We have narrowed sown our shortlist and was wondering if anybody had any knowledge/have stayed at any of these sites:
Les Dunes
Les Brunelles
Zagorella
We have 7 year old children who like slides but we don't like to be kept awake all night by noise and although in a caravan, we would rather use the toilet facilities, so clean would be good!!
Many thanks
Post last edited on 04/01/2007 20:29:00
Post last edited on 04/01/2007 23:06:13
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
I worked on Zagarella for Canvas last summer and can definitely recommend the site - but with a few provisos if you've got a 7 year old child.
The positives first.
The pool is a very good size. Many of our customers mentioned how it was a very safe pool complex with it being large enough to have fun, but as a parent it was small enough to be able to keep an eye on your children. From talking to the campsite manager there is going to be some refurbishment of the pool over the winter to include a childrens pool. The water slide was good fun (obviously whenever I used it I was simply performing Health and Safety checks ) and there were a good number of sun loungers so you usually were able to get one even in the height of summer.
The site itself is a medium sized site with plenty of character - it has lots of bending roads with cul-de-sacs rather than just grids. There is also a decent amount of shade which was a godsend when the temperatures soared, though not every pitch was shady, so if you want your sun then you can get it! If you're bringing your own caravan then I would request the new part of the site as you are close to the newest washblock and away from the bar complex which can be a little noisy in the evenings.
But thats not to say it isn't child friendly. The animations programme this year included magic shows and many discos - often involving either The Zagarella Dance, The Ozone Dance (introduced to the site by yours truely!), and the cha cha slide. These were great for the children as the stage would fill up with everyone performing the moves together. They were very easy to learn and the younger kids seemed to like it as a way to 'perform' to their parents.
The Bar area was very family friendly, Anita (the site manager) really wanted to get the whole family down there and it meant there was a really lively but relaxed atmosphere.
Its about a 20 minute walk to the nearest beach at Le Rocher - and I feel that is the best beach in the area. If you walk away from the major entrance points (Le Rocher village) then you can have plenty of space. The water was very gently shelving which made it pretty safe for children. However by late August the surf was getting pretty big so its always worth taking care then - but the large surf made it fantastic for body-boarding!
The washblocks were of a very good quality and were cleaned regularly throughout the day, definitely not ones to avoid like on some sites!
Right enough gushing, the negatives...
The site isn't the quietest. Animations go on until around midnight so there can be some noise following that. Hence why I'd make sure you request a pitch well away from the bar and pool area. The new part of site would be best for that - though shade there is minimal.
The site shop and restaurant are average at best. The shop is very small and pricey. However, most site shops are and there is a Super U just a 8.2k down the road into La Tranche. They were also building a large Casino supermarket in Longeville which will be open by this summer. That will be just 5 minutes away so the choice will be excellent.
The restaurant was (as I would always describe to customers) 'a family restaurant'. The menu was pizzas (avoid the margarita, very bland) steaks and pastas. It wasn't horrendous food... and maybe I only got sick of it as we were there for the entire summer... but it just never struck me as special. That being said in Le Rocher there was an outstanding Moules restaurant who's name escapes me, but it served great quality food with a fantastic atmosphere. There is also a very good restaurant called La Fragunette in Les Conches (right next to the Les Dunes site).
I think that about sums it all up, I can definitely recommend the site - as you can probably tell.
I only went to Les Dunes on a couple of occasions to visit a courier from another company there, and to be honest I didn't like it as much as Zag, it was slightly closer to the beach, but it didn't seem as well kept.
I went to Les Dunes in summer 2002, and can hardly remember it! I think it was just ok in all respects. Having just taken a peep at their website, I'd say they've spent a few bob on it since, on the pools etc at least, because I don't remember those being as they appear now. It's not a big site, and so most pitches are within earshot of the nightlife. Even though it had direct access to the beach, we still used the car so that we could get to nicer / quieter spots. I also note that Eurocamp no longer offer Les Dunes in their portfolio....
From what Sean says about Zagarella, it sounds to me like that would be a better bet.
Also remembered that right next to Les Dunes is a bar/club called the Bud Cafe. In the height of summer this gets VERY busy and I'm sure - though couldn't say for certain - the noise does get heard on Les Dunes.
I agree with Sean about Zagarella. I can recommend this site too. We stayed about 3 or 4 years ago with our two children who were about 4 and 6 at the time. I think it was first two weeks in July, the weather was hot and sunny and had a fabulous time. We stayed with Keycamp in a caravan opposite the restaurant and shop. I didn't notice the noise from the bar which was close by, probably because we were there till midnight . One very small negative is that the children spent near on £100 on the amusements in the bar area.
They are the best toilet facilities I've seen. All white and very clean. Everyone very friendly. We have a tent now and am very tempted to go again.
If in need of a day out, La Rochelle is lovely. There is a great aquarium which was very interesting.
Be warned about the boat trip to Fort Boyard We had a very scary ride. The boat was quite small and you could either sit down on top or go inside. We sat down outside. As the boat was making its way out of the harbour it was going slow. Then the skipper made an announcement, only in French, and most of the people went downstairs inside. Then all of a sudden the boat speeded up and the sea was very choppy. We were frightened for our lives especially our youngest son who could have easily been swept under the seat and out to sea. The skipper eventually slowed down so we could go inside. We were all dripping wet. Apart from that it was good to see Fort Boyard
Fully support the views on Zagarella we booked a site last year just up from St Jean de Monts BLOODY AWFUL thank goodness we did'nt pay for a fortnight.Phoned the local Tourist Information who put us in contact with La Zagarella.They could not have been more helpful and booked in to a large pitch.GREAT FACILITIES all round and will certainly return in future
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: Zagrella or Les Dunes Longeville Vedee
) and there were a good number of sun loungers so you usually were able to get one even in the height of summer. 
), and the cha cha slide. These were great for the children as the stage would fill up with everyone performing the moves together. They were very easy to learn and the younger kids seemed to like it as a way to 'perform' to their parents. 
We had a very scary ride. The boat was quite small and you could either sit down on top or go inside. We sat down outside. As the boat was making its way out of the harbour it was going slow. Then the skipper made an announcement, only in French, and most of the people went downstairs inside. Then all of a sudden the boat speeded up and the sea was very choppy. We were frightened for our lives especially our youngest son who could have easily been swept under the seat and out to sea. The skipper eventually slowed down so we could go inside. We were all dripping wet. Apart from that it was good to see Fort Boyard 
