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Help,

Need advice on where to take a 16 and a 17 year old next summer. We are thinking of going to Les Sablons near Beziers followed by the Ardeche or Internacional de Calonge and El Delfin Verde in Spain. Teenagers need plenty to do and people to meet while if they are happy then we can hopefully cycle off for the day in peace. Any advice on sites very welcome. We have never been to Spain but have spent the last 10 years visiting many sites in France gradually going from quiet ones in beautiful areas to more touristy ones to keep the kids satisfied ( Roll on back to the peaceful ones when teenagers leave home!!)

Mick

We've done both the Ardeche and Spain with teenagers.  We stayed at Vallon Pont d'Arc for several years, last time with two teenage sons, five of their friends, and another friend joined us from his work placement on a PGL site nearby.  They loved it during the day when there was plenty to do - but not a lot later at night for older teenagers.  There were lots of other teenagers there,  and they did all the usual stuff - hanging out together during the day, canoeing, bungee jumping, abseiling, canyoning, swimming, etc., and at night it was usual for them to watch the entertainment, and then try to find something else going on somewhere.  Usually this involved them around the back of our caravan, playing cards, drinking beer, and playing guitars until all hours - we did have a quiet, tucked away pitch, so didn't annoy anyone else.  Occasionally they wandered off to another site, having met girls from there - and once they went to 'Le Crocodile' disco - but came back mortified that they'd had to pay so much for so little good music or entertainment.

On the other hand we've done Cambrils Park, near Salou in Spain several times, again with several teenage boys.  During the day there was always plenty to do - and at night they had the attractions of Salou, with nightclubs, (and who knows what else - we never went in at night) going on all night!  Port Aventura was near enough for them to catch the local bus to - and they got two-day passes, so had two full days and nights there.  Talking about it now, both say they enjoyed the Ardeche more, but at the time I do remember sullen teenagers complaining that 'it's too quiet at night'!!!

We did stay at International Calonge, with our sons, but they were younger then (not old enough to do anything on their own) and they both enjoyed it - but there's not a lot going on 'on site' - most activities take place on the beach.  Playa d'Aro is a (long) walk home at night - but the road is very busy - so not so good if they go out for a drink. 

Another suggestion, just put forward by my youngest son (who's now 21 - and reading this) is Argeles sur Mer (he worked there as a Canvas Holidays courier for a season) - and says that there's loads for teenagers to do, both by day and by night there - and that's where he would recommend.  However, at the time he was free to do just what he liked, with no parental involvement as we were a thousand miles away at home, whilst he was living on site!!  He said 'Cambrils or Argeles' - hope his helps!!

Thanks Val and Huw,

We would be going early August as need to return home for AS levels and A2 results. I know that Argeles and most of France is very busy  at that time but if we leave the site  by 9.0.am  is it possible to get into the hills and for us to enjoy ourselves?

Is le Soleil very noisy at night or is it possible to request a quiet emplacement?

Regards Mick

If you've your own equipment, then there are lots of sites nearer the town, if you want something central - but we stayed on the outskirts at La Roseriae when we went down to see him there.  We've also stayed at La Sirene, a few years ago, which is a big camp with plenty going on, but it is possible to get a pitch 'away from the madding crowd'.  My son worked at Bois de Valmarie, which is the other side of Argeles (Collioure side) but doesn't take tourers, unfortunately.  However, it's well situated for the lively parts of town - and you're off to a flying start to get into the hills.  They found lovely gorges to swim in, up in the hills, including one where a hot and cold spring came up into the same pool - sounded fantastic.  They also cycled regularly into Collioure for days on the beach when they had days off.

It is great when your teenagers leave home - but when they're living on their own they don't have enough money for holidays, and start wanting to come with you again!!!!

