France Ferry & Campsite info (use Search function) mod warning post 1

BullBauld

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122438169#Comment_122438169

I got the one in the pic. I'm the same, just want to cook the food and not be bothering with charcoal or even gas.

IMG_20240728_231535.jpg

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122438323#Comment_122438323

Cheers for that, I'll take a look into it

Tommiekly84

Im currently planning for next year, we stayed in Le litterol this year and thought it was good. We are thinking of booking Sequoia Park for next year. How do the two compare,if anyone has been to both?

corkgirl17

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122439922#Comment_122439922

Went to Sequoia Park last year and Le Litterol this year. Sequoia Park is bigger obviously and has lots more space so great if kids want to play football and hurling etc.. I really liked the park itself and the bar area was great but the mosquitos there were absolutely awful. Everyone was eaten alive!! Could not sit outside on the deck as they were everywhere. It was such a shame as the site itself is lovely. Not one mosquito in Le Litterol which was great. It's a great site, lovely bike trail straight from the campsite, safe site and the kid had a ball. If the mosquitos weren't an issue I would say Sequoia Park just for the facilities of the site but overall Le Litterol would be the better option as you have a beach nearby and towns close by which you don't have in Sequoia Park.

Tommiekly84

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122441722#Comment_122441722

Thanks, might give Sequoia Park miss. I'll head back to bonne anse plage, but will spend a week somewhere else first.

rex_turner

Watching the Olympics over the last few days will demonstrate that it's a fairly futile exercise trying to second guess the weather for a holiday in France - wet and miserable last Friday and Saturday and a heat wave 2 days later. I remember booking a campsite in Brittany a few years ago and making sure it had a good indoor pool for rainy days - it ended being a great place to take refuge when we ended up staying there in the middle of a heat wave (and I've also spent a rainy two weeks in Il de Re in the past).

mr_edge_to_you

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122447607#Comment_122447607

Ye. If the weather is that important to you, then France north of La Rochelle isn't for you.

pi**ing rain here this morning and currently 29 degrees.

Baybay

Northern France generally sees more mixed weather, imo & can be wonderful or like what seems to pass for an Irish summers day of late.

Currently 33 & rising on this sunny day near Montpellier.

ShamoBuc

Lashing in St. Jean de Monts this morning but a beautiful 30 degrees since. Bliss weather!!

Heroditas

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122449330#Comment_122449330

The great thing is when the rain stops, it always seems to clear up and the ground dries so quickly. Humidity drops too

fits

2 weeks in Dordogne and Aquitaine.

Last week was very comfortable temperature wise. This week up to 37 and 38 and roasting at night. Impossible to predict it.

the_amazing_raisin

Starting to think early June was the best time to go

Now I just need to convince the schools of that 😬

Heroditas

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122449973#Comment_122449973

Urgh, dunno about that. The weather in the northern areas was as poxy as here during June. It can be really hit and miss.

A potentially better solution is to find a campsite where the mobiles have air conditioning. Our mobile in Bonne Anse Plage had it and although it wasn't roasting this year, it helped cool the place down at night if we had been using the oven and/or hob

mr_edge_to_you

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122450061#Comment_122450061

We've started using the Aircon every night. Windows closed keeps the mozzies and other bugs out which helps too. Everyone just sleeps better.

Feidhlim

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122432001#Comment_122432001

Le Comptoir Libanais

We ate there with the kids. Gorgeous food. You may need to book

Cork2021

hi I’m just looking to see if anyone has booked any package deals for ferry and camp to France etc? I’ve been looking and not much is popping up. I created a thread for this. But can a mod delete, as I’ve just found this one!

sparrowcar

Can anyone recommend any websites for a first timer planning a family trip next summer (2025).

Details on when to book ferry/campsites, requirements when bringing a dog, hints & tips etc.

Cork2021

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122459076#Comment_122459076

basically the same, think the kids will be ready for that kind of holiday, they’ll be 6 and 4. Ferry from Cork preferably

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122459076#Comment_122459076

Not being funny but this thread is the best source for that info! 373 pages of info!

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122460475#Comment_122460475

Not sure I'd risk the website search function these days 🫣

auntieo

I’m in a few facebook groups which were a great help when we were planning our first French campsite holiday. “Camping with kids in France” would be a good one. Mainly Irish on it.

flyer_query

ferries this year seemed less busy, I think the bananas prices are finally impacting bookings, especially Irish ferries. Proof being the sales they have been running for the last 4weeks with kids travelling free, it was cheaper for us to cancel our November booking and rebook their sale price.

