French campsite question again. We want to stay near Blois in Loire Valley.

[ekra]

Dh and I are having problems finding a suitable campsite. A lot of the campsties with websites in the right area are expensive. OK, not expensive by other standards, but more than we were hoping to pay. We only have 2 young children so all the great activities and water slides will be wasted on our family.

We are looking for a simple campsite. A swimming pool is necessary. A bar/restaurant onsite is preferable. Or else the campsite should be located near to a village/town.

That's all we're looking for. Simple.

So, if we can't find a campsite using Internet searches, how else can we go about it? What did people used to do? I know DH used to camp in France with his family as a child and they would just turn up somewhere. I'm not prepared to do that sort of hunt with a likely bored one year old and four year old in the car.

Help please.

Contact the tourist office in Blois. They will have someone who speaks english.

dO YOU WANt me to get the number for you?

was it you I suggested Amboise to a couple of weeks back?

I did link to a website, but the pictures didn't make it look nice at all. I think it does tick your boxes though and shouldn't be too expensive. It's Camping de l'Ile d'Or in Amboise, a small town with chateau and lots of character. Shady, right in town, on island in the Loire, pool, restaurant.

And it really is nice there. I went there twice a year for the first 16 years of my life as it's where my grandparents lived.

Sorry if you already checked it out and thought it wasn't suitable! Just ignore me in that case!

aDad - yes - I looked at that website and found 4 campsites that were unsuitable for various reasons. But thanks, it was a useful site for other reasons.

aDAd - I have looked at it again and wonder if we didn't have any joy with it because the website link is not working. I will look again and see if I can find out some more details.

DH and I got so bogged down in this last night. It's the second time we have spent an evening trying to book the campsite for July and ended up calling it a night utterly confused with what we have looked at and disregarded and why!

yes the website link just seems to go to the amboise town site, but from there you can navigate to the campsite page with contact number etc.

As I said they decided to show a photo of the office at the entrance to the site (mmm lovely) and not the site itself which has great views of the chateau across the river.

Another nice site in the area is the campsite at Montrichard, on the River Cher. Think someone already linked to Chaumont campsite which is nearer Blois.

Tis true, tourist offices are fab in France and v helpful for any info

thank you adad.

Tant pis, ekra!

Sorry - I wasn't ignoring you ggglimpopo

I planned to come back and see what aDad said and then respond to your kind offer.

Do you think the tourist office will be able to send me details of all the campsites in the area?

OFFICE DE TOURISME * - 3, avenue Jean Laigret - 41000 BLOIS - Tél. : 02.54.90.41.41 - Fax : 02.54.90.41.49 - Email : [email protected]

seems to be the blois tourist office. 00 33 for France and knock off the next 0.

Thank you all! I'll let you know when DH finally make a decision.

We stayed at Chateau des Marais about 20 mins from Blois, near Chambord. It is used by Eurocamp etc, but you can also use your own gear. The campsite was possibly the BEST we have ever been too. Nice pool (small slides!) Nice shop/restuarnt they hire bikes, really friendly and simly brilliant. here High summer it is 32e for a pitch they also hire their own mobiles etc.

Seriously fab place if you don't go in the summer hools even better value