France with children's clubs...?

[bbbiscuits]

Looking for a weeks stay in a lodge chalet type accommodation not caravan. First holiday in a long time and I'd love a few hours to relax a little without children. They enjoy activities and meeting new people so think would enjoy being from us boring parents for a while even though they are only 5 and 10! Any recomendations? I'm getting a bit confused with too much choice and varying reviews of everywhere I look!

Hiya, which region of france were you thinking of. Somewhere close to the ports or slightly further away?

We've been recommended Lacanau, Soustons, Hossegor as great areas for families. Lots of campsite/chalet places in pinewoods next to lakes or beach. I think most of them have kids clubs of sorts - the more full on the site, the more extensive the kids club I imagine. We've gone for v low key sites, but they still seem to have organised activities for kids aged 5 and upwards (at least it says so on the website!). You're right though - there is SO much choice, we just forced ourselves to make a decision and stick with it in the end, although our first choice was fully booked, so don't leave it too long.

I'd second Messanges or Hossegor. Le Vieux Port has chalets on a big campsite with a fantastic pool complex. Lovely town in walking distance, great bike routes, fab beaches and close to Hossegor for a drive to people watch and shop! Keycamp and similar at these type of places but not sure if they do the chalets - great mix of Europeans with a good sprinkling of Brits (mainly laid back surfing/beach loving families!)

Pierre et Vacances are great - lodge/chalets and fab swimming pool complex plus other activities and childcare from 3 years old without a parent needing to stay. We have just got back from our second trip to a P&V park and prebooked 6 sessions per child - we chose afternoons (3-6.30pm at that park), which was great for us. Lazy mornings, family time and lunch, nap/quiet time for the DC after lunch then childcare for DC and relax for us. We went for a drink about 6pm and then picked them up in time for a late-ish dinner. "Holiday" bedtime meant a lie-in in the morning, too

I'd look at the main UK operators (Keycamp, Eurocamp, Canvas, Al Fresco etc) to see the age ranges for their kids clubs and which sites they are available on, as most of them have chalets.
We've had some good holidays like this. One of us gets up to drop the kids to the club, then comes back to relax and have a leisurely breakfast. Then collect DC and off to the pool, late lunch, and an outing or back to the pool or to the kids club for a couple of hours in the afternoon.