Long time thread stalker bites the bullet...... France

[Elizabeth267]

So I've stalked this page for over a year and thanks for all the great recommendations. I'm coming out of hiding and trying my first ever forum post.
You have persuaded me to try camping in France. We are (lightly) seasoned campers and after an entire week of torrential rain in Dorset last year we are driving in search of sun. I've decided I think that we want to go to the Vendee region, avoiding Rouen, and to save ££££ we will drive from Calais eeek!

I decided Grangeoire was the site for us then realised its booked up (going August), now thinking les Valades but worry it seems a massive trek from pitch to everywhere (we have a serpent like 3 year old boy and a 6 year old girl). Sadly no space on the car for bikes.

Ideally I wanted to be on the coast, with a heated pool where there are slides they can both use. I also (hoped) for kids clubs that took 3 year olds but that seems impossible and although quietish at night a kids disco would be great. The whole concept of French camping scares me as its out of my comfort zone. I can't speak French and having camped all my life and feeling confident the way french sites are set up seems so different - My husband has been persuaded by speedos, I'm not sure what the quality of toilet blocks are like (in my head they'll be quite grim) can anyone help allay my fears and neuroses.

Thanks all x

Can't recommend a site but can say that in my limited experience of French sites (2) the loos/showers are fab and v clean. Good luck.

If you want a site on the beach, try looking at Carisma Holidays (only go to direct beach access sites) then try & book the site direct for your tent/caravan.

eg this site looks fab

Don't forget that the EHU in France has different connectors, but you can buy a European converter in any Caravan supplies shop (If you use EHU).

We stayed at a site in Bretignolles with Matthews, no organised entertainment but has an indoor & outdoor pool and also on the beach.

If you can travel a little further. then the Charente Maritime is beautiful and has better weather than the Vendee.

Oh, and we managed to fit 4 bikes and a roof box on our Volvo roof - it was a thin Thule Box, concorde shaped, with 2 bikes either side back to front - very slightly overhanging roof but well within wing mirrors etc.

Have fun!

Thanks everyone, I feel better that toilet blocks are clean! Grubby ones drive me nuts.
I'm looking at that charisma site now, I've been on the iPad for last 5 hours looking at sites and reckon it's just a case of committing.
The EHU thing never occurred to me, so thanks for that! Then all the extra stuff for the car, tag things for the tolls.

We will do an overnight near Le Mans, I see Saturday is a bad day to travel, we need to do Le Mans to the site on Saturday. Does amyone have ny experience of how bad it'll be?

Any Yelloh campsite I've stayed at has been excellent - they varied though in terms of what was offered and atmosphere.
Le Littoral was lovely and we hired bikes on site and cycled to Les Sables D'Olonne and Port Bourgenay. Kids loved the pool - didn't try kids camps.
Also loved Parc de la cote sauvage: different to Le Littoral but also good.

If driving in France you have to carry not one but 2 mini-breathalyser thingies. And spare bulbs. Apparently if you don't the police can't do anything but tell you that you have been very naughty and don't do it again, but a lecture from a gendarme is probably not what you need on your hols.

It's worth checking on the net for all the rules like that.

There's a great municipal site for an overnight stop at Beaumont sur Sarthe just north of Le Mans. You can book by email through the Beaumont office de tourism. Think it was about €9 for the three of us.

We have no space for bikes but do take scooters - just as good on many sites!!

Thanks all, I'm going to book la Guyonniere it's very exciting!

You will have a ball I'm sure, French sites are usually very well run and the municipal ones very good value. English gas canisters can be very hard to find though so take plenty of Spares