Camping - Independent

Specialist Reports Holiday by Accommodation Camping - Independent 

For general pointers on camping see Ready Erected Camping report. Booking independently will give you a wider range of options but less support, and you will of course require your own gear.

In high season in popular resorts, particularly Paris and the south of France close to the sea, booking ahead is recommended. You can contact the site direct, requesting written confirmation of your booking. If by any chance the site does not accept advance bookings you should arrive before 11am to be sure of a space.

If you like a more rural experience, avoid areas where camp sites are thick on the ground like the Dordogne and Ardeche in France. Trying to compete with each other they add ever more facilities to their offer. And wherever you choose, try to check the size of pitches. This makes a big difference to the experience and not all sites are generous.

If you decide to move between sites, ensure that your timetable allows you to get to the new site early enough to set up in comfort, and certainly not after the pool has shut which will make the children irritable.

On most sites there is a reduction for children under 7.