France

Les Sables-d’Olonne

Les Sables-d’Olonne Campsites

Camping Roses (Municipal campsite)

Rue des Roses
A lovely leafy quite campsite 400m from the beach.  About €20 for 2 people in September. Expensive.

Camping Dune des Sables

Just by the sea at La Paracou
Tel: 0251 323121
Open April to September.

Moilets Plage

Free camping at Moilets Plage

North of the resort is a aire natural (free camping spot), on the D652 road.

Hossegor

Hossegor is a bright and lively surf town.  Home to several major surf competitions, the waves here are great. 

Free camping in Hossegor

There are several aire de Stationnement around Hossegor, see below. Most cost €4 during peak season, and free outside of this.
There is a aire de Stationnement Pour Surfeurs just off the CD79 Le Penon - Seignosse route.
An aire de Stationnement is just south of the Seignosse Golf Club.
Another is in Hossegor just off the Route des Lacs.
There is another by the VVF surf break which becomes a surf commune during the summer.

Do you have information about the South of France? Please contact us.

Paris is an amazing city.  The many monuments, museums, food, drink and street life are sure to please even a traveller with a dislike of cities.  Driving is not for the faint hearted, but can be a good buzz once you get used to it. 

Many prefer to stay in hotels or hostels in the city itself, as the atmosphere is a great part of Paris.  Seeing the many sites on foot is also much easier if you are staying in the city.  Inner city accommodation will not offer parking, especially for large vehicles, so consider parking out of the city (see ‘Free parking’ below).

Driving and parking in Normandy is easy.  There are lots of camper vans and motorhomes touring around, do you wont feel out of place. There are designated rest areas and car parks.

D-Day beaches

The D-Day beaches offer a place to reflect on the efforts of the Allied forces in WWII.  Perhaps the best site is the Mulberry Harbour at Arromanches beach.  Navigating the region with a motorhome is easy enough.  There are designated rest areas.

French food

French food is one of the highlights of visiting France. Patisserie sell lovely pastries such as pain au chocolat, buttery croissants, and lots of other things. Try the quiches. From the delicatessen try cheeses like camembert and brie, meats such as ham and salami. Baguettes are of course everywhere. France has a great selection of seafood, with mussels and chips being a national favourite and available everywhere. Crepes are available in many places with a great selection of toppings. French food and wine is surely amongst some of the finest in the world. The freshness and quality of the raw ingredients right through to finished dishes is excellent. Eating out is quite expensive.

Driving in France is straightforward. The road network is excellent. Most motorways are toll roads, although some are free, so its worth checking when planning a long journey. French drivers are generally of a good standard, although some are a little impatient.

Paperwork

• Drivers require a full driving license or International Driving Permit
• Adequate insurance - it is a good idea to get translations from your insurer
• Ownership papers

French roads

The French roads are good and make driving in France a pleasure. 

There are few countries as good as France to camp in. The French love to camp, and there are good quality campsites everywhere, although they can be expensive. Free camping is tolerated, and special aire de campings are provided.

Campsites in France

There are campsites all over France. French campsite can be some of the most expensive in Europe, but cheaper sites are also available. The state run municipal campsites are almost always the cheapest, and open all year round. France has some super-sites on the coast that provide many facilities you will not find anywhere else, such as aerobics classes, car washing facilities, a selection of restaurants, private beach access, but these campsites are the most expensive. Seasonal campsites will start closing at mid-Septmber. Some campsites stay open year round.

Brittany has a rugged coastline, and many connections with southwest Britain. It is a beautiful place to visit when the weather is good, but the winter arrives early here.

St Malo

St Malo is an interesting collection of shops, bars and restaurants all crammed into the ancient walled citadel. St Malo also has a collection of fine beaches around it. A popular place for sailors to dock.

France is the largest country in western Europe, and also the most visited country in the world. France has a lot to offer any traveler. France has Atlantic, Mediterranean and English Channel coastlines. Paris is a gem of a city. France is one of the best countries in the world to camp in. Driving is easy, roads are good.

Recommended France

• Paris - endless word class museums, The Eiffel Tower, fine bars and restaurants, Parisian street life, outstanding architecture.
• Cote d'Azur - beautiful beaches, the warm Mediterranean sea, and the Principality of Monaco
• Food - French food is worth the hype.
• Wine - probably the worlds best
• Dune de Pyla - Europe's biggest sand dune in Gironde
• Western and south western France - Biarritz and endless beautiful beaches
• Brittany - rugged coastline and Celtic connections
• Normandy - pay your respects to the servicemen at the beaches and fine memorials

Campsites and free camping in France

French campsites and among the best in Europe, and free camping areas are provided. What more could a camper want? Read more.