What was supposed to be a peaceful stopover on a European campervan adventure turned unexpectedly dramatic for a British family.
James, a father of three and content creator behind the TikTok account @thedaurats, recently shared a frustrating experience at a French campsite that left him feeling unfairly blamed, unwelcome—and pretty furious.
With over 119,000 views on his video, James didn’t hold back about how things unfolded at Camping des Lancieres in Rogny-les-Sept-Écluses, France.
A Budget Stop That Took a Turn
“We were just looking for an affordable place to rest for a couple of nights,” James explained in his TikTok video.
“It looked like great value—only €9 a night.” Although the kids’ play area wasn’t fancy, it had a trampoline, which was enough to keep the children entertained.
Things were going well. His children played alongside another family’s kids.
At one point, James noticed some rough behavior from two other boys and even told his kids to come off the trampoline for safety.
A Fall, a Torn Net, and a Blame Game
Later, the kids went back to the trampoline, and that’s when James’s daughter was pushed into the side netting and fell out.
Fortunately, she wasn’t hurt, but James said they immediately documented the torn net and how the fall happened—just in case.
But the next morning, things escalated. A campsite warden came knocking and accused James’s children of damaging the trampoline net and leaving trash around.
“She was shouting at us to pay for the net,” James recalled, still clearly upset.
Locals vs. Visitors
According to James, several long-term French families staying nearby had apparently reported to management that it was his children who tore the trampoline net.
“They ganged up on us,” he said, adding that he believed there was an obvious bias because they were British.
In a clip he posted, a translator tried to explain James’s side to the warden.
But the warden sarcastically replied, “Yeah right, they’re angels,” before accusing them of leaving litter and warning they’d be kicked out if they caused more problems.
Trying to Defend Himself
James pushed back on the littering claim.
“She pointed out that I left a tissue,” he said.
“It was under the door. When I opened it, it must’ve fallen off the counter.”
He also pointed out other plastic items on the ground that, he claimed, didn’t belong to them.
But what frustrated James most was that the warden wouldn’t stay for a conversation.
“Every time I try to speak, she just walks away,” he said.
“It felt like her mind was already made up—that it was our fault just because we were the English family.”
Language Barriers and Bigger Issues
James acknowledged that language might have played a role in the situation, making it harder for both sides to fully understand each other.
Still, he said, “This is the worst experience of my life. We’re trying our best, we speak a little French, but not much.”
The incident has sparked mixed reactions online.
While some viewers sympathized, saying they’d experienced similar treatment as foreigners in France, others felt the family should accept responsibility and pay for the damage if their kids were involved.
Divided Reactions Online
One commenter said, “I’m a Brit living in France and I totally get this—there’s definitely a ‘side with your own’ mentality sometimes.”
Another described the rise in hostility toward tourists as part of a wider post-pandemic shift: “People have changed since Covid… it’s not you, mate.”
However, not everyone agreed. Some pointed out that if James’s family truly had nothing to hide, they should have reported the incident themselves.
Others suggested that families everywhere tend to believe their kids, regardless of the facts.
A Look at the Campsite and the Family Behind the Story
Interestingly, Camping des Lancieres generally has a good reputation online, with a 4.3/5 rating on TripAdvisor, where reviewers describe it as peaceful and well-run.
James and his family, who describe themselves as a “home education family,” share their European travels online with their three children: Henri (9), Genevieve, and baby Gabriel, who turns one in October.
What’s Next?
James hasn’t said whether he plans to pursue the issue further with the campsite or seek compensation.
But the experience clearly left a mark—and not the good kind.
Whether it’s a case of miscommunication, cultural clash, or genuine unfairness, one thing is clear: what started as a budget-friendly stop turned into a vacation story the family won’t soon forget.
