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Hi Gingerlily.

We've been to the Med at Easter the last 2 years. In 06 it was beautifully warm, like May here. This year was much cooler with not much sun (but not much rain either).

To miss the possibility of the Mistral ( a cold wind which blows straight down the Rhone Valley for days on end all around Avignon, Marseille etc) and to get the warmest weather you need to turn left at the Med and get as near as you can to the Riviera, ie St Raphael, Nice, Monaco. This area is sheltered from the worst weather by the mountains behind.

There are lots of sites open from the beginning of March or Easter, many on the beach etc., and a hell of a lot cheaper than in Summer! Our favourite is Au Paradis du Campeur at St Aygulf. You won't need to book (they don't even take reservations), the facilities are beautiful and heated, and if you go up on the hillside you can wake up to a sea view. There are others!

Don't know about Italy; hopefully someone else might.

Shinytop

Shhhhhhhhhhhh, don't tell everyone about Au Paradis des Campeurs!!!!!

It is a seriously nice site although I have never been outside of the summer months.

Usually sites in the south of France open at Easter - it may be that the dates for Camping Cheque sites have not yet been revised for next year.  Some which are open are Selection Camping and Cros du Mouton in Cavalaire, and Parc Mogador at Sanary sur Mer.  Perhaps if you ring Camping Cheques they can help - they're usually very good at giving advice.  It's certainly easier looking at the book than at the website, because flicking through pages to look at dates is easier than scrolling down.  I'll get my book out shortly and have a look through for you. 

Somewhere we have found sun at Easter is at Cambrils Parc in Spain - near to Tarragona.  We've been there several times at Easter (including when Easter was early, like it is this year) - and they take Camping Cheques - and don't charge a supplement for children.  We've met my sister and her family there, and had some very inexpensive holidays, with very good weather.  This is a site with exceptional standards, and the facilities are all first class.  There are two pool complexes, one at either end of the site (one with super facilities for children), bar, restaurant, take-away, coffee shop, bread shop, supermarket, ATM, and evening entertainment which is very professional (and doesn't go on into the early hours).  It's near to the beach, and just a walk into town for choice of bars and restaurants (and there's a bus back!!!).

I think you may have miscalculated (unless I have - but I'm usually very canny when it comes to working out bargains) -  it seems to me you'd save quite a lot with Camping Cheques:  your standard pitch alone is 15 euros whether you have a tent or a caravan, and is including hook-up, then you've two adults at 6 euros each, then 4 euros each child!   Per night that works out at least 27 euros for just two adults and pitch, compared to 14 euros (or £10.30) with Camping Cheques - and with Camping Cheques no extra charge for children.  Even if you take off the 25% discount for between 7 and 13 nights between 14/03 and 30/06, offered by the site, you're still saving with Camping Cheques.  

You can still book a ferry independently, you don't have to book the ferry through Camping Cheques, but just buy as many cheques as you need.  You don't need the Gold Card, since the site won't be full at Easter (we've never booked) and they send you the book with your order of cheques.  (Though just noticed they offer a free bottle of wine with each meal in the restaurant for Gold Card holders!!!).

I'm not sure how old your daughter is, but my nephew and niece were 7 and 5 (hence free) - and said it was the best holiday they'd ever had!   Forgot to mention Port Aventura and Universal Studios, which are nearby, too - and interested my son and his friend when they were in their early teens!