Hi I’m going mad trying to decide on a campsite to suit my to be 13 year old boy! Usually we just wing it and are happy with municipals etc but this year he’s feeling lonely so next July he would like a site where he can speak English and mix with similar age children. Ideally with a pool/slides and teen club.
Ideally I would like to be some where hot, suitable for the dog, not in a forest. Happy to travel any where but preferably in the Southern part of France/Northern Spain. Looked at one site in Spain but the price is very very eye watering especially when it’s probably my worst nightmare 😱.
Having normally avoided the English school hols we are likely to be over for 3 weeks coving the first couple of weeks of UK school hols. Lots of sites are already fully booked so struggling!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
We went to camping l’Amfora in bay of roses this year. Very impressed tbh, our 2 girls (9&6) loved it. Seemed loads to do for teens, and exquisitely clean.
I'd have a look at the sites offered by Eurocamp and similar companies. There's always lots of families with children. They may not always be English, but many speak English (even the four year olds from some countries). My boys *(in the 1980's) grew up with family holidays on such sites, and even today the eldest keeps in touch with a Finnish boy he met on holiday at the age of four, and the youngest has an armada of European 'girls' that are still in touch with him!
Book directly, but encourage your son to mix with other nationalities. Perhaps he's just too old and 'shy' at thirteen, but it really does help to mix with a wide range of others.
I can remember my sons, sitting in the playgroup, with French, Dutch, German, Italian and Finnish boys, laughing out loud at 'swear words' in French. Crapeau (Toad) was one such word which amused my sons. But they all knew the word for 'fart' and similar in all their languages.
Both my sons now speak good French despite never learning it beyond GCSE formally at school.
He has mixed really well in the past but now at that awkward age! Having mainly used Very French sites he has different requests this time although it won’t be for the full holiday!
I have looked at L’amfora in Spain and Las Dunas next door to it and they are on the short list but wow over 100 euros a night!!
Considering Le pin parasol but the area does excite me but we could go the last week of our trip and have 2 weeks touring!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Our kids never influenced where we stayed as we were the ones paying although we did try to accommodate their wishes where possible. In school holidays it is always going to be very expensive as some sites only open for June, July and August so need to maximise profits.
Many years ago, (ok, about 20), I used to work at a sailing school near Narbonne in the south of France. There were numerous campsites in that area used by families from many different countries. It was not unusual for me to have a class with children from 6 or 7 different countries. There is plenty to do there and in the surrounding areas. the other advantage of that area is that even out of season in spring and autumn, the weather is usually very good, often as warm as our summer. Rather than camps with predominantly English speaking families, the campsites along the med have a really good balance of different nationalities which will be an excellent chance for your son to learn a new language or two, even though most people there will be able to speak at least a reasonable amount of English. Maybe you could get your son to start learning at least French before you go. Children learn languages much better than adults and I have always found it a little embarrassing how well people from other countries, particularly children, speak English compared to how well most English people speak other languages.
Thanks for replies. Most sites are booked up
So it’s been tricky. Managed to get the last pitch left for a week at Serignan plage. The rest of our holiday will do municpicals/aires and wing it as usual.
Quote: Originally posted by longcol on 08/12/2021
Soliel Plage on the banks of the Dordogne near Sarlat has always been popular with families - Brits, Dutch, French - with teenagers.
Evening / nightime bonfires on the nearby pebble beaches are very popular
+1 for Soliel Plage, although we stopped next door at the quieter camping la bouysee.
Both excellent.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
We used La Bouysse half a dozen times compared to once at Soliel Plage - and it was easy for our teenagers to access the bar / games area at SP from La Bouysse - La Bouysse certainly seemed to have a far lower ratio of teenagers which didn't seem to particularly bother ours.
Quote: Originally posted by longcol on 10/12/2021
We used La Bouysse half a dozen times compared to once at Soliel Plage - and it was easy for our teenagers to access the bar / games area at SP from La Bouysse - La Bouysse certainly seemed to have a far lower ratio of teenagers which didn't seem to particularly bother ours.
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: Site advice - teen
via mobile 26/11/2021 at 5:06pm
