Camping in Europe

[Deaks]

Just trying to find prices and camp sites in France for this summer, and Europe in general for future trips.

This must just be me being a spanner, but every site I find assumes that you are in a motorhome or caravan. I am really struggling getting info on prices for tents.

Anyone got any good sites or recommendations for camp sites in France?
(Looking at staying one night each near the following; Reims, Clermont-Ferrand, Montpelier, Pau, La Rochelle & Rouen).

Cheers
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[Ericck]

Did two trips around France last year.

Apart from around Paris there were loads of campsites.
The French are big on camping.

Look out for camping municipal, there are over 2500 of these in France. They can be very cheap, I paid as little as 4.5 euros for a bike and tent, although average price was about 10 euros.

Both camp municipal and other campsites are all very well signposted, so much so that I never bothered planning ahead, just found one each night from these signs.

I will say though, if you don't at least try to speak French then you may struggle. Just learning a couple of phrases will really help.
No parlez Francais tres bien (no speak French very well) and Je voudrais camp ici ce soir (I would like to camp here tonight) can make a big difference.

I recommend the area just south of Clermont Ferrand towards Aurillac, this has some very scenic routes and loads of campsites.
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[motobiker]

assume 10 euros a night.. though you'll likely pay less than that. 99/100

If you have a sat nav of some description you can download the location of almost 10,000 campsites in france here -

https://s5.histats.com/stats/r.php?54869&100&3&urlr=&www.archiescampings.eu/downloads/archies_europe-f.zip

from this website - https://www.archiescampings.eu/eng1/ for further instructions.
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[Deaks]

Thanks guys, really helpful.

Ericck - I like to plan ahead, mostly because I hate putting tents up in the dark and don't like the idea of riding round at night looking for a camping site. I do like to try and speak the language wherever I am, I think people appreciate it if you try, even if it is really bad!

motobiker - I hadn't even thought of using my satnav, that download is really useful to have.
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[doggone]

I would be wary of camping sauvage as hunting is a big deal in parts of France and you might have a 'squeal like a pig' Deliverance incident.
I've done it many time myself too but with caution and well out of sight.
Sites are inexpensive and plentiful you really do not need book ahead as every town and village seems to have at least one site especially in the more touristy areas.

The Municipals can be very busy with kids shouting and playing football till quite late, but overnight quietness is generally well observed.

[garth]

Wild camping will be ok but fires are a no no.

P.s. There are some cracking roads around Clermont Ferrand.

When are you going? I'm leaving for two weeks 26/07, two up on my ST4.

[Deaks]

I think I'll stick with camping at a site as I've never done wild camping before and I'll most likely be on my own. Plus 10 euro a night is pretty cheap.

I'm getting the chunnel on 5th August going down to Barcelona.
Not planning on using any toll roads, so giving myself 4 days to get down there (Calais>Reims>Clermont-Ferrand>Montpelier>Barca), I have a week with my mum and step-dad, then 4 days back (Barca>Pau>La Rochelle>Rouen>Calais).

Where are you planning on going Garth?
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[Ste]

[The Shaggy D.A.]

Don't drink the water.
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[garth]

[doggone]

[c-m]

Camping at more popular resorts will be closer to 20-30€ a night.

All other campsites are around 10-15€

None will have toilets with a seat, or any paper. I really never understand why the French do this.

[FrankGill]

Try camping france website lists pretty much every campsite in France commercial and Municapals. Last year the Wife and I paid any where between 6 to 12 euros for Municapal sites and 12 to 15 euros for commercial sites with pools and bars in the middle of June.

[garth]

[Peirre oBollox]

[Enduro Numpty]

It's a long time since I've camped in France but when I did, more often than not the cost of a cheap hotel wasn't really an awful lot more than an overflowing campsite. Worth bearing in mind

[Deaks]

I had planned on hotelling it down through France, but camping does appeal to me, and not just the cheapness.
I like being outdoors, and when camping I like having the bike next to my tent.
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Suzuki SV650S '04 (09/08-02/11), Triumph Tiger 1050 '07 (02/11 - current).

Live to Ride. Ride to Feel Alive.