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

SusanC10 · 11-09-2019 6:38pm

MizMix wrote: »

Hi All,

We holidayed in vendee this year and last year (11 nights this time and 7 year before). We stayed in le pins parasol which is a fab campsite. My husband wants to go back again. I'm happy to go back as I loved it also but really want to try somewhere else also like the dordogne region. I'm not sure I can convince him to get the ferry and do a long drive (flying into nantes and renting a car is very handy- he likes driving a left hand drive car in France as it feels more logical to him). I'm considering doing two shorter holidays- one at start and one at end of summer. However is there direct flights to dordogne from dublin in summer? It looks like perhaps ryanair do in summer (to bergerac)? Has anyone here flown direct to dordogne?

We have done the drive from Cherbourg to the Dordogne twice but friends of ours flew to Bordeaux with AL and hired a Car there and drove. Approx 2 hours.
We stayed at St. Avit Loisirs - great Campsite.

MizMix · 11-09-2019 6:41pm

Oh thanks Susan- didn't even think of Bordeaux!

St Avit looks amazing- currently tossing up between it and Soleil Plage

SusanC10 · 11-09-2019 6:44pm

MizMix wrote: »

Oh thanks Susan- didn't even think of Bordeaux!

St Avit looks amazing- currently tossing up between it and Soleil Plage

We love St Avit. Will go back again but trying something different next year.

Deeman83 · 12-09-2019 9:10am

That time of the year again,

What do you recomend for a great camp site around the Vendee/Loire Valley region?

Something along the lines of La Garangeoir and Le Clarys.

Young Kid friendly with good kids clubs.
Good pool slides etc.

Thanks in advance.

MizMix · 12-09-2019 9:44am

We absolutely love le pin parasol in vendee- we stay in the new area which has a very plush indoor/outdoor pool complete with hydro pools etc. Then the order section has fantastic waterslides etc but we liked staying in the quieter new section and walking down to the older pool area as we wanted. Kids loved both pool areas.

MorganIRL · 12-09-2019 11:21am

Deeman83 wrote: »

That time of the year again,

What do you recomend for a great camp site around the Vendee/Loire Valley region?

Something along the lines of La Garangeoir and Le Clarys.

Young Kid friendly with good kids clubs.
Good pool slides etc.

Thanks in advance.

Les alicourts in loire valley is very good, stayed in Clarys this yr, not for us. Going to go back and really explore Les Alicourts. Nothing to see or do outside the immediate site but all the usual attractions within a drive.

ellee · 12-09-2019 11:31am

SusanC10 wrote: »

Anyone been to Des Menhirs near Carnac ? Thoughts on it ?

Also, are Eurocamp gone from La Grande Metairie for 2020 ?

Asking for a friend not on Boards.

Hi! Been to Des Mehirs 3 times would you believe!! The main reason we have been there so much is it is close to both beach and town which is rare enough.

As for what it is like, depends what you want. The pool/slides have improved a lot since our first visit. This area I think is really very good. There's even a slightly quieter area a little away from the pool if you want a more chill atmosphere. There was never any real pressure on beds and we were there Aug 2019.

Bar area has also improved with the addition of a "shack" type area, but tbh, this area is not their best feature. As others said, it lacks atmosphere. Food offering good though. Not high dining, but v decent quality burgers and chips etc.

Indoor pool needs work but is fine for those less sunny days. Husband likes the gym and used it a lot.

Kids really like the site, it's large, they can cycle around happily, the pool/slides are great, there's a playground (suitable for up to 10y I'd say) and kids club (8yo liked this, 10yo no). However there is also an arcade room with lots of video games and machines selling sweets. My 10yo could not be stopped spending every last bit of pocket money he had in there. Not really what I wanted for him on his French holiday to be honest.

The main thing I dislike about this site are the constant efforts to entertain you. Others like this kind of thing, but it is not my cup of tea. So there was something going on at the pool every afternoon (dancing/zumba/walk on water pod thingy) and the also the bar most evenings (karaoke, quiz, music). This is new from our first visit in 2016.

A final factor that I don't really like is that the town it is near is Carnac Plage not old Carnac. Old Carnac not far, but you wouldn't walk it. Carnac Plage v commercial in atmosphere esp the centre.

So, depends what you like/want. It's a busy site, all mobiles at this point. Near beach and town. Pool and slides lovely. A bit too upbeat for me and we won't be going back anytime soon. I must emphasise rest of family loves it however!

SusanC10 · 12-09-2019 7:57pm

Thanks for very detailed review of Des Menhirs. Have passed it on.

