Any advice for a Keycamp newbie???

[dinkystinky]

DH has booked us (me him DS1 aged 4 and DS2 aged 1) 10 days in Keycamp (La G-something) in August. Staying in a mobile home thingy. Any advice from seasoned Keycampers on ways to make the most of holiday and things to avoid (e.g. is the arrival welcome pack worth getting) would be much appreciated!

la Garangeoire?

take a T-towel.

i always forget the Ttowel.

and a bath mat, or even two
washing up sponges
matches or bbq lighter for the hob

if its la garangeoire its a good site. hopefully you're not driving down on a sat in summer hols - if you are go prepared for traffic jams at the tolls. have a credit card for the tolls. its cold at night - or at least it was last summer - much colder than brittany - so take fleece and jeans. we do lots of picnics so take a cool box. clothing - fairly casual. restaurant there's a bit mediocre. we've done this holiday so many times i'm struggling as its all so second nature. its great with kids

and towellin gponchos (primark) for dashing back from the pool

Another one who has done this s often it's second nature:
take a sharp knife (or buy one in supermarche)
If mobile has a freezer, stock up on ice lollies otherwise you will blow your budget at the camp shop.
bath mats, definately
CD player/ipod/radio
hire bed linen & towels (in advance) if short on car space, but take beach/pool towels or ponchos
DH insists on taking milton and soaking all kitchenware & cleaning surfaces on arrival
tinfoil to line the barbeque and grill pan
washing-up gloves
clothes washing tabs for the on-site laundry (often a good place to escape with a book for some quality time away from the DC )
travel cot may not fit in bedroom - ring and ask.

For the journey:
bottled water with sports caps
wipes
sick bags
kitchen roll
story cds
plenty of snacks

route planner

Keep the DC on UK time, then you won't worry about them staying up later than normal. It's impossible to get them to bed when it's still light, and every other child on the site is still up

Yes if you arrive Saturday evening get up and go to the supermarket early Sunday morning as they generally close at midday on Sunday.

Take something easy to cook for the evening you arrive (or splash out on a takeaway from the campsite)

If it is La Garangeoire can give you lots of tips.

Oh yes staying on UK time for the dcs is good - that way you feel like you have had a lie in in the morning!

These are all excellent tips - thank you so much. Would never have thought about bath mats or tea towels! It is indeed La Garangeoire (have looked it up) - so the more tips the merrier DecorHate Am loving that there are so many people who have keycamped that its become second nature - now making me very excited about our holiday..

the very nearest beach is the best for young children as has inland lagoon area with calm water. we put rue de la plage in and the town and it took us there - sorry lost my map. puy de fu is great - though your children might be a little young. if the rock group is playing they are very good

I am soooo excited for you! Haven't Keycamped but have Eurocamped and Canvas Holidayed lots. Was getting excited about booking our summer hol to Houlgate in Normandy, but dc#2 should be due in Sept so can't do it anymore, although that's obviously I'm not complaining. I'm not that hardy a camper.

Can't add much advice to the good stuff you've got already. I always take bottles of Dettol spray and economy kitchen towels so that I can go over everything as we arrive for peace of mind. Also pack the car as though we're moving house, with a box for the bathroom, a box for the kitchen etc., rather than a suitcase for each individual (apart from clothes), since you don't have to take your stuff out of car for a plane.

My only other 'be aware' would be that we took ds last year when he was 1, and there is a gas fire in the living room in most mobile homes, so I wished I'd brought something that could have gone around it to stop him trying to turn dials and tamper. Couldn't really let him potter indoors without very close monitoring, but then it was so lovely outside that he didn't often need to.

Sorry for a long ramble, just loving thinking about the wonderful holiday you'll have!

some companies will supply a stairgate to go across the front door, so you can have the door open without worrying about toddlers falling out and down the steps.

take swimming nappies - sometimes hard to find in France.

chippy we always pay the extra and get a van with decking to avoid that

Ooh -we've gone for a van with decking - glad that turns out in hindsight to have been a good idea as DS2 is definitely an accident prone intrepid explorer! Dreamingofsun - the beach sounds lovely - will definitely check it out. Oooosabeauta - thanks for getting excited on my behalf - sorry you dont get your camping fix this year but v good reason you've given there for not going this year

Thanks dinkystinky, having read this I'm noting tips for our next time. Have a great time

we went when dd was 1, am racking brain:

buy or borrow the angela bird guide

make sure your satnav has up to date fr maps and program in the location of the site using the coordinates (N 46°39'39" W 1°42'56") not postcode

take bikes if you have them, also scooter for ds1 to whizz round site

the best supermarket is the big Leclerc complex at Olonne-sur-Mer

the best beach we found was Paree-Plage at Bretignolles - couple of restaurants and cafes round a little piazza, lots of sand, also rockpools and not too busy

take a kite
and the big (ie not maclaren) pushchair if you have the room

make sure crocs / sandals are named as you have to leave them in pigeonholes by the pool

make sure you request your free baby kit (highchair, nappy mat etc) from rep on site

this thread is good

Parc des Dunes is good for a day out - reasonably priced and you can take a picnic. It looks a bit scruffy (dh was making faces as we pulled into the carpark) but my dcs really enjoyed it.

here

The supermarket on site is a bit pricy but ok for bread & milk. Buy bread in the morning as it sells out. The shop shuts for a few hours in the afternoon so make sure you don't get caught out! There is also a bakery in the nearest village of St Julien and a small supermarket. The nearest big supermarket is SuperU in Mothe D'Achard (about 10 min drive) Think there is a Lidl there too...

I quite like the on-site restaurant but it is not cheap. We tend to do lots of BBQs. The supermarkets sell ready prepared packs of kebabs, have good fish counters and seasonal salad ingredients are cheap. the on-site takeaway sells pizzas and ready cooked chickens. We also found a creperie type place (savoury as well as sweet) nearby on the shores of Lac du Jaunay which has a nice outdoor seating area overlooking the lake.

I agree that you need to be careful with shoes/sandals by the pool. Make sure they are named, esp if they are from somewhere like Clarkes so more than one child may have them (did anyone mention that the site will be full of British families?!) Someone took my ds's sandals in error one day and he was left with a pair two sizes too big - took a few days before I found his again!

ah yes parc des dunes, couldn't remember name

check out the 'places to visit' cards display at reception

there's a sensory garden in Coex and a 'freaky vegetables' garden somewhere else

and we had a lovely day out in Apremont (pedaloes on the lake) and another at St Gilles Croix de Vie (watching boats and eating moules frites)

you really need that Angela Bird book - would lend you mine but we are going again this year, to La Tranche this time

Have you been to La Tranche before MrsB? The countryside is surprisingly different from the area around La G...

no, is is not as nice?

will have a 5mo with us this time so fancied being withing pramming distance of beach / cafe / shops

Brilliant - I see I will need to beg, borrow or steal that Angela Bird book

Thank you so much MrsBadger and DecorHate - and everyone else who has posted their tips - all really appreciated!