What nonessential fun things would you pack for French keycamp hol?

[Howmanymoresleeps]

Ooh so excited holiday next week and I'm doing the packing today.
Dh has suggested packing the electric patio heater so we can sit out late if it's chilly obviously I need to pack the car so THAT doesn't fit, silly boy. But it got me thinking what essential nonessentials am I not thinking of?
We're staying with friends in brittany in keycamp chalets who have two dds the same age all under three and desperately in need of loads of fun with the kids and each other after bedtime!! (big breath v long sentence)

Actually it's not cheap to food shop in France anymore, so I do recommend taking your olive oil/stock/vinegar etc unless you want a mammoth food bill on store cupboard basics...but part of the pleasure of holidaying in France is food shopping though surely?
Every time we've been camping in brittany it has rained, so definitely take wellies, ponchos, and crocs... essential unless you want the inside of your chalet wet and muddy.
I second the wineglass, corkscrew suggestion, also pack your cafetiere.
Games... Uno is essential imo but if you find a nice toyshop in France stock up on djeco games in tins.

Pack of cards, UNO and a couple of the mega cheap little kites from tesco. They are a pound I think and fly really easily. Good for the colder days on the beach

We're going to Keycamp in France for the first time this year so watching with interest.
I'll be taking tea and coffee, loo roll, playing cards, books, paper and colouring pencils. My dd is older though, aged 11.

Oo, frisbees and balls and sometimes twister. That's all my parents ever took. Loaded us off on the keycamp kids club at other times Back when I used to go as a kid the keycamp office had loads of things you could hire out or borrow like bats and balls, sticky pads for catching games, crayons and paper/colouring books, etc, it was brilliant and they really had everything you could possibly need. Not sure if it's the same still thoguh.

But then my parents always brought the keycamp staff back to the tent/caravan to get drunk during 'wine tasting' sessions in the evenings so maybe we just got lent things that weren't supposed to go out /

We have found buying food in France increasingly expensive so we take food with us. Stuff like baked beans, rice, jars to make curry with. We also take food for the journey which lasts us whilst we're there too. We do tend to live on French bread, cheese, ham etc though!

Last year we took scooters for the boys which was good. I'd also recommend wellies and/or crocs incase it's wet. Also extra towels (if you've ordered the linen pack) as you only get a couple of thin ones provided. LAst year dp and I took our duvet too.

Jarred curry sauces. faints

We self-cater when we ski in France and of course prices in the resort shops are sky-high. In the past we've stopped and shopped at the bottom of the mountain in a hypermarket, where it's much cheaper (than up the top - don't think it's noticeably cheaper than the UK) but this last year we took home-cooked meals frozen. We then just had to shop in resort for baguettes, cheese and pate for lunches. Saved a fortune.

However, that was where the main holiday objective was to ski, not the French "experience." If I were to pootle about off the beaten track in France for a couple of weeks in summer, then I would consider eating out locally part of the whole package.

I am packing up this weekend for the Dordogne on Friday - I have Heinz Salad cream, robinson's squash and banana nesquick - as I know those things won't be available in France. Otherwise - buying fresh food from market is part of the fun! And I have some washing up liquid - but only because I won it in a tombola last weekend

And I stocked up with sun lotions (2 for 1) offers last time I was in the UK as that IS much more expensive over here.

And France is much cheaper than Belgium and generally there is a better selection so there is no point in taking too much. We are staying in a gite and I think they provide things like salt and pepper/olive oil etc.

