la garangeoire-advice/tips please

[abif2]

We are going with eurocamp to La Garangeoire in 2 weeks. We have a lively 3 year old and will be staying in a tent.Has any one been before and got any tips for what to do, what to pack, what to avoid etc?

Also my dh wants to know if the no shorts rule is enforced. I think the idea of speedos terrifies him!

We are driving from Calais. Which are good hypermarkets?

Any tips welcome. Thanks.

Will be watching this as we are going in August. Are you doing an overnight stop from Calais? We have booked Portsmouth-St Malo going over, but there isn't an overnight ferry from St Malo coming back and it'd make it an awfully long journey for us back up to Yorkshire! I can't be bothered with an overnight stay so I think we might go for the Le Havre crossing on the way back.

Had forgotten about the Speedos - DH will not be impressed

Yes we went to that site last year - lots to do on site - nice playground, kids clubs, entertainment on most of the time - there is a lake with boats on etc and a forest to walk through. Table tennis, bike hire and the pools were good but got quite busy.

Yes they do enforce the speedos rule - this is common at most parks across France! No speedos no swimming Im afraid - but you can get them a bit like short ones rather than speedos as such!

Remember that most of the hypermarkets close on Sundays so make sure you have enough food with you if arriving on Sunday although there is a take away on site

Cant remember too much of the area but there was some good beaches around and some good markets - the staff will give you a list of local markets and days etc.

Calais is a very long drive - i would consider an overnight stop or at least stopping half way down for a long break - depends on your 3 yr old - mine wouldnt manage that long.

Le Puy du Fou is excellent - well worth a visit

Thanks for that. We are going straight from Calais with a short picnic break on way. She is used to long car journeys from visting family and have a car dvd player! Thank god!

Any tips for essentials to pack?

DH wears these in the pool and they not only look jolly nice (phwoar) but says that they are comfortable and are anything but skimpy! This said, when we were there some men were wearing shorts, but it would be typical to be the one caught by the lifeguard on a bad day.

Don't forget to take your matches with you so that you can put the kettle on when you get there.

The shop closes during the afternoon from (I think) 2 till 6 ish.

If your child has a balance bike or scooter that they love, take it: the site is a real biker paradise for little people. They have small bikes with stabilisers for hire, too.

It's a fab site. We went there last year and will be back again in July. We were on the Puffins pitch.

Carrying your stuff to the washing up area can be a faff, unless you lug it in your buggy. This said, we have bought one of theseto ease the burden of all those plates, bbq grids and tea towels!

You need to visit Parc D'attractions in Brem Sur Mer. Like a theme park but much smaller and more fun. Also there is a good lake at Appremont (sp??) with beach so good for swimming- may be a cold but warmer than the sea. They also have pedalos, boats etc

We went last year with teenagers and had a great time. Second the Puy du Fou suggestion. It was really great. The local beaches were great, and it's easy to drive round the area - it's not too busy.

Thanks for all the tips..especially the matches! Would have completely forgotten and would be fuming after long drive. Wine would have just had to do instead!

DH has got himself some jammer swim shorts to very relieved not to have to wear speedos. Looking forward to visiting the places you recommended.

Oh and thanks for bike suggestion. We were planning on taking it but will definitely squash it in now.

Cant wait. Just got minor hurdle of packing with dairy intolerant child to get over! Thanks.

I forgot to add that French supermarkets don't give plastic bags away, so you need to take lots of your own bags for life and not assume that you will have loads of spare placcy bags for wet clothes, rubbish bags, etc.

And buy some of the great French supermarket bags for life - much nicer designs than ours !

a nice tip if you are trying to keep control of a wandering 3 year old is to use the sun loungers to fence in your "garden" area around the tent. YOu could even borrow ones from any unoccupied tents. We have seen people doing this and if two adjacent tents or mobile homes do this then they can share sun loungers. This might let you relax a bit more - sit back with your glass of wine and enjoy !

anyone driving down on a sat in school holidays - expect traffic jams especially at the tolls. the drive back for the st malo/portsmouth ferry, early in the morning, was a doddle in comparison(though initially dark). we found it very cold at night - they said this was usual

I dindt like it
far too many brits
beaches a bit meh

and bread nothign compared to the baker at bonne anse plage
some caravans really old. and very dark as the trees made them gloomy

pool cold.

think it depends on who you go with - our canvas caravan was fab - immaculate, brilliant rep, even had a dishwasher, massive pitch and almost a power shower. thomson al fresco also good. thought site overall was great, just didn't like vendee that much - brittany better