Key Camp Virgin

[mumzy]

Going to keycamp Les mouettes in Brittany this summer with dh and ds1(11), ds2(9), dd(7). Will be sailing from portsmouth to St Malo overnight then return on day ferry with Brittany ferries. First time at Keycamp and driving in France feeling quite nervous as did Olevels French 28 years ago and haven't used it since. Advice and Tips from seasoned francophiles and Key Camp aficandos to ensure a smooth journey and enjoyable holiday for all will be gratefully recieved. TIA

Are you camping or in a mobile home?

We have stayed with Eurocamp in mobile homes (often identical and next to, the Keycamp ones)

I make sure I have packed something easy to cook for the first meal or two e.g. pasta and sauce as you need to work out where the supermarket is etc.

The on site supermarkets are usually expensive so you don't want to be doing too much shopping there. Note: most french supermarkets either don't open at all on Sundays or only open for a couple of hours in the morning. UK chip and pin debit cards will work ok in a French supermarket.

Pack the swimming stuff near the top too, if your kids are anything like mine they will want to be in the pool the nanosecond the car has stopped. Keycamp will have things like board games you can borrow, boules etc.

I tend to pack things like loo roll, washing up liquid etc because you will need it before you get to the supermarket.

Driving in France is fine - check if there are any toll roads on your route - remember the passenger will be doing the paying etc.

I'm sure you will have lovely time

you have presumably gemmed up on the car things such as reflective jackets, breathalisers etc? do you have to wear trunks or swimming shorts in pool?

don't worry about language - if you have a stab they will be happy. a translation book does come in useful for emergencies though.

we always took a badminton set to put up in the pitch.

their baked beans are gross - so take your own if you eat a lot of these.

did you get route instructions. we found our sat nav took us some very odd ways - so i'd have an idea of the route as well.

its a great holiday if the weather is kind.

entertainment on ship is usually quite good and the food is suprisingly good value and nice (except for last sittings on return)

Thanks for the replies they're very helpful. We will be staying in a chalet just trying to plan the route from St Malo to Les Mouettes. Any suggestions re: best/ quickest route would be appreciated

most of the companies used to send us really detailed instructions ref journey. have you had your pack of things yet, as they are included in that? i used to get a detailed map and highlight the route with marker pen and ring road names - that was pre sat nav. i still found this useful once sat nav around as it suggested some very odd routes. roads there are generally excellent. i think there's a main road that runs along the top of brittany?

ref food - we had loads of barbecues and picknicks, which limited the amount of cooking i had to do. suggest taking a mat to sit on.

a detailed map is good as you will be able to find all the quiet beaches and viewing points etc

we always took tennis rackets and table tennis bats as well.

Thanks Dreaming for that info do you knowWhat are the facilities for clothes washing at Keycamp, can't seem to find any info about that on their website and will influence what we'll take

It's a nice site - we were there about 4yrs ago I think. Here is their website in English. It's run by Yelloh, who are a well-known camping group.

There was a small but adequate supermarket on the main road into Carantec, at the turning to the campsite.

Launderette on site - buy tokens at reception.

Take old flip-flops or crocs for everyone to leave at the swimming pool entrance.

I seem to recall a lot of German-style sunbed bagging going on, as the pool is open to adults only early in the morning. I would nip in while the DC were at the kids club (v.good) and drape a few towels in your favoured area

Beach by the site is ok for a stroll or stream damming, but quite tidal so not good for beach activities. The main beaches in Carantec are beautiful (think Cornwall with sunshine). At low tide you can walk across to one of the islands.

The nearest town, Morlaix, has a good market. Park and walk in along the river and watch the boats.

Route planning via michelin is the best site. Fairly straightforward drive IIRC.

Quite actually as it's somewhere I would definitely go back to. Have a lovely holiday.

Good point about the swimming trunks - wearing shorts in a swimming pool is actually against the law in France! - you need to have swimming trunks not swimming shorts.

There have been several threads on here recently about budgie smugglers vs swimming shorts and it seems that on site the rule is not enforced :)
I have never used KeyCamp but always used EuroCamp who have a really detailed travel section. You put in your crossing and the parc you are heading for and it gives you street level instructions (I just checked and EuroCamp are on Les mouettes too so you could use their site if you need to)
As previously mentioned don't worry about the language too much. Most staff on site will speak basic English at least and TBH most French understand enough english for you to get by. This year we were more adventurous as DS is older and we strayed out into smaller villages and markets and I felt we needed more than our rudimentary French, as a courtesy if nothing else. As I type I have a French CD from the library on my worktop :)
And chaz is right, pack swimming stuff near the top. I send DH and DS off to the pool while I sort out- it gets it over with in a fraction of the time :)

We have done Keycamp last 2 years and loved it.
Don't bother with welcome pack thingy, rubbish.
We have never had problems with wearing swim shorts.
Driving in France very easy to get used to.
Have found food and drink not that expensive, eating out reasonable (though finding decent children's meals can be tough Jambon et Frites really is just ham and chips, nothing else).
We also had loads of picnics and barbecues, hmmmm french bread, cheese, pate and wine.

LOVE our holidays in France, doing it again this year (same crossing as you this time, previously we have done Plymouth to Roscoff).

You will have a fab time

Oh and Kouign Annan sp is the most delicious Breton cake, buy from bakers, not supermarkets, just so moreish.

A lot of English is spoken on the Key Camp sites so I'm sure you will have no problem. However, the BBC website has some good French lessons on it if you want to refresh.

Thanks all for your great advice and tips. Getting quite excited about it. This is our first holiday abroad since dc were born

We were refused access to a pool on one site with swim shorts. They did accept trunks that were in a shorts style rather than true budgie smugglers.