Travel to France for first time... ever

[NZCol]

Thanks for all your advice. Will stay at the Drum on the way to and from, booked a 5 night stay just outside Bordeaux and will book a couple more with some gaps to let us freestyle it.
Tunnel booked at £155 which I thought was pretty fair for a return price.
Anyone got any other site recommendations, Sth of Bordeaux towards the Pyrenees would be most excellent ! Small child on board so pool + beach all good. Vineyards also most welcome as we cycle everywhere !

 

[briwy]

If you head for Archachon below Bordeaux there are loads of sites down the coast, lovely sandy beaches. We haven't actually camped down there so can't give a recommendation. You can then head back to the motorway and on down to Bayonne and into the Pyrenees. It does get hellish busy down there though at French holiday times.

 

[andyinluton]

I can't help with choosing sites, but would say with regard to eurotunnel don't worry about when you turn up, we always book a later crossing than we really need & have always been offered a choice of crossings when we turn up early.

For example last week we got to folkestone at 8.30 for a 11.30 crossing & went on the 9.30

Last year we arrived at Calais at 23.30 for a 12 noon the next day crossing & the options were something like go at 01.00 for an extra £100 or go at 8am for no charge. We checked in & spent the night in a corner of the car park. Not the quietest nights sleep but secure & free with toilets & showers available in the terminal. I don't think we have ever actually gone on the crossing that we have booked.


We didn't have the gas checked or even asked about this time.