France First Time

[brysee]

Why ask as you seem to know where to go, first time we went all we had was a map and a destination. Been pretty well deciding our own routes since, don’t see the point on following someone else’s holiday destinations.
It’s so easy now with all the apps that are available.

And you wonder why he only posted 3 times maybe he don't want to turn into a grumpy keyboard warrior type and prefers the real world

 

[ChrisL]

€16 in summer and more if you are classe 3.

I wasn't aware it's seasonal, I'm classe 3 and was there last March, it was €8, maybe the girl took a shine to me

Edit: official tariff below.

Tariff for the Ile de Ré bridge for a single passage from January 1, 2023​

Rates for a single passage depending on the vehicle (round trip included)

VEHICLE CLASS	1 / 2	3	4	5
SUMMER RATE	16 €	18 €	40 €	3 €
WINTER RATE	8 €	18 €	40 €	3 €

- SUMMER / WINTER pricing periods for the Ile de Ré bridge​

SUMMER : from June 20 to September 11
WINTER : September 12 to June 19

 

[Orion]

€8 to get on to the island, free to leave.

€16 in summer and more if you are classe 3.

I wasn't aware it's seasonal, I'm classe 3 and was there last March, it was €8, maybe the girl took a shine to me

Didn’t cost us anything going over - other than sore leg muscles as it’s quite a climb to the midpoint. Blisteringly hot with the heat from the traffic coming off the tarmac.

 

[busby]

Why ask as you seem to know where to go, first time we went all we had was a map and a destination. Been pretty well deciding our own routes since, don’t see the point on following someone else’s holiday destinations.
It’s so easy now with all the apps that are available.

True,,our first camping trip we had a European map,a tent two deck chairs and a one burner cooker..Forgot to buy a camp site guide...Got as far as Calpe..BUSBY.

 

[David BW]

We're doing our first trip to France too in just a few weeks time, so interested in this thread and so many similar on here. We've joined France Passion which seems to offer remarkably good value, with something over 2000 free stopovers all over France for an annual subscription of just £30. We're going for 2.5 weeks and are hoping to get down to a line from around Annecy to Bordeaux and back again.

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[boroboy]

Hope it stops raining in the next 3 weeks for you, it doesn't look like it yet. From a soggy Bordeaux.

 

[David BW]

Hope it stops raining in the next 3 weeks for you, it doesn't look like it yet. From a soggy Bordeaux.

I'm sure it will, but hey, we've just inserted in a kayak so we'll be alright! good luck with the weather in the meantime!

 

[David BW]

I'm sure it will, but hey, we've just inserted in a kayak so we'll be alright! good luck with the weather in the meantime!

invested not inserted!!

 

[Posidriver]

Hi fellow Funsters, off to France on Tuesday for 3 weeks. Going to head South West to La Rochelle and Bordeaux area from Calais. Any stopovers worth considering or advice for a first timer, please?

Everywhere is worth stopping at. Lovely place to take a van. Fab wines, cheese, breads etc. Make sure you have a couple of water connectors. Some fill up points are threaded, some are rat tails. Enjoy!

 

[Cockers]

Why ask as you seem to know where to go, first time we went all we had was a map and a destination. Been pretty well deciding our own routes since, don’t see the point on following someone else’s holiday destinations.
It’s so easy now with all the apps that are available.

If you have nothing constructive or helpful to comment on other peoples post, don’t.

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[Lavender1]

Hi fellow Funsters, off to France on Tuesday for 3 weeks. Going to head South West to La Rochelle and Bordeaux area from Calais. Any stopovers worth considering or advice for a first timer, please?

You have to go to Ile de Re and best camp site is Camping La Grainetiere. Cycle to La Flotte and eat at La Martiniere. Best stopover to and from Calais is at Chatel en Bray, Camping Sainte-claire,100 miles. Have a great trip.

 

[varaizian]

We're doing our first trip to France too in just a few weeks time, so interested in this thread and so many similar on here. We've joined France Passion which seems to offer remarkably good value, with something over 2000 free stopovers all over France for an annual subscription of just £30. We're going for 2.5 weeks and are hoping to get down to a line from around Annecy to Bordeaux and back again.

We've been members on and off over the years and found that nobody has ever asked for our membership card. Quite a few of the places are in other guides too but once you have the book it will work for a couple of years. In France we have enough bits of paper on the windscreen already with the Crit'Air sticker, insurance and Control Technique proofs. Try not to get too carried away after a wine tasting!

