Sites in France - someone find me the perfect one.

[MrsMuddle]

I'm notoriously last minute about holidays, and so we always pay over the odds, and end up wherever there's accommodation.

For once, I want to book next summer's holiday well in advance, and I'd love some recommendations. We will be taking the car and getting the ferry to Zeebrugge - we'd never manage to stick to an airline's luggage allowance. (My summer reading must weight about 10kg for a start!).

That's the only definite. After that, I'm open to suggestions.

Here are our criteria.

1. Within 8 hours drive of Zeebrugge.
2. Likely to be hot for the first fortnight in July.
3. Things to do - watersports - for the DSs, who will be 11 and 13 (not necessarily a formal kids club)
4. Within walking distance of a town or village with restaurants.
5. Tent or mobile home or apartment - not bothered.

All suggestions will be welcome. Thanks.

Somewhere in the Ardeche? Might be a bit over your 8 hours - not sure how much further Zeebrugge is than Calais. Otherwise it fits, lots of watersports (fab canoeing), good weather, lots of sites to choose from.

I have stayed here and it was nice, but must admit it was some years ago. It doesn't look to have changed much, am actually considering it myself for next year.

THank you. I have looked at the English translation on the site, and it made me laugh. "Every day, I discover something new on my trolls here and there...." Made for MNers!

we're off to Duinrell in the Netherlands o Sun - looks centre parky so will let you knwo what it's like! I can also recommend various French campsites in Brittany and the Vendee but they may be over your 8 hour limit. Think the best site we've stayed at which would be fab for your requirements would be:
Camping Acapulco in St Jean de Monts - walking distnace to beach and small town with restauarants, bars, suoermarket etc. Fantastic pool complex and loads ot do on site.

This year we stayed at Les deux Fontaines in Raguenes and there was loads for kids your dc's ages but you needed to drive to the nearest town - 10 mins away.

les mouettes in brittany is excellent teenage site with fantastic water slides and you can pay extra for canoeing ont hebeach. there is local supermarket, local towns with market, beach is good.