So my tips would be 1. Book flexi so you can change date / cancel. 2. Avoid Irish ferries who are a greedy company where all their staff are low cost Eastern European who look miserable which does impact your 18hrs on the boat, everything with Irish ferries is an extra cost.

sparrowcar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122460475#Comment_122460475

373 pages of info is funny… it's 373 pages of specific experiences generally. Very hard to decipher any good info without taking a week off work :)

The search function is shocking.

Heroditas

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122461535#Comment_122461535

We went out on the 12th and it was busy enough but came back on the Monday overnight ferry this week and it was really empty. They even had cars on deck 5 which is where they usually have trucks and caravans. Deck 7 was deserted.

Can't agree re the staff though. I find them very helpful and friendly. It's a tough enough gig and some of them hve been working on that route since I started going from Dublin to Cherbourg in 2019.

flyer_query

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122461865#Comment_122461865

We sailed out Irish Ferries and back Stena Line so its fresh in our minds. Staff were a world of difference between the two, its amazing what a friendly smile and hello can do which Stena staff are trained to do. Just a simple example where Stena staff handed out kids coloring packs as we boarded and said hello and asked did we need help finding our cabin all done with a smile whereas Irish Ferries staff just stood hoping not to be asked a question there and they hid their coloring packs away in their customer inquiries desk.

The main thing Irish Ferries has going for it is sailing into Dublin and they know this and therefore can get away with higher fares and not being a direct compare to Stena. Our Irish ferries (€915) fare was 50% more expensive than the Stena (€614) one, fair enough Irish Ferries sail further but our Stena fare included breakfast and a better cabin so you could say the 50% difference was more. We sailed WB yeats and felt poor options for kids with only a tiny soft play area so it consists of small kids trying to dodge 10 year olds jumping everywhere, I think its part of their plan as they get to upsell the cinema so thats another €50 cost. Irish Ferries for me has always been poor customer service and everything costs money with them.

Regarding staff, you just have to remember the massive damage P&O inflicted on themselves in the UK when they sacked all their local staff and hired cheap labor, Irish Ferries did this in 2005 and got away with it.

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/irish-ferries-will-abandon-routes-unless-staff-go-quietly/25967299.html

Heroditas

Yeah I can fully understand your view.

I guess my kids are a bit older so my view is a little different. I have very little interaction with staff bar the bar staff and the staff in the Lady Gregory restaurant but have found all of them very pleasant. My kids are happy enough to amuse themselves/read/explore the WB Yeats (we travel with friends) and we have a picnic each way so the cost doesn't impact us too much.

There definitely seemed to be a sharp drop in proces from last autumn to this summer though.

lawrencesummers

i dont understand the fascination with the staff on the ferry.

They are poorly paid and overworked so im not looking for much from them but always found them fine.

That and the fact that you can bring all your own food and drink on boards with you means there can be next to no interaction with staff u less you go looking for it.

lawrencesummers

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122459248#Comment_122459248

Pick your dates and book the ferry first, make sure to book toofbox or bike rack if your bringing one

Then find campsites that suit what your looking for, distance away from the ferry, size of site, prox to beaches and towns, age of your kids and how the site suits them.

have the car serviced before you go.

Pack snacks for journey.

Bring an airfryer

Leave room for wine on way back

Do laundry onsite and pack less

socket adapters.

Take the time to read through this thread and you will get a wealth of info

Heroditas

Bring a bar/tube of Vanish too because the washing machines in most of the campsites are, quite frankly, shite 🤦

idontknowdoyou

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122461648#Comment_122461648

The search function works okish if you use "ferry france"+"xx" what every you want to search. I was looking up cooler boxes for our next trip and it worked reasonably well when I searched "ferry france"+"cooler box"

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122464389#Comment_122464389

We got some detergent pods, they're pretty handy plus they usually come in a box so you can shove a few colour catchers, vanish pods and a delicates bag in as well

Bring some dishwasher tablets as well if your accommodation has a dishwasher

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122463568#Comment_122463568

I'll add a few (travelled Irish Ferries):

French workers like strikes, build some flexibility into your schedule to accommodate this

If it's your first time, maybe try to minimise the driving to and from the ferry. I was quite nervous but found it to be a lot easier, however I'm also glad I didn't sign up for a 6 hour drive for my first time

If, like me, you're a bad sleeper then keep in mind you might not get a great night's sleep on the ferry. Factor this in when planning your driving, you might want to break a long drive up into smaller ones with a couple hours break in between (or even an overnight in a hotel if you're very tired). It's better to arrive late, alive and slightly poorer than not arrive at all

