FAQs
We answer your questions
How long can I stay for?
The prices are based on 6 nights but you can stay away as long as you like. If you are making your own arrangements for some of the nights you are away the minimum number of nights you are required to book is 50% or 14 nights whichever is the lower.
How many people are allowed on a pitch?
Most sites do not allow more than 6 persons on any one pitch, although exceptions are sometimes made for families with 4 or more children of their own.
Do I need a Passport?
All EU citizens require a valid passport. Non EU citizens may require a passport and should check with the embassy of the country or countries they intend to visit.
What’s in the travel pack? When are they sent out?
The travel pack contains maps guides etc.. click here for full details. The pack is sent out to arrive not less than 3 weeks prior to departure once payment in full has been received.
Do I need an electric cable and converter for electric hook-up?
For electric hook-up you will require a 25m cable and we advise you to take a waterproof 2 pin adapter with you. These are obtainable from most caravan retailers and accessory outlets.
Do I need a Camping Carnet?
A camping carnet is proof of third party insurance cover and also serves as an identification document. It is not essential but the campsite will usually accept the carnet as surety in place of your passport. If you have taken out the insurance cover through Select Sites a camping carnet is provided automatically free of charge.
Do I need insurance?
Insurance cover to give protection against cancellation and to provide cover for medical costs is highly recommended. Travel without full medical cover could result in very high costs even if you have the E111 reciprocal cover form. The E111 does not offer 100% cover for all treatment and does not include hospitalisation or air ambulance.
When do I have to pay for my holiday? Deposit?
The balance for your holiday is due 10 weeks prior to departure. If you pay by credit card an extra 2% is added. This charge can be avoided by paying by Switch/Maestro. The deposit required is £100 unless booking less than 10 weeks prior to departure in which case the full balance is required.
Will we get a route plan?
Directions with a local map to each campsite booked are included in the Travel Pack. We recommend that you use the AA web site or the Mappy web site for detailed route plans. See useful links pages.
Useful tips
We have put together the following information to help you with some of the rules and regulations upheld on the continent, in order for you to have a trouble free holiday.
Electrical Hook Ups
The mains lead for use on UK sites has a blue three-pin plug and socket. There are many continental sites, particularly in France and Spain, that still use 2-pin plugs. To use the electrical hook-up at 2-pin sites, you will need a short length of lead with a 2-pin plug at one end and a blue socket at the other. All good accessory shops sell continental site hook-up adaptors.
We also recommend that you take a mains polarity tester to determine if you have reversed polarity. If this is the case, electricity will come into your caravan through the neutral wire and could render appliances live and give you a lethal shock. To avoid such problems you should also take a polarity reverser connection, which is a continental adaptor with live and neutral wires reversed at one end. You should be aware that the electricity supply in parts of France and other countries is not always constant and this can effect the efficiency of electrical appliances.
Gas Supply
Many campers, caravanners and motorhome owners use LPG of which there are two types: butane and propane. Each has broadly similar properties but there are a couple of differences which it is worth being aware of. Butane produces heat more efficiently but its one disadvantage is that it cannot change from liquid to gas when the temperature is around freezing. Propane however is efficient down to -40 degrees C. so is better for winter use. Each type of gas needs a different regulator.
When transporting LPG it is important to keep it in an upright position to avoid the risk of leaks from the valve, and tanks must be less than 80% full.
Pets
In 2000 we saw the launch of a Pets Passport pilot scheme which allows cats and dogs to be taken abroad without requiring a period of quarantine on their return to UK. Costs of the necessary microchip, vaccinations and a blood test are around £150-£200.
Most of the cross-channel operators will allow passengers to take their pets on board for a small charge. However, the animals are required to stay locked in the vehicles throughout the voyage.
If you are considering taking your pet on holiday with you, we recommend that you consult the DEFRA web site which gives detailed and regular updates as to the latest developments. www.defra.gov.uk
Not all campsites accept dogs and there is usually a charge per night on those that do. You also have to pay for the dog to travel on the ferry.
Passports and Visas
Don’t forget to check that your passport is up to date. You’ll need one for all the countries featured in our brochure.
If you need a new one they’re available from your nearest passport office (£51) and take about a month to arrive. If you need your passport in less than 2 weeks you must make an appointment at your local passport office by phoning the UKPS Adviceline on 0870 521 0410. If you’re a non-EC passport holder you may need a visa and the embassies of the countries concerned can advise you on this.
Rules governing children’s passports changed in October 1998. Everyone now needs their own passport to travel abroad, including children, right from birth*. Any child already on a parent’s passport will not be affected until the document needs to be renewed or the child reaches the age of 16.
New regulations in Holland now state that everybody from the age of 14 is required to carry their own valid passport at all times.
