Has anyone stayed at either Bahamas Beach or les cypres this year . We want to book a campsite for 2013, for a tent at st gilles and don't want to be too far away from the beach or the town. The reviews for bahamas beach seem old posts and aren't too complimentary.My husband and I are mid fifties, like a clean modern site with a pool and full services on a good sized/large pitch. Any other suggestions welcome.We don't particularly want shaded pitch either!
Thank you.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
When are you going? If there's just the two of you and you can go outside peak season (ie any time except mid-July to mid-August) then you shouldn't need to book. You also have a choice of using an ACSI Card (www.campingcard.co.uk) and/or Camping Cheques (www.campingcheque.co.uk) and saving quite a large amount on sites fees (depending on the site and any special offers). The two sites above may not be in either, but it's worth having a look at the websites to see what is available. Both websites have their own reviews of their sites, which may be more up to date.
Thanks Val. We're going in August. The reviews for Bahamas beach aren't that great but camping and caravan club still using it.Camping le petit pavillon is also a contender.
Having stayed for many years in the St Gilles area, I would not be looking at Le Petit pavillon, too near busy roads. Les Cypres has a lovely location is very young french, not brilliantly clean. Les Bahamas has also got a lousy reputation. You could try the Bretignolles area or La Pege in the st Hillaire de Riez area.
------------- Some days are diamonds.......
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
We went to Domaine D'Beauliau in 2006. Its very near Bahamas Beach and walkable into town 2km and to the beach 1km. We had a great time and thought it was a very good site, better than Bahamas Beach.
Why not try Le Pin Parasol? It is about 20 minute drive to the beach (Grand Plage at St Gilles or Les Dunes at Bretignolles) and a clean well run site in a lovely location. We saw Le Bahamas beach on the way to the beach, we didn't like the look of it either. If we go back to the Vendee, that is where we will go to.
Jeff
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May 18, Delftse Hout, Delft
Aug 18, Le Logis du Breuil, Royan
Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I keep looking and I'm tying myself in knots weighing up all the pro's and cons. Please keep any suggestions coming. We don't want to be more than 1 km from the beach and within a short cycling distance from st gilles.I can't understand why Bahamas beach still gets 4* rating when it clearly needs some attention. Why are the C &CC still using it ?
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
BBeach was the 1st site in France we stayed on, in 2006, and thought it was great. It was only after staying on other sites in subsequent years that we decided it was limited. And back then I commented that it would benefit from a bit of cosmetic work.
Think looking back it was quite a small site, maybe even a bit cramped, and with a comparatively small and basic pool, not a pool complex like so many Vendee sites have. Stopped by this year for a nose on the return from a drive from Orouet to Brem. It looked a bit better and some work has been done on it, the reception building looked much bigger. Can't say what it is like to stay on it now unfortunately.
You might find something suitable in St Hilaire de Riez, or maybe some other sites close to BBeach.
I agree- I think I posted a review about that time too. I'm debating les cypres and le pin parasol and maybe even the sister chadotel site, domaine de beaulieu but i'm hoping for some more recent reviews on those particular sites. There is also a Christian site with excellent reviews but truth to tell- I'm not religious and don't want to risk being cornered.
Hi HT11, stayed at Bahama beach 3 years ago, and yes the site is in need of a refurb, all of the pitches seem to have too much shade, with very little grass
We were a party of 7 caravans, and the pitches were really small, 2 of our party have twin axles and could not get their cars any where near the pitch they were left on the road.
It is a 15/20 min walk to the beach, and the current is very strong along that stretch of beach.
We did walk into St Gilles, but you are looking at at least 40 mins stroll.
The other point, was this was our first journey into France and thought that because we had travelled further south the weather would be hot, but dissappointing to us, most mornings it was very cloudy, and only brightened up after lunch.
It appears that from the other posts there are better sites than this, this year stayed at Le jard in La tranche Sur mer, had a great time , pitches much bigger, and beach access 800 yards across the road, with a nice little walk into the village 10 mins away.
There is a free bus which runs up and down from the village or into La Tranche on a frequent basis.
Hi keavo11,
How did you find Le Jard for larger caravans.
We had a walk round it this summer and reckon we could fit onto some of the pitches.
Only thing we noticed that there wasnt a lot of room in the car park, to stop in when you arrive.
We just love that area.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Thank you Keavo 11. I have found Yelloh sites to be good and we stayed at La Littoral (Les Sables) this last summer. A nice site with good facilities but its a bus ride (Limited courtesy bus) or car ride to either Les Sables or Le Vellion beach. There is a beach in front of the site but I personally do not consider it a holiday or a family beach (shingle and rocks) and I wouldnt recommend it as a family beach.
We've given up on St Gilles and instead booked a site at Royan- part of the Yelloh chain, which we have been pleased with before. Last year we stayed at La Littoral nr Les Sables. Good site, poor location for the beach. The beach at the site is in my opinion not worth sitting on and its a bus(limited) ride to Le Veillon or Les Sables, both of which are lovely.
I ve also stayed at the very lovely La Brasilia (Yelloh) but it is very expensive and its nigh impossible to get on if you don't book before you leave the site.
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: camping in the vendee
