South France -campsites/ mobile home or equipped tent?

[emanwen]

On a quest for very cheap holiday in south of France in August.

I've have always rejected idea of camping but am coming round to the idea - especially the thought of the kids being able to run around etc. I thought a mobile homes / or fully equipped tent would be a good introduction to the experience: which would be better for novice?

Am worried about me kids needing the loo in the middle of night; insects; being too hot/no escape from the heat.
So, mobile home might be better as it will have a loo, but what are they really like - do they feel like holidaying in a giant oven? Or are tents even hotter?
The mobile homes can be a bit lined up in rows - do they feel private enough?

Would you recommend one of the very full on sites/poss near beach, with loads of pools and slides etc or are the smaller ones with less stuff a bit more friendly and atmospheric?
Any specific recommendations welcome too!
(sorry, too long, but thanks for reading!)

It is the toilet issue that has always won me over re. caravans. I do not enjoy having a poo 2 ft away from a stranger (or indeed having a stranger have a poo a couple of feet away from me).

The caravans can get hot (if you are lucky and the weather is nice) but at the same time are an awful lot more pleasant to be in when it rains.

If privacy is going to be an issue for you, probably best not to go to a campsite at all!

I wouldn't go for one of the huge sites in the most popular destinations, but a nice pool complex, good onsite restaurant and shop and beach nearby are all very big plusses.

To be honest a mobile home in the South of France is going to be more expensive than an appartment somewhere.

How much are you hoping to pay? Anywhere near the coast will be upwards of 850 (more like 1000 euros a week) euros.

Thanks both!
Not sure about budget - it definitely looks more than I thought!!

And, yes loos are an issue, it's ok at a festival or something for a day or two, but a week of public loos!

Mmm, will keep thinking...
anyone, going to tell me it's fab??

Well we went camping with the DS last year in a tent and it was fab! And we're going to Corsica this year to do the same (and to avoid the rain!).

I didn't find the toilet thing an issue at all, and it was so great camping and having NO housework to do and minimal food preparation. Plus we were able to be completely flexible with our dates and add on 3 days at the end when the children didn't want to go home.

I would get on Holiday Rentals and look at apartments/houses in the Languedoc. Mobile Home prices seem to be shocking this year.

I agree. It doesn't sound like a campsite is for you, and they are not the cheap option.

Holidays rentals is good, as is Owners Direct

We use EuroCamp and have always found them excellent. This year is our first year in a tent, always used mobile homes till now, though we do camp in the UK (it has ALWAYS rained ) so not such a break from tradition for us. The tents seem well equipped and the sites are good.

Tenting it this year as the price of mobile homes has rocketed over the past couple of years. I have also found that the cheaper mobiles are becoming progressively shabbier (though still clean IME) as EuroCamp upgrades its entire fleet from the top down.

Do your research first and find a family friendly site with good reviews on the shower blocks then go for it. The kids will love it and its the stuff childhood holidays are made of :o

Good luck