Hi all,
As the title says we are looking to take the Monty 6 and my 2 young children (age 5 and 6 yrs) to the Vendee in August. But are there any sites not full to the brim and packed with partying teenagers (I was one of them once) But am I looking for the impossible?
All we really want is access to a good beach (they will spend entire hols digging in the sand) 10 min drive away is fine, some clean showers with hot water, basic site shop, a couple of hours a day of basic kids 'aniamations'(painting and singing etc came in very handy during our weeks of rain in 2007), places to run around and cycle.
What we don't really care about are nightly entertainment, bars or discos. Or full leave your kids all day kind of kids clubs. Or choices of many restaurants or take aways.
I have started trawling the web and seen a few options but does anyone have any personal recommendations? Or am I really asking the impossible?
Thanks for any advice.
D xx
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
We stayed at L'Oceano D'or at Jard Sur Mer a couple of years ago, it was a lovely site. It just had the one shop and bar/restaurant, nice play area for kids, boules pitches. The town of Jard sur Mer was nice with restaurants and cafes, though the beach there was rocky. We used to drive up to ( I think it was ) Langville. The beach there was great with clean toilets ( a rare thing we have found ), lifeguards and lots of fossils to be found on the shore line. Big waves there though the year we were there. There were also two cafes on the beach if you fancied a change at lunchtime from your sarnies or baguette. The site itself when we visted middle to end of August was getting quiet, though there wasn't any rowdiness from the bar anyway. It also had a pool/slides.
My favourite place in France has to be Les Ecurieuls at Jard Sur Mer - we have been going since my younest was the bump - he is now 13! A first class site - you can book direct weither over the phonwe or via the Net - Sophe Bigot has excellent English. A big plus for us was that they hired out fridges very reasonably. My children have completely worn out the are for the time being so we are going further afoot but there is plenty to do and see. The site is not too big and very friendly - it has an indoor and outdoor pool and a fitness room, you can walk in to JARD EASILY, AND THE BAR HAS OCCASIONAL ENTERTAINMENT - NOTHING TOO RAUCOUS OR IN YOUR FACE. (Sorry caps lock keeps sticking!)
Have a look at their website - you can easily google it!
Thanks for the suggestions so far, will go and google them. It is always better to read peoples personal experiences of a site than just the usual brochure speak.
Thanks again
D x
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Look at Domaine La Foret. Has some good reviews on here. We went last year, with the same intentions as you. Really enjoyed it. A very low key site, but great for young children.
Hi all
Thanks for the last two replies as that was one of the sites at the top of our list of places to stay. Will def look into booking it soon.
Thanks all for taking time to reply, it is much appreciated.
D x
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
We have just booked at Les Ecureuils Jard-sur-Mer in July, I have just read some negative reviews and am now worried, has anyone got good reviews for this site.
We love the squirrels - we have just exhaussed the Vendee having visited every year since 94. The site is lovely, clean, well-presented, staff very welcoming and helpful, facilities fab. A plus is they have a security guy - who although looks a bit fierce - is lovely and his presence is reassuring, it is quiet after 11, if you are noisy - he will have a quiet , usually jocular, word. We found the site to be first rate - the indoor pool, jacuzzi and fitness room were a boon , as was the tv toom / library. Because they have Keycamp and eUROCAMP THERE ARE USUALLY LOTS OF OTHER KIDS AROUND.We liked being able to cycle around - especially through the woods to Jard itself - plenty places to lock your bikes. In all our years there, we only had one problem - my purse was stolen at the weekly market - however after a quick visit to the Gendarmes - ,then a reviait when they requested I speak to Jean -Marie - he wanted to practice his English on me - the matter was logged ,etc ready for the insurers. On reporting this to the staff at the campsite, Madame Robin - no longer the owner now - was terribly upset and refused to allow me to pay for our holiday until I had got home and had my money and credit card replaced. She was genuinely concerned that we continued to enjoy our stay. The new owners have been there a few years now and also are very warm and friendly people.
If you want to know more about what to do in the Vendee let me iknow andf I'll email you.
Thanks Karin, that's put my mind at ease. We are planning a fairly lazy holiday spending time locally maybe visiting La Rochelle, etc Just wanted to be sure the kids would be entertained and safe when we get there!
Hi Karin, you couldn't give me some advice about pitch sizes at Les Ecureuils could you? In the select sites brochure it says no vans over 6.5m. I've seen the site in a couple of other books and it doesn't mention this (or on their website). I've emailed them to say our van is 7.2m and if it would be OK but they haven't got back to me.
thanks
------------- Shirl
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
I don't know too much about actual pitch sizes - we have a large tt and gazebo but also usually have room for pup tent, car, table and chairs at front/side too. The pitches are all separated by hedges which gives a bit of privacy and most have trees. I
f you email Sophie Bigot at Les Ecureiuls she will send you a map or be able to help you. Sometimes larger vans can have probs negotiating the trees!
Have just reread this and it sounds a bit confusing - give Sophie an email or better still phone her.
A bit of a brainwave - best sized pitches are on the two "roads" that run parallel in front of the main road to the swimming pool and reception. There are pitches on either sides of the "road" and they are nice and wide - sorry can't remember their numbers!
Have to go - both kids off school with D and V , husband up North on business- ytpical ! - had to take a day off school - just heard one of the boys hollering!
Thanks for all the info, it has been very useful.
Am very excited as have booked our 11 nights at Village de la Guyonniere, to overlap with the my sister in law and her family. Think we will take a look at some of the other sites while we are down there just to see how they look. Our other choice had been Domaine le foret which also comes highly recommended. Now to booking our overnight stop and crossing......
Thanks again
D x
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Vendee in August any quiet sites??