Pretzill · 13-09-2019 11:07am

Travelling over in a few weeks and just received a text from IF to say the WB's arrival time has changed for operational reasons - It's only by an hour (but same check in time). I'm actually surprised to get a head's up, the voyage seems beset with delays operational or otherwise - the last time I was onboard it was two hours late leaving Cherbourg because they hadn't finished refuelling. Oh well still looking forward to it

joney · 13-09-2019 1:00pm

SusanC10 wrote: »

Thanks for very detailed review of Des Menhirs. Have passed it on.

We spent a week on the site about 3 years ago & it was the only site in France where we parked the car on arrival & never moved it again till departure day.

Poochie05 · 13-09-2019 1:06pm

Pretzill wrote: »

Travelling over in a few weeks and just received a text from IF to say the WB's arrival time has changed for operational reasons - It's only by an hour (but same check in time). I'm actually surprised to get a head's up, the voyage seems beset with delays operational or otherwise - the last time I was onboard it was two hours late leaving Cherbourg because they hadn't finished refuelling. Oh well still looking forward to it

Had family on the WB Yeats Cherbourg to Dublin sailing on Wednesday. Same check in time but as soon as they boarded they were told it would be an hour late arriving in Dublin for 'operational reasons' then when they got to Dublin they had to wait for another hour in the bay while cruise ship went in before them to dock. Docking space seems to be an issue for them.

anacc · 13-09-2019 1:33pm

P2C wrote: »

Can anyone recommend a site for first time camp site experience. Looking at the Basque Country France or Spain. Two weeks end of June/ start of July. Will have 3 kids 7,5 & 6 months (all going well). Love biking, surfing and being active. Probably prefer somewhere small or medium size. Don’t mind rural. As long as the older kids can be entertained all will be good. The only other thing would be decent chalet or mobile home.

Thanks

Colm

Have a look at Sylvamar campsite near Bayonne. We have returned to there a few times, one of the best campsites we’ve been to, and we’ve been all over France.

vienne86 · 13-09-2019 10:53pm

So the Brittany Ferries ship, Connemara, has done a strop again - it did something similar for a couple of days in May, when the Pont Aven was out of action.

https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/brittany-ferries-sailing-for-300-passengers-cancelled-hours-before-crossing-950697.html

Wonderful! I'm due to sail to Sandander next Wednesday, and got caught up in the Pont Aven breakdown in May. And got caught in the W B Yeats fiasco last year too.

In fairness to Brittany Ferries, they looked after us well in May. Fingers crossed things will get sorted by Wednesday.

Very nervous about making any more bookings!

westgolf · 13-09-2019 11:28pm

Three out of three ! Time to consider fly drive as a holiday option.

vienne86 · 13-09-2019 11:59pm

westgolf wrote: »

Three out of three ! Time to consider fly drive as a holiday option.

Well I'm retired now, so delays are not as disruptive as when I was working. I took the car to France regularly during a 14 year period when I had a holiday home there, and never once had my travel arrangements messed around. I suppose it's payback time now!

kindalen · 14-09-2019 9:39am

Brittany are meant to be using a different ferry on the Spain route next year, the AF MICHELA. It will be called the KERRY, and will be chartered for 1 year from November 2019 for the Santander route.

First Up · 14-09-2019 11:33am

kindalen wrote: »

Brittany are meant to be using a different ferry on the Spain route next year, the AF MICHELA. It will be called the KERRY, and will be chartered for 1 year from November 2019 for the Santander route.

No bigger than the current vessel unfortunately. It currently operates between Ancona in Italy and Durres in Albania - a much shorter trip than Cork - Santander.

Pretzill · 14-09-2019 12:14pm

I see that the WB Yeats has been taken off the France route for the winter months - October 1st onwards, it's being replaced by the Epsilon - and looks to be heading to Holyhead (perhaps there's more footfall there?)

shanec1928 · 14-09-2019 6:48pm

Pretzill wrote: »

I see that the WB Yeats has been taken off the France route for the winter months - October 1st onwards, it's being replaced by the Epsilon - and looks to be heading to Holyhead (perhaps there's more footfall there?)

It happens every year

Pretzill · 14-09-2019 6:59pm

shanec1928 wrote: »

It happens every year

The WB Yeats only started this Spring and last year The OW (and all the years previous) was sailing. First year I can see in a long time that a very budget boat is soley taking the route.

Padraig Mor · 14-09-2019 8:01pm

vienne86 wrote: »

So the Brittany Ferries ship, Connemara, has done a strop again - it did something similar for a couple of days in May, when the Pont Aven was out of action.

https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/brittany-ferries-sailing-for-300-passengers-cancelled-hours-before-crossing-950697.html

Wonderful! I'm due to sail to Sandander next Wednesday, and got caught up in the Pont Aven breakdown in May. And got caught in the W B Yeats fiasco last year too.

