First timer in france needing some advice from the pro's!

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Ziggy123

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Not sure if this is right place to ask this question...but we are currently 2 weeks in to our first trip to France and I'm really struggling. The advice was to go with the flow and don't plan.. but how do you do that when the majority of sites are closed or closing?

What apps/sites do you find most useful..I use ACSI
.. mainly stayed mainly at their sites as seem good value at around 20 euro all in...park4night, camper contact and camper car park (been pretty useless where we have been!) None give you filters to only show open sites so that takes a while to filter! I did pick up a link to French aires during last night's research so that might help fingers crossed.

We've had a few issues that haven't helped. First in calais when we stopped for wine supplies and two men tried to break in to the van...hubby chased them down the road with the dog!..so that's made us nervous of leaving van without being on a site.
Rwg sim been a pain and trying to find a supermarket that sells a French one..no luck yet but in a town today so going to have a walk in and see...but its started to work again yesterday & I have enough data to work for now and no time to watch TV anyway! Gas leak..but anyway its all just things but the main stress is places to stay.

Currently in Chambery near grenoble, we detoured here via Annecy to see if could get part for gas but couldn't. Had intended to do the drive through the alps but the driving is stressing the dog (especially as we've been avoiding tolls!) so we need to make some decisions. Find another spot in Alps good for hiking...head south coast and hopefully more sites open?..any tips on this and good places for walking?..,or just head home instead. I don't really want to as feel I've failed and want to turn it round.

Is this just a bad time of year for France or am I doing it all wrong? We just love being in nature and walking. We have our large Golden retriever with us, he is happy being in van now, just hates the driving days!

So far the highlight of trip was when we detoured in to Switzerland for 5 nights, loved walking in the Mountains! Should have gone to chamonix yesterday as originally planned rather than try to get gas part but you learn. We have 1 working cylinder so that's sufficient!

Love being in the van though and was so excited for this trip. I am usually a planner so I knew it would be an adjustment for me its been harder than I thought, probably just because so much is shut...well hopefully anyway!

Sorry long post any help would be appreciated but be kind I'm feeling very emotional lol!

Thanks Lisa
 
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Try the Camping Car Park App,
The network is all over France, some in Spain as well, most have electric and waste you can join at the the barrier and pay on your way out prices vary from a few euros or free to about E15. They tend to have taken over the municipal aires of towns. The privately run campsites tend to close September to March. If you are doing supplies to take home, as many others have said do it before you get to the port areas. Any hypermarche will have your sim cards even the smaller ones will. Your RWG card may have needed activating before you left the UK, mine works fine all over Europe to date ( just jinxed it!) If you are really stuck go to the Maire and ask the mayor if you can park overnight most are very accommodating.
 
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Try and find a FREE outlet and get a 210GB for around €30 (10 for the SIM and 20 for the data), if you've got internet access do a search.

suavecarve has posted a few journals on here of travel around France that could be helpful

We rarely stay on sites in France but search4sites is pretty good.

Just post where you want to go next on here and ask for recommendations, and lots of experienced advice will come your way ...

Re the gas issue, what's the problem? You might be able to get a family member to buy the part in the UK and have it delivered to a future site? Or you might find it at a BRICO DEPOT ?

MotorhomingFrance for the best aires in France

MotorhomingFrance is a website which is designed to be an invaluable resource for anyone who visits or plans to visit France in a motorhome. The site covers various aspects of motorhoming in France, news on aires, travel news, useful info, tourism, motorhome books
www.motorhomingfrance.co.uk www.motorhomingfrance.co.uk

Is also a good resource
 
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Sorry you're struggling. CamperContact does have a filter called "Travel period" which will only show open sites if you put in today's date. The ACSI book also shows dates when the sites are open.

But, as you've discovered a lot of sites are not open all year round, especially in northern France.

The answer is to use aires and forget about campsites. :)

Have a look at this site:

CAMPING-CAR PARK - The 1st European network of stopover sites and services areas

CAMPING-CAR PARK is the 1st European network of stopover sites and services areas for parking motorhomes in complete peace of mind, 24 hours a day.
www.campingcarpark.com www.campingcarpark.com

You will have to register at the first site you go to and obtain a card from the machine at the barrier. It isn't difficult especially if you choose English as your language at the start of the process. The CCP sites are generally quite civilised.

I would review your "avoiding tolls" strategy if you want easier driving. The toll roads are generally superb in France. They are best with a tag but you can use a card.

And never stop in Calais or chase folk. :)
 
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Get on to holalfy and get an esim unlimited EU data (or however much data you want) no need to insert a physical sim then.

