French campsite recommendations very gratefully received for a French camping novice.

[Purplemoon]

Aaaaaargh!! I have been trawling UK campsite reviews for days in a desperate attempt to find something suitable for our first camping trip to France, it clearly isn't helpful that I am trying to book to arrive in ten days time so late in the day, but complicated reasons rendered it impossible to book before. I'm not keen to go to some big commercialised site, but equally would like somewhere with a pool and nice, clean washing facilities (compulsory) which would serve as a base for exploring the surrounding area.I have been looking at the Loire Valley and Pays De La Loire as this doesn't seem too unreasonable a journey from Calais? Recommendations very, very, very gratefully received. (Oh, and we've 4DC and a VW campervan as opposed to a tent, but we do have a big awning too...) Sorry for going on, desperate for some MN advice.

Domain de la foret in the vendee region. It is reviewed in the MN camping revies section.

Washing places are V cleam and are cleaned 3 times a day, the earliest at about 6 in the morning. 160 pitches, has 2 small pools and a play area and a very nice cafe/bar complex in the out building s of the chateux.

Aha MB! Thank you, I read your recommendation of that on the other recent thread and emailed them. However, they have yet to respond so I'm sadly thinking that, not surprisingly, they don't have any availability for slackers like me! .
I just reread my OP and am feeling embarassed at my own grumpiness now

phone them. They are poor on email but good on the phone, and will be organised once you arrive.

the do speak english if your french, like mine is a bit shabby! ;-)

Lol, MB, yes, very shabby French, I had visions of me showing my little darlings how it was done re speaking French, but from reading the untranslated sections of numerous websites I realise my French is about as fluent as our dog's these days. Thanks, I'll give them a call. I have had one response but it's from a very large campsite and I'm worried that it's not really the kind of place I'm after but not sure I can afford to be too choosy.

we went here www.lac-de-panthier.com/index.php?lang=english in July, was lovely, indoor and outdoor pool, park and the lake to do all sorts in, its near Dijon which was about 4 hrs away from Calais (I think, we got stuck in a fuel protest on the motorway which added quite some time so not sure). Its not as big as it looks and quite quiet. Well, it was in July, but it was lovely anyway.

If you can't get in there try camping pong. Sounds like a wind up but it isn't. :-)

Not quite so nice, but avoids the 'massive campsite' stat and is just a little way down the road

DD1 and I were laughing at the name of "Camping Pong" earlier but it did have some good reviews...seems as though I was looking at the right places which is reassuring at least, even if I can't get in anywhere. That campsite looks nice deeledum, only thing that puts me off our toilet reviews...forgive the pun but I really am excessively "anal" about campsite sanitation... Are they good at Domain de la foret MB?

our??! are

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Where were you driving to Cod, any recommenations?

She went to la garengeroirse (sp???) vvvvv nice but impoossible for you to get into (she went on my recomendtion btw)

you can't get in because it books up really fast, not because you not posh enough or anything

we contacted them in oct for the next summer and they were booked up already

we also laughed at camping pong the first twice we went to the area

MB I've just tried googling that campsite and nothing came up. Any more clues for how to find it on the www?

Ah, yes, the one where people have all been going for years and have to move pitches so that regulars can get their fav. spot? Or am I remembering a totally different review?

Showers in Domain de la foret V clean. Cleaned 3 times a day, the firswt at about 6 in the morning!

Which site are you looking for
?

Showers in Domain de la foret V clean. Cleaned 3 times a day, the firswt at about 6 in the morning!

Which site are you looking for
?

The very popular one.

www.camping-la-garangeoire.com

OMG!!! Thank you MB I am sending you a HUGE virtual hug! I have just booked our place at Domain de la foret !!!!!!!!!

I never would have phoned them if you hadn't have said to, would have just sat and watched my inbox... I am sooo excited and the kids are beside themselves! This is the first trip abroad for 3 of them and DD1 was too young to remember her only time before. The Uk is beautiful but am so excited to be taking them further afield!

Wow!!

If you can, get a copy of Angela Bird''s Family guide to the vendee. An excellent guidebook to the region

Thanks for the info MB.

Can I just take you with me MB ? Lol!

I am about to book ferry crossings...any advice as to where to stay in Calais for a stop over? We were going to stop over in Dover the night before and drive straight down when we arived but am now thinking that the drive down will be too long in our somewhat slow campervan, we probably wouldn't end up getting to the campsite until about midnight!

Message withdrawn

what's that cod? We need somewhere to stop

Cornsilk, which campsite are you going to?