 

[David BW]

We've been members on and off over the years and found that nobody has ever asked for our membership card. Quite a few of the places are in other guides too but once you have the book it will work for a couple of years. In France we have enough bits of paper on the windscreen already with the Crit'Air sticker, insurance and Control Technique proofs. Try not to get too carried away after a wine tasting!

Insurance & Control Technique stickers? I haven’t seen anything about these, what do we need to do? Is the later the toll tag thing?

 

[richard8]

There is a great motorhome aire at Montelive. It just behind the dunes so a two minute walk to the Atlantic. Avoid Rouen!

 

[Nirvanauk]

These instructions will get you through Rouen from Calais direction. Read, inwardly digest then read again and have them ready as you approach then it isnt an issue.
In terms of crime rate for France, avoid Paris and Marseilles like the plague.
Over many years we have not found a sensible alternative to bypass Rouen. The motorway becomes Dual carriageway at the city's edge and drops down through a tunnel. Exit this in the inside lane and in 1.5km take the 3rd exit signed to Vernon. The slip road ends in traffic lights - go in the centre lane to turn left across a dual carriageway. You should now be in the right hand lane for the next set of lights. Go straight on then bear right onto the D6015 signed for Vernon. In a little while the Seine appears on your right and you are clear of the City

Do you know the height barriers in the tunnels please?

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[lunarman]

Do you know the height barriers in the tunnels please?

Those tunnels are on the main road and take HGV lorries and are not to be confused with the Rouen tunnels everyone talks about which are only 2.8m.

https://www.google.com/maps/@49.450...4!1sOt39lG4R_t08-bzOiklDbA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

 

[Al n Val]

We have just arrived at La Fleche, 3rd time been here, it’s midway between Le Mans and Tours so very well situated.

The site is on the bank of the river Loire and is a 5 minute walk into La Fleche which has everything you need for a nice stopover including shops, bars restaurant cafes, you name it, it’s here, even a chateau as you walk across the Loire

A great place to get your bearings, chill out whilst you decide your next stop and it’s only 2.5 hrs from La Rochelle

Lovely clean toilets and showers, free very good streaming wifi, even a pool, big level grass pitches as well with water and ehu on every pitch and all included for €16 a night, why you’d want to be on an aire when this is here is a mystery

Enjoy your trip

 

[VXman]

Thanks Guys, early / ish crossing via euro-tunnel. Hope to pick up supplies at Maquise and then to Le Crotoy for lunch. Either stay or move on for an overnight somewhere. Idea is then to head South from then on.

This is my first France motor-home trip, my toe in the water, I have Camping Card, Camping-car Park, Search for sites, and of course this channel for inspiration and guidance. Someone said go with the flow and that is my intention. See what happens.

There is a campingcarpark at Le Crotoy, We made it our first stop when we did France in 2021. It's just outside the town. Alternatively there is a paid Aire by the port.

 

[varaizian]

Insurance & Control Technique stickers? I haven’t seen anything about these, what do we need to do? Is the later the toll tag thing?

No relax! Just for residents. We have to show evidence of our insurance and Controle Technique status or collect a €135 fine.

 

[Go_buddy_go_]

Hi fellow Funsters, off to France on Tuesday for 3 weeks. Going to head South West to La Rochelle and Bordeaux area from Calais. Any stopovers worth considering or advice for a first timer, please?

We will also follow this thread as we’re doing our first France trip in September so all tips and advice greatly anticipated!!

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[VXman]

Île Madame has a camping car park. Interesting island. You have to drive across the causeway at low tide and then are stuck until the next tide! Nice for a campingcarpark too - feels more like a campsite. Lots of space, trees etc.​

 

[Mick and Ruth]

Thanks Guys, early / ish crossing via euro-tunnel. Hope to pick up supplies at Maquise and then to Le Crotoy for lunch. Either stay or move on for an overnight somewhere. Idea is then to head South from then on.

Aire at Le Crotoy is very good right next to town. Ile De Rey is definatley worth a visit great aire at the harbor of Saint Martin. If you have bikes the island is set up for them.

 

[jannyman]

We've been members on and off over the years and found that nobody has ever asked for our membership card. Quite a few of the places are in other guides too but once you have the book it will work for a couple of years. In France we have enough bits of paper on the windscreen already with the Crit'Air sticker, insurance and Control Technique proofs. Try not to get too carried away after a wine tasting!

