France, which has always been coveted by tourists from all over the world, is finally visited by the French! Indeed, since the appearance of this horrible Covid 19, France has become the preferred destination for French holidaymakers.
And among all the types of accommodation that France offers, camping comes first. But how do you choose a good campsite among the 8000 campsites in our beautiful France?
Here are the questions I ask myself to choose a campsite when I have already chosen the destination of my holidays in France.
So, if like me, you don't like to trust the famous “special camping” guides, certain applications or other rankings on the Internet (often the result of hidden remunerations), I recommend that you take the time to read my article.
Know how to avoid the bad ones camping in France
Before comparing the prices of the different campsites in a particular region, it is better to start by defining the style of campsite you are looking for. And for that, of course, it is necessary to eliminate all the campsites which would be:
- sales
- too noisy,
- unsecured,
- offering not very spacious pitches,
- far from centers of interest (beach, lake, tourist activities…).
However, the majority of camping reservation platforms offer anything and everything: from the horrible mass camping to the most beautiful luxury camping. It's hard to tell the difference when, by typing a query, you end up with about twenty results ...
Where to find good campsites in France?
To avoid unpleasant surprises, it is better to trust professionals who do not offer anything as long as they sell but who offer a good selection of all quality campsites in France.
The Indés Campings site, specialist in campsites in France, only offers 3 very good campsites: Airotel (4 or 5 star campsites), Treflio (3 star campsites) and Bifolia (2 star campsites). In addition, you book directly and at the best quality / price ratio because it is without commissions.
How to select a good campsite in France?
It all depends on your vacation style (solo, with your partner, with family, with friends, in sport, tourism or idleness mode…). But, whatever the type of stay you are looking for, here are the criteria that it is better to favor when choosing a good campsite:
The comfort of the mobile home
If the comfort of the accommodation is not essential when spending 1 or 2 nights there, for a vacation of 1 week or more, the comfort of the accommodation is a condition for the success of the stay.
And when we say comfort, it's a nice setting, good facilities, a terrace with deckchairs, good quality bedding, air conditioning (depending on the location) and an excellent WIFI connection.
And for those who have a caravan or a motorhome, the campsite must offer spacious, shaded pitches, close to clean sanitary facilities and water points.
Services and equipment
Among the services offered by campsites, the most important for me is the campsite restaurant ! Because on vacation, I want to indulge myself by going to a restaurant to eat fresh produce and a variety of dishes. I am therefore eliminating all the campsites that only have a fast food or a pizzeria. Indeed, without waiting to find a gourmet restaurant there, I appreciate the nice little restaurant at the campsite which allows you to spend a good evening around a local specialty.
Among the other services, I also appreciate all the activities linked to well-being (Spas, massages, aquagym, yoga…) which are really the little extras of a top-of-the-range campsite.
Entertainment
For those with children, the animation of the campsite is a very important criterion. Indeed, pool games, competitions, clubs, sports events, water parks and foam parties will keep their children or teenagers busy and thus participate in the success of their holidays.
Personally, I travel as a couple and suddenly, for me, this is not a priority criterion. However, I always look for a campsite where there are entertainment and activities for children because suddenly, they do not play between the aisles which preserves the rest of the "childless"!
Security
Without having psychosis (I still visited the Colombia in backpack), when I want to relax and let go, I don't want to think about closing the windows just in case, checking if the trunk of the car is properly closed or tucking in the laundry before going to sleep.
Being able to rest with peace of mind is also a criterion for choosing a good campsite in France. However, we know that in France unfortunately, not all places are safe ... (neighborhoods to avoid in Bordeaux, dangerous neighborhoods in Marseille, red light districts in Montpellier...).