Key camp sites - recommendations in France?

[kizzie]

Hi can anyone recommend any of the key camp sites in France.
Have had a look at the website and ordered a brochure but always so much better to hear personal accounts.
Will be our first holiday like this with two 4/5 yr olds so ideally quite close to one of the ports if poss.
Kizziex

oh janh many an hour I spend at hedge end!

boogie I hav eheard that too
no crunch but also key camping

coddy, I spent many happy minutes there counting the different kinds of trolleys (sad or what?)

Boogie

Delighted to hear your good reports on L'Etang de la Breche - that's where we're off to in August for 2 weeks

DH's boss did a fly-drive to the South of France last year with Keycamp. I know you can do their "Linen Hire" to save carting all the bedding etc. I quite fancy a South of France site next year but really do not fancy the drive - have considered doing a Fly-Drive.

Crunchie - glad you've decided - hope you have a good time

Ah but coddy we are going Eurocamp - the sister company (can't imagine they will be much different) I am just so excited, Only 6 weeks to go and 10lbs to lose Good incentive, I'll be up the board trying beetys detox if I am not careful Lemon, maple syrup and paprika For 10 whole days How could she!!

Coddy

We stayed in a Grand 34 3Bed with Keycamp last year. Need to take:

sheets for beds. They supply blankets but we took our own duvets/sleeping bags on the advice of an experienced Keycamper LOL! Glad I did as I noticed a few people using their blankets to lay in the sun on and one left it out in the rain!

Washing up stuff/teatowels

Bath/hand towels. Last year, I took 2 sets of bathroom mats (DH laughed at this!) but I didn't the year before and everytime the kids got out of the shower, they were slip sliding everywhere. Got really cheap ones here for about £1 - then I chucked them away.

If you like Key Camp etc you should take a look at Canvas holidays (sorry, don't know how to do a link). We went to France and Italy with them last year and thought it was fab so we have booked to go again in May and stay in one of their top luxury mobiles with a dishwasher! Can't wait!

Janh, not for nothing is the SeaCat from Newhaven-Dieppe known in our house as the Vomit Comet...if anyone in your party is more than averagely prone to seasickness, they might find it uncomfortable. I'm all right on them though
Did you see that P & O are introducing a FastCat from Portsmouth to Caen this summer? You might get a fare reduction if you book quickly as it's new.
We are doing England this summer and I am secretly resenting it, to me summer is not complete without a hideous jam-packed ferry and the unique smell of the Aire de Repos...not to mention the smiling Peage attendants.
You lucky things, all have fun won't you!

Janh, not for nothing is the SeaCat from Newhaven-Dieppe known in our house as the Vomit Comet...if anyone in your party is more than averagely prone to seasickness, they might find it uncomfortable. I'm all right on them though
Did you see that P & O are introducing a FastCat from Portsmouth to Caen this summer? You might get a fare reduction if you book quickly as it's new.
We are doing England this summer and I am secretly resenting it, to me summer is not complete without a hideous jam-packed ferry and the unique smell of the Aire de Repos...not to mention the smiling Peage attendants.
You lucky things, all have fun won't you!

We have done several camping hols over the years and also prefer Canvas as a company.
Liked the Vendee (camping les biches)
Liked Normandy (but not the weather or the campsite)
Didn't like S/o/France (with Haven)
Loved Italy - people and sites

roisin - we are doing eurocamp by fly drive in sept - live in NE so too far to self drive. I'll let you know how we manage with packing and 'stuff' - we're under canvas so need to take sleeping bags. DSs will be 9 months and 2yrs 9months - really hoping still to be bf as can't bear the hassle of taking/sterilising bottles!

We're going to Brittany this year with a company called Carisma - we've never been camping before (I'm more of a comfy bed/plenty of hot water kind of gal, but that's what having kids does to you..)but I'm looking forward to it. Slightly concerned that there seems to be no mention of this company anywhere though. Their brochure looked nice, but has anyone actually been on any of their hols? We're staying on a little campsite by the beach called La Foret (quite near Benodet I think). What have we let ourselves in for?!

how did everyone get on???

we are looking now and just can't decide.

slinky - what was L'Etang de la Breche like? are their restaurants within walking distance?

AuntyQuated

We had a fab time in Saumer in the summer - so much so we've booked to go back again this year. The restaurant is actually "on-site" and is absolutely gorgeous. The owners of the site are very "hands-on" and are seen working in the bar/restaurant/reception etc. In fact, the woman owner actually took us to hospital when DD1 had a head injury and stayed with us to interpret/fill in forms etc.

They also have a lovely "ice-cream parlour" on-site - used to sit out on the terraces for a mid-afternoon icecream

On chatting to the owner during our stay, she said that around 80% of bookings each year are "returning visitors".

Roll on July

thanks slinky

are there other shops & restaurants nearby?

when are you going, we're looking at the ned of july...i will be wearing red and carrying the FT

AQ

Saumur is a really beautiful town, sitting right on the River Loire. Loads of shops, restaurants, cafes, supermarkets - all about 10 min drive/30 mins walk.

We're going on the 30th July for 2 weeks - I will be the one by the ice-cream parlour holding a pink carnation

won't be there, no FT; all full until sept. can't fing 14 nights anywhere in the Loire.
pi$$ed off now - will continue search tomorrow

thnaks for your help tho'

Have you tried Eurocamp? That's who we're going with this year.

or canvas
email me aq

have done

no joy with eurocamp

u can't check availabilty on the canvas site; you have to ring em up

off shopping now, will return

Hi
Recommend Berny Riviere. Lovely site but DO NOT BOOK WITH KEYCAMP. Use Eurocamp or Canvas. Our keycamp caravan was dirty, highchair was filthy and did not conform to safety standards. Couriers unresponsive. I made sure before booking that travel cot would fit in bedroom and our pitch would be away from open water, neither adhered to therefore ruining our holiday. Recommend site but strongly suggest you don't use Keycamp