This exactly. Joined and used FP quite a bit on our two trips last year but found the stopovers very ‘uneven’. In one instance even travelling a few K’s to find the site locked and bolted and another (listed in the current book) was no longer ‘operating’. Not wanting to sound too churlish on what is in effect a great scheme, and balanced by the fact we also found some ‘crackers’, it’s possibly best to phone ahead but as these sites are part of working environments it’s not always possible to get a reply.
We put the negative experiences down to everyone trying to get back to some form of normality after lockdown.
Whatever you decide and wherever you go enjoy it!

 

[Imala615]

As already said loads of people do it every year(myself included) so you will get lots of recommendations and as you have said don't plan but also good to know where others have stopped.I have put a link to Caramaps which i used to map out my stops last year as there's loads of aires and recent reviews on it so worth bookmarking.
Have a look at my 2018 blog ,A months trip i went down to Bordeaux and then down the river Lot before looping back up ,Plenty of stops on it and the Europe 2022 has lots of stops as far as La Rochelle although i didn't stop there or go down the coast. as it was June /July and would have been hammered.

more Blogs | My Motorhome Travels

www.rebbyvid.co.uk

Europe 2022 | My Motorhome Travels

www.rebbyvid.co.uk

Caramaps - Annuaire de Campings, Aires de service, Accueil à la ferme. | Caramaps

www.caramaps.com

 

[Sue coulson]

Check weather forecast to be able to move on during rainy periods if your first stop is Le Crotoy for lunch.
As a guess I would like to be past Rouen before having a break if going down to Bordeaux for 3 weeks.
Getting past La Loire would be a must for me on a first day on a time limited South of France holiday

Enjoy

What's wrong with ruen?? My first trip in may

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[suavecarve]

What's wrong with ruen?? My first trip in may

There is nothing whatsoever wrong with Rouen, beautiful old half timbered town centre, but if you wish to miss Paris and go South then you are likely to go past Rouen. The aire on the river island is worthy of a miss though.
If you follow instructions or your sat nav with height restrictions in them then its relatively easy, HOWEVER, if you dont then you run the risk of heading towards a low tunnel in the town like a few have done previously.

 

[15edward]

There have been a couple of “mishaps “ in the past with Motorhomes using tunnels which are not big enough fir Motorhomes …
Rouen is now an area where you need a crit air sticker to access it.
There are two main routes through the city where that’s not necessary
Down the A28 which towards the city uses tunnels which ARE tall enough
Over the river turn onto the D 6015
Or -my preferred- A29 A150 A151 over the river onto N138

 

[AllesP]

Hi fellow Funsters, off to France on Tuesday for 3 weeks. Going to head South West to La Rochelle and Bordeaux area from Calais. Any stopovers worth considering or advice for a first timer, please?

Have a wonderful time. I hope you have an ACSI guide and ACSI discount card as it will save you a lot of money at this time of year, if you're planning to stay on camp sites.
The French Aires are brilliant, especially for en route stop-overs (or longer). Many are free. Some have electricity, water, grey waste and chemical toilet disposal facilities.
Enjoy yourselves. France is so beautiful and the French people are friendly and helpful

 

[cantonalegod]

Just take it easy and if you do go near Rouen be careful. Enjoy France, the sites are just starting to open.

Prob gone through Rouen 30 or 40 times, what's the prob?

Edit. Just seen mention of low tunnels. We have never come across any low ones coming South, or back North, using non toll roads using out Tomtom.

 

[RobPullen]

This is my first France motor-home trip, my toe in the water, I have Camping Card, Camping-car Park, Search for sites, and of course this channel for inspiration and guidance. Someone said go with the flow and that is my intention. See what happens.

We are regular visitors to France (here now actually) but usually head down to the Alps for a bit of skiing and then across rather than over that way. However, a couple of good places to stop. Chartres not far from Paris (but far enough away) after you have bypassed Rouen can be on the way. There is a good free stopover there, usually a good few motorhomes and it’s just a short walk into the centre which puts on an amazing light show on many buildings around the city centre. Usually stops during the winter but starts again around 15th April. Also, Le Mans, was an unexpectedly pleasant place (although a few years ago now). Parking Le Mans - easy walk up in to the old town.
We also use the cards/apps you have mentioned to find places, but also Camper Contact and have found a few good places with it, particularly if you can manage to live off grid, no EHU, self-contained bathroom facilities, etc and some good day stops on the edge of towns etc.
Completely agree with the ‘go with the flow’ approach. We rarely book anything in advance, even in the height of summer, but use the above mentioned and how things look / feel on the day approach.

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