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

Original poster

Siblu/Keycamp etc... Help!!

14 replies

hollyround · 23/07/2012 21:16

So after scouring the internet for a holiday in Cornwall or flying to an unknown hotel and being put off by the £2k+ pricetag for a family of 4 I am now thinking about Siblu/Keycamp etc but having no experience I don;t know which one is better quality/value etc? We would want to go to one in the Vendee area as its not to hard to drive to but far enough south to get some sun!
Ideally we would want to be near the beach too!
Please can someone help?? (slightly desperate Mummy of 2!)

OP posts:
GnomeDePlume · 23/07/2012 22:07

On the whole I think that the companies are all pretty similar. The main operators are:

  • Eurocamp
  • Keycamp (actually the same company as Eurocamp but branded separately)
  • Canvas
  • Siblu
  • Thomson Al Fresco

The above pretty much all have their own mobile homes/ready erected tents on locally owned sites (Siblu does also own a few sites as well). This has the advantage of meaning that you can be very sure of what you are getting. Also the accomodation will tend to be more 'British' (if that matters to you) with an oven and a stove top kettle.

There are a number of other operators who let out the campsites' own accomodation (and I think some of their own):

  • Yelloh
  • Vacansoleil
  • Flower

These will be more variable though not in standard just in 'presentation'. They will also tend to be a bit cheaper but dont forget the cost of crossings and any sort of damage deposit/waiver.

For a first trip I would be tempted to go with one of the main operators. As an example Eurocamp have a fortnight in Brittany (Raguenes Plage) for the last two weeks of August in a 2 bed MH with crossing for £1640. I dont work for Eurocamp BTW!

GnomeDePlume · 23/07/2012 22:12

Sorry, forgot to add, I'm afraid that there isnt so much choice left now as people like me book early (booked this holiday last August!). It might be worth phonong up a few operators to see what they hava available rather than faffing about on line. You might find that you are offered options you hadnt thought of.

Good luck and have a great holiday whatever you choose.

Original poster
hollyround · 24/07/2012 08:11

Thank you very much! I feel a few hours on the phone might be in order today!

OP posts:
GnomeDePlume · 24/07/2012 08:25

Good luck!

ENormaSnob · 24/07/2012 14:44

We've been with keycamp before and had a great time. Went to la garangeoire in the vendee.

Have booked with yelloh for August.

MainlyMaynie · 24/07/2012 14:57

Keycamp are great for small children. If you're not bothered about the company having its own kids clubs, try Matthews holidays. They use the same sites as the bigger companies but are much cheaper. They're offering 2 weeks in Vendee by the beach in Aug for 1350 inc ferry.

RummidgeGeneral · 24/07/2012 21:22

The good thing about Canvas holidays at the La Garangeoire in the Vendee is that the pitches are really big. About twice the size as keycamps and Eurocamp although they are further away from the centre of the site. We like having space to play badminton etc so it was great. The Al Fresco pitches were also big but their MHs were too small for our family size.

AmandinePoulain · 24/07/2012 21:27

I've been with Siblu and Keycamp and found the Siblu site to be of a higher standard, and the caravan was nicer too. We stayed at Les Pignades, near to L'ile d'orelon. The other bonus of Siblu is that you can use Clubcard points - we saved about £400 doing that. Keycamp were still great though - I'd go with them again.

GnomeDePlume · 25/07/2012 08:29

I think that the main companies are all pretty much the same on average. However, you will find that there are differences from site to site as they each have their own caravan replacement policies.

My own experience of Siblu was dreadful (lazy reps, lazy kids club rep, old & shabby MH). However I do know that another site, another season things would be different.

Original poster
hollyround · 27/07/2012 20:57

Thank you all... we found lots of lovely sites but all the ferries going on or around the dates we could go were booked up : ( and it was too far too drive to the tunnel and then on 7 hours froom Calais with two children just for a week... So after very nearly giving up I have just got a cancellation at a lovely hotel in Cornwall that we have stayed in before so all is not lost, just hopingfor the sun to stay!

OP posts:
GnomeDePlume · 27/07/2012 22:45

I hope you have a lovely holiday

Glittertwins · 27/07/2012 22:47

We just did Thompson al fresco for the first time and was quite impressed with caravan, pitch and reps

GnomeDePlume · 27/07/2012 23:11

That's good to know Glitter as PiL are off to Normandy with Thompson Al Fresco towards the end of the summer

Glittertwins · 28/07/2012 08:15

Are they taking children though? Good as it was, I wouldn't stay in a caravan park without having children.

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