Please would all you kind people out there give me some help. We've decided that this is the year to finally ditch the package holiday and venture with the caravan to France. As it's our first time abroad with a caravan I've been trawling through all the advice and tips. I'm now ready to choose a site and I'm finding it impossible to decide and not all the sites have reviews.
As a family we would like
swimming pool - slides for kids a bonus
river with beach and canoeing
nearby village with bars etc preferably within walking distance
and or small cafe/bar on site
we don't really mind if it's a large or small site and we would be happy to swap river for lake or beach.
am I being too prescriptive? Probably but it's worth trying. I have seen a site called Saint Offange near Rochefort, Loire has anyone been there and if so what do you think?
I'd appreciate any help 'cos I really need to get something booked!
Cheers, Caroline
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Try looking at sites in the Vendee, weather is what normally warmer than elsewhere. Most are near the sea, most have swimming pools. If you can go as far as St Georges de Didonne in the Charente-Maritime www.bois-soleil.com is superb, almost on the beach, walking distance for nice evening stroll into St George, swimming complex.
Have a look on the Alan Rogers website www.alanrogers.com for detailed information and what facilities are available for each site. You can enter your required criteria and search for your ideal site.
There are so many to choose from, also all sites in the Les Castels group are also brilliant. Try www.lescastels.comwww.camping-la-garangeoire.comwww.sequoiaparc.comwww.bien-assise.com for your o/night near Calais (a village called Guines) either on your outward or return journey. The French roads are ecellent for towing, you will wonder why you have never been before!
I can recommend Le Pin Parasol - in the Vendee area of France - It has pools, slides, small bar. It's within walking distance of a creperie and a 5 minute amble through some light wooded slopes down to the Lac Jaunay. 15/20 minutes drive takes you to the beaches and the Hypermarkets. I have heard very good reports of - Les Ecuriels at Jard and Domaine de la Foret at St Julien. Le Garangeoire is also an excellent site but likely to be fully booked now.
you could try Les Embruns at Poldu, it is near the sea and river, lovely family run site, pool is very popular but the sea bathing is on a gentle slope.
http://www.camping-les-embruns.com/
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But it´s all right now, I learned my lesson well.
You see, ya can´t please everyone, so ya got to please yourself
Ricky Nelson
Thanks for the info so far. I've checked out the sites which have been suggested and they seem to be booking up fast. Le Pins Parasol and Les Embruns tick all the boxes but Les Embruns has no availability at the end of July...should I be panicking? Please keep the suggestions coming in I'm giving myself a deadline for Wednesday.
Wow, Les Embruns looks really good. We visited Le Pouldu while staying at Ty Nadan nr Arzano and can confirm it is a nice little seaside resort - we went 3 days.
Try Ty Nadan http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revid=5136 . It is a full facility site by the side of a river. Canoing: yes, beach: er, it says so but it is an imagininative discription! Only a 20 min drive to Le Pouldu though.
Excellent swimming pools, good restaurant, very good shop. Walking distance to nearby village: no.
Probably very busy in July...
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Well Mr Paul just looked at Ty Nadan and it looks perfect. I was getting quite excited - canoeing, climbing, horse riding. Guess what? booked up when we're travelling. Now I'm getting REALLY panicky. I think we'll keep that in mind for next year. Just one question what's the weather like in Brittany in late July?
July weather is probably in the 80's with a chance of a thundery shower - just like home (OK a bit warmer!) Just like here it can be a complete washout.
This year we are venturing further west. There is a site in Benodet called Camping du Letty, which was recommended to me. No pool but a safe swimming beach where you could launch your canoes. You could take a trip up River Odet.
I'm not staying there, I'm staying at Port de Plaisance nearby - I had already booked.
We enjoyed Ty Nadan. Only blackspot was that MrP junior fell off a very small pony and shattered his arm - I can vouch for the French healthcare though
The period from mid July to mid August is the busiest time as the French are on holiday then. Many of the major "resort" sites will be full.
My sister stayed at Camping du Letty last year, and enjoyed it very much. She has small children (six and four) and thought the site ideal for the whole family. Lovely beaches in the area, cycling, horse riding, etc. Benodet and the surrounding area is quite pretty, though not so rugged as the northern Brittany coast.
I'd agree about Ranc Davaine, the pools are fantastic, there's loads to do in the area, great food at the restaurant, plenty going on, good sports facilities and a kids' club for all the various ages. The pitches are shady, but somewhat dusty in hot weather, and irregular, mostly in oak woodland. There's a river running at the bottom of the site, which can be 'canoed', but I'd say the nearest village is a long walk away. The pitches nearest the river are lovely. There's a shop, well priced, on site, and a take-away. The bar area, next to the pool, is lovely. However, in July/August it's likely to be very hot some days. In May/June when we usually go it's been up to 38 degrees. However, around the bar there's a fantastic misting system, when a fine mist of water sprays out of overhead 'wires' and cools the whole area!! High standard toilet blocks, too. The site can get crowded, and has been too busy for some people we've met there, but we love it, too. Last there a couple of years ago, with my eighteen year old son and his friend - Will was off to work as a Canvas Holidays Courier in Argeles, and we took him down, giving the friend a holiday as well! They loved it, too.
L'Ardechois, at Vallon Pont D'Arc is also highly recommended, being one of our favourite site. Grassy pitches, state of the art toilet blocks, good (smallish by today's standards) pools, good restaurant, shop and bar on site, good evening entertainment, finishes early. Right by the Ardeche - and walking distance into Vallon, which is a lovely holiday town, with a great market.
Let us know where you choose - it's always interesting to hear the end of a story!!
I've just been on both of the websites and unfortunately, they too are booked up - this is something to remember for next year. The are surrounding Ranc Davaine looks stunning. How long does it take to travel to Ardeche? To be honest we are looking further north because it's our first time caravanning abroad and I don't want it to be our last! Two young children 11 and 6 and a fractious OH don't always mix on long hot journeys.
I have seen a site in Cloyes Sur Le Loir which looks okay think I'll see if anyone has info on it.
Domaine De La Rive at Biscarosse is lovely.Cycle tracks through forest and canooing on lake.Lake beach straight off the campsite.Our teenagers loved it.Beach is just a few mile away and geat for surfing.
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: The perfect site...please?
