Departures: Tents battle

A SMALL price war has broken out between camping operators. A contender for cheapest foreign holiday of the year is on offer from Canvas Holidays (0383 621000). In late September, a family of two adults and up to six children can spend three weeks at a campsite in France for pounds 99 - less than pounds 17 per person, including the return ferry fare. Canvas sites are available in Alsace, Burgundy, Loire, Normandy, Provence and the Pyrenees.

For the same family grouping, Keycamp Holidays (081-395 4000) is offering a price of pounds 149 for one-week holidays in France in September, using the Dover-Calais ferry crossing.

In October, the relative merits of Parc Asterix and Euro Disney can be assessed on a holiday organised by French Country Camping (0923 261311). The company is offering four-night stays at a campsite at Nesles la Vallee, just outside Paris and close to both theme parks. A family of two adults and up to four children pays a total of pounds 157 for the Ramsgate-Dunkirk ferry crossing and tent accommodation.