Practically every village and town in France has at least one campsite to cater for the thousands of people who spend their holiday under canvas – camping is a very big deal in France. The vast majority of sites are graded into four categories, from one to four stars, by the Fédération Française de Camping et Caravaning (78 rue de Rivoli, 75004 Paris tel 01.42.72.84.08, www.campingfrance.com), who also publish useful guides. One- and two-star sites are very basic, with toilets and showers (not necessarily with hot water) but little else, and standards of cleanliness are not always brilliant. At the other extreme, four-star sites are far more spacious, have hot-water showers and electrical hook-ups. Most will have a swimming pool, sometimes heated, washing machines, a shop and sports facilities, and will provide refreshments or meals in high season. At three-star sites you can expect a selection of these facilities and less spacious plots.Though charging systems vary (most places charge per site and per person, usually including a car, while others apply a global figure), as a rough guide a family of four with a tent and car should expect to pay from around €15 per day at a one-star site, rising to €35 or more at a four-star. In peak season and if you plan to spend a week or more at a site, it's wise to book ahead, and note that many of the big sites now have caravans and even chalet bungalows for rent. A further designation, Camping de Qualité, has been introduced to indicate those campsites with particularly high standards of hygiene, service and privacy. For those who really like to get away from it, camping à la ferme – on somebody's farm – is a good, simple option. Lists of sites are available at local tourist boards and in the guide Campings à la Ferme et Chalets-Loisirs (€9) published by Gîtes de France. If you're planning to do a lot of camping, an international camping carnet (CCI) is a good investment. The carnet serves as useful identification, covers you for third party insurance when camping, and entitles you to ten-percent reductions at campsites listed in the CCI information booklet that comes with your carnet. It's available in the UK from the AA, the RAC and the Camping and Caravanning Club (tel 02476/694 995, www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk), who also book inspected camping sites in Europe and arrange ferry crossings; in the US and Canada from Family Campers and RVers (FCRV; www.fcrv.org). A number of companies also specialize in selling camping holidays, including Allez France, Canvas Holidays, Keycamp and Eurocamp (tel 0870/3667 558, www.eurocamp.co.uk). Lastly, a word of caution: never camp rough (camping sauvage, as the French call it) on anyone's land without first asking permission. If the dogs don't get you, the guns might – farmers have been known to shoot first, and ask later. On the other hand, a politely phrased request for permission will as often as not get positive results. Camping on public land is not officially permitted, but is widely practised by the French, and if you're discreet you're not likely to have problems. On beaches, it's best to camp out only where other people are doing so.
| 