French Passion Sites and Aires and Travel :? Forums

mangothemadmonk

I have a couple of questions for all you seasoned French tourers

Me and the good lady wife are traveling to France in May for two weeks landing at Dunqurke and keeping over to the Eastern border dropping down to the Champagne region.

Would it be worth joining the French Passion org? I have looked at the web site but can't make head-nor-tail of it.

Is it better to keep to one or two areas or travel around more. I have a mate down on the south coast near Toulon who I wanted to visit but would this be too far for my first trip?

Are the Aires easy to use and what book gives most advice to a French "virgin" covering all aspects of French motorhome touring and whats the best map I should take.

Many thanks.

Johnny F

2Dreamers

we went to France for the first time with a motorhome last year (previously tugging). We didn't book any camp sites but stayed at aires using "Aires de Services Camping-Car" available thro' Outdoor bits. The book also lists municipal camping sites which we stayed on at Rennes for a couple of nights. A map is included with the book similar to the CC with dots locating all the aires/sites. Aires are really easy to use, just like car parks really where there are facilities to empty waste and take on fresh water. Try to accumulate a collection of Euro coins which you will need to buy fresh water - normally 2euros a go.
We haven't used the French passion sites but from what I understand you pay a subscription to join and then gain access to small sites at vineyards/ farms etc. Somebody else on this website has said that they didn't enjoy the experience as they felt that they were camping in somebodies garden and felt intrusive - I think I would feel very much the same.
We covered about 1100 miles in 10 days - too many in hindsight. Husband reckons you are talking about 20 hours travelling to get to Toulon. Personally I would save it for a longer break.
There is loads of info on aires and sites on MHF. We used this to do a bit of homework before we went which proved invaluable.
Good Luck and Enjoy. We are also going over in May - can't wait Very Happy

devonidiot

How long is a piece of string?

After the first few minutes, you quickly adapt to driving in France, Honestly it is easier than driving on the right on the M25.... You will find the roads away from towns and cities are a lot less crowded than here. Use aotoroute to plan a route which avoids the toll roads (unless you want the boring direct route), the French country side and villages can be fascinating.

As for seeing your friend. Are their two drivers in your van? How far do you normally drive in a day? To Toulon and back with two weeks for travelling and sightseeing is a fairly easy trip as long as you don't get side tracked too much.

geraldandannie · Moderator

Hi, Johnny

We loved the 'Passions' last year. We stayed at a couple, although I think we picked up a nail in one of our rear wheels at one, which put us off a bit.
See

Boff

Hi Johnny F,

the France Passion system has one disadvantage: You pay a subscription fee. No matter whether you are ever going to make use of it. It also has a big advantage: You only pay a subscription fee. Wink

No matter how often you use it, once you are subscribed all FP sites are for free.

Of course it has more advantages: You only have to share the sites with other FP subscribers; and it is a good way of making contact with the locals. And just in the Champagne region are quite a lot of FP sites, if I remember correctly.

However, in May you should have no problem at all finding sites. Practically all camp sites are open then, the aires as well, and they are not yet too busy. More information about aires and their guide books can be found in

Suenliam

For what it is worth, I think Toulon is too far for a first trip to France and with only 2 weeks holiday. Unless you really enjoy the long journey, I would tootle about the Champagne area with perhaps a venture into Burgundy if you have the time and inclination. Unfortunately, this will not let you visit your friend. Perhaps after this trip you could judge for yourself how long you would personally need to get to Toulon without exhausting yourselves and then plan from there.

As navigator in chief, I have not yet gone electronic and use paper maps. I feel it is very much a personal thing. I like Michelin. However, last time in WH Smiths, I saw map which I think was called something like "clear" maps or some such. It did look very clear and easy to read, but was such a big scale I think you would be always turning the page even if you were only going a few kilometres. Also more difficult to plan longer journeys with all that page turning. We always try to remember to take the big one page folding map of France to do the long distance planning and then do the book type map for the detail of how to get round cities etc. and what interesting little villages we might happen on during the journey.

Sorry can't help on the F P bit as we usually go to Municipal sites. May try Aires this year when they are in villages/towns without municipals within easy walking distance.

Remember your warning triangle, spare set of bulbs, High viz. vests (not yet compulsory, but good to have) usual paperwork, and all the things you would normally take for 2 weeks here - except fewer wooly jumpers and more lightweight clothing. Although not aimed at MHers or even motorists we have a copy of the Dorling Kingsley(?) eye-witness guide to France which gives us a good idea of what to look for in each region and points out a few places to visit which are typical of the area. I think it is easier to read than the Michelin guides.

What ever you do leave behind your diet and worries and enjoy yourselves.

We go Dover Calais in May and heading for Champagne area then south (possibly) for 6 - 7 weeks - perhaps see you there.

Sue

wireman

France Passion - absolutely the best thing we ever joined. Use it every year, really freindly people and you get to go 'local'.

tincan

FP is a wonderful scheme and deserves support. One years sub is paid for when you use 2 sites for nought, that is great value. Only used it last year for first time but had super experience when we did. You are not obliged to buy the produce on the sites but it can be difficult to resist, especially if you have had a taste after a long day behind the wheel and at 6 or 7 euros a bottle better value than Geant or Auchan

Go for it and join up especially as you are going to bubbly country

Noel