France in July/August

[pippin]

The main summer season in France tends now to be the second half of July to the middle of August.

It definitely gets much quieter from the middle of August.

If you search online you will find the dates of the French school holidays - a useful indicator.

Having said that, France is a huge country with tens of thousands of campsites - you will not have to travel far to find a space in one.

[clummzie]

Great thread folks, loads of really useful stuff - ta very muchly.

[technophobe]

Suggest you get the Camping Card ACSI book. Lists over 2000 campsites and shows clearly when each goes to low season. Last year we were using them, the low price ones, from mid-August.

[feeblecat]

The last 2 years we have gone to France mid August for 3 weeks - from North to South and East to West! We have used sites with the ACSI card and Camping Cheques as well as some sites where we have paid at the going rate. This year we are only using ACSI, Camping Cheques and Aires du Camping Cars so will not pay over 15 euros per night and in most cases less.

[clummzie]

The Tarn Gorge area is gorgeous, not touristy and very scenic. Loads and loads of river fun, great weather and that "French" feel. Not too many Brits.

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww16 ... CN0418.jpg
http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww16 ... CN0504.jpg
http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww16 ... CN0457.jpg

Wow, looks stunning.

[Nick65]

The main summer season in France tends now to be the second half of July to the middle of August.

It definitely gets much quieter from the middle of August.

If you search online you will find the dates of the French school holidays - a useful indicator.

Having said that, France is a huge country with tens of thousands of campsites - you will not have to travel far to find a space in one.

Agreed - Second half of August after the Assumption weekend, is always much quieter, but don't and I'll say that again DON'T bother trying to travel via Paris/Lyon/Montpellier and Montpellier/Toulouse/Bordeaux as it can get very sticky ie Up to 6 hours tail backs if you're unlucky.

Best time to travel is from 6am until 11am. The French tend to come off between 12 Noon and 2pm, and after 2pm it gets much slower.

Fill up at Supermarket filling stations. Don't fill up on a Sunday, as many shut up shop then or you cannot use your cards. Fill up daily just before you stop, so then the following morning you get straight on the road, with no messing about.