The freedom of driving round France in your individual campervan, motorhome or RV is a real escape from the day by day grind. There’s one thing so satisfying about being completely self-sufficient on the street, with nowhere to be and nothing to do. Whether it’s for a vacation with the household otherwise you’re prepared to affix the #vanlife motion, tenting in France with your individual automobile 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 data for planning your journey, security ideas for whilst you’re there or normal tenting etiquette.
Here are our high ideas for travelling via 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 can provide them this freedom, permitting them to really feel impartial and make mates. 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 neglect your individual bats and ball). All of this can provide 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 time months, bigger campsites even organise a vary of actions – the likes of motorcycle rides, cooking courses, workshops and artwork courses. There may be night leisure for the entire household, similar to discos, video games nights and expertise exhibits. These issues are price 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 automobile, 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 automotive parks and different facilities. The dimension of your automobile also can decide the pace you’ll be able to drive on sure roads, so ensure 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 top and size of your automobile 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 a great begin to your vacation and now we have seen it occur a number of occasions!
Stay linked
Camping is a good way to get again to nature, however a dependable web connection is crucial, particularly for those who’re checking maps, importing images or streaming films within the van within the evenings. Depending in your knowledge roaming protection, you might 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’ll be doing lots of exploring. Back-up display screen grabs of your mapped route and/or an old style paper map are good to have, in case your battery runs out otherwise you hit an space with no cell 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 price, referred to as aires.
They might be discovered all through France and a few provide 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 make sure you have an area, we suggest probably the most comfy possibility of reserving a campsite. Here are our recommendations on find out how to discover the right one for you.
Take time away from the wheel
Depending in your plans, the scale of your automobile and the intricacy of your camp set-up, you might want to decide on a campsite in France that’s near a bus cease or practice station so you’ll be able to go sightseeing with out your motorhome, leaving it on the campsite. Bringing bikes can be a good way to discover the world with out having to drive your campervan all over the place.
Campervan safety
Get savvy with safety and don’t make it simple for anybody to interrupt into your private home on wheels. You can discover all of our high motorhome safety ideas right here.
France security legal guidelines
Here are a number of objects that, by legislation, you could have with you or in your camper, whereas driving in France:
- Headlight beam converters (in case you are driving a right-hand drive automobile)
- Seatbelts for all passengers always
- UK sticker if driving a British automobile
- Hi-vis reflective jackets (one per particular person and should be accessible with out getting out of the automobile)
- Clean air sticker for driving in bigger cities (verify guidelines on your camper)
- First support package
- Warning triangle to placed on the street for those who break down or have an accident.
Speed digicam detection kits are unlawful so ensure you disable this setting on any sat nav or GPS methods. Breathalysers are now not required in France.
How to organise a campervan vacation in France
Open-air holidays are inclined to require a bit extra preparation than a visit to a resort. You want to consider what to pack, find out how to journey round and the place you’ll park your campervan in a single day.
We promise it’s completely price it. So seize your favorite pocket book or arrange a colour-coordinated spreadsheet and get planning!
Packing on your campervan vacation
If solely there was one place you possibly can go to search out out what it is advisable 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 neglect any of the necessities.
Campervan documentation
If you’re driving in France, it is advisable 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 via France
From grand chateaux to verdant vineyards, and spectacular mountain ranges to sensible seashores, your tenting journey to France shall be unforgettable. Luckily, we’ve completed the exhausting give you the results you want and located among the finest 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 yow will discover precisely what you need.
FAQ: Your campervan vacation questions answered
Should I ebook my campsite prematurely?
You could have to ebook prematurely, relying on when and the place you’re going. Summer is the peak season for tenting in France. Campsites are inclined to replenish for July and August effectively prematurely, notably bigger campsites alongside the coast and near vacationer locations. There are additionally completely different facilities you might need to look out for. Read this information to know why completely different campsites fluctuate in value.
If you might be travelling within the low season, you might 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 mates (discover our checklist of pet-friendly campsites right here), however at all times verify the campsite’s pet coverage earlier than you make your reservation, as there shall be site-specific guidelines and facilities. Most campsites request that canine are saved on a lead throughout the campgrounds, for instance. Bringing a pet may incur extra charges. There are additionally authorized necessities you could comply with when taking your pet overseas – try our article on tenting with canine for extra ideas.
Can you park a camper anyplace in France?
Parking your campervan within the daytime is far the identical as parking a automotive in France, except 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 automobile you might be searching for, the time of the 12 months, the age of the motive force and the extent of luxurious. It might be anyplace between £300 and £1200+ per week. The finest method 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 outdated do you need to be to rent a campervan in France?
The typical age requirement for hiring a campervan in France is 25 years outdated. Certain corporations will hire to 21-year-olds, however you might have to pay slightly further. Check instantly with the rental firm – it will likely be detailed within the phrases and circumstances of all of the quotes supplied 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 appropriate. 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 contains electrical energy hook-up, water fill factors, and waste disposal for chemical bathrooms and gray water. You also can use communal campsite amenities, similar to washing machines and BBQ areas, in addition to eating places, cafés and swimming swimming pools.
The dimension of pitches will fluctuate from campsite to campsite, so make a request prematurely for those who require a bigger pitch or one thing extra personal. Depending on the campsite, you might also be capable of improve to a pitch by the river or a spot with a view, so you’ll be able to arrange your awning and loosen up within the shade.
Do all campsites settle for campervans?
Most campsites provide pitches that cater for tents, campervans and bigger motorhomes, though it’s at all times a good suggestion to verify prematurely.
The value of a campervan pitch at a French campsite will fluctuate relying on the variety of stars and amenities the campsite has, the variety of individuals per pitch, and whether or not you might be 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 setting and heritage areas. In different areas it’s typically tolerated with the permission of landowners, however you must take your waste with you, by no means gentle a fireplace, and attempt to go away earlier than 9am. Check the indicators wherever you might be, to keep away from paying a tremendous. See above for details about designated camper spots in France referred to as aires.
We hope you’ve discovered some useful ideas right here, to make your subsequent French tenting journey unforgettable. Now all it is advisable do is pack your luggage, put collectively the final word street journey playlist and get on the street.
Bon voyage!