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When you ever determine 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 the easiest way to see France. Not solely did we camp instantly on a few of the most lovely properties, however we additionally tasted a few of the finest wines and met some actually fantastic folks.
However earlier than speaking concerning the France Ardour program, I wish to rapidly introduce Harvest Hosts (should 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 $100/12 months) and get entry to over 4,000 farms, wineries, breweries, and golf programs throughout the nation. Whereas have been full-time RVing within the US, this was one in all 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 cherished their France expertise a lot, they determined to deliver it again to the US.
Because it stands in the present day, the France Ardour has over 2,000 websites protecting nearly all of France. Websites embody 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 should 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 all the time certain to seek out one close to you. Be 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.
Whenever 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 an effective 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. Whenever you go away—there could also be most well-liked “go away by” hours—take a second to depart a evaluate within the France Ardour app. You too can go away a evaluate on Google. Selecting to remain at France Ardour websites means you’re supporting native household companies and each evaluate counts!
How do I be a part of France Ardour Program
The France Ardour program is fairly old skool. To enroll, it’s a must 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 presently 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 have been driving throughout France was phenomenal. By protection, I imply how typically we may 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 website 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 images. There are not any images of motorhomes or vans parked on the areas, which might have been very nice. If anybody from France Ardour reads this, ajouter des images générées par l’utilisateur! ⬅️ In English: Add user-generated images, SVP!
Our Expertise Staying at France Ardour Websites
I converse zero French. Really, that’s not true. I can say “je ne parle pas Français” (I don’t converse French). With my huge information of the French language, I used to be a little bit involved about coordinating with hosts.
I imagined calling French hosts and attempting to clarify in English that we’d like to return 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 have 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, nearly all of the hosts spoke English. Second, for those who didn’t, I used to be capable of bust out Google Translate (my finest pal when touring overseas) and we managed to get sufficient phrases like “tenting automotive” into the combination 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 have been in France and why not? Nevertheless, there have been a variety of lovely farm areas listed as properly.
I favor to go together with the lots in relation to choosing 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 concerning 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 areas say there is no such thing as a must 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 an alternative of calling it was completely tremendous. 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 number turning us away or the location 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 a variety of Ardour websites. Of all of the locations we stayed, France Ardour stops have been our favourite.
There are just a few the explanation 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 cherished listening to concerning the legacy of those households and the way they’re nonetheless rising and bettering so a few years later. One in all my favourite components of experiencing a brand new place is interacting with the folks. France Ardour is an effective 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 complete winery and orchard all to ourselves.
3. The wine.
Let’s be clear. This was a major driver. We have been in France, in any case. The wine was wonderful. With the ability to park our motorhome after which stroll inside and decide up a pair (scrumptious) bottles of wine was pleasant.
Usually whenever 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 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 fantastic folks and style some scrumptious wine. Oh and as a bonus, it’s a simple manner to save cash on tenting charges. 🙂