Just had a look at Bois de Valmarie and would love to go there but I don't think there is enough for my two delights. The problem I have is that my younger daughter does not get on with her older suposedly more mature brother! They need others of a similar age to stop them arguing. We had thought my son would go off with friends but he is lacking money, mind you with two going to university I think we will be lacking money! I liked the look of Roch Devine in the Ardeche but am not sure if there is enough to occupy them in the evening as there is no town to walk into. Which site would you recomend more at Angeles, La Sirene or Le Soleil?

Thanks for all your help and my son asks if yours enjoyed working for Canvas as he is thinking of doing it next year. Might give us a year with daughter then and a friend to think about. I think older teenagers are the hardest to satisfy because if they are not happy they will wreck your holiday. Younger kids are easier by far to please!!

Regards Mick

Yes, he had a brilliant time - and has all the photos to prove it.  (He says 'don't work for Fleur holidays though').   There were loads of young British people there, when he worked at Valmarie (he was 18 at the time - so had a whale of a time!!), more than any other nationality.  Being a courier doesn't pay well - and you might be shocked to see the living arrangements!!!  Three teenagers shared a Canvas Tent (having one of the 'canvas' areas each) with a communal cook-tent.  My son's looked like something from the Casbah - and was actually the best-looked-after of three areas (he shared with two girls, who obviously weren't used to looking after themselves).  Most of the time he cooked (he's brill) but occasionally they got a subsidised meal at the campsite restaurant.  It's incredibly hard work in peak season - especially on 'turn-over' days when most arrivals and departures take place - so don't expect an easy ride - but they do 'play hard' as well.  It was amazing to see him getting up early, riding up and down the hills at Valmarie on his bike, and at the end of the season looking fit and tanned.

The site I mentioned in my posting, above, was L'Ardechois at Vallon, where we stayed a lot when my sons were growing up, right until after the oldest did A levels.  We now go to Ranc Davaine (on our own) which is a great site, but you're probably right about not being enough to do at night for older teenagers (once they're past the stage of hanging about together somewhere) - although on the way to his placement at Argeles we did stay there for a week when we took him down.  We took his friend along with us, and the two 18 year olds really enjoyed it.  There is a bar and pool area where all the older teens 'hung-out' and sometimes it was very early morning when they came home!!  There were some very beautiful dutch girls there at the time, which helped!!

I don't know how you'd choose between Le Soleil and La Sirene - my son reckons La Sirene (because that's where all the parties were!!!) but others may differ.  I think La Soleil is nearer to the beach - but as we're not beach people that wouldn't bother me.

Hi, the family that own Bois de Valmarie also own Hippocampe and La Sirene, so the standards are quite high, from a teenage point of view I'd certainly choose La Sirene as they organise nightly discos etc for the teenagers.

there is also plenty for the teenagers to do during the day too, as there is a free bus to the beach each day.

Thanks for all your help and advice. I think Ranc Davaine will have to wait until we are on are own ( I have even managed to spell it correctly this time!)  Having discussed it with our two we are probably going to book a week at le Sablons where we can hire bikes and cycle along the Canal de Midi and then a week at La Sirene, where hopefully we can also leave them to enjoy themselves.I think working for Canvas or Eurocamp would do my son a load of good  having to work hard for a change.

Regards Mick

Absolutely!!  My son says Canvas is best - having 'canvassed' opinions amongst the couriers on site - more support, slightly better pay, and friendlier management!!

Have a great holiday.  Enjoy it all whilst it lasts.  When you're on your own you'll find that it's difficult to eat the amount of food you're used to buying - a lettuce will last a week, and we used to go through three at a meal, you have to buy just one sort of delicious cheese, or it goes mouldy, and you just end up eating up 'leftovers' which once just were eaten immediately!   Believe me, it is a challenge, and you will miss them!

We stayed at Camping Neptune at Grau d'Agde, and cycled along the Canal du Midi (lovely, but no mean feat in the heat of the summer!!!!).  The Languedoc area is fantastic - haven't stayed at Les Sablons, but am sure you'll enjoy the area. Enjoy your  holiday wherever you end up.   Val