Camping de l’hippodrome
Traveling by Caravan or Motorhome, and you want to explore the french riviera, then this is where it starts, Camping de l’hippodrome. We highly recommend this campsite as your base, so central. The site itself is dated but adequate. The pitches are 100sqm plus and all have electric, fresh and grey water. Depending on the size of your caravan or motorhome the entrance is a little sharp. We have an 8m caravan and drove though with little trouble. Just be carefull and all ok.
The staff are delightful and helpful with any issues. A little tip for UK vans and motorhome travellers on EU power outlets. I would recommend buying or making a small reverse polarity extension lead. Just about all european van park power outlets have reversed polarity to UK and Ireland. This happens when electricians on European sites swap the live and neutral wiring around in the bollard where you hook up. Instead of the electricity entering your caravan/motorhome down the live wiring it enters down the neutral wiring instead. Won’t damage anything but if you change a bulb remember the fitting is live.
The Entrance 
Main Driveway 
Great 18m Pool
Another plus for this site is the swimming pool, 18m and heated. The site is open all year and it also has motel type accommodation. There is also a great big Casino supermarket just around the corner and a Carrefour supermarket a ten minute walk up the hill in the other direction. The park also has a motorhome service area and playground for kids with all the swings and roundabouts.
Our Pitch with Shade 
Room for both Car and Van 
The Office
We based ourselves at this campsite simply because of its location. It very central to explore this exceptional coastline. To the south you have Cannes and Antibes and must take a drive around the Cap d’Antibes. And to the north you have the famous towns of Nice, Monte Carlo and Menton, how good is that.
Villeneuve-Loubet
Villeneuve-Loubet is in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Cote d Azur is sometimes referred to as the blue coast. This is where Camping de l’hippodrome is situated and only a five minute walk to the beach. Did you know that Villeneuve-Loubet was established from two villages, Villeneuve inland and loubet on the shores on the mediterranean sea. The locals are called Villeneuves.
Most mornings we would walk down to the beach for a swim before collecting our daily supply’s from the supermarket and heading back for brunch. A little tip on swimming here. The beaches are smooth pebble stone and can be uncomfortable to walk on in bare feet. You can buy protective rubber shoes that are very comfortable and only ten euros at most shops. I found them great for walking on the beach but also for swimming in.
A great walk is along the esplanade towards Nice and yes this is a great place to cycle as the cycleways run all the way along to Cote d’ Azur. Round trip from base camp to Nice along the cycleway on the bike 20 kms.
Marina Baie des Anges
This marina is surrounded by four wave shaped apartment buildings, truly unique and situated to the south of Villeneuve-Loubet beach. The waterfront is scattered with restaurants that overlook the marina. Saturday nights there is a market mixed in with the outdoor restaurante settings. The market doesn’t get underway till around eight pm so no rush and runs through till after midnight.
Our twilight evening walks around the marina were very relaxing and the beer and wine rewards were also worth looking forward to. What is it about the water that relaxes and calm the soul? On the other hand water can be turbulent and disturbing. Does this resemble how water can affect how we feel?
We also have posts on Nice and Monte Carlo.
For further information check out these local tourism websites.
