camping in France

[dinkydoos]

please help!
am looking for a holiday next August pref in mobile home/cottage on a site.
would prefer it to be next to a lake, within walking distance to a small town.
would need sun so probably have to go quite south.
so had thought of dordogne, but they dont seem to be near towns really - unless anyone has some clues?!

alternatively maybe south coast (though dh not that fussy on sand!) but again walking distance to nice town - had though port grimaud ??

anyone any recommendations? kids are 5 and 7 so they want pools/slides!!

will also post this in camping - Thanks

La Carabasse (Siblu) is right next to Vias Plage and has everything in walking distance - beach, shops, restaurants, enormous fun fair, mini golf. There is a big pool complex and slides, and kids clubs. Fab for kids.

Port Grimaud is nice. There is a big campsite there on the beach - but no pool.

If you fancied a gite instead these inLes Eyzies have a pool and are walking distance to town. We stayed in their other property - Le Banquet - this summer - and Les Eyzies is lovely with loads to do in the local area.

portofino - had hoped you would answer!
you answered queries i had last year on Italy - you recommended some places on Ligurian coast but they were full when i tried. we ended up one week at lake garda at bella italia and one week in Loano in a nice hotel. twas lovely!

anyway, back to France we think... will look at your links.
is vias plage nice?

It is not super posh - but nice enough seaside resort for a stroll/drink/food. Good choice of restuarants and deli takeaways etc. The funfair - Luna Park is fab, as is the mini golf. The towns of Vias and Agde are 5 mins away - and a bit more olde worlde. Nice walks/cycle rides by the Canal du Midi. My dd is pestering to go back but we are off to the Vendee next year....We will definitely return though - it's a good place for older kids/teenagers too I think - relatively safe for them to wander about a bit.

We really enjoyed the Dordogne this year though - you do need a car. Les Eyzies, Sarlat, Domme, Le Bugue - all lovely. The scenery is stunning - and there was loads to do. I had my eye on the St Avits Loisirs campsite - but like you said - it is in the middle of nowhere. We went in July though - the impression I have is that the place is HEAVING in August. Traffic was mounting up towards the end of our stay and parking was tricky in places.

Love the look of those gites!
But know the kids would prefer a more lively site- I too have been looking at the St Avits site but am put off by the remote ness.
The vias plage site does look good, would definitely tick the kids box. Where are you going in vendee? ( insert nosey emoticon).

Porto did you stay at St Avit Loisirs? I was looking at it for next July and for us it wouldn't matter if it was in the middle of nowhere really.

No - we stayed in the Gites I mentioned above. It does look nice - but I think due to the exchange rate mobile homes seemed very expensive this year, and for less money we got all mod cons - tv, dishwasher, w.machine, proper beds - plus a games room and shared pool for much less than the Keycamp or Canvas prices.

We have booked up here for next year - 20th July for 3 weeks. 15 mins to the beach, 30 mins to La Rochelle. Nice pool, wifi, walking distance to the village. So WE will be there with 9 yo dd in August

We have also stayed at Lac des Reves with Siblu. That is a lovely site too but much quieter and spread out than La Carabasse. Better for little kids, though dd really enjoyed the kids club there - she was 5 I think. You do need a car, but there is loads nearby - Montpellier, Carnon Plage, Palavas Les Flots, Aigues Mortes etc all worth a visit.

Went to St Avits last year, it is miles from anywhere! Drive to Le Bugue was about 20 mins. The market there is lovely. We went end of May and although the site was pretty quiet, the towns were bustling. I imagine it would be hectic in August. The site is very spacious though, none of the pitches were on top of each other. We were the only ones in our little bit of 4 tents for the whole 2 weeks. DD1 loved the PGL activity there, gave her loads of confidence and she got a good few goes on each activity. Saying that, the groups were small due to the time of year.

And just for interest - we also spent a week this summer at the Logis du Pressoir in the Loire here. This was a MN recommendation and was truly fantastic. DD and the other kids just wandered round the grounds - there is a treehouse and lots of outdoor toys - and the pool is lovely. The bread van comes every morning and they do a great welcome back, with beer and wine and milk and bread, tea, coffee etc.

We stayed one week on the way home from the Dordogne - and I could have happily stayed a month. Less to do close by - you had to drive a bit to find activities - but we filled a week easily - and as a place to chill out it can't be beaten. Had a fab chinese takeaway from a couple of villages over, too. It is about 30 min to Biopark at Doue La Fontaine which is the best zoo I have EVER been to - built into an old limestone quarry. Saumur is very nice too.

Aghhhhh!

Now want to go to all of the places!

Just seen this as well

lechevrefeuille.com/
quite fancy getting dinner cooked on a few nights whilst I have a glass or six of red....

I think if you want busy, lots going on - La Carabasse is hard to beat. Dd loved it, made friends in the pool, went off to play on the waterslides. They had street markets etc on in the evenings. Dd got her hair braided, got a pink panther tatoo etc. We aren't so mad on the entertainment - the kids do a talent show one night, but I could take or leave the "turns" - prefer to light the BBQ or have a wander into town, or up to the funfair. We had an Excellence, or Elegance - ie the top range mobile home with decking and got a tv and a washing machine. And wifi. I was very impressed. Shop was good. Snack bar and pizza place on site. It is a mid-range typical French holiday resort really. Not overly posh and expensive/not overly "chavvy" - I hate using that word, but can't think of a better one.....

Oh - that looks lovely dinky. How did I miss that one???? Have bookmarked!

Right. Am forming a plan.

Maybe 3 or 4 nights at somewhere like the logis pressoir place, then week or so at la carabasse ( kids box tick) then to the lechevre spot above.

Good combo of what we like and what kids will like I think.

Mind you I never stop looking even after I've booked, think I'm a bit addicted to holiday searching tbh!

Oh - I do that. I have filled in the booking form for next year and have still spotted half a dozen places I want to go. My travel bug is the reason we never have any money....