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For those who ever resolve to ship your RV or hire an RV to go to France, you NEED to enroll in the France Ardour program. The inspiration behind Harvest Hosts within the States, France Ardour is one of the best ways to see France. Not solely did we camp straight on a number of the most stunning properties, however we additionally tasted a number of the greatest wines and met some really fantastic individuals.
However earlier than speaking concerning the France Ardour program, I wish to shortly introduce Harvest Hosts (in the event you’re unfamiliar).
Harvest Hosts is a program within the US the place you possibly can pay an annual price (final I checked round $100/12 months) and get entry to over 4,000 farms, wineries, breweries, and golf programs throughout the nation. Whereas had been full-time RVing within the US, this was one among our favourite methods to journey.
So once we booked our one-way RV rental from Paris to Barcelona, I knew that I wanted to enroll in the France equal of Harvest Hosts known as France Ardour.
What’s the France Ardour Program?
France Ardour was began over 30 years in the past. It was truly the unique inspiration for the Harvest Hosts program within the US. The founders of Harvest Hosts cherished their France expertise a lot, they determined to deliver it again to the US.
Because it stands immediately, the France Ardour has over 2,000 websites masking the vast majority of France. Websites embrace stopovers like wineries, farms, and vineyards.
To get a greater glimpse of what France Ardour stopovers are like, watch our video:
How Does France Ardour Work?
You have to be a member to make use of France Ardour. I’ll cowl signing up in a second.
As soon as signed up, browse their e-book or their app for excellent locations to remain alongside your tenting route. With over 2,000 areas, you’re at all times certain to seek out one close to you. Make sure you take a look at the itemizing particulars to see in case your motorhome can match, if children/pets are welcome, and in the event that they require calling earlier than arrival.
While you present up at your chosen campsite, join with the house owners to know the place to park. We at all times had a grassy space to ourselves. After getting parked, it’s customary to patron the enterprise. This implies shopping for a wine tasting, bottles of wine, produce, or meals. We felt that this was an effective way to get really native meals and loved shopping for wine, olive oil, and different native treats from every place.
Be respectful throughout your keep by cleansing up exterior your RV and never dumping any of your refuse or tanks. While you depart—there could also be most well-liked “depart by” hours—take a second to go away a evaluation within the France Ardour app. You may as well depart a evaluation on Google. Selecting to remain at France Ardour websites means you’re supporting native household companies and each evaluation counts!
How do I be a part of France Ardour Program
The France Ardour program is fairly old-fashioned. To enroll, it’s important to order a bodily e-book. I used to be barely confused at first on whether or not or not I’d additionally want to enroll and pay for an app individually, however you don’t. In essence, you simply go to their web site to buy a e-book and then you definately’re enrolled.
The price to enroll is at the moment at $33 (contains the bodily e-book, your membership card, and app entry).
Utilizing the France Ardour App
When you’ve bought your e-book, you’ll obtain login entry for the France Ardour app.
The app is pretty user-friendly. Most significantly, the protection as we had been driving throughout France was phenomenal. By protection, I imply how typically we might discover host websites alongside our route. You may search within the app for websites close by or near your subsequent vacation spot.
The vast majority of the Ardour websites we stayed at had 10 or extra opinions within the app. The opinions will break down each the general expertise on the host web site in addition to how pleasant it was for an RV (or van) to drive to. Additionally, there’s a built-in translation function for the opinions so you possibly can learn them in your native language.
One merchandise I want the app would have included is user-generated photographs. There aren’t any photographs of motorhomes or vans parked on the areas, which might have been very nice. If anybody from France Ardour reads this, ajouter des photographs générées par l’utilisateur! ⬅️ In English: Add user-generated photographs, SVP!
Our Expertise Staying at France Ardour Websites
I communicate zero French. Really, that’s not true. I can say “je ne parle pas Français” (I don’t communicate French). With my huge data of the French language, I used to be a bit of involved about coordinating with hosts.
I imagined calling French hosts and attempting to elucidate in English that we’d like to come back and keep of their winery. They might most likely begin asking me about our motorhome size however then I’d get confused and assume they had been inviting me to a chocolate tasting.
Fortunately, that didn’t occur. (Or unluckily, relying on the way you take a look at it. 🍫)
First, the vast majority of the hosts spoke English. Second, for those who didn’t, I used to be in a position to bust out Google Translate (my greatest good friend when touring overseas) and we managed to get sufficient phrases like “tenting automobile” into the combo or “France Ardour”. Inevitably, as soon as they heard France Ardour they gave an enthusiastic sure.
How we used the France Ardour app
Our typical course of for utilizing France Ardour was first to search for stops alongside or close to our vacation spot. We steered in the direction of wineries as a result of we had been in France and why not? Nonetheless, there have been a whole lot of stunning farm areas listed as effectively.
I desire to go together with the plenty with regards to choosing a spot to camp—aka the place with essentially the most opinions and most optimistic experiences. I’d then click on on these host listings within the app and be taught extra concerning the property. There’s a direct name button within the app the place you possibly can attain out to the hosts. Nonetheless, a number of of the host areas say there isn’t a have to name earlier than arriving. We did name forward for many of them simply to ensure it was okay to remain in a single day.
The one time we simply confirmed up as an alternative of calling it was completely effective. Most of the hosts we visited most well-liked visitors to reach round 5 o’clock. We by no means had an issue with a number turning us away or the positioning being too overcrowded.
Why France Ardour Websites Had been Our Favourite Stopovers
Throughout our monthlong street journey within the RV, we stayed at industrial campgrounds, free campsites, and a whole lot of Ardour websites. Of all of the locations we stayed, France Ardour stops had been our favourite.
There are a number of the reason why:
1. The individuals.
Most of the winery house owners and hosts are legacy farmers. Their nice, nice, nice grandparents planted the preliminary vines on a property and generations later they’re taking the reins. I cherished listening to concerning the legacy of those households and the way they’re nonetheless rising and bettering so a few years later. Considered one of my favourite elements of experiencing a brand new place is interacting with the individuals. France Ardour is an effective way to satisfy actual locals.
2. The Views
Every of the France Ardour stops we stayed at had unimaginable views and ambiance. In some locations, just like the one above, we had a complete winery and orchard all to ourselves.
3. The wine.
Let’s be clear. This was a main driver. We had been in France, in any case. The wine was superb. With the ability to park our motorhome after which stroll inside and decide up a pair (scrumptious) bottles of wine was pleasant.
Typically while you keep at wineries within the States, the wine is ok. You maybe purchase some only for the free in a single day tenting. However in France, each bottle we purchased was unimaginable. The champagne actually took the cake although.
Is France Ardour value it?
YES! I might completely advocate signing up for France Ardour. It’s cheap and also you’ll undoubtedly meet some fantastic individuals and style some scrumptious wine. Oh and as a bonus, it’s a straightforward means to economize on tenting charges. 🙂
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