Hi we are a family with an 11 yo girl and an 8 yo boy - thinking of a camping holiday in the Southern half of France in August. Would love any recommendations - particularly sites which have nice facilities (swimming pool, maybe a few sports), attractive location and friendly atmosphere. Probably not the far south of France as don't want to spend hours and hours driving there.
Many thanks in advance
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To be fair, most campsites in france are very family orientated in August, especially if they have pools. Give us more of an idea what you like to do, what your interests are? Do you like beach, river, lake? Want hot weather or don't mind if it's just warm? Would a spot of rain ruin your holiday? Do you like hills, mountains, gorges, flat plains? Like cycling, canoeing, surfing? Want a big bustling site with evening entertainment or a small family run site and make your own entertainment of an evening? Want a site where you can get everything onsite, or do you prefer to go out and about every day and use the site as a base?
Also, how far are you prepared to go? How long do you have for your holiday? Is your budget unlimited or strict? Are you in a tent/caravan or are you looking to rent a static?
With your original post, everyone will just proffer their own favourite sites for you, give us a bit more info and we can tailor recommendations to you.
Have you tried the camp site search on here? Go to the map of France and click on the area you're thinking of there's lots of sites listed with lots of reviews, with links to their websites. Found one you like the look of? Add it to your virtual brochure then when you've found a few you can compare them for driving times / distances / facilities etc.
Thank you both - in terms of additional detail on what we like, there's a bit I can add, but we are basically not too fussy and therefore just keen to hear about people's favourite sites. The problem with being not too fussy is that it then takes ages to go through the camp site search!
So, to add a little bit
- It would be great to be within 30 mins of a beach
- Would be great to have some good cycling nearby
- Some evening entertainment/other campsite activities would be nice
- Nice places to visit nearby
- Looking at a 2 week holiday
- We would bring our own family tent
- Not the very far south of France (too far to drive) but apart from that open to ideas
Hope that helps a little - and thanks for your assistance!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
In the Ardeche
L'Ardechois or Les Ranchisses plus many other in area.
No - It would be great to be within 30 mins of a beach
Yes - Would be great to have some good cycling nearby
Yes - Some evening entertainment/other campsite activities would be nice
Yes - Nice places to visit nearby
In the Tarn Gorge
Val de Cantobre or Les Peupliers
No - It would be great to be within 30 mins of a beach
Yes - Would be great to have some good cycling nearby
Yes - Some evening entertainment/other campsite activities would be nice
Yes - Nice places to visit nearby
In the Gard near Sommieres
Domaine de Massereau
Yes - It would be great to be within 30 mins of a beach
Yes - Would be great to have some good cycling nearby
No - Some evening entertainment/other campsite activities would be nice
Yes - Nice places to visit nearby
------------- Ollie
2016
Monplaisir - Provence
Camping Les Gorges du Loup
If you don't want 'the very south' how many hours would you say is enough driving?
Most people going to the south have an overnight stop on the way there and the way back - and generally find it worth it for the difference in the weather, and the beautiful countryside.
All of those sites of Ollies are great family sites, but all will involve a lot of driving.
Another suggestion would be one of the riverside sites in the Dordogne such as Soleil Plage - there a thread about them all somewhere.
Yes - It would be great to be within 30 mins of a (river) beach Yes - Would be great to have some good cycling nearby Yes - Some evening entertainment/other campsite activities would be nice Yes - Nice places to visit nearby
And though it's not been mentioned recently, Le Pin Parasol in the Vendee was a popular site with UKCSers in previous years.
I think that one would get four Yes answers - though we've never been there.
I'd agree with Val about the Dordogne.....although the weather the last couple of summers has been a bit dodgy. But we went in 2006 and the weather was gorgeous, with the odd thunderstorm at night.
If you really like beach and cycling and aren't so worried about scenery, then I'd consider the Vendee, as Val said Le Pin Parasol
rate highly by people on here who like the Vendee. Weather is generally good.
We're sun-seekers, so prefer to do the extra miles to the South to practically guarantee the sun, but it is a long way so it depends on how well the children travel.
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: Camp sites for families - Southern France