*Parents must apply on the child’s behalf for the new passport which will cost £46 and is valid for 5 years. (more information is available at www.ukpa.gov.uk).
Foreign Currency
The Euro is now legal tender in all the countries in which we operate holidays, except Switzerland. Pound sterling remains the legal tender in the UK. It’s worth taking some foreign currency with you for when you first arrive, but large amounts of cash are inadvisable. Credit cards are useful for payments at supermarkets, petrol stations and restaurants – remember you’ll need to know your pin number! Switch and Maestro cards are accepted at cash points; there is usually a charge of about £1.50 for withdrawing money.
In case of problems
If you happen to have a problem or a complaint whilst you are on holiday, as a first course of action we advise you to speak to the site reception about it. If you do not feel that they are doing enough to resolve the problem, please phone us during office hours on 0844 406 0127. Wherever possible we will always try to resolve a problem immediately so that you are able to continue your holiday without disruption.
Gas Powered Cars
Please note that some cross channel operators refuse to carry gas powered cars. Please phone for details if required.
Health and Requirements
At the time of going to press, there were no specific health requirements for the countries in which we operate. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office produces up-to-date travel information to help British travellers make informed decisions about travelling abroad. For further information please visit www.fco.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo or telephone 0870 606 0290.
Driving regulations on the continent
Rules and regulations vary from country to country, so do pay attention to the road signs, and ensure you know the regulations relating to speed limits, consumption of alcohol, child seats etc before you travel.
Sanitation
Clean and modern facilities are top priority when we are selecting a site. Hot showers and hot water for personal washing and washing dishes and clothes are free on almost all of the sites. If there is a charge this is indicated. You will usually have to pay for the use of washing and drying machines.
Facilities for Customers with Disabilities
All 4–star (or equivalent) campsites are obliged to provide toilet and washing facilities for disabled customers. In our experience, the standard of these facilities can be quite variable. If you have any doubt or concerns about the suitability of any aspect of a particular site for a member of your party with a disability please phone us and we will endeavour to advise you.
On-site Shopping and Eating
We have tried to give accurate information about shopping, restaurant and take-away facilities. On some sites the shop may sell basic provisions such as bread, milk and butter, whilst on others the facilities will be rather more extensive. Some sites will not offer a service outside July and August and many will offer a reduced service outside these months when demand is lower.
Play Areas
Most of our sites have areas equipped with slides, swings, roundabouts etc. In general these are unsupervised.
Swimming Pools
On-site swimming pools are free unless otherwise stated. We would expect a site to open its swimming pool around mid-May, but this is at the owner’s discretion. On many of the sites, traditional swimming briefs must be worn. Shorts and Bermudas are not permitted.
Sport Facilities
Many sporting facilities are free but as in Britain you should expect to pay for facilities such as tennis, mini-golf or bicycle hire. Our Reservations Team will be able to give guide prices and dates of availability, if any of these facilities are particularly important to the enjoyment of your holiday.
Barbecues
Most sites allow barbecues, although some only allow their use in designated areas and some permit gas or charcoal barbecues only. Check the campsite facilities list for details on wich type of barbecues they permit. Please note: In the case of prolonged hot weather local bans may be imposed from time to time.
Site Management
Most sites have similar rules and regulations to ensure a relaxing and harmonious atmosphere. On some sites the rules are applied more vigorously than others. We have tried to highlight the sites where this is a feature. In particular, rules regarding quiet times vary from site to site and even from country to country. In Italy and Spain, for example it is not uncommon for there to be a quiet siesta time in the middle of the day. On some sites, absolute quiet is expected from 10.30pm onwards, whereas others remain lively until after midnight.
Combined Bookings
As well as being able to book as many of the 190 sites as you like from this brochure, you have the added advantage of being able to ‘mix and match’ with the 88 sites from our Eurocamp Independent brochure. This way you can tailor a holiday to suit all the needs of your family.
Travelling outside July and August
Many people take advantage of the benefits of a Select Sites holiday outside July and August. Sites are more peaceful, beaches uncrowded, and roads less busy. And that’s not all – the holiday is unbeatable value with our special low prices and our usual high standards of service.
Which site facilities will be open?
One of the reasons for our attractive off-peak rates is that the site owners may not open all facilities outside July and August. Swimming pools are generally open from mid-May until mid- September.
Different site owners have their own approach to the opening of on-site shops and bars. Some will offer a full service for the whole season. Others may only open when there are sufficient customers on site. Many will offer a service in June and September but with reduced opening hours. Organised activities and entertainments are often concentrated into the July/August period.
The wide range of facilities on our sites means that we cannot give a full list of opening times for each amenity. So please telephone for further information on your choice of site.