In fairness to Brittany Ferries, they looked after us well in May. Fingers crossed things will get sorted by Wednesday.

Very nervous about making any more bookings!

Connemara was moored at Marino Point today - most unusual to see a passenger ship there. Surprised they didn't just pop it straight across the harbour to Verolme dockyard.

vienne86 · 14-09-2019 9:00pm

Padraig Mor wrote: »

Connemara was moored at Marino Point today - most unusual to see a passenger ship there. Surprised they didn't just pop it straight across the harbour to Verolme dockyard.

I'm hoping it's sorted out quickly. I'm just about to book accommodation in Cork for Tuesday night but think I'll hold off for a couple of days before I pull the trigger!

First Up · 14-09-2019 9:21pm

Pretzill wrote:

The WB Yeats only started this Spring and last year The OW (and all the years previous) was sailing. First year I can see in a long time that a very budget boat is soley taking the route.

I think the OW sailed until Christmas and just took January and maybe part of February. October 1st is definitely earlier than previously.

kfc1 · 15-09-2019 12:42pm

webpal wrote: »

Groupschemes Eurocamp latest discount code for 2020 is 20RISC01

Plenty of t&cs but worth a shot

Thanks Webpal - you dont have a link to T&C's by any chance?

webpal · 16-09-2019 8:56am

Terms and Conditions

The discounts apply per night to the accommodation base price and supplements based on the total holiday duration within the relevant date bands. The offer is subject to availability and a minimum duration of 3 nights with a maximum duration of 21 nights. The offer is only applicable to new 2020 bookings and cannot be applied retrospectively to an existing reservation. The offer is subject to the booking terms and conditions as stated in the 2020 Eurocamp brochure and cannot be combined with the any other Eurocamp offer or discounts.

The offer applies to Classic Tents, Safari Tents, Classic, comfort and Azure* Mobile Homes (Chalets, Lodges, Bungalows, Azure Plus and Aspect Accommodation Excluded)

*The discount does not apply to Azure accommodation at the following parcs; BS018, CB012, CB017, DR017, HL013, GR026, IA012, IA018, IL022, PA012, VS017, WM014, WM015, WM022, WM023.

The following parcs are not included in the offer CA022, CB017, CD011, CD012, CD013, CD019, GA049, GR014, HL012, HL031, IA015, IA022, IL019, IS018, RV015, RV062, VN011, VS011, WM017, WM020, WM032. Selected parcs may be excluded at any time.

The offer is only valid for bookings made between 14th August and 3rd December 2019. The offer cannot be redeemed through travel agents. The code cannot be used in conjunction with cashback sites or any other third party website. Use of the code via these sites will result in cashback claims being declined.

john_doe. · 16-09-2019 12:29pm

Day 3 still mvconnemara still berthed at #marinopoint in Cork

https://twitter.com/acfunduro/status/1173486288277778433?s=19

flangemeistro · 16-09-2019 1:31pm

john_doe. wrote: »

Day 3 still mvconnemara still berthed at #marinopoint in Cork

https://twitter.com/acfunduro/status/1173486288277778433?s=19

She's just after docking in Ringaskiddy under her own steam.

vienne86 · 16-09-2019 1:40pm

flangemeistro wrote: »

She's just after docking in Ringaskiddy under her own steam.

I'm wondering what the problem is. She was several hours late leaving Cork last Wednesday, but seemed to make the crossing to Santander in the usual 26.5 hours. Sat in Santander for 8 hours before heading back to Cork.

I see that it's still possible to book to go to Roscoff tonight on the Connemara, so she seems to be good to go.

medic112 · 20-09-2019 11:06am

ðŸ‘‹ would I be right in thinking that the ferry from Dublin to Cherbourg departs on a Friday most week's? just about to book a campsite for next July & trying to sort of confirm dates fro an airBnB stopover.

Thanks.

First Up · 20-09-2019 11:16am

medic112 wrote:

Ã°Å¸â€˜â€¹ would I be right in thinking that the ferry from Dublin to Cherbourg departs on a Friday most week's? just about to book a campsite for next July & trying to sort of confirm dates fro an airBnB stopover.

The round trip takes about 42 hours so the sailing days vary each week. Look at the timetable.

SusanC10 · 20-09-2019 12:25pm

medic112 wrote: »

ðŸ‘‹ would I be right in thinking that the ferry from Dublin to Cherbourg departs on a Friday most week's? just about to book a campsite for next July & trying to sort of confirm dates fro an airBnB stopover.

Thanks.

