Post It from Camping Les Acacias, Tours, Centre, France. Saturday 24th October, 2015.

We have passed through Tours many times, before and since getting our motorhome, but have never stopped here apart from being stuck in traffic! Because it has campsites open all year we decided to stop here on our way north and chose this particular campsite because of its excellent reviews on ACSI.

At around 225 miles from Bordeaux it was a longer than normal days drive for us, especially as the latter part was not on dual carriageway but along the D910. We are too heavy to pay the tolls at class 3 rate although the short trip today to cross the centre of the city only cost us 90 cents at a class 2 rate.

We filled up with very cheap fuel at the Auchan supermarket on the south side of Angoulême just by the side of the main route and paid 1.003€ a litre. A young boy, with his grandad, was very interested in us at the pumps at this very bust petrol station, I think his grandad told me he too had a camping car as he helped by telling me which number to select for gazole on the keypad.

We shopped as well on the way which meant we did not arrive at the campsite until almost 5 o’clock. The main route from the motorway had the road closed so we had a diversion to follow. Thankfully this was well signposted for the campsite as well and we had no trouble getting here.

I was given a very warm welcome by one of the owners, Charlotte, who was ready to offer her full assistance in checking my next campsite at Chartres was actually open without me even having to ask her for such assistance. This was completely contrary to many of our experiences here in France and I think she is probably one of the most helpful and welcoming owners I have ever met anywhere. She oozed pleasantness which made you feel good to be here.

She made me aware of the local roads also being closed on the Sunday morning for a road race but thankfully it would not affect us as we would head north from here to re-join the D910 to Chartres without having to retrace our steps into Tours centre.

The campsite is located close to the banks of the River Loire and about 4 miles from the centre of Tours in an area called La Ville-aux-Dames. It is well situated for accessing Tours by bus or cycling along the river valley using the La Loire a Velo route and seeing the many castles and chateaus that this area is famous for. I have a couple of ex work colleagues who do just this all the time in their motorhome one riding between campsites whilst the other drives.

We were only staying the one night and did not even have the chance to wander around the local area but we shall no doubt come back and stay for a while and cycle, as well as using it as a late in the year stop over. There are large supermarkets within 2 miles as well for those who would stay longer.

It is a pleasant looking site set around a grassed sports pitch with mature trees around the edges. The facilities are heated and fine with plenty of hot water. There are a number of static log cabin type caravans and some apparent seasonal tourers with grass and hard standing pitches also available. Charlotte confirmed it was open all year but said you needed to telephone or email in December to February to make sure someone is there to give you a warm greeting when you arrive, and I am sure she meant just that as well. As we did not go out I have taken five photos of the campsite so you can at least see what it looks like.

Off tomorrow to see the Cathedral at Chartres which has been on our to do list for some time and last year the campsite had closed earlier than advertised so we missed it again. I will use the free Wi-Fi from the pitch here to post this story tonight as we have more time to spare with the clocks going back. All for less than £12 a night, what good value it all is.

Regards, Roy