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For those who ever resolve to ship your RV or lease 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 simplest ways to see France. Not solely did we camp straight on a number of the most lovely properties, however we additionally tasted a number of the finest wines and met some actually great folks.
However earlier than speaking in regards to the France Ardour program, I wish to rapidly introduce Harvest Hosts (when you’re unfamiliar).
Harvest Hosts is a program within the US the place you’ll be able to pay an annual charge (final I checked round $100/yr) 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 considered one of our favourite methods to journey.
So after 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 referred to 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 liked their France expertise a lot, they determined to carry it again to the US.
Because it stands right this moment, the France Ardour has over 2,000 websites overlaying nearly all 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 nice locations to remain alongside your tenting route. With over 2,000 places, you’re all the time certain to seek out one close to you. Remember to have a look at the itemizing particulars to see in case your motorhome can match, if youngsters/pets are welcome, and in the event that they require calling earlier than arrival.
If you present up at your chosen campsite, join with the homeowners to know the place to park. We all the time 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 a good way to get actually 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. If 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 can even 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 style. To enroll, you need 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 you then’re enrolled.
The price to enroll is at present at $33 (consists of 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’ll be able to search within the app for websites close by or near your subsequent vacation spot.
Nearly all of the Ardour websites we stayed at had 10 or extra evaluations within the app. The evaluations 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 evaluations so you’ll be able to learn them in your native language.
One merchandise I want the app would have included is user-generated pictures. There aren’t any pictures of motorhomes or vans parked on the places, which might have been very nice. If anybody from France Ardour reads this, ajouter des pictures générées par l’utilisateur! ⬅️ In English: Add user-generated pictures, 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 information of the French language, I used to be a bit of involved about coordinating with hosts.
I imagined calling French hosts and attempting to clarify in English that we’d like to come back and keep of their winery. They might in all probability 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 have a look at it. 🍫)
First, nearly all of the hosts spoke English. Second, for those who didn’t, I used to be in a position to bust out Google Translate (my finest buddy 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 direction of wineries as a result of we had been in France and why not? Nevertheless, there have been numerous lovely farm places listed as properly.
I want to go together with the lots in the case of selecting a spot to camp—aka the place with essentially the most evaluations and most constructive experiences. I’d then click on on these host listings within the app and be taught extra in regards to the property. There’s a direct name button within the app the place you’ll be able to attain out to the hosts. Nevertheless, a number of of the host places say there isn’t any have to name earlier than arriving. We did name forward for many of them simply to verify it was okay to remain in a single day.
The one time we simply confirmed up as a substitute of calling it was completely fantastic. Most of the hosts we visited most well-liked friends to reach round 5 o’clock. We by no means had an issue with a bunch turning us away or the positioning being too overcrowded.
Why France Ardour Websites Had been Our Favourite Stopovers
Throughout our monthlong highway journey within the RV, we stayed at business campgrounds, free campsites, and numerous 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 folks.
Most of the winery homeowners 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 liked listening to in regards to the legacy of those households and the way they’re nonetheless rising and bettering so a few years later. One in every of my favourite elements of experiencing a brand new place is interacting with the folks. France Ardour is a good way to fulfill actual locals.
2. The Views
Every of the France Ardour stops we stayed at had unbelievable views and ambiance. In some locations, just like the one above, we had a whole 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 choose up a pair (scrumptious) bottles of wine was pleasant.
Typically while you keep at wineries within the States, the wine is okay. You maybe purchase some only for the free in a single day tenting. However in France, each bottle we purchased was unbelievable. The champagne actually took the cake although.
Is France Ardour value it?
YES! I’d completely advocate signing up for France Ardour. It’s cheap and also you’ll undoubtedly meet some great folks and style some scrumptious wine. Oh and as a bonus, it’s a straightforward approach to save cash on tenting charges. 🙂
