A family tour of France by campervan - guardian.co.uk

A retired German couple told us that until their family had grown up they had spent all of their summer holidays caravanning. "I think it is the best, most economical way for a family to see Europe," said the man. "We have been everywhere – Finland, Denmark, Poland, Italy, Czech Republic, Croatia, France, Spain."

We met the Germans in a campsite in a pine forest west of Bordeaux, next to Europe's largest sand dune, the Dune du Pyla. Here were all the usual facilities – a pool, a couple of restaurants, table tennis, swings – but also a beach that runs for a hundred miles along the Atlantic coast, reached from the site by tumbling down the great dune. We slung our hammock between the trees and strung out our washing lines and went exploring.

That evening, we ate in the restaurant with views out to the Cap Ferret, watching paragliders play in the air currents that rose up from the beach and pleasure boats sailing home to Arcachon. Afterwards, we walked down to the sea. It was a warm evening, and we swam almost alone off the beach before climbing the hill back to the campervan.

We came back from our holiday browner and fitter and better fed, having seen parts of France we would not otherwise have thought to visit. We were sad to give our motorhome back to Bernie. We loved the sense of freedom it had given us. So much that we are now thinking of buying one – one that's much older, of course, and rather smaller.

Getting there

Holiday On Wheels (+44 (0)1440 761 725, holidayonwheels.co.uk) rents a variety of fully-equipped campervans, from £650 per week. Go Motorhome Hire (+44 (0)845 686 4473, go-motorhomehire.co.uk) rents vans from £700 per week, including insurance and unlimited mileage.

Where to stay

For Caravan Club sites, visit caravanclub.co.uk (+44 (0)1342 326944). Camping La Catinière, Honfleur (camping-catiniere.com). Camping de L'Etang, Brissac-Quincé (campingetang.com). Camping La Venise Verte, Coulon (camping-laveniseverte.fr). Camping Pavillon-Royal, Bidart, Biarritz (pavillon-royal.com). Panorama du Pyla, Pyla sur Mer (camping-panorama.com). Camping de Chantepie, Saumur, Loire (campingchantepie.com/en). Camping Le Brévedent, Pont L'Eveque, Normandie, (campinglebrevedent.com).

Further information

On touring: discovertouring.co.uk. The International Caravan & Motorhome 2009 show (+44 (0)871 230 5575, caravanshows.com) takes place at the NEC, Birmingham, from 13-18 October.

via news.google.com

Great way to get around and see France.

Posted via web from France Miscellany