The freedom of driving round France in your personal campervan, motorhome or RV is a real escape from the each day grind. There’s one thing so satisfying about being completely self-sufficient on the highway, with nowhere to be and nothing to do. Whether it’s for a vacation with the household otherwise you’re prepared to hitch the #vanlife motion, tenting in France with your personal car is a superb alternative to benefit from the nice open air.
Before you set off, it’s a good suggestion to assemble a few nuggets of knowledge to assist make your journey go easily: sensible info for planning your journey, security ideas for whilst you’re there or basic tenting etiquette.
Here are our prime ideas for travelling by way of France by campervan.
Top ideas for campervan holidays in France
Camping with youngsters
Kids of all ages love the barefoot freedom of a tenting vacation. Campsites are typically protected and safe areas, the place you may give them this freedom, permitting them to really feel unbiased and make pals. Furthermore, many campsites in France, notably websites within the south of France, have glorious amenities together with swimming swimming pools with waterslides, playgrounds, desk tennis tables… (don’t overlook your personal bats and ball). All of this may give each member of the family area to get pleasure from issues by themselves, in addition to the household actions you do collectively.
During the summer season months, bigger campsites even organise a vary of actions – the likes of motorbike rides, cooking courses, workshops and artwork courses. There can also be night leisure for the entire household, similar to discos, video games nights and expertise exhibits. These issues are value contemplating when selecting your itinerary and reserving your pitches, particularly in case you are on an extended vacation the place a little bit of selection could also be welcome after the primary 4 or 5 days.
Measure your motorhome
If you’re not used to driving a bigger car, it’s positively a good suggestion to know your van’s weight and dimensions. There are restrictions on sure bridges, tunnels and roads to be careful for, in addition to entry to automobile parks and different facilities. The measurement of your car may decide the pace you may drive on sure roads, so be sure you verify the principles round this earlier than you set off.
If you could have a roof field, bikes or anything on the roof or on a rack on the again, measure the precise, full peak and size of your car together with this stuff and stick a really seen discover in your dashboard to remind you! Losing your bikes and damaging your roof wouldn’t be an excellent begin to your vacation and we now have seen it occur plenty of instances!
Stay related
Camping is a good way to get again to nature, however a dependable web connection is important, particularly should you’re checking maps, importing images or streaming films within the van within the evenings. Depending in your knowledge roaming protection, it’s possible you’ll need to buy a pay as you go Wi-Fi gadget on arrival in France, which ought to work in most areas. A dependable sat-nav system can be invaluable if you may be doing lots of exploring. Back-up display screen grabs of your mapped route and/or an old school paper map are good to have, in case your battery runs out otherwise you hit an space with no cellular community protection.
Camper stops in France (“aires”)
Many villages have locations the place campers and motorhomes can spend the night time without cost or for a small payment, known as aires.
They could be discovered all through France and a few supply service factors for water assortment and disposal. You can discover them utilizing apps similar to Park4Night or campercontact. They can’t be booked, so that you simply have to show up and see if there may be area. You can arrive and depart at any time, nonetheless some have a most keep of 24-48 hours.
For longer stays or for if you wish to you should definitely have an area, we suggest probably the most snug choice of reserving a campsite. Here are our recommendations on the way to discover the right one for you.
Take time away from the wheel
Depending in your plans, the dimensions of your car and the intricacy of your camp set-up, it’s possible you’ll desire to decide on a campsite in France that’s near a bus cease or practice station so you may go sightseeing with out your motorhome, leaving it on the campsite. Bringing bikes can be a good way to discover the realm with out having to drive your campervan in every single place.
Campervan safety
Get savvy with safety and don’t make it straightforward for anybody to interrupt into your property on wheels. You can discover all of our prime motorhome safety ideas right here.
France security legal guidelines
Here are just a few gadgets that, by legislation, you have to have with you or in your camper, whereas driving in France:
- Headlight beam converters (in case you are driving a right-hand drive car)
- Seatbelts for all passengers always
- UK sticker if driving a British car
- Hi-vis reflective jackets (one per particular person and have to be accessible with out getting out of the car)
- Clean air sticker for driving in bigger cities (verify guidelines to your camper)
- First assist equipment
- Warning triangle to placed on the highway should you break down or have an accident.
Speed digital camera detection kits are unlawful so be sure you disable this setting on any sat nav or GPS techniques. Breathalysers are not required in France.
How to organise a campervan vacation in France
Open-air holidays are likely to require a bit extra preparation than a visit to a resort. You want to consider what to pack, the way to journey round and the place you’ll park your campervan in a single day.
We promise it’s completely value it. So seize your favorite pocket book or arrange a colour-coordinated spreadsheet and get planning!
Packing to your campervan vacation
If solely there was one place you might go to search out out what it’s essential take in your campervan vacation in France… Well, we’re thrilled to tell you that there’s! Check out our Ultimate Checklist for a campervan vacation and don’t overlook any of the necessities.
