European sites (mainly French) - observations!

Having visited quite a few sites in Europe (mainly in France), we have become disallusioned with most. Before our first trip we were regularly told how fantastic sites were, much better than UK sites. We would disagree, if you judge a site by it's central complex then I suppose they have the edge, nice pool/bar/shop complex, but we judge it by the state and standard of the actual pitch. Most are nothing more than hard core and are in need of some basic litter clearing, many look like a building site. I appreciate in hot climate the grass will not grow, but where it does (with the many weeds) no attempt is made to smarten it up with a bit of strimming! On our recent visit to the Med near Perpignan the site had a great central complex but the pitch surface was rubbish, it rained heavy one night and we woke the next morning to a car, caravan and awning absolutely covered in mud spray!!!! Some of these site owners need to come to the UK and visit Caravan Club sites to see how pitches should be laid out and maintained.

On another issue, electricity? I remember a few years ago having to pay for electricity separately on club sites and commercial uk sites. We were informed (by the EU) that electricity couldn't be sold on and therefore had to be incorporated in the site fee. So why on many French sites recently visited, can they get away with charging separately, or charging a supplement for higher amperage supply? Is it a case of the French voting for the directive but as usual it doesn't apply to them??

Finally on French sites - why do the drains always STINK??

We welcome comments from club members on these observtions.