Gite cluster recommendations

[longshot]

Last summer we did our first gite / cluster holiday and it was a big success. We were in there Dordogne which was nice (and very hot). I would like to do a similar thing this summer and am looking for recommendations.

Children are 7 & 4 so not tiny, we don’t need any baby facilities now which a lot seem to have and not bothered about babysitting really as they tend to stay up with us now.

We like swimming, cycling and trips to interesting places/chateaux/villages etc.

Anyone care to share somewhere they have enjoyed?

Les Hiboux in Poitou-Charente. Has a pool and lots of different sizes of bikes to borrow to ride round the quiet local lanes. Also trampoline, games room, huge garden, tree houses, nice accommodation, lovely owners. The best kid-friendly facilities we have ever found. No chateaux nearby but Romanesque churches, two animal parks (one monkeys, one ' European Wildlife') and you can get to the beach in about an hour. Really recommend it!

Watching with interest too OP - I think we are ready for this type of holiday this year having left it too late last year ! DC will be 6 and 8 by then.

I always wonder how sociable you have to be to enjoy these holidays - I am not sure that’s my scene though the DC would love the company of other kids .

I've never found you have to be more sociable than I want to! The norm seems to be that you do very minor polite acknowledgement around the pool, which can develop into conversation if you want it to but won't if you settle down to read/sunbathe/stare into space. Otherwise you always seem to have your own sitting/dining outdoor space and people don't come into that. If you want to get chatting you can but if you don't it's easy not to. The kids seem to make friends without the adults having to be on more than nodding terms.

look here - just bliss
lesarrail.com

Les Arrails looks lovely but blimey it's expensive! About twice what I reckon to pay.

Actually, make that three times!

Me too JustAnother!

We went here last year...I would recommend it, it was beautiful in every way and lots to do nearby, but I fancied somewhere different (and cheaper). We got a bit of a discount as booked late but it was still pricey!

www.luxuryholidayfrance.co.uk

I think £1,100 a week is the most I have ever paid (Lake Como) and I aim for more like £800. We do often include the last week of August though which is sometimes cheaper. One year we had teacher-training days in a pattern that meant we could do the 1st week of Sept, which meant we could get two weeks at Les Hiboux for a bargain £900 for the fortnight. But never since, alas.

We had two holidays at Mirabelle Gites.. in Charente Maritime.. www.bestfrenchgites.co.uk
Fabulous place

Thanks justanother for reassurance re socialising.
These places look gorgeous but presumably are already quite booked up ?
And yes it’s not cheap is it ?
So hard as I would love a bit of luxury but school holiday prices make our eyes water.