In general you can get anything you need in supermarkets there, but keep in mind they're selling supermarket quantities. You probably don't need 30 dishwasher tablets, a full tub of detergent powder or 1l of olive oil for a week's holiday. For some things it's easier and less wasteful to bring stuff from home

Get some mini cereals for the ferry for breakfast, buy a carton of milk from the cafe. Maybe consider a travel kettle and teabags if you're really looking to save

Bring bags of popcorn for the cinema on the ferry and lots of snacks for kids

The muffins on Irish Ferries are excellent though, worth treating yourself to one or three IMO 😁

Have a bag of essential supplies (toilet roll, 1 days worth of food, etc). French shops are all closed on Sunday and your ferry might get delayed

Bring some tea towels, oven gloves, bin bags, a chopping board and tinfoil or baking paper. Oil spray is also handy

Bring your pillows from home for some extra comfort while sleeping

Don't forget your medicines like paracetamol and ibuprofen (and kids ones as well). Grab a few OTC medicines for.... let's say digestive problems and bring them. Hopefully you don't need them, but you want them close if you do

If you have a cordless vacuum like a Dyson then it could be worth bringing it. Pretty sure none of the accommodations have hoovers. If yours has one of the mini floor heads (I think they're called pet tool) then that's a less bulky option than the full sized floor attachment

webpal

If anyone is heading to Rosslare this week, give yourself some extra time. Fleadh is on in Wexford town which is closed to traffic including the bridge from 10am-4am (following day) each day. Park and ride available. Ring road (N25) is fine but there will be delays on it.

CheerLouth

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122464389#Comment_122464389

Second this and generally dear enough! The one in Les Menhirs wasn't too bad, but if you are in Les Ormes, the laundry room is tiny for the size of the campsite. We normally go out to the laverie at Super U and do it there.

Baybay

K2r détachant for stain removal is a vastly superior product than Vanish, imo so we always bring a couple home with us.

Deeman83

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122392629#Comment_122392629

How did you find Les Brunelles? Is there a good mix of Irish and other nationalities on site? I.e. plenty of english speakers for the kids to make friends?

Is there any open green spaces, football pitches etc,?

RocketRaccoon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122469684#Comment_122469684

I can appreciate this is a very helpful post but I just can't understand worrying about bringing all this stuff on holiday.

We've done French eurocamps for the last 2 summers, flew in and hired a car. We went to an intermarche both times on the day we landed and did a full shop (about €150) and didn't have to worry about packing things from home. Surely to god, it's easier to fly, hire a car and just do a shop when you get where you're going.

Dtoffee

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122459076#Comment_122459076

Over 20 years experience and still going despite kids flown the nest. Some great advice already given, so off the top of my head, I would say:

Decide what matters most to your family…… beach / town / sports / pool / entertainment / road trip / time of year etc

French Camp sites are graded on their amenities such as pools, slides, sports, restaurant and the to 4/5 star ones have everything. However, just because a camp site is 3 star does not mean its a kip and in some cases those sites have so much locally that they dont need the extras.

Most French people have some English, but often dont bother if you come across as making no effort to speak French ….. a few phrases goes a long way and you will be surprised how helpful they can be if you make the effort.

Roscoff is a small port and easy to get in and out of, Cherbourg is much bigger and busier.

Northern France can have Irish weather up to July, my advice would be to drive south to the Vendee as its less industrial and driving is easier (sat navs are great, use one but stick to motorways as you can end up on roads the size of a footpath!).

Looking at a map can be deceptive, use AA Autoroute to assess your journey times and allow for pit stops.

Bring your pillows from home is a great tip ! as is a mobile with a deck that allows you chill on your doorstep.

Speed traps work there and in recent times, many Irish drivers have got unwanted fines post holiday as the French can now track your Reg…. its not worth the risk and they also time you between toll bridges for evidence of speeding in some cases.

We have always booked directly with French campsites as it gave us far more choice and suited our sense of independence. All camp sites offer deals and their high season is late July / August, shop around and dont forget to look at whats local for your kids and yourselves of course.

WiFi is much improved over the years and a huge bonus if you want to use your laptop/tablet for TV etc in the evenings.

Finally, it can be expensive…. but does not have to be, there is value to be had.

Enjoy, treat it as an adventure and remember you are making memories that will last forever.

gaillimh

Whatever about bringing stuff from home - I’m with you on the fly drive side of things.

We did the ferry last year for the first time. We won’t be doing it again. So much holiday time wasted.

We left our house on Saturday morning and did not get to our destination until after 6pm on the Sunday.

This year we had an early flight and were at our destination around 10:30am in the South of France. And we did not need to hire a car in the end.

