Vendee traffic

[Orinoco]

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We went to St Jean de Monts a few years back, it was very busy, but I may just be comparing it to the places that we ususally go to that are very quiet.

Where else are you thinking of?

Two years ago we stayed a few miles outside St Jean de Monts in early August, and although it was busy, and there was loads of cars around, we didn't find it a problem in any way. Although my husband had to do most of the car parking because I cannot fit into a small space, and it was hard enough to find a space near the beach.

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Never had any major problems. Parking is easy in St Jean, and there is a strip of parking the whole lenght of the beach. La Sable D'ollone (sp?) can get a bit more congested, and that too more driving tound to find a place

Parking the the fete days at Challans can be tricky, but we have managed it several times

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Orinoco, we were in La Tranche last year and didn't have any problem with traffic - but our campsite wasn't in the town centre so didn't drive through the town more than 2-3 times. You can usually bypass the town centre anyway unless you specifically want to go there... We stayed at Camping du Jard - I think it's in the same area as Bel. There is a local shopping area within walking distance of the site, a very good Spar in the opposite direction and the restaurant on site was good.

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Oohh lots!

I would deffo reccoment that you get Angela Birds guide book (she has a good website)

Brem sur mer is a nice town, and good beach, Jard sur mer, and little further south is nicer , I think. St Gilles Crox de ville is fabbo and there is a great fish resturant in the square near the church, there is a mini fair at the end of the Harbour and a nice carosel on the bridge.

The festival in Challans is great and is free and the whole twon dresses up, well worth going to. The caste in Apremonyt is worth a visit, and there is a nice creperie at the bottpm of the castle wall....you can also hire pedelos and go up the river , which is a hoot.

the drive across the causeway to norimoutier is worth doing and there is a first rate water park there.

never done the velo rail, but it is supposed to be good

You can hire 4 man 'bikes' to go up and down the sea front at St Jean

fantastic hypermarche at les Sable d'ollone (how sad am I?'

and the zoo there is good for the kids

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Gosh, martianbishop you have just posted almost word for word what I was going to say. We've stayed in Les Sables and Brem sur Mer and I love that part of France. I'm with you on the hypermarche, I must have spent hundreds of euros in there!! And the wonderful seafront restaurants in Les Sables d'Olonne made a mockery of my self catering hypermarche purchases. We also did horseriding around there as well, which my daughter loved.
The little ferry across the water from Les Sables is great.As are the crepes, the rose wine, the ice cream........Now I want to go this year as well.
orinoco As regards to traffic, we have been at the end and the beginning of the summer season and it has never been a problem.

Hope you have a lovely time.

You may well have a problem getting into La G at this time of year, as it gets booked up V fast.

Are you taking your own tent?

or looking for a van to hire/tent to hire?

Nearest Hypermarche that is nice is challans, which is about 20 mins drive, or the one on the outskirts of St Jean de monts, or best of all the one in Le sable....when has a fantastic resturant that does fresh cooked pizza....worth the drive if you have lunch there too

Ooh MB, are you somewhat of an expert on this area? We are about to book Canvas' Camping Les Biches in St Hilaire for June - do you know it and have any comments, good or bad?

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St Hillare is noce, and I have read good things about the site, but haven't been myself.

TBH, the main sites are all good in this region as the French expect good facilities, and get them!

You'll finds lots of French holidaying there and loads of Dutch as well as the Brits

Right, I'll let you into a little gem of a site that is in the same area, is smaller but it utterly fabola!

small site in the grounds of a Chateux

Faded elegance, nice owners, small site but big pitches, two small pools, masses of space for the kids to play, shoppette, bar, resturant and take away.

Pitch and put and pony riding.

What more could you ask for?

no internet acces, but there are some lakes for you FIL to walk round!

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Orinoco, this is the website for Camping du Jard

www.campingdujard.fr/gb.html

We really liked it - well run, fairly quiet, kids loved the pool area. Don't know about internet access - the only time dh leaves his laptop at home is our summer holiday!

As I said, there was a good restaurant on site (plus a take-away and small shop), only went to the bar once and that was before dinner. The beach is 10-15 minute walk away so your fil could easily escape there... only think I wasn't happy with was the playground - was run down imo.

We are going to La Garangeoire this year btw - but we booked last October - they were fully booked last year when we tried and the staff advised us to book for this year when they start taking bookings in october....

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We're also going to La Garangeoire this year. Never been before and looking forward to it. I have visions of the DSs fishing at the lake all day as DH and I lounge by the pool with our books.