Information about mobile home holidays in France

As a nation the French are not noted for taking their holidays abroad and there is an exceptionally good reason for them not doing so. They don't need to; it's as simple as that. France has so many micro climates and different terrains which surely make it one of the best and nicest holiday destinations in Europe, if not the world. The French take camping holidays in their own country, and many of them are lucky enough to be able to nip off to a beach somewhere north, west or south, just for a weekend even if it does make it a long drive. There are also masses and masses of camping sites inland, the location of which they keep to themselves more often than not until British travel companies stumble across them.

The French also take their holidays in mobile homes just as we British do, and I am one who was brought up to believe that if you go abroad and follow the locals in where they eat and what they do you can't go far wrong.

France is nearly three times the size of the UK and has a superb road system (and guess who paid for it through the EU?), so access to camping or mobile home sites is fast and easy. There is a huge choice of holiday destinations served by an efficient ferry port system. If you want to go south or south east then Calais or Boulogne are best. Go central then possibly  le Havre or Caen are best. For the west and south west Caen, Cherbourg or St Malo are the best choices, and Roscoff is really for Brittany alone.

Companies offering mobile home holidays in France this year (2009) are having a tough time (aren't we all?) and this is reflecyed in the prices they are charging at the moment because they are fully aware that becasue of the £ Pound Sterling losing 40% of it's value holidays in the Eurozone aren't as cheap as they once were. Actually, the holiday prices are cheap enough, it is when you get to France or wherever and have to pay 4.5 Euros or more for a pint - effectively £4.50 - that it strikes home and you realise that you'll have to take it steady with the pennies.

Over the years we have taken mobile home holidays in various parts of France and only once had a relatively poor experience wwhen a mobile we occupied was far smaller than advertised.

It is sometimes the case that French owned companies may sent you brochures advertising their mobile home holidays in France. They will, and may be, cheaper than their equivelant Brit company but remember that the French will not give you a ferry crossing so you need to work out which one is best value.

There are certain differences in what you can expect the inventory of your mobile home to be depending on whether you book with a French or British company. The first of course is that French companies supply 110 volt electrical systems in theirs - the same as they use throughout the whole country. British holiday companies suppky their mobile homes with 220 - 240 volt sytems so you can take any appliances from home and they will work ok in France.

Some of the utensils are different too. If you book your mobile home holidays with a French company then they will give you tiny cups (demi-tasse) which are no good at all for a decent cuppa. The French do not, or rarely, supply kettles as they are mainly coffee drinkers so you will probably get a coffee maker instead. Be careful here in case you are thinking of taking your own electric kettle - it may work for a while but will probably blow the electrics.

Whatever you do make sure that you take your own tin opener from home! The French version of a tin opener is the most dangerous utensil they have used in that country since the guillotine!!