Campervan documentation
If you’re driving in France, it’s essential have all of those paperwork onboard:
- Passport and full driving licence (in date)
- Motorhome insurance coverage paperwork (legitimate for driving in Europe)
- Breakdown cowl (legitimate for driving in Europe)
- Vehicle V5 logbook (unique)
- Personal journey insurance coverage.
Planning your route by way of France
From grand chateaux to verdant vineyards, and spectacular mountain ranges to good seashores, your tenting journey to France might be unforgettable. Luckily, we’ve accomplished the laborious be just right for you and located a number of the greatest routes and locations so that you can select from.
Booking your campsites
Booking your journey couldn’t be simpler. Head to Campsited.com and search to your coronary heart’s content material. You can filter your campsite search by area, environment, facilities and specialist themes, so you’ll find precisely what you need.
FAQ: Your campervan vacation questions answered
Should I e-book my campsite upfront?
You could have to e-book upfront, relying on when and the place you’re going. Summer is the peak season for tenting in France. Campsites are likely to replenish for July and August nicely upfront, notably bigger campsites alongside the coast and near vacationer locations. There are additionally completely different facilities it’s possible you’ll need to look out for. Read this information to grasp why completely different campsites differ in worth.
If you’re travelling within the low season, it’s possible you’ll not have to make reservations, particularly in case you are simply stopping over for one or two nights. Just beware that not all campsites keep open all 12 months spherical, and those who do could shut their gates earlier within the low season.
Can I take my pet with me after I’m tenting in France?
Many campsites welcome four-legged pals (discover our record of pet-friendly campsites right here), however all the time verify the campsite’s pet coverage earlier than you make your reservation, as there might be site-specific guidelines and facilities. Most campsites request that canines are saved on a lead inside the campgrounds, for instance. Bringing a pet can also incur further charges. There are additionally authorized necessities you have to comply with when taking your pet overseas – try our article on tenting with canines for extra ideas.
Can you park a camper anyplace in France?
Parking your campervan within the daytime is way the identical as parking a automobile in France, until there are particular indicators prohibiting it. If you need to know the place to park your campervan in a single day, see above for details about aires, or under for details about wild tenting.
How a lot does it price to rent a campervan in France?
The price of hiring a campervan depends upon the kind of car you’re searching for, the time of the 12 months, the age of the motive force and the extent of luxurious. It could be anyplace between £300 and £1200+ per week. The greatest solution to know is to spend two minutes filling in your vacation particulars in our campervan rent search software and get quotes from all of the rental corporations.
How previous do it’s important to be to rent a campervan in France?
The typical age requirement for hiring a campervan in France is 25 years previous. Certain corporations will lease to 21-year-olds, however it’s possible you’ll have to pay a bit additional. Check immediately with the rental firm – will probably be detailed within the phrases and circumstances of all of the quotes provided by our motorhome search software.
If an organization does settle for a youthful driver, a completely different insurance coverage coverage could apply, so additionally learn the insurance coverage phrases and choices fastidiously, as you undergo the reserving course of.
Lastly, verify within the phrases in case your nationwide driver’s licence is suitable. Some rental corporations could require an International Driver’s Licence.
What type of amenities can be found for campervans at French campsites?
If you’re travelling with a motorhome, a totally serviced pitch typically consists of electrical energy hook-up, water fill factors, and waste disposal for chemical bogs and gray water. You may use communal campsite amenities, similar to washing machines and BBQ areas, in addition to eating places, cafés and swimming swimming pools.
The measurement of pitches will differ from campsite to campsite, so make a request upfront should you require a bigger pitch or one thing extra personal. Depending on the campsite, you may additionally be capable to improve to a pitch by the river or a spot with a view, so you may arrange your awning and chill out within the shade.
Do all campsites settle for campervans?
Most campsites supply pitches that cater for tents, campervans and bigger motorhomes, though it’s all the time a good suggestion to verify upfront.
The worth of a campervan pitch at a French campsite will differ relying on the variety of stars and amenities the campsite has, the variety of individuals per pitch, and whether or not you’re tenting throughout excessive or off-season.
Is wild tenting permitted in France?
Wild tenting is a little bit of a gray space in France, with restrictions in nationwide parks, alongside the coast and near historic monuments to guard the pure atmosphere and heritage areas. In different areas it’s typically tolerated with the permission of landowners, however it’s best to take your waste with you, by no means mild a hearth, and attempt to go away earlier than 9am. Check the indicators wherever you’re, to keep away from paying a nice. See above for details about designated camper spots in France known as aires.
We hope you’ve discovered some useful ideas right here, to make your subsequent French tenting journey unforgettable. Now all it’s essential do is pack your luggage, put collectively the last word highway journey playlist and get on the highway.
Bon voyage!