Lycra swimming trunks - how strict are the French?

[minxthemanx]

Just returned from fabulous 12 days on Sant Angelo Camping Village in Italy - mobile home with Thomson Alfresco. Keen to try similar in France next year, Languedoc or Biarritz side - am a bit at getting DH and my brother to wear Speedos! Are they strict about it, and can anyone recommend a good site in those areas?

I am here right now:

www.massereau.com/

We are staying here with Eurocamp. Weather is excellent and there is lots to see and do. We are away from the coast so (fingers crossed) there doesnt seem to be a huge mozzie problem.

However, I booked this year's holiday last year as it isnt a big site and gets booked out quickly.

As to speedos - my DH & DS(13) are wearing this sort of thing:

www.next.co.uk/x504526s4#803474x50

This is what they have to wear while swimming, end of argument. What my DH & DS do is where loose shorts to walk around in then just strip off to swim shorts to get wet. If my DS can cope then I think your DH & DB should be able to.

Most people seem to make a fuss then when they get here accept that it is normal.

Ok thanks, that's very helpful. Those Speedos don't look too bad, not like the tiny things I'd envisaged........

Yes - DH has something similar. No baggy shorts allowed.

Just back from Eurocamp holideir website has one of those live online support facilities...I asked them 'which sites let men and boys wear normal boxer-style trunks'..and they gave me a list!

they take it very seriously

We are recently back from France too and had to buy similar from the nearest Super U and were not alone. Lots of French people also lining up to buy their swimmers too!!! Similar to the speedos shown on link but mostly shages of dark grey. Everyone at the pool was wearing them. Ds (16) sneaked in the first day in baggier shorts but felt very uncomfortable and self conscious. Much happier when he had tight fitting shorts which conformed with the rules.

DH has a pair of swim shorts from decathlon. I think they were only about £5 and as he only wears them in France he didn't want to spend too much. They look like the next ones pretty much.

Some campsites don't worry about it. Le garangeoire is one that doesn't iirc but most do. We stayed at le cote d'argent on hourtin place last year and it was great but maybe a bit north if you are looking at Biarritz. Try yelloh or Castro camping for all bells and whistles type sites and flower camping for something more laid back.

That should be castel not Castro. Stupid phone

Most of them do insist. Does anyone know at what age they start to enforce it? Ds is now potty trained, here he is usually in wetsuit/ sunsuit cos I can't be bothered with too much suncream He is just 3. I know the French don't really get our love of sun suits, but they are useful even in a swimming pool.

Where we are I can see a few babies in sunsuits but TBH not many. At the age of three I think they are generally expected to be in swimmers.

Gnomedeplume - how did we miss you? we left Massereau on Thursday-after 16 nights there - but you can't have missed us - we were in the Dutch tent on the back trackway on the way to the pool. Pitch 219.
They were pretty strict at Massereau about the swim shorts - I saw quite a few lads being told off for not wearing the right swimwear and being told to leave.
We are up near Calais at the momemt and although it's sunny, the sun really doesn't have that South of France intensity - car now full of wine ready to head home tomorrow

Hi Lucy, we were further along (row 700s) in a Eurocamp chalet. We were probably easy to spot in our British summer pallor and were probably visible from space, glowing in the dark!

Lovely campsite and not at all 'kiss-me-quick' as we have found a few in the past.

Since I live in a rash vest this sounds like on of a million reasons not to go to France.

We've just got back from dordogne. They were very strict at the campsite we went to. Had boy on gate who checked every man/boy. My husband wore his regular board shorts over top and he had to undo and show every time... Much to my amusement! Would definately suggest the short style speedos rather than the briefs as they're so much nicer! :-) x

Where were you in the dordogne Hattie? We've never had a problem at the site we go to but haven't been for a couple of years and am now panicing that it's changed.