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

Camping in France: Eurocamp, Sandaya or Yelloh?

45 replies

PeanutsFamily · 05/01/2024 21:21

We are due a new baby this January. With that in mind we're thinking of making our summer holiday plans a little easier. (Already have a 2.5 yr old) looking at camping in France. Has anyone stayed with Eurocamp, Yelloh or Sandaya. The properties and prices seem to vary. How do each company compare?

Looking the brace ourselves for the long drive (with some stops in between) and stay at a campsite in the south of France for the guarantee of better weather.

Any advice or tips for someone who has NEVER done this before? Also any recommendations of specific campsites? By summer our baby will be 6 months and our DS will be 3.

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GotMooMilk · 05/01/2024 21:22

Following!

winesolveseverything · 05/01/2024 21:53

We have done both Yelloh and Eurocamp for years.
We have been to France for the past few summers - the children were 12 months and 4 years when we first went.
We started in South Brittany at a place called La Trinite - and did the overnight ferry to Roscoff to eliminate the extra driving. I think it was about 2 hours to the site. We stayed in a Eurocamp tent and you could hear the waves at night.
As the children got a little older, we ventured further south but remained on the west coast. We had some fabulous holidays on a site called La Garangeoire in Vendee- we stayed with Eurocamp there, and then took our own tent for a few years. If I was going there again I would probably book directly with the site. (Les Castels)

The past few years we have been to a site owned by Yelloh on the coast near Bordeaux. This was more of a trek- a good 6 hours (easy) drive from St Malo.
This was exclusively Yelloh with no other tour operators on site. It was definitely the nicest accommodation we have had- far superior to Eurocamp- probably because it was under the 5 star rated umbrella.

We have found Eurocamp to be unreliable at times with cleanliness of accommodation- sometimes it was immaculate, other times not so much.
Small sites seem to be looked after by a husband and wife team- whose standards were high.
The larger sites tended to be groups of student reps who weren't always as merticulous about cleaning. It wouldn't put me off going back though. Just something to be aware of. I would always book direct with the site as a first choice though.

I couldn't fault this type of holiday with children- we have had the best of times. Having your own car has meant we could do supermarket trips and explore.

Agecanonix · 05/01/2024 21:57

Yelloh!!! Hundred times better than the others. Book through them

We did SE France with a under 1 year old and SW France and West Coast with various ages and amounts of children. Hands down Yelloh was the best

PeanutsFamily · 06/01/2024 06:07

Thank you! Really helpful - Upon research it seems that Yelloh are better than Eurocamp, would you say that Yelloh are better than Sandaya also?

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SpecialToMe · 06/01/2024 06:11

Whatever you do, book direct with the campsite and not eurocamp accommodation. From my experience the accommodation is far superior and sometimes cheaper!

Landlubber2019 · 06/01/2024 06:46

Never done eurocamp but have done Yelloh, the accommodation and site were great. The kids clubs were less brilliant, it was all there and seemed well organised but found very few UK kids participated so our DC were reluctant to stay, however eurocamp were very well attended and visible. I think it depends how much you want to use the kids clubs !

willsandnoodle · 06/01/2024 07:04

We want to go to euro camp, but 2 of our children can't travel together as they don't get on. Maybe we'd have to take two cars. Which is the closest to the ferry port once you get to France? And is it any good? Anyone share the driving distances to any other close ones?

Sunflowergirl1 · 06/01/2024 07:27

We did this with a touring caravan for years...ours was a fairly luxury model so I am always embarrassed to describe as camping but principles the same.

L Garangoire is a fabulous site. The activities for children always used to be amazing and they used to offer free children's clubs on an evening if parents were eating in the reason,y priced restaurant. Our kids simply loved this site.

Eurocamp had a portion of the site. Were expensive but they put in a lot of their own activities.

This type of holiday for younger kids and parents was simply amazing and ours have some of their best memories going to sites like this. The key is the travel down and back and with tents, overnight stays en route are more tricky, although I think Euro camping etc can sometimes accommodate one nighters.

Driving in France using toll roads is a delight. Rarely traffic james, except Paris and Bordeaux. You can blitz long distances doing 130km per hour speed if you have the car for it. Lots of Aires and service stations

The Vendee we found to vary between warm and sunny, but also a lot of mild and rainy days. The rule we followed was anything south of La-Rochelle and the weather was pretty consistent of warm and dry.

You describe sites by their group names, like Yelloh. Don't disagree with others views but be aware some of them move groups, ie could be a Castel and more to Yelloh. However, we did our research and we never stayed at a bad site.

We tend to fly a lot these days but I look back on our camping in France and northern Spain with very fond memories of the long relaxed days and kids happy and entertained. Would recommend

Sleepyquest · 06/01/2024 07:33

I have done Sandaya and really loved our holiday 😊 I took a 3 and 1 year old. There weren't kids clubs or anything (I don't think) but we were too busy for that anyway!

