Camping in Loire Valley

MattKane

Hi guys and gals,

I heading to Loire Valley in July and will be hiring a car for 4 days.

Is it silly to arrive without booking any accommodation and relying on vacancies at campsites?

Thanks

shrapnel222

you should be fine, i wouldn't worry about it

Berty

Depending on what time in July because of the Bastille Day on the 14th July.

We flew to Beauvais and hired a car and went off to a camping site but we booked this in advance.

Keycamp have sites in the Loire Valley and like most they do good deals on accomodation only.
http://www.keycamp.ie/index.cfm?fuseaction=Campsites.regionMap&ver=6&MapID=40&campingholiday=The%20Loire

Baybay

If you're using your own tents and equipment, which sounds unlikely as you've said you're hiring a car, then just turning up at a campsite shouldn't be too much of a problem.

If you're hoping to use one of the more established companies like the aforementioned Keycamp then imo it would be sensible, if not essential, to book in advance.

MattKane

Thanks for replies so far. I'll be there between the 5th and 10th of July. We'll be getting TGV from Paris to Tours and I reckon we'll get a cheap tent at a supermarket - should do us well

Berty

You will get everything you need in Decathlon. They are all over France

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/

Carrefour and Auchan would be France's biggest Supermarket and they sell EVERYTHING(nearly). You will get your stuff there. Cheaper than Decathlon but Decathlon would be selling the higher end stuff like Northface for exampe whereas Carrefour would be non branded or own branded.

MattKane

Berty wrote: »

You will get everything you need in Decathlon. They are all over France

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/

Carrefour and Auchan would be France's biggest Supermarket and they sell EVERYTHING(nearly). You will get your stuff there. Cheaper than Decathlon but Decathlon would be selling the higher end stuff like Northface for exampe whereas Carrefour would be non branded or own branded.

Brilliant site, thanks! Some of those tents weigh under 1 kg so might buy one. Accommodation sorted!

goonersnroses

I drove all around Europe in the summer of 07 and we didnt book anywhere before we left. Never had a problem at any campsites including one in Pamplona during the bull running so you we not have a problem on my experiences anyway.

Another great site for camping around Europe is www.eurocampings.co.uk.

johnfás

If you want to enjoy really good campsites you should look up the sites on the Eurocamp and Keycamp websites and ascertain which you would like to stay on. Then look up the site on the web and make contact directly. All of the sites which Eurocamp and Keycamp are on are also open to private campers but the brochures from those two companies will give you some insight into the best sites in the region.

There are some enormous sites in the Loire. I once stayed at St Catherine - Le Parc de Fierbois, which was very good in terms of facilities but also very large. It depends on what you are looking for yourself.