No brainer for me

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122471247#Comment_122471247

Maybe, obviously if you're flying you've constraints on luggage which is going to result in some priority calls being made.

I guess when you're taking a car there's a temptation to bring the proverbial kitchen sink since you've more space

I based the list on a bunch of things we wished we'd had on our last (and first) Eurocamps holiday. We made do without a lot of the stuff, for example by using one of the bath towels as a combo dish towel and oven glove

It worked, but it would have been nice to have some other options

We can't really fly at the moment anyway because my daughter has been having issues with ear pain and pressure changes make it a lot worse. It's difficult to book a flight ahead when you don't know when she'll have an episode of ear pain

I wouldn't really say the plane is easier or more difficult, just a different set of challenges. I find the whole experience of dealing with airports and airlines to be very unpleasant, like I'm suffering for someone's amusement and profit

There's definitely a dropping off point where flying is the only option, can't imagine driving to the south of Spain would go over well with the missus, and it's kind of hard to do a weekend break with 2 overnight ferry journeys

However I didn't feel inconvenienced by taking the ferry even if it cost me some time

RocketRaccoon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122471285#Comment_122471285

This is exactly my thinking.

We drove from marseille to la Baume last year and this year it was carcassonne to la sirene. I can't imagine enjoying the ferry/long drive route at all but each to their own.

airy fairy

Been taking the ferry to France and beyond with a long time. Don't knock it right across the board for everyone.

I've a kid, now a teen, with a long term illness, needs various meds and equipment. Bringing it on a plane is a logistical nightmare where there needs to be a waiver signed, a weight taken of the equipment, letters from the consultant, being patted down by security, some security have huge issues with medication, needing sealed containers etc.

Going on the ferry eliminates all this. Everything. We also have a coeliac on board, which is fairly dire heading away as choices and foods not available in local shops, so having foods to keep us going for a few days is necessary.

Of course, I've found it is getting easier as kids get older, and a fly drive is definitely on the cards, but it's nice to have the option of bringing home some cava or a bottle of wine for the grannies etc.

Also, the prices of rentals, 7 seaters, with car seats is something you need to factor in too.

I don't find the ferry too relaxing as we're not into propping up the bar for the evening sailing and tbh there's not much else to do, but it is nice to have the ability to sit in your own car while waiting to get in/off the ship, rather than sitting in a lounge airside.

Each to their own.

Heroditas

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122470272#Comment_122470272

Agreed. The ones in La Garangeoire are awful. Les Menhirs is a lot better but Bonne Anse Plage was dire. 35min speed wash in an commercial washer and you can't even add detergent because it's self-dosing. At least the tumble dryers are good because, this is such an Irish thing to say, despite the sunshine and mid 20s temperatures, the drying was awful.

Cork2021

has anyone been to La Grande Metairie? Seems to be the one popping up when I search. It’ll be a first time holiday abroad with the kids, they’ll be 6 and 4 by July mext year! Around 10 of us going adults and kids!

Heroditas

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122469684#Comment_122469684

I'll agree with absolutely everything here bar French shop opening times. Supermarkets are increasingly open on Sundays and particularly near resorts/campsites. When we first went to France in 2019, all the supermarkets were closed. Now they are all open but a lot close mid afternoon so it's best to get there before 10am and get the heck out of there before 11am when multi-generation families turn up and you literally can't move down the aisles

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122471498#Comment_122471498

Yeah it might have been afternoon when we swung by the Carrefour in Dol de Bretagne, both it and the Lidl were closed. Super U might have been open but we weren't bothered driving across town

We didn't need anything urgently but there was a Skoda with Irish plates behind us who looked like they just arrived from the port. It's something you'll want to factor in if you've a long journey, you'll need to do the shop a bit earlier

Also I'm loving how no-one has disagreed with my comment about the strikes 😂

idontknowdoyou

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122471062#Comment_122471062

We were there last year. Lots of Irish and not so many English (presuming that was because we went end of june) and mainly French. There is a soccer pitch and playground.

The site is extremely compact as in it feels every bit of space is utilised. The mobiles are on a teeny tiny site and very close together. Lovely long decking but no green space around mobiles. We enjoyed ourselves. Pool was super but i wouldn't go back .

idontknowdoyou

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122464389#Comment_122464389

We had washing machines in our siblu mobile. It was a godsend and was a factor in booking a siblu site for next year.

beggars_bush

Washing machines and dishwashers. Posh

RocketRaccoon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122471867#Comment_122471867

We used the camp ones in La Baume last year but didn't bother in La Sirene this year. Towels dried overnight and we all had 2-3 swimsuits/shorts so didn't need washing.