Quote: Originally posted by humju on 16/3/2012
Thanks everyone. fancy a bit more adventure so may head down to near La Palmyere or Ile D'Orleon. Have you any more recommendations for a campsite around there?
Yes, but not with the water slides you wanted.
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Quote: Originally posted by Jules1212 on 16/3/2012
I am quite puzzled by so many comments about there being nothing to do or it being boring in the Vendee?
We have booked to go here for the first time in August and I am quite a 'planner', so have been looking at lots of websites and guidebooks to see what we might like to do whilst there.
As we have a son of 13 and a daughter of 11, hopefully we will be lucky with the weather and get to enjoy some days by the pool or on the beach, but apart from that I seem to have found quite a number of things for us to do. Maybe we are easily pleased!
So far we have...... Puy du Foy for 2 days. A day in/around Venise Verte. The treetop adventure place. Visits to Saint Gilles Croix De Vie and La Rochelle. Thought we might try the Velo Rail as something a bit different. Plus at least one zoo/ aquarium type visit and a go at Aunisceane.
And anything else we just happen upon whilst there!
Hi, personally I'd skip the Velo Rail. We did it last year and you're really paying a lot of money to do a long exhausting spin class along a straight and unscenic disused railway line. You cycle/spin (hard graft) for 30 mins, get off and have to physically lift and turn a really heavy cart, then cycle/spin back along the same piece of track that you've just came along.
Really a very expensive workout! Save your money and go on one of the many flat (and free) cycle routes instead!!
On a positive note - you will love St Gilles Croix De Vie. Would also recommend Noirmouitier!
Quote: Originally posted by warbis66 on 16/3/2012I have stayed in the Vendee many times, its probably fair to say that it is not theeee most beautiful part of France but i do object strongly to those saying there is nothing to do there.There are lots of good family days out there, none of which will break the bank.
I fully agree.
We go to the Vendee mainly for the fabulous beaches, but have never been stuck for something to do. We have been there for four years and there are still a lot of things that we have not managed to do.
We currently stay in Domaine Des Forges campsite which is inland, because my OH thought it was a good idea to buy a twin axle caravan, so the campsites on the coast do not have big enough pitches or wide enough access roads to get our van round the site. We love this area and until our kids start to go on holiday on their own this area is where we will be.
The campsite is great and this year is putting in waterslides, it is now 5 star.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Quote: Originally posted by Jules1212 on 16/3/2012
I am quite puzzled by so many comments about there being nothing to do or it being boring in the Vendee?
We have booked to go here for the first time in August and I am quite a 'planner', so have been looking at lots of websites and guidebooks to see what we might like to do whilst there.
As we have a son of 13 and a daughter of 11, hopefully we will be lucky with the weather and get to enjoy some days by the pool or on the beach, but apart from that I seem to have found quite a number of things for us to do. Maybe we are easily pleased!
So far we have...... Puy du Foy for 2 days. A day in/around Venise Verte. The treetop adventure place. Visits to Saint Gilles Croix De Vie and La Rochelle. Thought we might try the Velo Rail as something a bit different. Plus at least one zoo/ aquarium type visit and a go at Aunisceane.
And anything else we just happen upon whilst there!
when are you going? Challans has a couple of events where the whole town turns back the clock for a day, perhaps it might coincide with your trip to the vendee?
We did 2 years in the vendee at St Jean de monts and were disappointed with the weather but also how commercialised it was. The second year we had to battle down that main street through the crowds every night and had to queue for restaurants. For the past 3 years we have gone to les Mathes and we are booked again for this August. The weather is fab and the beach at La palmyre is the best I have ever been to. Some really nice places to visit round there too and it's not too busy (unless the zoo is open!)
Obviously the weather is just pot luck and won't be any different on average as it is just around the corner. I have been to the highlands and had absolutely fabulous weather but on average it rains a lot there. A couple of visits don't prove anything its the statistical averages that demonstrate the weather that can be expected.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Quote: Originally posted by Nee-Naw Nee-Naw on 16/3/2012
Quote: Originally posted by warbis66 on 16/3/2012I have stayed in the Vendee many times, its probably fair to say that it is not theeee most beautiful part of France but i do object strongly to those saying there is nothing to do there.There are lots of good family days out there, none of which will break the bank.
I fully agree.
We go to the Vendee mainly for the fabulous beaches, but have never been stuck for something to do. We have been there for four years and there are still a lot of things that we have not managed to do.
We currently stay in Domaine Des Forges campsite which is inland, because my OH thought it was a good idea to buy a twin axle caravan, so the campsites on the coast do not have big enough pitches or wide enough access roads to get our van round the site. We love this area and until our kids start to go on holiday on their own this area is where we will be.
The campsite is great and this year is putting in waterslides, it is now 5 star.
I hope they do something about the outdoor pool heating, it's absolutely freeeeeezing!!! We loved Domaine de Forges when we stayed there last summer & we had an amazing pitch, but the site was just a bit too remote for our liking.
