be treated with comfort and some even have amenities which you won't find in sites that are rated lower.

To know more about the details as to the amenities and other values that will make you choose a campground, it will be better to check them out first through research. You can search for these places online. You can even participate on online forums wherein you can meet people who have experienced camping out at their recommended sites. This way, you will be able to gauge where do you want to stay and you can ask more questions to the people participating at said forums to help you out formulate your final decision.

Allot a Budget

If you are fond of travelling and you want to experience the most out of every location you go to, you must make sure that you have enough money to spend on the venture. For the most common sites with only basic amenities, the price can be lower than 400 Euros. This already includes free electricity use. But there are also sites that charge extra 2 to 4 Euros for this purpose.

If you are fond of resorts and water activities, you might as well check out sites that are near the coasts. There are campgrounds that are fully furnished with Internet cafes, restaurants, pools, grocery stores, ATM machines and a lot more. You can also find some that are Wi-Fi ready and there are those that have medical aides and doctors always on call. In other campgrounds, you can opt to rent out grills, refrigerators, TV and tents.

This is the reason why it will be best that you know everything there is to know about the place before you head on to the location. This way, you will be able to do the Maths and prepare right amount of money that you can use while on your chosen sites. If you don't have that much to spend, it will be best if you can find the kinds of campgrounds that offer fewer features but where you can also have the time of your life.

You may also want to avoid the peak season for tourists when it comes to camping in France because this is where it is at its most expensive. The season falls on July and August.