Holiday 2012 with our Xantia - where to go within 400 miles

Napoleon · Unread post by **Napoleon** » 25 Aug 2011, 22:47

Ok, so we're fed up with Spain this year blah blah blah..

We're two adults and two kids (5+6) and plan on going camping with said Xant. Ideas > Eurocamp? Ou? la Rochelle? Near there? What is realistic distance might be possible from Cherbourg in two days?

Any other ideas for old git (ex-biker wanting to re-live the past days of glory?), and couple of sprogs? Needs to be kid-friendly, clearly.

You name the dates for a Citroen bash in France and we might make there.

Many thanks.

addo · Unread post by **addo** » 25 Aug 2011, 23:14

Anywhere close enough in Belgium, where you can camp. Then eat yourself stupid on frijtes for a week or two.

Return home bloated but happy.

Napoleon · Unread post by **Napoleon** » 25 Aug 2011, 23:16

Waffles?

addo · Unread post by **addo** » 25 Aug 2011, 23:20

Nah, just greasy chips and mayonnaise. Too much sugar's bad for you.

jgra1 · Unread post by **jgra1** » 26 Aug 2011, 09:45

...

Loire valley? I have never been there but supposed to be nice... it should be easily do-able..

beaches around La Rochelle also think are good...

I was suprised in July, on the VFR**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff] , coming back from the Swiss border in a fairly easy day

wondered why i had not done more 'runs' into France, in the xant, especially as the tunnel is less than one hour

and veg oil is cheap

rabenson · Unread post by **rabenson** » 26 Aug 2011, 09:58

Loire valley - Saumur is a good base

Napoleon · Unread post by **Napoleon** » 26 Aug 2011, 10:05

Anyone got recommendations for camping? I had in mind somewhere where they have the tents already in place, and there's a swimming pool/shop etc. I'd like it to be a base from which we can explore.

Am familiar with Saumur region.

jgra1 · Unread post by **jgra1** » 26 Aug 2011, 10:20

try googling ?Eurocamp Napoleon..

large tent with some furniture and so on.. IIRC..

I am looking at a similar set up, for a slightly further afield camping trip

Gibbo2286 · Unread post by **Gibbo2286** » 26 Aug 2011, 10:22

Not sure of the distances here, may be too far.

http://www.carcassonne.org/carcassonne_ ... formations pratiques&9&Informations pratiques

VertVega · Unread post by **VertVega** » 26 Aug 2011, 11:08

jgra1 wrote:... Loire valley? I have never been there but supposed to be nice... it should be easily do-able...

It is a beautiful region. Saumur (also Tours and Angers) has nice places to see, River bank, Chateau Saumur, delicious food, good wine ...

Another option would be starting from Calais up to Dunkerque. Either coastline upwards or towards east to inner Belgium. In Belgium lovely small towns, villages etc. A huge selection of beers. In a restaurant you probably get a beer menu separately

In Poperinge Hop fields are amazing and if you're lucky Hop festival is fun.

rabenson · Unread post by **rabenson** » 26 Aug 2011, 11:57

Saumur also has the national horse riding academy (displays throughout the year) and a tank museum (battle tanks, not water tanks...) and is pretty central to explore other parts of the region

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 26 Aug 2011, 12:07

la Rochelle Is a very nice area, very busy around this time. Indeed the beaches are very good.

I was there, well slightly South at Royan, a couple of weeks ago and its a regular visit for me to see friends there. If you go out of season its much better, but with kids im guessing you will need to go in the summer hols.

I was staying near Sarlat Le Caneda this time, which is a nice place to walk around but the area around there is really picturesque. Its within a day driving of Calais, the euro tunnel.

Napoleon · Unread post by **Napoleon** » 30 Aug 2011, 16:54

ok, thanks for the replies, as usual.

I've put a deposit down on a gite in the Loire for August next year. I tried looking at the campsites (Eurocamp, Keycamp), but really, they almost offer too much for the kids - it wouldn't be used enough to warrant the expense.

A nice big tent, with everything provided, yes, but we don't need the great water plume etc.

The place I found has a small pool, and that's about all we need really. Kids will be happy with that.

Anyway, I've been looking at booking the ferry, and found that you can only, at the present time, book up to January 2012; I was going to book the August one, but maybe I'm just being too ambitious.

I'll send a card when we get there (only about four hours from Chairborg).

Toby_HDi · Unread post by **Toby_HDi** » 30 Aug 2011, 17:19

If you had gone Keycamp or Eurocamp I've got a corporate offer for them.

When you come to book the ferry let me know. I have another one for Condor and SeaFrance for about 10% off if they are any use.

Napoleon · Unread post by **Napoleon** » 30 Aug 2011, 18:04

pm sent. thanks.

French Car Forum

Holiday 2012 with our Xantia - where to go within 400 miles

Holiday 2012 with our Xantia - where to go within 400 miles

Can't have stroopwafels...