Which Dates are you looking at ? You can usually figure it out based on the current year's timetable. The weeks alternate so Friday 1 week and Saturday the next etc

ellee · 20-09-2019 1:40pm

Is it not a bit weird Irish Ferries don't have a timetable up yet? I have Stena's 15% off offer in my inbox today....

yellow76 · 20-09-2019 1:44pm

Irish Ferries rep told me yesterday that they are expecting prices and timetable to be available from Mid-October.

medic112 · 20-09-2019 1:56pm

Arriving July 05th. Normally just roll with it but tickets for an event & b&b will be hard to arrange by mid Oct

First Up · 20-09-2019 2:07pm

medic112 wrote:

Arriving July 05th. Normally just roll with it but tickets for an event & b&b will be hard to arrange by mid Oct

Book somewhere for two nights (or two places for one night each) and cancel one when you know.

Way too early to know the sailing schedule.

SusanC10 · 20-09-2019 3:11pm

medic112 wrote: »

Arriving July 05th. Normally just roll with it but tickets for an event & b&b will be hard to arrange by mid Oct

The corresponding week for 2019 shows Thurs & Sat not Fri Sailings from Dublin.

fdevine · 20-09-2019 3:42pm

SusanC10 wrote: »

The corresponding week for 2019 shows Thurs & Sat not Fri Sailings from Dublin.

Could go either way really - Thursday/Saturday/Monday or Friday/Sunday/Tuesday

Eurocamp I notice are offering free amendments & cancellations up to 20th November

If we book before the ferry schedule is out it may mean amending to a day earlier or a day later unless we happen to guess correctly

medic112 · 20-09-2019 6:04pm

Really appreciate all the replies, will just pull the trigger & book all. Brittany ferry said they'll be leaving every sat @ 1600 so something will fall into place.

First Up · 20-09-2019 6:20pm

medic112 wrote:

Really appreciate all the replies, will just pull the trigger & book all. Brittany ferry said they'll be leaving every sat @ 1600 so something will fall into place.

That has been BF's once a week departure time for years. But they go into Roscoff; IF go to Cherbourg

medic112 · 20-09-2019 7:00pm

Bugger, yeah wasn't thinking straight. Require some sugar.

Peckham · 22-09-2019 5:20pm

Looking for a site recommendation from the collective wisdom here.

We've done France for past few years, and next year planning on overlapping holidays with friends.

They're campers and we're mobile homers, so looking for a site that does both quite well.

The site must be in the general area around La Rochelle, and walking distance from a decent beach.

Want somewhere that's not too hectic, but enough to keep the kids (ages 3 to 9) entertained.

Anyone have any suggestions?

manshay · 22-09-2019 7:04pm

Peckham wrote: »

Looking for a site recommendation from the collective wisdom here.

We've done France for past few years, and next year planning on overlapping holidays with friends.

They're campers and we're mobile homers, so looking for a site that does both quite well.

The site must be in the general area around La Rochelle, and walking distance from a decent beach.

Want somewhere that's not too hectic, but enough to keep the kids (ages 3 to 9) entertained.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Sequoia park in Marennes hits the spot, except for the walk to beach part!
Emplacements for some Eurocamp mobiles are beside the campers area.
The emplacements are large and private too.

average_runner · 23-09-2019 2:32pm

manshay wrote: »

Sequoia park in Marennes hits the spot, except for the walk to beach part!
Emplacements for some Eurocamp mobiles are beside the campers area.
The emplacements are large and private too.

Yeah its a short drive to the beach from there. Maybe look at La Playmre, it might have something down that way.

medic112 · 24-09-2019 1:24am

just on the irish ferries crossings for 2020, a travel adviser told me that they have been told IF will be travelling out on even days & return on odd.

gabbo is coming · 24-09-2019 1:29am

medic112 wrote: »

just on the irish ferries crossings for 2020, a travel adviser told me that they have been told IF will be travelling out on even days & return on odd.

What's an even day? Or an odd. Is Monday or Sunday the 1st day

kindalen · 24-09-2019 7:36am

I presume they mean the date, not day. So the 2nd of June is even and the 3rd of June is odd.

Peckham · 24-09-2019 9:23am

How does that work for August? 31 July and 1 August are both odd days. If it leaves France on 31 August, then does it switch to leaving France on even days for August?

Deeman83 · 24-09-2019 9:34am

Peckham wrote: »

How does that work for August? 31 July and 1 August are both odd days. If it leaves France on 31 August, then does it switch to leaving France on even days for August?

Correct me if I am wrong people, but traditionally they release sailings up to June 30th. The July and August sailings will be in the 2nd wave released and I would suggest the odd and even will not apply in this case.

medic112 · 24-09-2019 10:37am

Apologies even & odd dates, I was talking to an Irish based company in the west pricing some sites & it was them that said IF had informed them of these likely days sailing's.

SusanC10 · 25-09-2019 11:52am

2020 WB Schedule to France.

https://www.irishferries.com/ie-en/routes-and-times/france2020/

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

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