PeanutsFamily · 06/01/2024 20:22

Thank you! I'm not too interested in the kids clubs, we'll have a 6m old and 3 yr old - so not at the age where they'll need/appreciate the extra stimulation. A kid friendly pool is enough for us I think..

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PeanutsFamily · 06/01/2024 20:23

To follow up. We are looking at Aloha/Serignan Plage.

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Fran92 · 06/01/2024 20:29

thats a long drive from the U.K!

highly recommend Sandaya Sequoia Park just near La Rochelle, was amazing with both indoor and outdoor pools and a petting zoo. I’ve been looking for one and had recommendations for the south of France too but ideally without the need for car to fly but without paying £££ I can’t seem to find one that does both with good accommodation.

mafsfan · 06/01/2024 20:51

We love Sandaya - so much better than Eurocamp accommodation (aircon, decent beds, decent bathrooms and kitchens), lovely sites, kids have always had an absolute blast.

Our favourite so far has been Le Littoral because the beach is amazing and the pools were perfect for under 8s.

We're going to try Sequoia Park this year but concerned that the beach is going to be a bit of a disappointment 😬

Haven't tried Yelloh but I would never book Eurocamp now. Even if you like one of their sites, book your accommodation direct through the site.

mafsfan · 06/01/2024 20:53

PeanutsFamily · 06/01/2024 20:22

Thank you! I'm not too interested in the kids clubs, we'll have a 6m old and 3 yr old - so not at the age where they'll need/appreciate the extra stimulation. A kid friendly pool is enough for us I think..

Just seen your ages. There's no way I'd drive to the south of France with those ages. Plus it could be boiling.

The Vendée is your friend with these ages. Seriously consider Le Littoral - perfect pools with splash parks for your ages.

www.sandaya.co.uk/our-campsites/le-littoral

yoshiblue · 06/01/2024 21:29

Definitely Yelloh Village. Service and accom standards generally excellent. Serignan Plage and Brasilia are two of their most popular sites in the South. Play around with dates as it can get very pricey!

JaneIves · 06/01/2024 21:33

There a really good FB group (unofficial eurocamp supporters club) which will give you lots of info about most sites - lots of people post about yelloh and sandaya too.

I always book via Eurocamp as I get a blue light discount, but I'm also aware that other sites may be cheaper than EC and BLC combined. Also, if you find a site you like it may be worth booking with the campsite direct.

Boomboom22 · 06/01/2024 21:36

willsandnoodle · 06/01/2024 07:04

We want to go to euro camp, but 2 of our children can't travel together as they don't get on. Maybe we'd have to take two cars. Which is the closest to the ferry port once you get to France? And is it any good? Anyone share the driving distances to any other close ones?

There's one literally 20 mins or less drive off the tunnel. Another about 1.5hrs or less. Then quite a few within 3-4 hrs. Duinrell is only about 4.5hrs and well worth it tbh.

Boomboom22 · 06/01/2024 21:37

Think yelloh have updated their website to be the same as eurocamp now which is much better than the old, impossible to work, page.

Boomboom22 · 06/01/2024 21:37

Also get a discount though teachers discounts on eurocamp, or tesco vouchers at double for eurocamp or the chunnel.

PeanutsFamily · 06/01/2024 21:39

@mafsfan The heat is not a problem. The reason we want the south of France is because of the heat so, if anything we welcome it. I guess it depends what you're used to?? Heat wise? 2 years ago we did Turkey for 2 weeks and it was in the 40s (our DS was one), last summer we did NYC and Nashville and it was high 30s and we also did a 15hr flight to a very hot Africa with our him when he was 8 months old. Therefore driving isn't so much of a concern, with the flexibility of being able to stop along the route feels a lot easier than that 15hr flight.

I will however look at Vendee! Thank you for your suggestion - it's all really helpful!

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Boomboom22 · 06/01/2024 21:41

If you are willing to drive you can do 2 nights en route, at a eurocamp or through booking or airbnb. Lots are way cheaper further south or in Spain even.

Def go for ultimate accommodation or yelloh, basically look at the square footage as the premium is really small (narrow).

Boomboom22 · 06/01/2024 21:49

Final point, if you want to book consecutive holidays in say 3 eurocamps ring as they will give you a 'camp hopping' discount.

happygertie · 06/01/2024 21:55

We've done Yelloh and loved it, the only slight issue was the beds, mattress are a bit flat so became uncomfy by the end of the week

ilovebreadsauce · 06/01/2024 21:57

Yelloh

Jijithecat · 06/01/2024 22:08

We tried Sandaya for the first time last summer. The accommodation was probably the best we have stayed in for that type of holiday, but it was their premium accommodation.
We have stayed in Eurocamp a few times at different sites and it's always been fine but not particularly special.
I don't know if we've always been really lucky with the weather in France but we've never been anywhere near as South as you are proposing and the temperature has often been in the 30s.