Holiday of a life time

[MissyRishy]

Well here goes my now third attempt at my first ever post! I am determined not to ask dh for help, so please be gentle with me!

Last summer, my mum bought a touring caravan for us to use. Wow! After a thoroughly enjoyable few days in North Wales we were hooked! Life then got in the way of us having any more trips (busy with work, ill kids...you'll know this picture I'm sure!). Anyway, we are determined to make the most of this amazing opportunity and have decided to pop over to Southern France / Northern Spain (unless any of you can inspire us to head elsewhere?!) for about 6 weeks this summer.

My dh will tow the van out and stay with us for a few days, then he'll fly home and come back later in the holiday. So, I'll be staying at the van with my mum (a dapper, if slightly clunky 70 something), our ds (3yrs) and our dd (nearly 2yrs).

We've camped in lots of places in France over the years and have stayed on some amazing sites. We took our ds to a Yelloh site in Ramatuelle when he was tiny. It had a fantastic water play area and pool. It had a bar and restaurant and even some entertainment. The nearby beach was lovely but tbh I don't fancy the hike through the vineyards with my mum and now 2 kids everyday. We've also stayed on a site in Port Grimaud which had a small but perfect beach on site. The swimming pool though was more suited to older children. If I could put the two sites together, I'd be booking it!

I guess I'm really looking for a site that offers enough things to be enjoyable for young children while being accessible for a groovy granny who has a few replacement joints! Oh, and reasonably near to an airport so dh can join us!

This is a once in a life time opportunity for us as I'll be going back to work shortly after we return. I want to get it right for everyone so we can make memories that will certainly for me, last forever.

Any advice or tips will be gratefully received. Thanks in advance.

We loved Croix De Vieux Pont in Berny Rivière. They have a little fake beach and it's lovely and accessible. Lakes, pools and all the usual stuff. About an hour from Paris airport. Also an hour from Disney if that appeals to you! They run day trips from the site.

Ah sorry. Missed the southern France Spain bit

Have a look at the Eurocamp website. Then see if you can book directly. You know you are getting a certain level of site if you do that.

Well even though it's northern France we'll definitely keep the site in mind for the future. We love Paris and would like to take the kids to Disney when they're a little bit older. So great recommendation! Thanks

Is there any reason you want to head that far south? I would be happier being further north I think so it isn't as hot.

If you liked the Yelloh site in Ramatuelle but the walk to the beach is too long, you might like another of their sites, Camping Le Brasilia, near Canet en Roussillon. It also has a good waterpark for little ones with their own pool and some little waterslides you can take them on or they can even attempt themselves (maybe). There are also kids' clubs I think and a Mini show every night (or there was when were there). The best thing if you want access to a beach is that the site is right on the beach so very little walk for your Mum or the children.

The only disadvantage is that the site isn't really walking distance to any nice villages/towns, but if you have a car you can drive to other places including Perpignan. I would recommend a day in Collioure some way down the coast as you can sit on a table outside a bar while the children play on the beach in front of you. Also it has lovely little lanes to explore. About 45 minutes/1 hour's drive IIRC.

There is a market place on the site and also an OK restaurant/bar. We had a great two weeks there, albeit we were able to go out of school holidays.

My parents kept their touring caravan in Spain for a couple of years just near figueres. Lovely old town with lots to do, beaches and near enough to Barcelona airport for cheap easyjet flights so we could join them at weekends.

They usually stayed soon a small site when it was just the two of them but there is a bigger site nearby we stayed at once with pool resteraunt games etc. But I cant remember the name sorry.

Thank you so much for your ideas and tips. We found some super looking sites, including some you suggested but, of course, they were all booked! After much searching we've found a site near Narbonne. We should be close enough to the Spanish boarder to pop across and take a look at the sites along the coast there just in case we ever decide to travel that far again! We went to the recent caravan and camping exhibition and collected lots of info on sites in Northern Spain which should help! Now, my next mission is to convince dh that dc are old enough to enjoy a visit to euro disney on the way home!! Think I've got more chance of booking a caravaning holiday to Spain! Ha! Thanks again for sharing your thoughts with me. Really kind of you all

I was just about to ask if you'd looked around Narbonne. The beach is perfect for children, loads of sand, warm shallow water & activities happening. There are a couple of nice campsites not too far. I spent every summer there as a child... It was wonderful. In fact, if you could pack me in your suitcase that would be great!

Hehehe! I'm sure we wouldn't notice an extra one! We've spent some time that way but not been to many beaches. Can't wait to discover!