France - Next Year

Freddy55 replied on 27/08/2019 12:11

Freddy55

Posted on 27/08/2019 12:11

To save hijacking someone else’s thread, I thought I’d start one. We’re thinking of going over to France, next June. My thoughts were to take it at an easy pace, as I’ve allowed around a month. Initially, I thought about two overnight stops in this country (CL’s) before embarking from Dover. I’d book an overnight somewhere near Calais before heading south. It would of course be easier (in terms of time and distance) to go from one of the southern ports, but from what I can tell, be very expensive (?). (Thanks for your input BB&DD regarding this)

I’m not necessarily looking at traveling that far south in France, just want to ‘play it by ear’, but of course, recommendations will be taken into account. I really like the idea of not booking sites in advance. We took the van over once before quite a few years ago, booking everything in advance, but I don’t want the stress/planning of it all and being tied in.

Cheers...Freddy.

157 replies

Tammygirl replied on 17/02/2020 16:09

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Tammygirl

Motorhomer from Perthshire

Posted on 17/02/2020 12:38 by Freddy55

Thanks all👍 On the broader topic of cards/cash for campsites and shopping etc, any suggestions? I have a ‘clarity’ card (in addition to my Visa card) so quite happy to use that where accepted.I’m also reasonably happy to take a ‘wad’ of cash (euros) if that’ll make things easier. What do you think?

Posted on 17/02/2020 16:09

Freddy, OH carries a MasterCard credit card + a debit card from our bank along with a Caxton prepaid card. I carry a MasterCard credit card from Tesco + my M&S debit card, I also have my own Caxton prepaid card (not a joint one) if you have to cancel a card and its joint you loose both cards.

This proved to be useful last year when our bank cancelled my OH's credit card without telling him (they sent a letter) we were only 4 weeks into a 9 week holiday in France. Only found out when he tried to put fuel in the car and it was not accepted. Words were had over the phone but nothing they could do as we were in France and new card sent to home. Holiday carried on with using my Tesco credit card.

Belts, braces and velcro, you bet and yes we do carry some cash as well.

The bank cancelled the credit card because they thought it was unusual activity, we had informed them before going where we would be, they didn't even bother to call him first or check to see that it is 'normal' activity for us.

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Freddy55 replied on 17/02/2020 16:23

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Freddy55

Caravanner from Bath&NthEstSomerset

Posted on 17/02/2020 16:23

Thanks for that TG 👍 I’ve heard stories like that before, where banks will cut credit because of unusual activity, even though they’ve been informed. I will of course inform the bank and credit card company 🤞

Tammygirl replied on 17/02/2020 16:44

Member

Tammygirl

Motorhomer from Perthshire

Posted on 17/02/2020 16:23 by Freddy55

Thanks for that TG 👍 I’ve heard stories like that before, where banks will cut credit because of unusual activity, even though they’ve been informed. I will of course inform the bank and credit card company 🤞

Posted on 17/02/2020 16:44

Funny enough Freddy, that was the first time we had 'informed them'

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commeyras replied on 17/02/2020 16:47

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commeyras

Caravanner from West Sussex

Posted on 17/02/2020 16:47

Freddie. Yes with our Clarity Card , and normal Credit Card you will be fine. Careful about taking 'Wads' of cash for obvious reasons. We use our equivalent of a Clarity Card for everything except maybe in a bakery and for coffees! They are accepted almost everywhere in France. Some ACSI sites (a very few) insist on cash payment I just ask when checking in and get some cash if required.

Re filling up near Caen, just check the price of fuel before you leave it might be worthwhile filling up in UK before you go, there is a Tesco near Portsmouth just check on Google.

You have covered a lot of ground with your questions but if you have any more keep them coming.

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replied on 17/02/2020 17:12

Posted on 17/02/2020 16:47 by commeyras

Freddie. Yes with our Clarity Card , and normal Credit Card you will be fine. Careful about taking 'Wads' of cash for obvious reasons. We use our equivalent of a Clarity Card for everything except maybe in a bakery and for coffees! They are accepted almost everywhere in France. Some ACSI sites (a very few) insist on cash payment I just ask when checking in and get some cash if required.

Re filling up near Caen, just check the price of fuel before you leave it might be worthwhile filling up in UK before you go, there is a Tesco near Portsmouth just check on Google.

You have covered a lot of ground with your questions but if you have any more keep them coming.

Posted on 17/02/2020 17:12

The user and all related content has been Deleted User

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Pliers replied on 17/02/2020 17:20

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Pliers

Caravanner from Lancashire

Posted on 17/02/2020 17:12 by

Regarding paying cash for sites, we are finding more and more asking for cash. It may be the particular sites we use or terms of discounts but on a 91 day trip last spring we paid in cash £1243 out of a total £1447. We wouldnt attempt to carry these sums of cash and obtained it by making transfer's to our Caxton card as and when we wanted it.

Posted on 17/02/2020 17:20

We found the same in Spain last summer. 2 of the sites we stayed on would only give us the ACSI discounted price if we paid in cash.

Not a problem, plenty of ATMs about!

Freddy55 replied on 17/02/2020 17:36

Member

Freddy55

Caravanner from Bath&NthEstSomerset

Posted on 17/02/2020 16:44 by Tammygirl

Funny enough Freddy, that was the first time we had 'informed them'

Posted on 17/02/2020 17:36

Freddy55 replied on 17/02/2020 17:44

Member

Freddy55

Caravanner from Bath&NthEstSomerset

Posted on 17/02/2020 16:47 by commeyras

Freddie. Yes with our Clarity Card , and normal Credit Card you will be fine. Careful about taking 'Wads' of cash for obvious reasons. We use our equivalent of a Clarity Card for everything except maybe in a bakery and for coffees! They are accepted almost everywhere in France. Some ACSI sites (a very few) insist on cash payment I just ask when checking in and get some cash if required.

Re filling up near Caen, just check the price of fuel before you leave it might be worthwhile filling up in UK before you go, there is a Tesco near Portsmouth just check on Google.

You have covered a lot of ground with your questions but if you have any more keep them coming.

Posted on 17/02/2020 17:44

“You have covered a lot of ground with your questions but if you have any more keep them coming”

Yes, I have. I’m just thankful that we have folks here to help out, and have displayed great...patience

I’ll check out the Tesco near Portsmouth. It obviously doesn’t make much difference where I fill up, as long as I have a full tank heading south, which I’m hoping will get me to the first site, it should do.

Freddy55 replied on 18/02/2020 22:27

Member

Freddy55

Caravanner from Bath&NthEstSomerset

Posted on 18/02/2020 22:27

Only me 😄

Am I right in thinking it would be a good idea to apply for a Crit’air? I have no plans to visit the permanent zones, but it’s the emergency zones that I might find restrictive in my travels? I haven’t extensively checked all the emergency zones, but there seems to be quite a lot of them.