I didn't mean to offend those of you who love the Vendee when I said that the lack of things to do in the area killed it for us. It's just our opinion & we aren't huge beach fans (we were unlucky with the weather - most days it wasn't really beach weather). We'd already done Puy du Fou twice when we stayed near Saumur, but that's a definite must for those who haven't been before.
------------- Claire x
Jan 2013 - Skiing, Kühtai, Austria
May - Swiss Farm
Fforest Ffields
Aug - Saumur, France
Oct - Somewhere...
Jan '14 - Skiing, Les Houches
Quote: Originally posted by brianconwy on 18/3/2012Obviously the weather is just pot luck and won't be any different on average as it is just around the corner. I have been to the highlands and had absolutely fabulous weather but on average it rains a lot there. A couple of visits don't prove anything its the statistical averages that demonstrate the weather that can be expected.
Well I can only speak as I find and St Jean de Monts was pretty cloudy most days. I would not class a couple of hours drive as round the corner either and the charente-maritime benefits from a micro climate and enjoys longer hours of sunshine. It's worth chasing the sun and it's amazing how going "round the corner" brightens your whole holiday up.
I know this is not what you want to read but Cornwall is brilliant and has loads to do. And lots of places to go.
However the weather is not as good that is why they have to have so many other things to keep you busy.
I agree there is not much to do as in places to go in the vendee but the weather compensates for it. We have been to royan and the vendee if I was going back this year I would go to the Loire.
I hope they do something about the outdoor pool heating, it's absolutely freeeeeezing!!! We loved Domaine de Forges when we stayed there last summer & we had an amazing pitch, but the site was just a bit too remote for our liking.
Claire,
I hope they do something with the pool temperature, it was really cold, we mostly used the indoor pool.
would be good not to have to use the car so much but you wouldn't get the size of pitch if you were nearer the coast, which wouldn't work for us.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Quote: Originally posted by marky2027 on 18/3/2012
Quote: Originally posted by brianconwy on 18/3/2012Obviously the weather is just pot luck and won't be any different on average as it is just around the corner. I have been to the highlands and had absolutely fabulous weather but on average it rains a lot there. A couple of visits don't prove anything its the statistical averages that demonstrate the weather that can be expected.
Well I can only speak as I find and St Jean de Monts was pretty cloudy most days. I would not class a couple of hours drive as round the corner either and the charente-maritime benefits from a micro climate and enjoys longer hours of sunshine. It's worth chasing the sun and it's amazing how going "round the corner" brightens your whole holiday up.
However long it takes to drive it is still only 60 miles. The weather figures do not show any more sunshine hours and vendee also claims to have a "micro climate". But there again it might be the same "micro climate" that they share.
For a longer day trip in the Vendee area I would recommend a visit to Planete Sauvage Biggest and wildest safari park I've ever been to, much better than UK, takes about 2 hours to drive through it!
Pornic is a also a nice wee drive and we visited Faiencerie de Pornic which is a factory shop selling pottery and ceramics. Expensive but that didn't stop us rashly buying a large pizza plate with painted numbers round the edge to aid slicing that has never come out of it's box yet...!
In Brem-sur-mer there is a fantastic wine cave, happy to let you taste, and what we bought was bottled and labelled in front of us there and then. Will dig out websites if anyone's interested. Try a bottle of Troussepinette, a delicious local aperitif from a nearby wine shop, much better than the supermarket stuff.
Years ago spent a rainy day visiting Apremont, and the Chateau d'Apremont there.
In summer there is a decent night market every night in St Gilles Croix de Vie and lots of cafes and restaurants to sit outside. Night market doesn't really get going till back of 8. Take a jumper as it can get decidedly cool in the evening there. Great place for the kids to spend there cash on trinkets and tat for the their pals back home.
The guide book you have bought Brian has been very helpful to us over the years. I would say it's due an update but is still the best I've seen. However, I sometimes feel it's written for someone living there rather than visiting the area for a fortnight so I bear that in mind now. We've trekked to something she recommends only to find it a bit smaller/underwhelming on a few occasions. She's very positive about almost every attraction, but the information and first hand knowledge is excellent.
Thanks for the tips. Planete sauvage looks like a good day out. I can imagine what you mean about the book. Puy de Fou looks like another day out but seems like it might be a fair drive.
Bit slow to get back on Ile D'Oleron but we have gone for here...
http://www.combinette-oleron.com/en/
Some good reviews dotted around the web.
Ticked our boxes - very French, plenty to do but quiet family site (no karaoke etc), walk to town & beach & forest cycling from the site. Very French & very interesting - fit the bill more than Royan or Vendee for us.
In fact have gone totally off piste by booking here
http://www.campingmeteorite.fr/
& here too
http://www.campinglemoulindeseffres.fr/
for the rest of our 3 weeks...not an English review in sight & not even a mention on UKCS. Good french reviews & all nice family sites with pools, cycling & within walking distance of a town - wanted a French adventure & think we're going to get one!
Maybe this time next year we'll all be heading there...
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: vendee or further down ? royan maybe
