Independent Campsite Reviews Frequently Asked Questions

• This Website
• What's this website all about?
• Why don't you have more reviews?
• Why have you started putting campsites' own words on your site?
• How can I help?
• Why don't your web pages look a bit more interesting?
• Can I advertise on your website?
• What New Developments do you plan for the website?
• What is your policy on privacy, etc?
• Why didn't my review make it onto the website?
• Maps and Mapping
• Why all this fuss about grid references, latitude and longitude,and so on?
• What are "latitude" and "longitude"?
• Why don't your lists of maps cover the entire range?
• France for the Brits
• What's a 'péage' ?
• What's the driving like in France?
• What about electric hookups?
• How do you go on for money?
• What about Ferries between England and France?
• Is the Channel Tunnel good?
• How about Motorail for getting the bulk of the journey done?
• Someone has told me that swimming shorts are not allowed in the pools in France and traditional trunks have to be worn.
• What's the best route from Calais to the Vendée? Via Paris, or round the coast?
• Where can I get more information?
• Terminology
• What are the English equivalents to American camping terms?

Your Question not listed above? Fill it in below, and I'll do my best…

• What's this website all about?
  It's here to give you, the camper, an opportunity to see what other campers thought of a campsite. This is partly because the descriptions in brochures, or on the campsites' own website, may not necessarily paint an accurate picture. It also gives an opportunity for people to mention things which they found in the neighbourhood, which other campers may also like to try out. It also gives you a way of "sounding off" if you were disappointed, or a way of giving a "pat on the back" if you were pleased with a site you visited.
   
• Why don't you have more reviews?
  Because I can't visit everywhere myself, so I am reliant on other people to send me their views. People are generally lazy, and I receive very little external input. Ask yourself: "How many reviews have I contributed?
   
• Why have you started putting campsites' own words on your site?
  Because I need a certain "critical mass" before the site really becomes viable. I can't get people interested without content, and I can't get content if people aren't interested, so I'm getting the content wherever I can, to start the ball rolling. To maintain the independence of this site, I always identify content which may be biased.
   
• How can I help?
  The biggest help at the moment would be to send me some reviews of campsites you have visited. If you've got pictures, so much the better.
  You could also offer to translate the site into another language, or just correct my inadequate french.
  Or you could publicise the site to your friends and fellow campers, and encourage them to share their experiences.
   
• Why don't your web pages look a bit more interesting?
  You're supposed to be interested by the content, not the decoration!
  No seriously, I do think that the content is the most important part of the site. My priorities are:
  1) Content
  2) Visibility in all web browsers (which precludes some of the cleverer presentation methods)
  3) Ease of navigation
  4) Looking pretty
  For example, I've experimented with Style Sheets, with excellent results until I tried it in Netscape. Not wanting to alienate the Netscape users out there, I've had to reduce the use of Style Sheets, and even now there are some crap effects that I need to sort out. For the same sort of reasons, I've steered clear of frames and other nice but unnecessary features.
   
• Can I advertise on your website?
  Probably yes. I've not put any real thought into advertising yet, but I'm willing to give it a try. Email me with some thoughts about how you'd like to do it, and we'll come to an arrangement.
   
• What New Developments do you plan for the website?
  Mostly, I plan to get more reviews. However, in the absence of reviews, I shall be searching for other sources of information - such as the campsites themselves.
  I'd also like to keep improving the format of the pages.
  If you have other ideas for improvements, mail me!
   
• What is your policy on privacy, etc?
  For a start, you don't have to give me any information, so you can stay entirely anonymous if you wish. I don't even use cookies (at present). If you click buttons on the site (eg to vote for the accuracy of a review) or even if you fill in a review form, I only know what you tell me, plus a few bits and pieces like what browser you use. I only get to know who you are, your email address, etc, if you tell me these things voluntarily.
  Anything you do tell me, I will treat appropriately. For example, if you give me a campsite review, I will publish it on the website. However, I will keep your contact details to myself, purely so I can get in touch for clarification and so on. I will not pass these on to third parties, nor will I publish them on the web pages, nor will I use them for excessive mailshots.
  If you get mail from me, and don't want any more, you only have to tell me, and I will stop. If I have written something on the site about you, or if you have provided a review you later want to change or remove, I will follow your instructions.
   
