Camping St Cote De Nacre, Normandy

[amylou]

Hi - just on an off chance - dont suppose anyone has been to this camping site. its a big one which all the canvas, eurocamp etc go to in Normandy near Caen.
I'm a single parent and love in france and just wondered if I could manage to catch the ferry with my DD (age 5) on my own to Caen and drive there in France. I havent driven in france on my own before and am a bit nervous about it.. is the campsite easy to find? or if i didnt take the car and went on the ferry to Caen as foot passengers and got a taxi to the campsite. Is it walking distance to the shops etc? could I manage without a car?
heres hoping someone has been..

[spidermama]

Can't help with this specific campsite but I'm just back from Normandy with dh and my four kids and we loved it.
I drove most of the time (first time driving in another country) and it was fine. The roads are great but you best plan your route well as the signposting isn't as good as ours.
Also, have euros ready for tolls along the way.
Bon voyage.

[amylou]

Thanks for the advice.
what was the weather like? i'm probably thinking of going like this time next year to come back, as such, end of august? I was looking now cause if you book early you can get discounts..

[littleshebear]

We haven't been to this campsite but have stayed at one in Houlgate twice and know the bit of coast that Cote de Nacre's on. I think the ferry to Caen is very near to it - we drove past where the ferry comes in at Ouistreham and along to the beach last time we were there, and I think Cote de Nacre is just a bit further along. I would think you'd just drive along the coast road, which should be pretty straightforward.The motorway around Caen itself is a bit of a nightmare, but I wouldn't think you'd have to use it just to get to the site. Perhaps you could check with the tour operator?

We really liked the area and the beaches are lovely. If the campsite's nice you'll find you spend most of your time there anyway. When we went we had mixed weather - about the same as UK really.

I would go for it.

[happymerryberries]

We visited this campsite last year on our way to and from the Vendee, we only satayed 1 night each ime and we were in a Canvas caravan, so I can't comment on the washing facilities etc.

The site is good, with lots of facilities. The swimming pool area is excellent, with a little 'lazy river' and slides. There is a covered pool (top can also be opened up) if the weather is poor. There is a good play park, with IIRC a sand base.

The camp site is a fair drive from Caen but was eay to find, took us about 15-20 minutes iirc, so a taxi would be quite expensive. We walked to the beach, it is a good 30 minute walk, longer if the kids are tired. The local village is a nice seaside town, I can't comment of the shops as we didn't stay that long. There is a reasonable shop on site, but I would use that for things like bread and mild etc, as it is a bit more expensive than the supermarkets and has less choice.

The site also has a bar. It wasn't too noisy at night but is 'busy. It is a big site and I wouldn't be happy about my kids going to the park also (something we like to do on small site)

Re the car thing. You will be quite 'tied' to St Aubin if you don't have a car and you might be putting a lot of trust inthe Normandy weather. It tends to be just a bit better than the UK, but can be changable.

HTH

[amylou]

thanks for the info, HMB and LSB, thats been very helpful. Glad the pool is good as DD loves the water- usually whatever the weather!

I'm hoping to book to go to that site - i'm just phoning round for the best price now.. think i will take the car.. will just have to take a deep breathe and go for it!

its so good you can rely on mumsnet!

[littlemissbossy]

We've been here for overnight stops on our way further south - yes you definately need a car, don't worry about driving you'll soon get the hang of it, but have your directions ready prepared, Caen is a big city!

[Marina]

Bus Verts de Calvados amylou...and there used to be one along the coast from Ouistreham towards Arromanches, although this was a good few years ago.
The public transport in Calvados is not bad at all, IMO, especially if you are willing to head into Caen and change. A good train-line goes west-east through Caen/Bayeux and the Bus Verts are excellent, or were, I should say.
I think Normandy is a brilliant first destination for a novice solo driver in France. As parts of the country go, it has a much higher percentage of people used to lots of British drivers than say, somewhere like the Auvergne, and the Normans are a civilised, anglophile lot IMO (used to live there as a student).
Don't know the campsite, others do, which is good, but I'd definitely go there. Lovely part of France and why hack 100s miles south or West when there are gorgeous, clean beaches two minutes from a ferry.