Just check your phone taked esims on Google or possibly under settings sim manager.(depending on phone)
Park4night
Searchforsites
Camping carports
Camper contact

Then Google the site see the opening dates.

Try not to stress too much what happened at calais, will be a one off and it's not.often many of us leave our vans unattended there for long due to the desperate scrotes waiting to cross the Channel. Lesson learnt. Try and avoid motorway services overnights maybe

Enjoy the planning and whatever it throws at you, you'll gain experience and look back on it with a smile.
Lastly always pop back here for advice there will be loads for funsters that will have encountered pretty much every scenario.

Good luck

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We never stop within a couple of hours of Calais in the van because of the immigrants. We have stayed at village or town Aires for 6 years and never had problems. I wouldn't worry about leaving the van when away from Calais, but don't overnight at motorway service stations. Yourl be fine and relax and enjoy tour holiday.
 
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We are newbies also but live here permanently but have found that Camping Car Parks are pretty widespread and good value. My RWG sim has also stopped working. I think that has something to do with the company changing the way they collect the monthly fees and the user having to reorder / reactivate each sim.
 
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As post #2 for stops. These are not camp sites but do have all the services you need, apart from shower and toilet blocks. Once you find your feet you will discover many Aires in local towns and villages that have great parking areas, usually with grey/black disposal and fresh water.
Gas wise, are you on bottled or refillable? If the latter, get the myLPG.eu app. That will help you massively for filling locations. If you are bottled and it's Calor, you will have issues and will need to look at buying a French bottle along with a pigtail, or adaptor, to continue with your supplies.
I hope you get sorted, as, once you do, you will be able to focus on all the great places and sights Framce has to offer.
Safe and happy travels.
 
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We normally drive through France but last month did a few sites there coming back.
Found this very helpful.

CAMPING-CAR PARK - The 1st European network of stopover sites and services areas

CAMPING-CAR PARK is the 1st European network of stopover sites and services areas for parking motorhomes in complete peace of mind, 24 hours a day.
www.campingcarpark.com www.campingcarpark.com

Download the app, we went away October/November a few years back and found sites in France a bit scarce when returning home, best stay in Switzerland a lot better😁😁
 
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As has been said camping car park is your best bet, also with regard to your RWG sim card you need to check that you have the correct APN setting, you can google for that. I use search for sites and have had no problems finding aires to stay on in January, February and March.

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Tourist information office ask for the Camping Car Park map, we find it easier sometimes to look at paper. We are at Blere a great stop, Villandry before that plenty of choice.
 
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We never stay on sites in France, we use the Aires-mostly free can be in a car park on the edge of a Ville or out in the middle of nowhere. Never had any problems with them.
Last night was spent on the Cap de Sizun with 4 other MoHos and a car on the top of a cliff overlooking the Sea.
NEVER stop in Calais, even the seasoned amongst us will tell you that.
Gas leak, where? Maybe the connections are loose.
Please don’t let this trip put you off, France is easy, as it’s your first time things will feel a bit overwhelming and as you say you’re a planner that’s different for you too.
Have a look at some of the ‘Aire de Camping Car’ spots but don’t confuse them with the Aire signs you see off the big main roads, they are fine for a lunch stop but don’t stay on them overnight.
 
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Please don't worry about leaving your van unattended. Never stop at Calais as mentioned above and as long as you are not in large cities then any risks of break ins are less than if you were in the UK. Just take the usual precautions. France is an incredibly safe country and some of the best places to stay are free aires or wild spots with no facilities.
 
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Search for sites is brilliant and you can filter open sites on it too.

Can I ask where your dog sits when you travel? We have a Labrador and I thought he would like to sit on the bench seat and look out the window but he almost looked green with nausea on the first journey! He now sits/lies down on the floor between the front seats and is more than happy when we travel now.

Good luck 🍀

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Louie25 said:
Search for sites is brilliant and you can filter open sites on it too.

Can I ask where your dog sits when you travel? We have a Labrador and I thought he would like to sit on the bench seat and look out the window but he almost looked green with nausea on the first journey! He now sits/lies down on the floor between the front seats and is more than happy when we travel now.

Good luck 🍀
Click to expand...
That’s what ours do, travelling in a few vans and caravans and he always settles best in the front near us don’t hear a peep from him then.
 
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Don't understand why you say campingcarparks is no good, as you will see there is five round you.
Screenshot_20231011-082726.png
 
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We find closing all the blinds in the habitation part helps our dog, he doesn't like it when he can see things whizzing past the window, especially large lorries.

