Survival kit - Camping (but not camping) with Keycamp in Brittany

[InspiredToBoot]

I know that some of you have done this, please please help me make this holiday as enjoyable and trouble free as poss.

I can't remember the name of the camping site where we're going. It's in Dol-de-Brettagne. We're driving there (channel tunnel), staying in a mobile home for 2 weeks. We'll prob take our own bikes. We're taking our own towels and linens. What equipment/stuff would you suggest we take/not take? Kids are almost 5 and 8 and we're hoping they'll want to join the kids clubs.

We're also hoping to do some sightseeing so any tips for things to visit would be great. TIA!

The Mont st Michael is a must. St Malo is nice and there's an aquarium there. We've also been to Alligator Bay which is near the Mont St Michael.

In terms of what to take, we've found the caravans to be really well equipped. We usually take some food (Supermarkets are usually closed on Sundays, making it difficult to shop if you arrive at the weekend). A bath mat or something to use as such is good because the bathroom floor can get very wet. Crocs or wellies incase it rains. Lots of towels because drying them can be difficult. We've taken scooters before now but bikes would be good.

Oh yes, possibly somehting to play DVDs on - there are no TVs in the mobile homes.

Take a sharp knife and a bread knife for all that lovely french bread. Fleeces and long trousers just in case. I used to make mine travel in jeans and fleeces as we normally leave early in the morning when it's still cold in England and it saves on space.
Also take some talc for getting sand off feet.
And some ant spray that you know is safe, I found I used the ones that you spray on the floor and the ants won't cross it.

Thank you! Please keep your helpful tips coming!

Oh I know what I want to ask you. We're taking our own bedding so as to not pay extra, should we take duvets?

and I've just found out we're staying at Chateau-des-Ormes

We took duvets last year - it was much better. Usually there're only blankets provided.

Thanks rosy. Prob a stupid question but as we haven't booked any linens at all, will the mattresses have a sheet on them or do we also have to take that?

We take (in addition to items mentioned above):

• a knife sharpener (be careful if you have a MH after us as DH will have left the knives so sharp you could perform surgery with them!)
• steak knives (the sharper the knife the more tender the chop/steak)
• continental adapters
• yes to duvets (the ones provided were plasticky)
• point to note is that beds are very narrow so you may want to think about that when deciding what sheets to take (we have special MH ones!)
• take nice towels
• one of these
• if your DCs are into talking books then a cd player they can have in their room (and obviously some CDs)
• book lights (the ones which clip onto book/kindle) as the bedside lights are often too bright
• insulated bag for carrying takeaways back to your pitch
• kids club has limited hours and you have to stay on site (fine for the first couple days but there are only so many times you can dance in your mobile home)
• a pack of paper, good quality colouring pencils (not felt tips) and a pencil sharpener
• a clock you can put up on a shelf (a poundland one is fine!)
• a breakfast tip we learned was to have pain au chocolat/croissant/bread but no butter or jam and we use napkins/kitchen roll instead of plates.
• this year we are taking hot chocolate sachets rather than making up 'pony' hot chocolate.
• two swimming costumes per child
• clothes hand wash - I gave up using the on site laundry and now do a little bit of hand washing every day, is actually rather pleasant!
• clothes pegs
• good maps & guides, a menu reader can be useful
• a good sense of humour

Have a lovely holiday

You will need to take sheets, see notes above!

My top tip is to use the launderette beside super U in Dol. Much cheaper and quicker than the campsite launderette. Especially the dryers.

Alligator bay great. Mont st michael worth seeing, but more for adults.

Gnome and Crocky, those are fantastic tips, many many thanks.

I have a really dumb question, and I'm sure it won't be the last, so please don't go too far!

Do I need to take toilet roll?

Yes to taking toilet roll. You will probably find there is a roll there but it is safest not to assume!

Your MH will contain only what is on the inventory list with the exception of barbecue fuel. Before buying that have a look under the mobile home as quite often you will find a bag of charcoal there (old MH hand!).

Take matches (for lighting the stove as sometimes the normal stove top lighter doesnt work).

We take kitchen roll and a full normal set of things like surface hygiene spray, j cloths, green scrubbers, w/up brush, bathroom cleaning wipes, rim blocks, toilet cleaner (toilet brush will be provided). You can of course by all of this once there!

Not sure if you are close enough but the Bayeux Tapestry is well worth a visit.

We do take a lot of stuff but we have a massive car so can fit it all in!

tinfoil for lining the grill pan and BBQ

If your DC don't like showers, start training them now!

A handful of toys they can play with around the caravan or outside eg gogos, moshis, polly pocket.

Your tour operator will probably have games, rackets & balls etc that you can borrow.

Has anyone mentioned the rule on men not wearing swimshorts, but having to wear close-fitting speedos? Don't know if it's enforced at Dol?

Good point about swim shorts!

In our experience tight shorts (Daniel Craig/James Bond style) are also fine. DH & DS(13) wear swim shorts for lazing round the pool with tight shorts under. They then just take off the swim shorts to actually get wet. Everyone is in the same boat so is not the great issue that people think!

Just packing for Biscarosse tomorrow - we are fly-driving so have to leave some stuff behind. packed all sheets etc. but this thread reminded me of loo roll - thanks

Anyone been to Biscarosse Eurocamp La Rive? We hope there are lessons left for us for windsurfing!

Knew about speedos - bermudas for walking around good idea.

I thought the speedos thing was a myth. Wait till I tell my husband...

My DH wears these, has never had a problem.

The thing the campsites dont like are the big flappy shorts full of campsite dust. What they are also concerned about is unlined shorts where all is not safely gathered in!

Rather than having a discussion with each swimmer:- Are these shorts clean? Can I peer down inside them to make sure they are adequately lined? They introduced a blanket rule.

I really dont get the MN fuss, it is the same rule for everyone in the pool!

Okay I have a sensible question. Is there a freezer? I thought I'd take lolly pops and freeze them there?

You will have a fridge freezer. I looked through the accomodation models for your site and so long as you arent in a tent or in a tree house then you will a fridge freezer.

Obviously this wont be big enough to freeze half a cow or whatever but I have 3 DCs and have never managed to fill one up totally on a two week holiday.

If you PM me your email address, I can forward you our list. We've done this for about eight years now x

Thank you gnome and thank you Agent. I'm going to do that just as soon as I find out how to PM!

I think I've PMd you!!

Got your PM, and I've emailed you. Have a great time.

Oh we are going to the south of france with eurocamp in 3 weeks, we have done it once before but I am intrigued by your list.... any chance I could have a copy as i remember thinking of all sorts of things when we were there a few years ago and I can't remember any now, I would be really grateful