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Holidays

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

Original poster

anyone stayed at pierres et vacances holiday villages?

14 replies

loopsngeorge · 20/05/2012 22:47

We have been looking at doing a Keycamp type holiday in southern france this August and have come across this company. The kids clubs look good as we have a 3 year old who will be too young for lots of the campsites kids clubs. Has anyone got any good or bad reports on their properties, or particular recommendations?

I can see the standard apt for four people looks tiny but other than that the facilities look pretty good.....

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ceeveebee · 20/05/2012 23:05

I stayed at one preDC for a skiing trip. Very very small (we booked flat for 4 people and there was just me and DH and it was tiny) but clean and fully equipped, great location and parking. If its anything like the one we stayed at, go for the biggest apartment you can get! Can't help on the activities for DC as we didn't have any then.

sagenod · 20/05/2012 23:32

There are 2 very near me. Generally good reports, safe, nice pools, attractive settings, restaurant apparently not great (industrial food, but I have never eaten there so don't quote me on it!).

The apartments are ok, functional and well equipped, but on the small side. Les Parcs de Grimaud (Var) has recently refurbished a lot (or all of them).

Childoftheseventies · 21/05/2012 00:59

We stayed at a P&V on the Giens peninsula nr Toulon. As others say, apts tiny, but clean, adequately equipped. Gardens and pool lovely. Do watch the layout of the apartment though, as the 'second bedroom' was actually just bunk beds in an alcove beside the door, with our bedroom at the other end of the apt. Did not feel comfortable with it, so our 2yo slept in a travel cot in the living room instead. Would consider going again, but in a proper 2 room apt. Fresh croissants and bread delivered each day - yum.

JennyWren · 21/05/2012 02:36

We stayed in one when I was pregnant with DS and DD was 2 or 3. The chalet and facilities were lovely but the holiday club staff spoke little or no English, which didn't matter always as they were still kind to DD and they could cope with sign language, but they didn't understand when she told them she needed to go to the toilet... We were there in term time, though - I don't know if there would have been English speaking staff in peak season.

BawdyStrumpet · 21/05/2012 10:20

We stayed at Les Restanques de St Tropez a few years ago. Accommodation was fine but very expensive for what you get. Agree that the kids club was only in French. The advertised facilities never quite lived up to the description - eg the shop was extremely limited, the food in the restaurant was not great, with no kids menu.

The pool complex was great and dd (3.5 at the time) enjoyed the kids club (but she speaks French) - they put on a show one evening. We had a great holiday because there is so much to do nearby, but I would not go back. I would do Siblu over P&V every time.

Original poster
loopsngeorge · 21/05/2012 22:47

Thanks so much for the advice, that's really useful. It's really the kids clubs that made me look at p&v so I might go back and look at siblu etc again

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YardBroom · 21/05/2012 22:55

canvas holidays?

BawdyStrumpet · 21/05/2012 23:08

Yep - Canvas are good too. Hardly anyone takes 3 yos unaccompanied - you need to pay Mark Warner/Neilson prices for that. But Siblu/Canvas/Keycamp do sessions for the littlies every day, and to be honest a child friendly pool and taking it in turns works well too. I would really recommend Siblu Lac des Reves for families with small children. Lots of space, friendly restaurant staff, playgrounds, nice pool, bit of cheesey entertainment of an evening. Loads to do within 30 mins driving.

AtAmber · 21/05/2012 23:19

Have you looked at the castells website? We stayed at chateau de Poinsouze last year and it was great. The children's club only had a few English speaking children but all the staff spoke English. It was half the price of keycamp, siblu etc.

Original poster
loopsngeorge · 22/05/2012 10:49

thanks very much for those suggestions. I will look at those websites - I'm trying to decide between the cote d'azur, inland Provence, the Alps and the Dordogne so am surrounded by brochures and guidebooks! Any other recommendations gratefully received!

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ClaireAll · 31/05/2012 18:19

We have stayed at Cap Esterel - excellent.

Original poster
loopsngeorge · 31/05/2012 18:32

Thanks, it was actually the Cap Esterel one that I was thinking about. It says you can walk to the beach which would be a big advantage - was it really walkable? I am in two minds about our plans - I have always wanted to go to Provence and would love to see the cote d'azur but we would have to go the last week in August and I'm worried that the traffic and crowds would be crazy and we'd be stuck on the complex not able to move around much! Also I read that they shut a lot of the roads in the Esterel park because of the fire risk.

What time of year did you go Claire?

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ClaireAll · 31/05/2012 19:38

We went in high summer - late July, mid August. Can't remember for sure.

You can't really walk to the beach. They have a little train to take you there, and then it is not the nicest of beaches. We went once. We had great fun onsite in the pools.

It is a large and hilly site with most of the amenities in the centre of the village. They have lots of restaurants, as well as a supermarket and takeaway food.. They have evening entertainment on the village square. The children's clubs are good but all in French. You pay for everything extra except for the basic cost of the pool and train.

Original poster
loopsngeorge · 31/05/2012 22:29

Thanks, that's really helpful to know.

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