Probably has been done to death..but where is best (or worst) camping holiday in France

[columbolover]

Hi,

DH, myself and ds (14mo)have decided to go on a camping / caravan type holiday to France this year - end May / beg June.

We've never done this before, and are very excited but we have no idea where abouts in France to go, having never been there before.

I'd like to be near a beach or with local / things to see near by that we could go in order to keep ds entertained / and good kids facilities in the campsite. Thinking south of Fance, but don't know why.. and easy to get to once arrived in France, and likely to be sunny and warm!

Is ds too young for such a hol? I also don't want to go anywhere butlins ish - still traumatised from such a hol in early teens! Mind you, have no idea whether they'd be like this anyway, so please don't be offended either way!

just want to pick the right place so that I'd be keen to go back in years to come.

Nothing too rowdy, full of teenagers, but having visions of somewhere v clean (used to lovely coupley hotel holidays previously, alas no more!) and where I could enjoy a glass of wine whilst sitting just outside tent / whatever in the evening whilst ds asleep..I'm obviously deluding myself re ds sleep, but hopefully not the wine!

Please help, know its a tall order - even if you could tell me where to avoid if nothing else!

Many thanks

He's not too young!!! DD went to france camping when she was 3 months then 15 months the following year! The year she was 15mo we went to camping Mane Guernehue in baden, Brittany. The pool was fantastic for her (and ds who was 30 mo) and the restaurant was geared up for them too with a little Tykes climbing frame and slide in one carner of it so we could enjoy our meal while they played! The only drawback to this fabaroony campsite was that it was hilly and you had to drive to a beach! other than that it was perfect! We didn't stay in a tent tho - found a mobile home easier!

We've also stayed at:

le Bois masson - St Jean de Monts - too British - it's abig haven Europe (Siblu) site and too Butlinsy for me! (Le Bois Dormant was it's sister site aross the road and it was much nicer (You could use the indoor pool of the bigger site too)

Camping Acapulco - St jean de Monts. Excellent site, really good layout and lovely pool. Great location - can walk to beach

Camping Village la plage Le Guilvenic Brittany. Great location as right on sandy beach and great cycle tracks. BUT kids pool tiny and too deep for dd when she was 2. Found a ded mouse in it too!!! Very basic site. But beach location was fab.

Camping les deux fontaines, raguenes Brittany. Lovely site - can walk to beach (10 - 15 mins) pool complex great and lots of outdoor space - fields to play in.

For your ds the age he is I'd probably go for mane Guernehue as it was so perfect for dd - the pool was fantastic but you do have to drive to the beach. Depends what you want!!

All near big towns with loads to do and see. Know of soft plays too in case of bad weather!! Not that you'll be having any of that!

And yes you can sit out and enjoy a large glass or 2 or3 or 4 of vino when ds is sleeeping soundly in bed! These are the best family hols!!

the perfect family holiday as far as my DC are concerned, we've been going since they were tiny. If you are booking through a British company, most of them do supply travel cots, high chairs etc. and one even has tumbletot sessions. Low season most of the sites are pretty quiet. The Vendee region is not too long a drive (we're trying Acapulco this summer) and you should get decent weather and plenty of places to potter around.Brittany nice too but weather probably not so reliable - Benodet is lovely.

I went here last year with DD. My PILs had taken their caravan down for a couple of weeks and DD & I flew over for a week with them.

It's a lovely site and I did notice there are plenty of vans/chalets/bungalows for hire. The site has security patrolling of an evening ensuring that everyone quietens down at bedtime.

It is not by the coast, but by a stunning river and a short walk from a lovely little town. DD was 15 months when we went and she loved the little playground on the site.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Wow that looks fantastic LilRed - not going to France this year but I have visited the Verdon area many times and it is beautiful.

Thanks guys, Lilred that looks lovely, will look at it a bit further. Vendee looks nice too, I had a look online at campsites there earlier.

I'm not aware of what British companies you can book through. I've looked online and eurocamp and keycamp look good from the point of view they've got lots of info.

If anyone could give me the name of some good British companies that would be great

Thanks for all your help so far

leslaki, you've certainly been to France a few times! I'll check out the ones you suggest - sound great, and glad you see where I'm coming from re the wine

keycamp
eurocamp
canvas holidays
canvas life (used to be french life)
thomson al fresco
siblu
ian mearns

• a few others

We're going to chateau des ormes in Brittany. It's huge (800 + pitches) with lots of facilities and activities. It is noisy and quite lively but DS & DD (age 6 & 4) made lots of friends at the kids clubs and loved it.

You do get the noisy, football shirt, chav element there occasionally but I've found that a set of earplugs and a bottle of wine means that you can sleep through anything. If you want quiet seculsion it's not for you.

the s of fr is a bloody long way
with a 14mo you'd need an overnight stop

vendee much closer

Domaine de la foret in the Vendee is the place you want to go. Keycamp go there if you don't have your own rig.

small site, set in the grounds of a chateux, small bar/restrurant/ take away, play area/ pools. 'nice', not too crowded, can walk into the local village

Inland, 15 mins drive to some nice beaches

Thanks for all your replies, you've been a great help

My geography is so bad, never considered south of france was that far! have had a look at vendee, looks lovely. We'll have to make up our minds soon as we're running out of time.

Thanks again

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