French camping where you csan acually abandon your toddlers in kids clubs?

[twelveyeargap]

Preferably where there are minders/ nannies. ;)

I have never done a camping holiday in France (or elsewhere), but DH always used to go as a youngster and reckons we should go.

There will be me and DH, 14yo DD, 2yo DD and 1yo DS. Since I am a SAHM, I don't think it's much of a holiday if I have to look after the children all the time. (Told DH it's like him spending 12 hours every day of his holiday on his Blackberry.) I would like to be able to leave the youngest two in a kids club type thing for a few hours on a few days. Also need some sort of tenn activity for DD1 (other than texting her friends about boys).

Do such facilities exist? I have been looking at some websites and the babies' clubs seem to require a parent to stay at all times.

I've been on an Esprit Summer holiday before, with brilliant childcare, but I think the resorts are a bit limited, with most of them being ski resorts.

Should mention that I do not want to have to bring a tent etc. Want to hire the tent/ chalet/ whatever and as much "stuff" as possible. Have enough to pack in the as yet un-purchaced roof box without thinking about tin plates.

Any thoughts? (Other than that I sound like camping is not for me...) Merci!

Most of the kids clubs start at 4 or 5 years old. To be honest the set up that you are describing is more likely to be in a mark warner or carribean all inclusive type holiday in a hotel. I've never seen anything for little ones at a campsite.

Ooh I didn't realise you'd had another baby! - remember when you were pregnant with dd2!

Could you pay dd1 to look after the younger ones fir a couple of hours each day? Or I think some Keycamp type places do clubs for toddlers but don't know if parents have to stay and there's usually lots fir older children to do.

I would have thought a lot of "sun" holiday companies do kids clubs - even the regular ones. I'm sure when dd was 3 and we went to Lanzarote there were kids clubs at some of the resorts...

Pierre et Vacances do creches at some of their resorts in France for the littlies.

Most companies kid's clubs don't start til 4 or 5 - unless you do ClubMed/Mark Warner and pay fortunes. And believe me I have searched extensively!

We've just 2 weeks with Siblu and they have a Baby Club twice a day, but you have to stay with them - which I guess is not what you have in mind?

Thanks. The Pierre et Vacances clubs were the kind of thing I was thinking of, but were hoping we could find them on a campsite.

Currently considering bringing DH's teenage nephew with us. Both he and DD1 are good with the little ones so figured maybe they could keep each other company whilst "supervising" (for pocket money) at the baby clubs and giving me a couple of hours with a book. The teens seem keen, so that's a good start.

Now to find a couple of campsites in the Vendee/ Loire which actually still have tents available, buy a roofbox etc.