Saumur Domaine De La Breche

Unfortunately an increasing trend in France? I have seen it myself and others have reported the same thing. When we have stayed at Saumur we always stayed on the site on the island opposite the town but I suspect even that has more and more static accommodation?

David

The motorhome revolution is sweeping traditional sites away in France..

A favourite site of ours in Brittany (but 5 miles inland) is now only open for summer holidays in July and August - for the families with children and who still have a caravan. Other than that the site manager says retired folk in France only have motorhomes these days -   and simply don’t go to that sort of campsite.

Sadly this is happening all over France, one of our much liked sites on the Herault river at Agde, has been turned into a holiday camp resort. All cabins not a touring pitch in sight. Such a shame as it was a very popular site.

The problem with these types of sites, is that the families that use them maybe, once or twice a year for a week or so expect full entertainment. This usually means lots of staff, lots of noise even late into the night. High cost to rent the cabins to cover all the setting up costs and staff and maintenance costs. From what we have observed the sites are virtually empty other than the main holiday periods.

Compare that to the site I'm on now, 15€ a night with Acsi 18 if no Acsi. The site is full and is to continue that way going forward. The majority are MHs mainly French retirees. In fact all the sites we've been on the last 3 weeks have been the same, French MHs, French retirees. We are in a caravan and there are a few others in caravans mostly Dutch and French. Hardly saw another British caravan but have seen lots of British large MHs. 

Which site is that Tammygirl?

ET

You probably remember lots of sites in France going back 20 or so years where the French locals, usually of retirement age, got their caravans out of garage mort for the season and set up camp as though setting up their own back garden. I suspect that doesn't happen much anymore. Their children either want ready erected accommodation or if they are well off enough buy motorhomes as has been mentioned. Its interesting that despite all the free aires in France that the French still seem to like campsites. That is obviously good for the Brits as it keeps campsites going. The trouble is when the big companies arrive with a bagful of cash and convert sites to "Holiday Centres" with no pitches. 

David

I'm sure TG won't mind me replying; the site being turned into a site with just cabins is Les Romarins.  She mentioned it in another thread when we exchanged posts about sites in Grau d'Agde and Marseillan Plage.

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Friends of ours are on a site near Beynac and that is getting some more mobile homes on as they are staying in one as sold their caravan 2 years ago. Agree a lot more sites are changing from touring to mobile homes or lodges here. Also the fact that the Government are encouraging folk to buy electric cars as the malus (tax) on Diesel or Petrol cars is horrendous even on second cars so folks will be in smaller cars hence the change in holiday accommodation.

Sorry should have put second hand cars to early in the morning.

Out of interest RedKite are French motorhome owners paying higher taxes too?