The first trip abroad is always a great adventure, but can also be stressful. I suggest you join one of the two big clubs and use their overseas travel service, including recovery.
I cannot speak for C&CC never having been a member but a long time European traveler and CC member I would get the Red Pennant insurance but at absolute minimum the CC Europe volume 1 campsite guide. In addition to members site reports this contains much valuable advice and will cost you about 1 night's site fee. Staying at motoway rest areas (Aires) is not recommended particularly in high season.
For the pre-crossing night see the CC sites or CLs - plenty within a short distance.
Once in France from Calais area look at a route avoiding the Paris area - look at www.viamichelin.com and put in Calais as your departure point and wherever you are going as destination. Go through the options and choose with caravan. the results can be printed out and will show you the route including the actual signboards you will see.
If you have not driven abroad before it is worth spending a little money on tolls to use the autoroutes and to get used to driving on the 'wrong side'.
Remeber this is a holiday and not a competition to get somewhere - I would suggest to start looking for a site no later than 15.00, but you should make the Vendee in 2 days assuming an early morning crossing.
Fuel on the autoroutes is more expensive than in supermarkets - just like here, but again I suggest you pay what you have to until you get established on a site and then explore.
August is likely to be relatively busy so stop earlier rather than later. Read the CC and other advice on EHU's etc and don't necessarily expect the same standard of campsite at the municipals as you would from a major CC site in UK (but not the price either). The Camping Card is generally accepted instead of a passport at check in, and if staying only one night pay on arrival - you can always extend the stay the next morning.
While not making a drama of an everyday event, suggest to your passengers that they do not distract you for the first hour or so while you work out driving on the other side. plan ahead, get the major destinations en-route into your head, get a good up to date map - Michelin - and make a simple route card and above all just take it easy. once on the autoroute system is is easy to mainatin an average above 40 mph without any great stress.
I've taken a van aboad now most years ince the late 1960's and have more towing miles over there than over here, but still concentrate quite hard for the first hour there ( and the first hour back here).
The main thing is to be sensible but above all enjoy it - when you are back home the objective is to say ' the best holiday we've ever had'
Bonne route !
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