Benodot, south Brittany anyone? or near there and best route to Brittany?

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I know..Im sorry.. there are loads of threads around. Just wondered if anyone has visited the Pointe St Gilles Campsite and when you went, what you thought? If anyone has 3 children, how you did the timings. ours will be 15mths, 4 and 7. DH is refusing to consider an overnight ferry or long ferry to Roscoff or St Malo. Says he wouldnt fit in a bunk, would rather be in car for hours and hours!! Just cant get my head round timings - best time to get a ferry and how long 450 miles or so would take once on French soil. Did you stop over?

Would seriosly recommend overnight Brittany ferry to St Malo -you can come back from somewhere else -the bunks are long enough for 6 footers.Speaking from experience ,though we used to go to Carnac area -good luck

Thanks Maddylou. If you are still around, is a ferry cabin quite cramped with bunk beds? Ive never been on an overnight ferry. Have you driven as well from calais?

mmm ... thanks everlong. noisy at night - that doesnt sound good. Where have you been since? Im finding this decision ie where to go for the first time weve done a campsite holiday so difficult!! Benodet does sound lik e a good location though.

Go to La Trinite,La Baie or La Plage,smaller quieter sites or Grande Metairie at Carnac bigger and busier i.e. not just Eurocamp,might still be OK in low season Whole area is fantastic -lots of different sorts of beaches ,things to do ,markets etc .Lovely sandy beaches for children ,gently sloping etc Trust me ,we have been going for over 20 years and my grown up kids still want to go back!Cabins are not huge but better than reclining seats,plenty to do on the boat too and it gives you a base to dump stuff in.The first 2 sites I mentioned have the advantage of being really near a great beach,much better than having to load everyone in the car-you can go back easily at lunchtime etc but may not offer the kidsclubs

I can recommend these sites in Brittany:

baden (Gulf of Morbihan ) - camping mane geurnehue
Camping Village la plage in le guivenic (right on beach but basic site)
Camping les deux fontaines - Raguenes.

All with canvas

I loved the overnight ferry to St malo - such an easy start to your holiday and it's not cramped!!! It's very realxing!! We've done the journey to Brittany from calais and it's long!! About 7 hours. We broke it up the first time and stayed the night in Rouen.

The overnight ferry is bliss and the bunks are plenty big enough I think. How tall/large is your DH?
The first time we went to Bendot we got the ferry to Cherbourg and drove for HOURS - I almost lost my mind (what was left of it by then). I personally wouldn't do it again that way, certainly not with kids. The next time we went to Brittany (Benodet) we got the overnight ferry to St Malo, and the drive was so much better. It is well worth it, esp if you're then going to be putting a tent up.
I'd suggest staying over if you do decide on the long drive, there are plenty of French B&B's around (try Alistair Sawday's website) but given the weak exchange rate it is likley to be pricey.
We've stayed at Du Letty in Benodet, a blissful site.
Good luck in your negotiations...

Another vote for the overnight ferry. We had two 2 berth cabins and they were spacious enough. Definitely better than a long drive. I can't offer any advice on campsites as we stayed in an apartment, but the town is nice and family friendly.

We habven't been to Benodet, but have been to Raguenes Plage - fantastic, and northern Brittany.

We do the Dover-Calais (via Eurotunnel now which is much quicker), and drive - we were getting there about 4pm I think after an 8am crossing and a few stops. The children have always been good in the car listening to their story CD's.

I guess it depends on where you live too - is it near Portsmouth?

It must partly depend on the type of car you have -if you have one which separates the kids it might be better but our 3 used to complain that they were leaning on each other and squashed ,once they were older one of them would go in the front and I would sit between the other two in the back which helped keep the peace but wasnt very comfortable!.The 5 oclock boat back from Caen is good and you don`t need a cabin in the day so much-hope this helps

Check out the Keycamp offer in the Telegraph,yesterday ,today and tomorrow.!!!!

Thankyou Mrsravi, bigTillyMint, GrinnyPig and maddylou. We live just south east of london so portsmouth is do-able and dover too. Plymouth is a bit far really. Dh is about 6.1 I think. Sorry my thread is meant to say Beno-det- rather than dot at the end! Our car is a VW touran which has seats in boot too but would probably be full of luggage so three would have to sit next to each other (will be 7, 4 and 1)!! We have dvd player with two screens - thats our only hope!. Is Bendot a different place or did you mean Benodet Mrsravi when you said it was a nightmare drive from Cherbourg?

Thanks GrinnyPig for your vote re the ferry. However I have just has a thought - presumably they are 2 sets of bunks - what would you do with a one year old who is probably just toddling but not safe to go without a travel cot. would there be space or would that just be a complete hassle?

Raguenes Plage - will have a look as a few others have said that the St Gilles site was noisy. has anyone been to a quieter site and missed having kids clubs. Im in such a muddle over whether we really need them or not!!

Thanks Maddylou - Ive just asked dh to get a copy of the Telegraph on his way home.

Thanks again everyone!! Im really going to have to make a decision soon. I will be soooo relieved once Ive actually booked something!

Sorry Leslaki - thank you also! You are obviously a very experienced camper!! ARe your children much older now? Did you find the sites with kids clubs just a bit much. I suppose I do want the option but not really so it takes over everything else if that makes any sense!

Sorry, yes, my crappy typing, I did mean Benodet. It's a lovely place for a holiday.

With regards to the bunks, the first time I went I had my 17 month old with me and she slept wedged next to me all night. It was actually ok (I'd been dreading it.

DVDs with two screens will be a life-saver! My DH grizzled beforehand about me 'spoiling' the kids when I insisted on buying one but was noticebly quiet when he had two contented kids in the back of the car.......

Incidentally Du Letty does have a kids club but no pool as you're right by the sea.Has a lovely relaxed feel to it, felt very safe. Nice kids bathrooms too!

I've booked sites before to get the kids clubs but then found that my DCS were happier playing in the pool with us and their new found friends so we only used it on odd ocassions!! And I'beend planning on reading loads of books and chilling out in those precious 2 hours too!!! My DCs are gonna be 7 and 6 this year but I've been taking them (sometimes twice a year) since dd was 3mo! I usd to go with my parents too when i was growing up! Longest drive was west of Scotland to Biarritz!!!

I have to agree that posrtable DVD players are essential!

Thanks everyone. We have now finally (and I say finally with huge amount of relief after all the arguing/heated discussion over ferries and routes between me and dh!) booked to go to North Vendee - st hilaire, les ecureils. It looks to be a smallish site with lots for the kids hopefully. We're going on the fastcraft from Portsmouth to Caen as I have lost the battle for the overnight to st malo (It nearly came to us separating and taking different ferries - perhaps not such a good idea/start to a holiday!!). Im sure it will be fine. At least now I can just start looking forward to the holiday. THANKYOU SO MUCH EVERYONE FOR ALL YOUR HELP!! Yes I feel excited now!!

Sounds like a great trp.

If any of you suffer even vaguely from sea-sickness, take some pills, because the fastcraft is aka the vomit-comet.

Thanks for that chippy!! Its the catamaran I think, isnt it?. I think its the same type that used to go from Newhaven a few years ago. Ive only ever been sick on a very old style hydrofoil and a stormy ferry crossing. However, sickness pills would be a good investment Im sure!!