Brilliant suggestions merci y'all. Paddling pool would never have thought of with so many pools on site but for stress free splashy about makes great sense. Also scooters, can see that with the older two,corkscrew and decent wine glasses already packed obviously! Really looking forward to food shopping and yummy cheeses etc but I will be bringing some staples I think spending our precious holiday money on store cupboard staples would be depressing in the extreme.
So, squash, Cheerios, weetabix porridge (I know but they can be very particular about breakfast) olive oil for cooking ill get some nice local stuff for salads condiments. Hmm after that I suppose it's the super marche all the way. Planning on bbq and salads lots. Do I need washing powder do they have washing machines generally do you think? Key amp sites i mean not the
French.....

wellies and ponchos ingles really...,, is rain that probable in July? It's not allowed rain on my holidays

they usually have washing machines and dryers. you can probably see on their website - keycamp one of site one.

i usually take pegs as there are never enough on the clothes dryers and i use them to close food packets. or you could buy them there

heed this just in case you are stopped
Presumably you've got the other car safety stuff?

Agree about taking some food - I freeze milk and bacon before I go, then let it gradually defrost in the coolbag on the way. Are you going on a Saturday? The nearest supermanrket will be packed on Sat afternon, so much less stressful to have some supplies and not have to go shopiing.
Britanny the climate is similar to here, so yes, it does rain a lot.

Don't bother taking squash - try the sirop which comes in metal bottles, and loads of flavours. If it's hot, I do this: buy a load of small bottles of water, add some sirop and freeze overnight (leave an air gap otherwise the bottles will crack when the water expands!). Take to the pool/beach for cold slushy drinks Rinse and re-fill for the next day.

Take a towelling bath mat. And pegs and washing powder. Usually the machines are coin-operated - buy a token from reception.

Buy a ream of copier paper in the supermarche for drawing, aeroplanes etc.

Anna I have just (tried) to feed my child a Vesta Chinese meal because I saw it and was reminded of my childhood when it was a treat as opposed to the very fresh and organic rabbit, duck and pigeon my father would serve .

Crap food is the stuff of childhoods - you'll see...

AnnaMosity
"You eat packet mixes. Ew. Disgusting. (one)
In a country rammed with supermarkets packed with cheap delicious fresh food.
Why not go to Bogor"

Anna do one would you, go and eat your food wherever you like and I and my family will eat what we like in France - because thats where we like to holiday thanks. Rude? We might eat cottage pie made with a packet on holiday but at least I have manners! .....And Im too busy enjoying my time with my husband and kids at our pool eating holiday food and drinking all that lovely French wine after working hard all year to worry about what others eat

And thanks everyone else! Dont get this food snobbery at all really, I might take a mix for cottage pie etc but Im still buying fresh mince etc, just freeing up more time for drinking wine rather than making everything from scratch.

We do tend to live on French bread, cheese, ham etc though!

So do we for lunch rosy, its great isnt it! Specially sitting on a beach somewhere, ooh I cant wait, 3 weeks till we are off to the Vendee, we have hired a cottage on a nature reserve miles away from anyone else with a pool, just as we like it!

Back to original question, as we always have our own pool (couldnt get that in Bognor eh! ) we always take a selection of inflatables for the pool.

..but part of the pleasure of holidaying in France is food shopping though surely?

Yes of course ingles, I still have to buy all the fresh ingredients at the markets and supermarkets. Although last year in the Languedoc I passed on the pigeon at the deli counter

Still. Packet mix. Ew

Still. Rude food snobs. Ew.

Oh great advice all round, food squabbles and all. Been to telcos and got loads of really cheap outdoor toys like the badminton recommended, plastic boules ! Four quid paddling pool, inflatables, sand toys and other lovely cheapo bits and pieces. Also a big plastic bucketey thing for the shower as my rascals hate showers genius suggestion thank you. Got food packed mainly for easy homely meals for the dcs while we nibble on pâté and olives like pasta and pesto and the like. Very successful packing day thanks to all your advice still haven't convinced dh there won't be room for the patio heater (give me patienc!!!!)
I think a big bag of little people and other small characters are useful in any situation so they'll all come too.
Woohoo here comes the holidays!!

We used to ask for adjoining tents and then take a gazebo to put up in the gap inbetween.
It gave us a lovely shady area for eating, card games etc as the sun got v hot.

Have a lovely holiday howmany (although I suddenly have a vision of a car being driven to France with a patio heater strapped onto some roof bars !)