France 2024

We've never had the slightest difficulty just rolling up to a site in June - there has always been loads of space. Mind you we do stick to municipals and prefer the out of the way places to the tourist hotspots.

Colin, I would never say you were “a bit sad” but you obviously like to have a plan and stick to it, although all my life I simply had good ideas - and regularly changed my mind when they didn’t work out

We landed at Roscoff one day in early June intending to head down the west coast. But the sky was grey , it was raining,  and the forecast promised a week more of that. So the west coast quickly dropped off our radar. Three wet days later we were somewhere south of Millau and the rain didn’t finally stop until we crept down the big hill towards Montpellier. 

Even with a car load of children a lifetime  time ago we hardly ever booked - even in August - but I admit we did get caught out now and then. 

Good wishes to you. I hope it all goes well.

eurotraveller, I think most of us fall into one of two camps, the planners and the free spirits. I've always been a planner as I taught and had to go peak time. 2017 saw early retirement and for September I decided to wing it. I decided a route of Loire, Dordogne and then somewhere between Toulose and Carcossonne. The order changed on this as poor weather set in, but switching order meant we had a lovely time. I must admit our visit to Montpellier did not impress, but nearby Narbonne was very nice

Post Covid 2022 I decided to wing [my version of] it again through NE France into NL for 6 weeks in June and start of July. I planned a route homing in on 3 or 4 sites in each favoured area to choose from, but with a few months to go that went pear shaped as when going on line and checking availability I found most sites were booking up fast and chances of a week in each area were getting slim, so I pre-booked.

One day I might just try again.

Colin

In 1992 we embarked on a three trip around Europe with the boys from Whitsun to the end of the summer school holidays. bearing in mind that this was probably only our third or fourth trip abroad, all the others being just in France we booked everything via the Club. It had major advantages as of course that far back we did not have the Euro and credit cards were not as widespread as they are now. Oh the joys of Travel Cheques and Euro Cheques, anyone remember those? Have to say that despite the length of time it all went very smoothly. Having said all that it was probably one of the last times we booked sites abroad with the exception of a couple of sites in Italy which we booked because there was a big currency advantage in doing so. Strange in a way that we don't give booking sites in the UK a second thought but some how think it strange to book in Europe. I think people should do what they are comfortable with as in the end that will enhance the holiday.

David

We avoid France between Bastille Day (14th July) and the end of August, the main French holiday period.  Because of how the days fall this year (2024) we will avoid 12th July to 1st September.  Outside of those time you are unlikely to need to book even with a caravan.  

Our past experience with booking through CAMC, when family member was a CAMC member, was generally poor.  In most case, with one notable exception, the cost of using CAMC was higher and in some cases massively so.  Also, for us the freedom of not having fixed bookings enables us to change plans on a whim.  

We never book for France or Italy in June or September and have rarely had a problem. Of course, if you want to go to the Med. then in June you should book but in September it’s generally shut! As for pitches, if we find a site that we like and want to stay for a few days then after the first night and a wander round we will often switch next morning when somebody leaves a good pitch. The other tip for popular areas is to arrive early, before lunch or early afternoon.

Generally we never need to book sites in France, when we go in April,May and/or June, mainly because we're a bit like iansoady and prefer the more simple sites like municipals (which unfortunately are declining rather alarmingly in numbers).

However on saying that we have found a couple of favoured municipals that can become full even as early as April in touristy areas such as the one at Maussane-les-Alpilles near St.Remy which attracts a continental clientele. Mind you with these sorts of areas you are never far from another site. We did find only 2 pitches left when we turned up at a site on Ile-de-Ré one September and I can well imagine the same scenario nowadays in mid to late June.

I see nothing wrong with booking if it gives you peace of mind as we found ourselves doing so for half the sites we stayed in the Netherlands 2 years ago and wouldn't have got on one of them if we hadn't.

We fall into the free spirit camp.  Nowadays we always avoid Jul/Aug and keep an eye on that German holiday 2 months after Easter!  Never book and rarely have any problems.  The ability to change 'plan' whilst enroute is a big plus; for example last summer we had planned to got to the Dordogne; on arriving in France on first night saw forecast had changed to poor so turned towards Austria, again forecast changed so decided to head to inland Provence and had a lovely holiday.  Some people are more comfortable with the security of booking, the closest we get is phoning ahead to check if there is space.  Having said that, we nowadays do confirm our first night in France in one of our favourite sites about 30 mins from Calais. they do not ask for a deposit and hold the pitch to our advised arrival time.  Tip, arrive early, enroute by 4 pm and final destination by midday (or as soon as reception opens).  Have today made decision to go to Salzgamergut area of Austria so will do some research and learn the music from 'The White Horse Inn'!

It looks like everybody has found what works for them and are happy. I'd call that a result.

Happy caravanning folks.

Colin

I had a similar experience to Eurotraveller back in the mid nineties in late June/early July. We hadn't booked but had settled in on a site in the Arcachon. Faced with the same weather situation, we headed for the Med coast and found blue skies around Serignan. The first site had no space but the one across the road and adjacent to the beach did. Rain, however can strike anywhere, even when the overall weather was sunny for a month. An example can be seen about 35 minutes in on this VIDEO.

I haven't booked a site abroad since the mid eighties when I was constrained by school holidays and travelled in Mid July. Having switched to a motorhome five years ago, I have a great deal more flexibility now as I can use aires, sites or even, on occasions, just 'wing it'