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I am looking for a decent camp site that would suit teenage boys into sports in the Alsace, Jura, Doubs area.  If possible pool and lake would be great.  Anyone got any good sites to recommend (we have quite a large tent so we need space).

Hi Julie,

Can't remember the name of the site just now. When I get home, i'll check it out and repost. At least this gets rid of the sad face.

Julie,

Have a look at La Forge de Ste. Marie. It's a lovely peaceful site with agood restaurant and loads of activities. 4 hours from Calais.

We stayed last year at Camping Val de Bonnal near Vesoul in the Jura/Vosges, with our teenage son who is now 16.  It was so good we are going back in two weeks time .  It has a pool, a river running through the site who organise canoe trips of 15km, three large lakes for swimming, boating, water-ski-ing etc etc, as well as a free little gym overlooking the river.  Also an adventure sky trail etc etc etc.........., as well as lovely restaurant and takeaway.  In a truly lovely location with loads to do and see in the area - including longish day trips into Germany and Switzerland!  Having travelled for many years now all over France, we can highly recommend this site - part of the French Castels chain.  Have a look at their website

www.les-castels.com

then follow the links to Val de Bonnal.

Hope this helps and happy holidays!!

Thanks for the information.  We had friends who stayed there a couple of years ago and said it was really good.

Is there any part of the camp that we should look to stay at (we have a large tent).  We really want somewhere quiet but not too far away from the amenities (ie not too close to the disco!)  We need to be close to amenities as we have 13 and 11 adventerous boys!!

As it is near the lakes do they have problems with mossies!!

Thanks

Hi again Julie

There are a full range of pitches at Camping Val de Bonnal.  Most are very generous in size and you should have no problem at all with your big tent!  We had a riverside pitch last year - the lakes are across a little footbridge - we had no problems with mozzies!  There are pitches away from the river too, and they too are lovely.  The main amenites (restaurant, disco etc) are all at the entrance to the sight, and we had no problem with noise on the pitches.  Toilet blocks are scattered throughout the site and are plentiful and were always clean even in the height of season.  Counting the days till we are there again.  When are you thinking of going?

Hi Humberflyer

we are hoping to go middle of August. Val de Bonnal looks like a safe bet.  Last year we went to Le Escale, La Grand Bornand - Alps near Geneva.  Absolutely wonderful, but we only have 11 days so I need something a couple of  hours closer.  We have stayed at Belle Hutte in the Alsace mountains but it was very wet. We used to wake up in the clouds and plenty of thunderstorms!!!  When we drove down to Colmar that was brilliant like little Venice, Riquheur (not sure of spelling was also really nice too)  Worth day visit to. 

Your comment about a river side pitch sounds good.  Hopefully we will be able to get one of those!

Enjoy your holidays

Excellent site near Colmar folks www.clairvacances.com

Hi Marz

Thanks for the info on the Colmar site it looks very pretty.  I am compiling a list of all the sites and we will have a family vote.

Regards

Julie

There is a superb municipal site at Obernai in Alsace, called Val de Lehn. Handy for Strasbourg by train. Obernai is delightful, and 10mins walk from site. Area is beautiful.

Graham

Thanks Graham

I am certainly going to pay a visit to Obernai and to Strasbourg - we have been to Colmar before but not up that far (brother lives in Mulhouse - nearby!)

Thanks again

Julie

I personally wouldn't rave about L'escale, Grand Bornand as we were there in June of this year.  They have leased the rally field to Thomsons and whacked mobile homes on it so all the rallies are now in the main touring area.  We found the pitches all rather crammed in and they appear to have tried to make more pitches as the water and waste sites no longer make sense in relation to the boundaries of the serviced pitches.

We thought they were expensive too, off season we were charged 5.5 euros a day for electric for our little camping fridge!!  That is £35 for 10 days.  the pool looks great in the pics but is very shallow and not very big.  No loo rolls in the loos but I know that is not unusual abroad but the loos were a bit antiquated and dingy.

Did have wifi though which was great, I could still talk to my forum buddies!

I like the sound of the site in the Jura you describe though, how many miles from Calais is it? 

Ali

L'Escale was great when we visited.  we didnt have problems with loo rolls and the pitches were well defined we were at the top end of the site which was more spacious but we had to ask for those pitches.  We also went when the family festival was on which meant there was plenty of entertainment for all the family.  This was around mid August probably better than June time.  We were also charged the same electricity but used a electric heater and (lidl) oven plus a light and mp3 player and that certainly makes up for the charge!!

We have just come back from la Val de bonnal.  Great site, huge pitches but when it rains the only thing to do is fish, kayak fish, oh more fishing and sit in your tent and read a book.  There is not much to do in the area so you have to drive at least 45 minutes to nearest tourist attractions.  Besencon was good with the Citadelle and the Alsace grand balloon on a clear day,  plus Colmar and Fribourg day trips are also worth a viist.  | The water slides were good but you need at wet suit as they were so cold.  The loos were immaculate but unfortunately the dutch teenagers didnt understand about taking their muddy shoes off so that they could keep the shower area clean also about cleaning the shower cubicles after themselves

Of the two if you could put the pitch sizes on l'Escale and the kayak river that would win hands down.  L'Escale 60 Val Bonnal 40 but the festival and the pretty village had much to contribute towards it.

Val Bonnal is approximately 380 miles from calais

We are hopefully off back to germany (bavaria) or switzerland next year.

If you visit val de bonnal make sure you dont go during the rainy season it can be soul distroying if you do!!!

Julie