Don't be afraid to ask fellow motorhomers for help regarding your gas leak, most are more than happy to help if they are able to.
 
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On our recent trip in France we bought a Reglo sim and it worked brilliantly. Go into a LeClerc supermarket to purchase and ask at the information desk or electrical department. Some larger stores have a separate electrical shop at the entrance which will sell them. They will put it into your phone and activate it - I took a spare phone with me to the store and later transferred sim to my mifi. You buy the sim (€5) then the GB you want. Need to take your passport and address (any campsite would do), but we weren’t asked for this. They won’t do it without passport though. Worked out much cheaper than using wife’s UK data and £2 per day charge. We will definitely use Reglo next time.

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France is the easiest country to use a Motorhome in Europe far easier than the UK, in fact it's Motorhome heaven.

You are going wrong by trying to use sites especially at this time of year most sites close end of September at lot at the end of August. In over 15 years of Motorhoming in France I think in that time we have spent a max of 5 nights on a site.

There are so many Aires to chouse from many of them free & many good wild spots. As mentioned you will probably like CCP Aires they are a bit expensive but do include EHU.

France is really safe for Motorhomes just steer clear of the ports when stopping.

As for the phone sim it sounds like you didn't activate it in the UK we used an RWG one in France & Spain eairler in the year without problem.
In France Reglo sims work well avaliable from E.Leclerc supermarkets. 100GB for €9.95 plus €5 for the sim.
You need to go to customer services to get it activated you will need your passport and they will ask for an address just give the address of the nearest Aire.

There are links to a lot of my trips in my signature, everyone starts and goes through France.
 
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Ziggy123 said:
Not sure if this is right place to ask this question...but we are currently 2 weeks in to our first trip to France and I'm really struggling. The advice was to go with the flow and don't plan.. but how do you do that when the majority of sites are closed or closing?

What apps/sites do you find most useful..I use ACSI
.. mainly stayed mainly at their sites as seem good value at around 20 euro all in...park4night, camper contact and camper car park (been pretty useless where we have been!) None give you filters to only show open sites so that takes a while to filter! I did pick up a link to French aires during last night's research so that might help fingers crossed.

We've had a few issues that haven't helped. First in calais when we stopped for wine supplies and two men tried to break in to the van...hubby chased them down the road with the dog!..so that's made us nervous of leaving van without being on a site.
Rwg sim been a pain and trying to find a supermarket that sells a French one..no luck yet but in a town today so going to have a walk in and see...but its started to work again yesterday & I have enough data to work for now and no time to watch TV anyway! Gas leak..but anyway its all just things but the main stress is places to stay.

Currently in Chambery near grenoble, we detoured here via Annecy to see if could get part for gas but couldn't. Had intended to do the drive through the alps but the driving is stressing the dog (especially as we've been avoiding tolls!) so we need to make some decisions. Find another spot in Alps good for hiking...head south coast and hopefully more sites open?..any tips on this and good places for walking?..,or just head home instead. I don't really want to as feel I've failed and want to turn it round.

Is this just a bad time of year for France or am I doing it all wrong? We just love being in nature and walking. We have our large Golden retriever with us, he is happy being in van now, just hates the driving days!

So far the highlight of trip was when we detoured in to Switzerland for 5 nights, loved walking in the Mountains! Should have gone to chamonix yesterday as originally planned rather than try to get gas part but you learn. We have 1 working cylinder so that's sufficient!

Love being in the van though and was so excited for this trip. I am usually a planner so I knew it would be an adjustment for me its been harder than I thought, probably just because so much is shut...well hopefully anyway!

Sorry long post any help would be appreciated but be kind I'm feeling very emotional lol!

Thanks Lisa
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Lisa,

All is not lost, you have gained (unfortunately) some learning experiences.
Try not to stop in Calais, the chaps trying to break in were likely to be looking for a way to the UK, personally speaking, there is better value wine in wine regions and if in Chambery, youre not a million miles away.
In reference to the ACSI sites, yes less are open, there is a search facility for open campsites https://www.greatlittlecampsites.co...dults_2/sort:recommended/paging:0,10/view:map and that link covers northern france, just adjust it for dates and locations for the ones that are open.
It depends what the gas equipment is that you need, if it is just the fill up for a french adaptor, then asking at petrol station if you can borrow one, seek a neighbour if you are near to one, see if they sell one in the petrol station or order one to an amazon locker in france (from amazon) Otherwise it might be a motorhome dealer or bricolage dependant upon what you need
If you keep going South you will hit Ardeche or Provence, both truly stunning whereas if you went west a little you will find the Vercors which could be interesting dependant upon size of van and confidence, but you were thinking Alps so should be fine, just make note of the roads.
Click here https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/journals/categories/continental-tours.77/map for the MHF journal map and zoom in to where you think you may want to go. Once you click the item it takes you to the write up by whoever wrote it and the photos to help with your decision making.
1697011803660.png


I can only reiterate the CCP advice, which could lessen your gas usage, but for us and numerous others aires (whether CCP or not) would be the way to go.

