La Garangeoire - anyone else going there this summer?

[Mummyisamonster]

We're off to La Garangeoire in the Vendee for the first time this summer. last year we went to Brittany and got pissed on rained on for two weeks so we decided to try somewhere (hopefully) a bit sunnier.
I see from previous posts on here that it's popular site. Anyone else going there this year?

[fatzak]

We're going for the first time too this summer! We'll be there from 10 - 24th August in out own tent. When will you be there?

[Mummyisamonster]

7-21st in our own tent too. Am really excited about it as it sounds like a great site. How're you getting there?

[fatzak]

We're doing Portsmouth-St Malo going, but are going home Le Havre - Portsmouth as the St Malo ferry goes at 8.00am which would be impossible and would need an overnight stop which defeats the idea of not doing Dover-Calais! Look out for the battered dark green laguna estate! How old are your children? We've got DSes 6 and 4 - am sure our paths will cross. We need a secret sign don't we

[Mummyisamonster]

We're doing it from Calais (free eurotunnel tickets thanks to Tesco clubcard tokens)so we're stopping off overnight.

We have DD aged 6, DS aged 3.5. Look out for the bad-tempered couple bickering over the tent whilst our kids run riot...

Yes, a secret sign sounds good. Any suggestions??

[scratchet]

I'm there to from 18th to 25th aug! I will have a noticable pregnancy bump by then. Bit worried about the weather etc as i am limited to activities i can do. Any suggestions? x

[FrontRowFig]

I went there.

Its ok.
a bit ANglais adn some pitches very shady so take a fleece

[fatzak]

Will see you too Scratchet then - will look out for pregnant women!

So I'm on the look out for the bad tempered couple with the children the same age as mine and the pregnant woman!

You were in a mobile home weren't you Fig IIRC Or am trying to be MN savvy and failing??

[scratchet]

I'm excited bout hols now! It will be like real life guess who!! I am going with dh, ds(9)and dd(4.5). We are staying in one of the supertents with keycamp. Has anyone any suggestions of things i need to take? Its our first time doing a holiday like this x

[barney123]

I am just about to book for 2 weeks June/july in an alfresco home, anyone else done this?

Hubby just found out cant wear shorts - said he doesn't want to go, "Im not wearing speedo's!"

[madamy]

We went 2 years ago and have been to sites in France for 5 years - swim trunks rule never been enforced!
Just incase, DH packs a pair that he could wear under usual swim shorts.

[barney123]

Thanks for that. First time in France in a mobile home, its been hard working getting him this far.

Has anyone stayed with al fresco on this site?

[scratchet]

Hi Barney, thats exactly what my dh said! Not a prayer will he wear 'budgie catchers'!

Does anyone know what to put in the sat nav to get to the campsite? Any suggestions on what things to take? x

[barney123]

I think address on here. www.camping-la-garangeoire.com/en/situation.htm

[barney123]

I think address on here. www.camping-la-garangeoire.com/en/situation.htm

[scratchet]

The website makes it look fabulous. Am looking forward to it now although dreading the journey. I'm still unsure what i put into the sat nav, pretty certain its not the 85150 number on the address. Can anyone help me with this as it is really stressing me out! TIA x

[Annner]

Just found this thread - sorry to have started up another by the same name! If you haven't left yet, Scratchet, the GPS coordinates for your satnav are

46.66387, -1.71346

Degrees, minutes, seconds +46 degrees 39' 49.93", -1 degree 42' 48.46"

Courtesy of Eurocamp. It got us there last year!

[Annner]

The Al Fresco mobiles are the poshest on site by far, so your DH will have to be amazed.

To the practicalities...
If you can fit in the kids' bikes, take them, as it is a very wheel-y site. Failing that, scooters.

Fleeces can be handy for the evening.

Don't rely on using supermarket carrier bags for your rubbish as they don't give them out any more. So take your own collection of reuse bags for the shopping or be prepared to buy bags for life type bags there.

Don't forget the matches so that you can put the kettle on when you arrive.

Bear in mind that the shop closes during the afternoons.

Takeaway is good for first night; their pizzas are v good. Restaurant nice but pricy.

A tatty buggy is great for carting your washing up to the washing up rooms.

Crocs are de rigueur, but do personalise them, as there are gerzillions in the shoe racks by the pool.

Re the Speedos dilemma of modest spouses: DH always wears these, which pass the Speedo piscine test but enable them to retain dignity, not look like a seventies throwback, while at the same time looking jolly nice indeed on that 30-something bum. Phwoar.

Any of you there the first week in July? We leave Blighty for Cherbourg on the 2nd, and are there for two weeks.

[chevre]

so what about the 'blank baby' service?

[Annner]

Where is that? I'll look on the web site.

[Annner]

Ah ha! Having looked at the French side of the web site, it says "espace bebe" - i.e. facilities for babies. Cool waist high baby baths with taps and plugs in the shower blocks.

Espace became - space, became blank. Lost in translation!

[chevre]

thanks anner!

[scratchet]

Many thanks Annner, thoses coordinates look complicated. Will leave that to dh! We are going on 18th aug. Have a lovely time x

A review would be lovely when you get back!! hint hint

[LovesTents]

We went at the start of july last year.Lovely site but we had crap weather. Puy de Fou is a nice day out for the family.There's also a sweet little zoo in les sables I think, good for a dull day.
Hope you get nice weather !

[fatzak]

Is Puy de Fou good then Lovestents? I seem to remember last year people talking about having to book tickets or something for it - what's all that then????

[bigTillyMint]

Puy du Fou is fab - we took our DC's who were about 4 and 6 at the time and they loved it - re-enactments of periods of history and various other stuff - google it. We did it for free on Tesco's vouchers!