It’s not an easy comparison as just like here you can have good or bad sites. You need to do your research or book via an organisation that dies some of the leg work. Ie the two clubs or Alan Rogers, Eurocamp Independent etc. French municipal sites are cheap but can be quite basic but good for stopovers. But what we like about the French and German sites we have used are the swimming pools, on site bar/restaurant etc. But pitch sizes can be smaller.
The CMHC do very good handbooks for European touring. Gives lots of sites, lots of useful technical information and most importantly the various country laws. Well worth buying even if you book independently.
With it been my first Trip to France I would go with CMHC because they know there way to most sites and the roads .and how everything goes over there ,
They are very over priced for what you get and we would not even consider using them. We joined ACSI read many reviews and decided on sites and have never been let down. Instead of paying £30 a more a night the most we paid for a fully serviced pitch with dogs was £22.50 a night and almost right on the beach near La Rochelle.
Hmm. Safety in numbers probably not the best idea at this time. We did our first booking of ferry, sites etc on our own all before we left the UK and managed okay. Most sites seem to have someone in reception that can speak English o no issue. We prefer to do our own thing rather than be led by an organisation.
When are you planning to go abroad and which countries or areas do you plan to visit as I am sure many of us can offer recommendations for sites?
We never went with the club suggested sites, always just random. Except around the Anaccey area, which is very popular. There are so many sites during the French season, get to the next site just after lunch time and nearly every time you will get a pitch. If not just move on, to your next choice.
I much prefer caravaning in Brittany then the UK. Great roads, little traffic and excellent sites. Always found the locals very friendly and helpful. Not at all like Paris. We stay at a family run site some two hours from Roscoff right on the beach. Goggle Pors Peron. Relaxing holiday.
R
Actually that the place we want to go is Brittany and explore it more we have been to see the Eiffel Tower (my wife been right up to the top) on the Champs de Mars in Paris France
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Neither of the Clubs lead you unless you go on an organised tour/rally. You select your sites and then book via the clubs travel service. You can opt for the clubs’ insurance or recovery or select your own. So what’s different?
I was referring to the organised trips. We have only once booked the ferry through CAMC and the once was more than enough. It was for our first trip to the continent.
They totally messed up our booking and we were only able to get our cabin at about 10.30 that evening for the St Malo crossing.
We joined then Brittany Voyager for discounted trips and ACSI for discounted caravan sites. Easy to book and even change bookings at no extra cost and overall ferry price cheaper than CAMC even taken into account the subscription fee to Brittany ferries. Worked for us as the CAMC organised trips worked out to be very expensive for us to use.
We have used both clubs services for booking our overseas trips and never had the slightest problem at all You must be unlucky.I was referring to the organised trips. We have only once booked the ferry through CAMC and the once was more than enough. It was for our first trip to the continent.
They totally messed up our booking and we were only able to get our cabin at about 10.30 that evening for the St Malo crossing.
We joined then Brittany Voyager for discounted trips and ACSI for discounted caravan sites. Easy to book and even change bookings at no extra cost and overall ferry price cheaper than CAMC even taken into account the subscription fee to Brittany ferries. Worked for us as the CAMC organised trips worked out to be very expensive for us to use.
In June 2018 we were due to go the France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany. Sites had been booked using both clubs and some independent ones too. Ferry’s and insurance was via CMHC. Three days before departure my father became ill and was hospitalised. The departure had to be cancelled and the clubs both offered to arrange rebooking. But it wasn’t to be.
So they arranged all of the various refunds except one site where we were within the 7 day window. I even received a full refund on the CMHC travel and breakdown insurance. It’s when things go wrong that you appreciate the support from the clubs.
Individuals have to make their own decisions on what’s best for them.
We have used the train for years now. (Tesco). But for many years we used the CMHC booking service. Always went smoothly. But the best discount is achieved when booking 5 (I think) site nights at the same time.
We had a great deal one year, Just for the cost of a cup of coffee each. We had access to the private lounge, free coffee and biscuits included. The ferry was crowded with no seats spare. But we had our very own. That was a CMHC bargin.
John
We had a great deal one year, Just for the cost of a cup of coffee each. We had access to the private lounge, free coffee and biscuits included. The ferry was crowded with no seats spare. But we had our very own. That was a CMHC bargin.
John
Yes the deals for the VIP lounge on the Dover to Dunkirk route were really good and made for a relaxing start to the holiday.
Like John and OC we always booked the lounge for our crossings, we would normally have a Dover Dunkirk as it was the cheapest, and always booked direct. An 04.30 crossing 2 hours of drowsing sleep, drive for two hours then sleep in an Aire, for two hours and up and away again. Done that for almost 6 years every 12 weeks for a month at a time. Then on the way home stop in Montreuil sur Mer for a few days to get the dogs wormed.
if we go to Brittany in 2022 it might have to be the quickest route getting there and park my car near a lift and a overnight cabin ,or lounge is better .on the ferry
Does not work that way. You need to contact Brittany ferries and inform them that you have mobility issues. You are then allocated a place in the queue and have to switch on your hazard lights as boarding. They then site you as near as possible to the lift. Sometimes we have been in the second row, but in line with a lift.
i have been on a ferry when we went to isle of wight showed them my blue badge and they put me right at the lift then it easy access with my wheelchair but i think things have changed since then thanks for the advice Buckman i appreciate all the information and made a note of it
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