• Why didn't my review make it onto the website?
  There could be lots of reasons. Firstly, it has to be useful to other campers (in my judgement). For example, I try to reject reviews that just say "this was great" without explaining in more detail. How will another reader know that your idea of "great" matches theirs? Secondly, while I am happy to accept negative comments, they must be phrased calmly and objectively, and must steer clear of personal criticism. Thirdly, I might have never received them, or have somehow lost or forgotten to deal with them. If you think that this might be the case, please feel free to send them again, or email me to remind me. Please note, however, that it might take me a week (or longer in busy seasons) to get round to publishing them, so please be patient.
   

• Why all this fuss about grid references, latitude and longitude,and so on?
  When I am looking for a camp site, one of the first things I need to know is "exactly where is it?" so I can find it on a map, and see what's nearby. From a good map, I can see whether there is a big road, railway or airport nearby, how far it really is to the beach, nearest town, and so on. An accurate location reference is therefore, for me, vital.
   
• What are "latitude" and "longitude"?
  Together, they are a way of pinpointing a spot on the earth's surface.
  Latitude is a measure of how far "up the map" you go from the equator, where the north pole is at 90 degrees, the equator is at zero, and the south pole is at -90 degrees.
  Longitude is a measure of how far across the map you go, from some arbitrary point. The arbitrary point most frequently chosen is the location of Greenwich, London, England, which is given a longitude of zero. Longitude is then measured in degrees East or West of this point.
  Latitude and Longitude are generally measured in degrees, of which there are 360 in a full circle. It may also be measured in grads, of which there are 400 in a full circle. Degrees are generally divided into 60 minutes, and each minute into 60 seconds. Grads are generally expressed in whole grads and decimals.
   
• Why don't your lists of maps cover the entire range?
  Because I only list those maps which I know enough about, and where there is a campsite I know about. Otherwise, I'd have a very long list, and most of the entries would lead nowhere.
  If you think there should be another map in my list, or even another whole range of maps, then tell me about it, and I'll see what I can do.
   

• What's a 'péage' ?
  Péage is a toll road. If you want to get from one end of the country to the other very quickly, they are generally excellent roads, and (except for rush hours) not too busy. Tolls vary, but in my experience, you pay around 30ff (5euro, £3) per 100km. In general, you take a ticket on entry to the péage section, and pay when you leave the section. All of the payment booths I have experienced accept credit cards or cash.
   
• What's the driving like in France?
  Well, for a start, I personally have had no real trouble driving on the 'wrong' side of the road. Overtaking is the main problem, as you can't see ahead without pulling out a long way. Aside from the driving, the biggest issue I have is the road signs. I'm sure they're fine when you're used to them, but I find they never point to the places I expect. So my wife (navigating by map) might give me a list of half a dozen places in the right direction, and we never find a sign to any of them. There seems to be a tendency to signpost large places which are a very long way off, and very small places in the immediate vicinity, but NOT the places in the 10-50km range.
   
• What about electric hookups?
  We have seen a mixture of french sockets and DIN european sockets (the blue ones we use in the UK). Even within one site, they had a mixture. We have only used electricity twice, as we normally survive on gas and battery, but both times the campsite was able to lend us a french-to-european adapter. Buy one if you think you'll use it a lot, otherwise take the risk that the sockets will be european, or that they'll be able to lend an adapter.
   
• How do you go on for money?
  We tend to take about £300 in french cash, to see us through the first few days. We've never encountered any big shop (including supermarkets, petrol stations, etc) where we couldn't use british credit cards (as long as they're Visa or MasterCard). And their hole-in-the-wall cash machines are plentiful and again, all that we have encountered accepted british credit and debit cards, and even had instructions in english. The exchange rate was not bad, and it saves mucking about with great wads of cash or travellers cheques.
   
