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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

First time in the Vendee - quick question

16 replies

Notquitegrownup · 28/07/2010 21:27

What's the water temperature like in the sea? ie Do we need our wetsuits?

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MaryBS · 28/07/2010 21:29

Its not warm in the sea, so if you are planning on spending any time in there, I would take them. On the other hand, out of the sea, it can get pretty hot, so its nice to jump in to cool off!

Notquitegrownup · 28/07/2010 21:31

Ooh hello Mary How are yo/yours? And where have you stayed in the Vendee?

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loopyloops · 28/07/2010 21:32

Yes, wetsuits deffo if you want to swim.

MaryBS · 29/07/2010 07:22

We're good thanks. We stayed near St Jean de Monts. We're off on hols tomorrow, but down to Devon

Notquitegrownup · 29/07/2010 20:10

Ooh, that's where we are going too! Any must sees/must dos to recommend?

Have a great time in Devon, and big hug to dd!

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ponceydog · 29/07/2010 20:21

If you a family of big jessups take wetsuits.

It's not that warm but loads of people go in to swim in their swimsuits. The only people I saw with wetsuits were surfers.

Crikey, even I swam in the sea and I haven't done that for donkeys years.

ponceydog · 29/07/2010 20:22

go to puy du fou

uggmum · 29/07/2010 20:23

I have been 3 times, spent hours in the sea. We didn't have wetsuits but I would take them anyway of you can fit them in. Just in case you have a cooler day.

MaryBS · 30/07/2010 03:41

There's a lovely cake shop there

I have to admit that we've never done much when we've stayed there, just enjoyed the beach or the pool where we were staying

I've heard its nice to go over to Noirmoutier (accessed by a causeway) and see the castle, but we've never actually done it!

MmeRedWhiteandBlueberry · 31/07/2010 11:16

At Sables d'Olonne last weekend, it was 21C.

Notquitegrownup · 16/08/2010 17:17

We're back!! Jessups??! The sea was seriously chilly. However, we had the wetsuits and really enjoyed it - none of that taking a quick dip and then dashing out again straight away!

Where did you stay in Sables Mme? We really liked St Jean but are wondering about Sables for next year!

And one final recommendation, in case anyone does a search. Check out the Feeling Forest near St Jean de Monts. Swinging from trees on zip wires and harnesses - brilliant day out as the beginners route starts just 3 foot off the ground! Goes up to heights I could barely imagine - loved it!

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MmeRedWhiteandBlueberry · 16/08/2010 17:19

We were at Les Dunes des Sables campsite - right on the beach (not the main one).

Notquitegrownup · 16/08/2010 20:42

Recommend it?

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MmeRedWhiteandBlueberry · 16/08/2010 21:15

Yes, we would consider going again.

It is right on the beach which is a bonus. It is not lovely soft sand, so trips to other beaches are fun too, but it is good to have the option.

The site has a nice pool with waterslides, which my DDs could easily spend 3 hours in. There is a bar, with games room, and simple restaurant. Our company, Carisma, was very good. Their reps were helpful and they run the children's activities. The children loved them.

The mobile homes were very clean, but we struggled with the space. The pitches were OK-sized, but the area was very dry and there were no shrubs or trees to mark out pitches. We were lucky to be on a small cul-de-sac, and I felt for those families who were on a through road.

Saying that, the main thing for us was that the children were happy - and they were. They all made friends the first day and were able to be fairly independent, leaving us to books and wine.

It was a very easy drive into Les Sables for restaurants and a vibrant beach (parking easy), and to Olonne-sur-Mer for the LeClerc.

We didn't have bikes, but it is a great area if you do. There are bike paths everywhere, and in the built up areas, the bike paths are a full width lane on the road. You can hire bikes on the campsite, or in off site places nearby. If you have bikes, it is easy to get to a better beach (Paracou), and even into Les Sables via the little ferry.

I would definitely want to go again.

AgentProvocateur · 16/08/2010 21:21

Every time I go to answer a Vendee thread, I find that MmeRedWhiteandBlueberry has got there before me! Grin

Ditto everything she said.

Notquitegrownup · 16/08/2010 22:13

Lovely, thank you - it sounds great (and as if the pool was warmer than ours) but is very useful to be able to compare notes now. Will hopefully be booking again at Christmas for next year. We had a great time at Clarys Plage, which is on a beautiful beach - 5 miles of soft clean sand. The site was good too - lots of mature trees, which I like and a good pool. Only downside was that the immediate area, other than the beach was not pretty at all. It would have been nice to be able to wander out in the evenings, but it wasn't a wandery sort of place. Having said that I think that beach and mature trees are pretty important to us, so I may have to hunt around a bit more . . . .

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