Let us all know what you think your plans are for today/tomorrow and you should get numerous replies about where to go and what to see and which is the best boulangerie in the village/town, there arent many places left in France that the funsters reading this wont have been to, or been in very unusual situations. We once went to Chambery having been sent to Bourges from Herrison for the only part available in France (so we were told) and had to wait for Monday morning for a repair which amounted to the battery being tightened up. Cost us 3 days and 300 or so miles.

You like walking and have a dog, do you have bikes? want more wine ? wild swimming ? looking at waterfalls and gorge walks or drives ? That will help us with the advice to where to go
 
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Ziggy123 said:
I am usually a planner so I knew it would be an adjustment for me its been harder than I thought, probably just because so much is shut...well hopefully anyway!
Click to expand...

From one planner to another....... you've had some back luck, and maybe you jumped in at the deep end and tried to do too much all in one go :hugs:
I know a lot of people on here wax lyrical about just going with the flow, no need to plan etc.... but that way doesn't suit everyone, and if you're a MH newbie too then you're probably suffering from overload right now.

I'd suggest taking the the time to sit down, spend some time on the internet and plan your stops for the next week or so - that will remove one stress from you and give you some headspace to sort out internet/dog/MH stuff.

For background....our first big trip we planned everything out for the entire time. Our second one we had a detailed plan, but halfway through the weather wasn't co-operating so we found a pub, did some research and made a new one. Many trips later we've now got to the stage where we only plan the first few days and are now happy to go mostly with the flow. Try taking small steps and finding what works best for you.

Its going to be a tad more difficult this time of year because sites are starting to close, but you've had some great advice above about how to find places to stay. And don't be afraid of the toll roads....they're not that pricey, and the driving is easy. You may also enjoy France Passion stopovers....they tend to be rural and many of them are open all year (you can join online and download an app - no real need for the book any more).
 
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If you want a site near to where you are, try Grand Bornand. The site is definitely open all year, it is a lovely town and has river and hill walks straight from the site. Also, the town as a Fenicular/ tram thingy, to take you up the mountain. You will have to look up when it runs though as you are in-between summer and ski season.

Camping Grand Bornand | Camping L'Escale près D'annecy Haute Savoie

Si vous chercher un endroit paisible, confortable avec un cadre naturel et montagnard, le camping 3 étoiles L'Escale...
www.campinglescale.com www.campinglescale.com
 
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Camping car parks around chambery

image.jpg

Bregnier cordon is possibly your nearest

20AF8BD6-14F0-4BB4-945F-D86603C2F734.png

And has lots of space .

To be honest the French tourist season is incredibly short , CCP are becoming a good option as they are open all year .

Dont fret , as others have said France is such a motorhome friendly country and loads of funsters have great recommendations to offer.

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We paid for the Searchforsites app and used it a lot. When you click on the campsite/Aire etc it shows the opening dates and you can navigate to the site. It also gives you the coordinates. Excellent value in our opinion.

As others have said, Aires are usually pretty safe but avoid places like Calais. We were new to staying on Aires this year but found some great ones and met a lot of fellow motorhomers.
 
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There is a great aire right in the centre of Calais, gated and barriered with elsan dump and water all for €10 a night. Stayed a few times no problems and an easy flat 20 min walk into the centre.

They own the campsite next door as well with showers/toilets 👍.

The problem with Calais is it’s in France which we find very expensive so tend to get through it, yes I know it’s pretty but it’s expensive, oh and it’s shut and the pretty villages are like scenes from Walking Dead where you see no signs of human life :oops:.

That said we do like it and have regularly stayed at loads of aires most of which are very good, on our way to other parts of europe.
 
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On the RWG question, I have just spoken to them and they have reactivated our SIM and all okay now. Best way to contact them is via the enquiry form within your online account. They responded within an hour.
 
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As others have said, we do not use campsites in the off season, because nearly all close by the end of September and don't open until Easter or even later. Instead we use some of the many thousand Aires that France offers in villages and towns. I use the paid for CamperContact App on my phone. Well worth the Small yearly cost. Read up on the reviews and photos to make sure it suites you.
 
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