• What about Ferries between England and France?
  We've used Brittany Ferries from Portsmouth to St Malo (twice) and P&O from Dover to Calais (3 times).
  We're really not sure how to balance the benefits. The long crossing from Portsmouth to St Malo can save quite a lot of driving, if you're going to Brittany or the Vendée, and you cross overnight, so you don't waste a day. But it's more expensive (though you save on car fuel), and there's only one crossing per day, so if you miss it, you're stuck. Coming back is a daytime crossing, which can be pretty tedious, and you have to get up (and pack up your camping gear) pretty early to get to the port on time. Whereas at Dover/Calais, there's always another crossing if you miss the one you're booked on, so it's a less stressful drive.
   
• Is the Channel Tunnel good?
  Personally, I don't know, as I've never used it, but one of my contributors sent me the following comments. Note that the writer camps with a tent, so if anyone would like to update this with their experience of towing via the tunnel, I'd be happy to hear from you.
  ----------
  We always use the tunnel by choice for several reasons.
  + it is quick - 35 mins under the tunnel, and no big wait to board. From arrival you are on the motorway within minutes.
  + it is flexible - there are many trains an hour and you can travel when you want
  + we had a v bad experience on a choppy sea a few years ago coming back from france, children and wife all throwing up. This is much less at the mercy of the elements.
  + the shopping at calais is convenient if you like mall shopping.
  - But it does mean you are at calais, and if you are headed south and west you have to navigate around Paris which is a pain.
   
• How about Motorail for getting the bulk of the journey done?
  We did contemplate that once, but never actually did it. Anyone who has, please tell us about it!
   
• Someone has told me that swimming shorts are not allowed in the pools in France and traditional trunks have to be worn.
  In my experience, that's generally true. The only explanation I've ever heard is that shorts tend to collect sand and grit, and carry it into the pool, where it clogs the filters. Don't know if that's the real reason or not. However, you will certainly get a dirty look (at least) if you venture into a pool with shorts on. If you've got teenagers who find this 'uncool', then try (a) using shorts while sunbathing, with trunks underneath for when you're in the water, (b) using 'real' shorts (by which I mean short ones, not knee-length things) as these are less likely to cause comment, or (c) using the sea instead, as there'll be no problem there. And I know it won't help when trying to persuade a recalcitrant teen, but remember that everyone else in the pool will be in trunks, so they won't look out of place.
   
• What's the best route from Calais to the Vendée? Via Paris, or round the coast?
  Depends a bit on how confident you are at driving in France, since going via Paris will involve the dreaded périphérique, which can be hair-raising, since everyone else on it knows where they are going, and wants to get there fast. What's more, even though route planners may give you a shorter journey time on the Paris route, I'm not sure they necessarily cater for the périphérique in rush hour. The coast route will be less hectic, but may take a little longer.
  If you've got anything to add to this, fill in the Question box below, or click the Mail Me button.
   
• Where can I get more information?
  I'm sure there is a great deal of information out there on the Web, and I certainly can't keep track of it all. However, for some useful advice based on personal experience, you could try france4families.com.
   

Your Question not answered above? Fill it in below, and I'll do my best…

• What are the English equivalents to American camping terms?
  Here's a list of those that I've discovered so far. If you can add to it or correct it, fill in one of the response boxes that litter this page.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  American	English	Explanation
  Campground	Campsite	An area set aside for camping (and caravanning). This term relates to the whole area, not the place where an individual tent goes.
  Campsite	Pitch	An area for one tent or caravan.
  Vault Toilet	Earth Closet	Found in more backwoodsy US campgrounds, this is a toilet where the bodily products fall into a big hole in the ground, and are left to turn naturally into compost. I've never found one in Britain, but there may be some in the more back-to-nature sites.
  Winnibago	Motor Home, Campervan	A single-unit vehicle containing both the motive components and the living/sleeping quarters. Winnibago is actually the name of a particular American manufacturer.
  Firepit	no equivalent	A part of a campsite/pitch set aside for campfires. I've never seen the like in Britain, where you are expected to cook on gas, or use a charcoal barbecue, raised above ground to avoid scorching the grass.
  Labor Day	The first Monday in September	Honours the contribution made by the workers of the USA
  Memorial Day	The last Monday of May	Honours those who have died in the service of their country
  Thanksgiving	The fourth Thursday of November	A day to give thanks for good harvests
  Independence Day	July 4	The anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence