Well, as I said, we were there in June and there were only three vacant pitches when we arrived so yes, we had a choice but between three poky pitches. I think the pitch you get can make or break a holiday. A lovely pitch makes a not very nice site nicer while getting a bad pitch can spoil a stay on a good site.
Having said that we didn't like the area very much, too busy, too built up. We'll stick to smaller places in future.
We had pitch 62, Angers on parc les Pins
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I stayed at Ideal Camping 3 years ago.Indeed you are right,a lot of the pitches are in the shade and are also oddly shaped. From memory the pool complex was only ok but the GASTAPO trained the lifeguard.The pitches were very dirty due to the trees overshadowing them.Millions of pine needles everywhere. Overall we would not return to this site,
The following year we found a brill site very close to La Roschelle called Les Sables.A 7 yrar old could not design a better pool complex,give it a look on the net,it ma be exactally what your looking for.
I quite agree with you that the pitch you are allocated can make or break a site experience. We stayed for a few days at Selection Camping at La Croix Valmer on the Cote D'Azur last year before travelling across to the Royan area. It is a nice site, albeit terraced, in a super area but we arrived without booking and the only pitch apparently available was scruffy and overgrown. We made the best of it but would have enjoyed the time spent around the caravan much more if we had had a nicer pitch. Curiously throughout the two or three days that we were there there was a much better pitch free all of the stay just across from us. It does make me wonder sometimes if some sites keep the better pitches for clients paying the full price and Camping Cheque customers are allocated the poor pitches.
------------- Mother Nature always wins in the end.
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A few people have said that some of the pitches at Bois Soleil are small.I agree with that but if I turn up at a site and cannot find a suitable pitch then I would move on and if I like the site then I would return at another time.
The trouble with Bois Soleil is that there are a lot of people who love it and return from year to year. I am one of them and I have to book my pitch at the end of my stay, to make sure that I can get a pitch I like.
Not sure what time of year you have been but in May/June there is never any problem selecting your own pitch. In fact if you pick one of the poorer ones i.e. very shady or has a big tree in the middle then the management have always been obliging in allowing you to change pitch if a better one becomes available.
july / august this means you cannot change your pitch. plus you have to book plus the prices are very high. if i could go outside of high season there would be no problem.
however the question was about "ideal camping" not bois soliel. and i think this is probably better for very young children.
Quite agree we have always said that it would be difficult taking children (or grandchildren in our case) to Bois Soleil as it would not be easy to leave them to entertain themselves. The pool although nice is not large and has only a tiny paddling pool but then the beach is only 100 metres from the entrance. Ideal Camping does look more spacious and from what I can remember the pool and play facilities are grouped close together.
We have always gone to St Georges in June and campers then tend to be of more "mature" age. But no doubt in high season Bois Soleil is a popular place for families. We have done the family holidays. Great memories but always hard work at the time.
------------- Mother Nature always wins in the end.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
We go to Bois Soleil with 3 teenage children and it is ideal for them.
i would find that the ideal camping would be better for younger children.
Both campsites have different sized pitches but it is better to walk around pick a pitch and then book it.
the shade is good on both campsites. the needles do build up especially after a storm but on BS they are cleared twice per week. i find the resin dripping on the cars and the falling pine cones more of a pain, such an earth shattering sound.
The pool at BS is small but ok but i think the pool at ideal would be better for younger kids.
Direct access to the beach is great, camping at ideal would only add another couple of minutes walk.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: ideal camping st george de didonne
