What's all the fuss about France?

13614 Views 54 Replies 37 Participants Last post by bambi2, Jul 7, 2009

Hezbez

Discussion Starter · May 10, 2009

I don't think I have read even one bad report on here about a trip to France.
Everyone seems to rave about it for motorhoming!

We've never been, so cannot comment - yet. Going next month!

So what is it that makes France so good?

1 - 20 of 55 Posts

trevorf

· #2 · May 10, 2009

You will find out when you go.

I thinks its basicaly a difference in attitude towards motorhomes. France welcomes, them and almost every town has an aire de service or allocated parking place.

Enjoy

Trevor

randonneur

· #3 · May 10, 2009

France is very motorhome friendly, if that is the right expression. You are made welcome in whatever town or village you visit. Obviously there are places, like any other Country, that are not welcoming but I would say that 99% of places are good. France has such vast amounts of space so the roads are not crowded except in the large towns and cities.

The French also think that it is their 'God given right' to stop anywhere and stay the night in their motorhomes.

We have lived here for nearly 10 years and love the way of life. It is like the UK 40 years ago. I hope you enjoy your first stay.

wilse

· #4 · May 10, 2009

...the cheese... the wine... the cider... the bread... the pastries...

derek500

· #5 · May 10, 2009

Traffic jams are a rarity (I never use toll roads).

No need to pay big bucks just to park overnight - mostly free.

Diesel cheaper than UK - 91c the week before last. Not as cheap as Spain though. 76.8c last week!!

Motorhomers everywhere, mostly very friendly.

cuckooman

· #6 · May 10, 2009

Total freedom, no problems with overnight stops,Good roads. If you try a little French they are really nice people. Be ignorant English and you will get same back. We got back 28th April after 6 weeks there, Going back 27th May, can`t wait we just love the place. Go and enjoy it have a nice holiday :lol:
This is my first time on a forum so please excuse any mistakes

104477

· #7 · May 10, 2009

The people, the free or cheap ameneties afforded to motor home users, the wines and the food. Excellent service in most places. As my mate used to say "the French demonstrate the dignity in menial labour".
Germany is very nice too for much the same reasons.
Then there is Spain.

But pretty much anywhere where you are not a tax payer beats where you pay them! :lol:

UncleNorm

· #8 · May 10, 2009

Hey Hez, good morning!

Now don't get us started! :roll:

The French seem to have people WITH VISION in high places. They WELCOME motorhomes and don't charge the earth for our company.

AuntieSandra and I chatted with an Englishman at Cognac, a fine town. The gent was a free-lance writer for touristy magazines. He had interviewed the Mayor of Cognac. The interview went along the lines...

"How can you afford to let us motorhomers use your aire-de-service-des-camping cars next to the river for FREE. We empty our toilets into your sewers, we empty our waste water too and we help ourselves to your fresh water."

The Mayor replied along the lines...
"Do you motorhomers use our supermarches?" Well, yes.
"Do you eat at our restaurants?" Well, yes.
"Do you visit our tourist attractions, castles, distilleries, parks?" Well, yes.
"So you contribute greatly to our local economy?" Well, yes.
"Then you are WELCOME to visit our town and use our facilities."

Then there was our visit to Bourges and its Rose Gardens for an open-air concert, featuring one of France's top five harpists, along with a splendid group of instrumentalists. Over 900 folk turned up for that one. We drank the wine and beer, we ate in their restaurants, and the wonderful concert was FREE.

It's all rather like the bank advert... "We cast a little juicy worm, then when we've got you hooked, we take your money."

FRANCE WELCOMES MOTORHOMES and makes provision for them, allowing us access to carparks, supermarches, providing aires-des-camping cars... no height barriers... To be honest, in 20 years of visiting France, we've met TWO barriers, both at Carrefour supermarches, so we drove in through the fuel station!!

Roll on 2nd June!! Hey, Hez, you asked the question! :wink: :lol:

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peejay

· #9 · May 10, 2009

Its rubbish, the country and its people are horrible, don't bother going.

Pete

:roll: I could always take your place if you don't fancy it :roll:

tommytli

· #10 · May 10, 2009

well it sounds good to me we have allways given france a wide berth after doing disney twice, but we are going to south ardeche in 3 weeks (providing my licence is back but thats another story lol) and we hope to get the true feel of france because it sounds fantastic

teemyob

· #11 · May 10, 2009

France

Cavaliere - VAR 83

Picture says a thousand words< Click

Click the image when it opens for a larger view!

Trev.

shingi

· #12 · May 10, 2009

The motorways aren't strewn with rubbish and France generally is a very clean and tidy country....not like here.

raynipper

· #13 · May 10, 2009

We CHOSE to live in France and have never regretted it. Apart from my wife's need to wallow in family now and again, I would never bring our motorhome back to Blighty ever again.

I could list all the positives and negatives we feel about France and the positives are ten fold.

Ray.
In spacious Portbail, Normandy

asabrush

· #14 · May 10, 2009

All of the above,and the weather 8)

vicdicdoc

· #15 · May 10, 2009

tommytli said:
. . we have allways given france a wide berth after doing disney twice, . .

It like assuming UK is like London - or Paris is representitive of France - its not, France is well worth exploring, get off the motorways & main roads & into the small towns & villages - wonderful !

Texas

· #16 · May 10, 2009

shingi said:
The motorways aren't strewn with rubbish and France generally is a very clean and tidy country....not like here.

Apart from their lay-bys, the aroma of baking dog sh=t and smell from their septic tanks, France is a beautiful country.

I envy you on your coming holiday.

Wish I were there!

PS: Love the sound of the cegals in the hotter parts of France.

Texas :wink:

hogan

· #17 · May 10, 2009

No No dont go its terrible

More room for me

CliveMott

· #18 · May 10, 2009

All of the above.

Plus is only a hop over (or under) the water and you are there.

Try and speak a little of their language, if only to say sorry but my French is c..p ! They will love you for it.

On the odd occasion when we have needed help they have been most forcomming. Brilliant patriotic helpful people. Its just a pitty we are not the same. If you go into a Les Routiers or similar eating establishment and you are a big fat sod like me say something in English quickly so they don't think you are a German. (Sorry Fritz but its true!)

For us unless we have an emergency we keep out of big towns and don,t use any autoroutes during our holiday. But each to their own.

Roll on August is all I can say!

Clive

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MrsW

· #19 · May 10, 2009

tommytli said:
well it sounds good to me we have allways given france a wide berth after doing disney twice, but we are going to south ardeche in 3 weeks (providing my licence is back but thats another story lol) and we hope to get the true feel of france because it sounds fantastic

Disney isn't France! Southern Ardeche - well that's a different story! We just love France and spend much of our spare time there, even plan to move there when we retire! We will be in the Dordogne in 2 weeks time - just for a week in a gite, but our MH isn't big enough to accomodate 2 daughters and a grandson for the week, so that's the best compromise!

2 months today we will be off for a 3 week trip in the MH down the west coast and on to the Dordogne -I'm just counting the days!

pippin

· #20 · May 10, 2009

Texas

Love the sound of the cegals in the hotter parts of France.

What is a cegal?

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