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

Original poster

siblu holidays - has anyone been on one and how was it?

26 replies

daisypuffpot · 15/01/2010 19:57

Hello,
I've just got the brochure through, and it all looks very lovely, but what is the reality? We used to go on Neilson holidays, but after our 2 year old tantrummed so hard that he virtually spontaneously combusted on the plane home last year, plus the addition of a 4 month old, I have banned us all from planes for the next few years. Not that I imagine a car drive down France will be a laugh a minute, but at least we can stop the car when the screaming gets too much.
The other brochure I'm waiting for is for Keycamps - does anyone have any experience of these? Or any other suggestions?
Thanks!

OP posts:
HallelujahHeisBorntoMary · 15/01/2010 20:00

We were happy with our Siblu holiday. Admittedly we got it through the Sun 9.50 offer (actual costs were more like £200 in total), but would consider paying full price.

Original poster
daisypuffpot · 15/01/2010 20:13

Thankyou, that's good to know

OP posts:
ilovepeppapig · 16/01/2010 11:49

hi
i have been to

1.la carabasse(SIBLU). That was so lovely. we stayed in a wooden lodge which was clean and spacious. great pool and lovely restuarant. however at end of June weather was a bit mixed. we like it hot!

  1. Le Lac De Reve. Been twice. First time had a super mobile home. clean and spacious.
Second time went for a basic model and it was quite old and not so good (so i would say get the best one you could afford)

Lovely site though Fantastic weather (july august). Good Restuarant (with a 3 course "menu of the day" for about 12 euros)Good site shop. ALL the staff are fiendly and helpful. nice feel to campsite

Ruthiebabes · 16/01/2010 12:47

We have decided on driving this year as plane journeys have been a nightmare.

We are driving down to the Charente Maritime in France, and have chosen a gite complex rather than a holiday park. Check out totstofrance.co.uk. There is loads of choice and the complexes are very child friendly... gated pools, playgrounds etc. Not too expensive either.

I have researched this loads so if you want any more info let me know.

Portofino · 16/01/2010 18:27

We went to Lac Des Reves last year. It was lovely, and the staff were fab. Dd loved the kids club and everything was clean. Restaurant reasonable value for money. Pool great. Agree that you should get the best/biggest mobile home you can afford. Ours was a bit on the pokey side. No other complaints.

choppychopster · 16/01/2010 18:45

Not been with Siblu, but have done Thomson Al Fresco a few times. We went to Esterel on the Cote d'Azur a few years ago and Park Albatros in Tuscany last year.

Fantastic type of holiday if you've got young kids, although we've always flown and hired a car at the other end, never braved a long drive down. Loved being able to put DD to been to the mini disco or out for a pizza, then sit out on the decking with DH and a nice bottle of wine.

Portofino · 16/01/2010 19:10

choppy, we're off to Parc Albatros this July. Did you enjoy it? Any hints?

thecloudhopper · 17/01/2010 20:45

Also look at Matthews holidays not so much choice but cheepest by far !!

Milliways · 17/01/2010 20:50

With Siblu we have stayed at:
Les Charmettes x 2
La Carabasse x 3
Domaine de Kerlanne
Le Bois Dormant
La Sirene
Le Vieux Port
El Delfin Verde

As you can see, we like Siblu!

We have also holidayed with Canvas & Matthews & this year are trying out Thomson Al Fresco.

Keycamp has always proved more expensive than anyone else once we have chosen a site.

Katymac · 17/01/2010 20:53

Milliways - did you see which site had sailing? or would be good for 12yos?

Siblu has the advantage of being able to be paid for by Tesco vouchers

Milliways · 17/01/2010 21:43

I think they do sailing at Lac des Reves - my neighbours went there with their 2 boys and had a great time.

La Sirene has a beach club where you get reduced price windsurfing lessons + free windsurfing daily. That site had the most amazing entertainment (Lion King, Cats etc!) and loads for all ages to do. The pool gets crowded but you can sit on grass which is a bonus! On site food also very good - highly recommended.

La Carabasse also has a beach club - DH liked the happy hour best

ilovepeppapig · 18/01/2010 06:42

hi there have been to le lac de reves twice recently and there is no on site sailing.

There is sailing at la carabasse as it has an on site lake.

MmeBlueberry · 18/01/2010 07:07

We have been to a Siblu site. The brochure description was fairly accurate. We had a top mobile home and it was pristine and well equipped. The only downside was that the plot waa a bit small.

The pool complex was great - suitable for all ages. There was evening entertainment that the kids loved, and kids clubs in the day (which we only used a couple of times as we wanted to go out in the day to the beach). There were lots of playgrounds dotted around the park, and a laundry.

sunnyshine · 18/01/2010 08:09

milliways, what did you think of les charmetttes? thats top on my list at moment?

thecloudhopper · 18/01/2010 08:11

All the camping holiday companies have clean mobile homes, though.

scrappydappydoo · 18/01/2010 08:22

Hiya - My MIL has a caravan at la carabasse. It's a lovely site - pool is huge but can be a little cold There's a kids club on site with groups from 1yr old (more like a parent and toddler group you can't leave them there until they are 4/5) and the beach is very near. Never been to the entertainment so can't comment on that.
Overall it's a lovely relaxing holiday where you can do what you like really although I don't think I'd equate it with a Neilson holiday.
BTW La Carabasse is by the sea and not on lake - I don't know if they offer sailing off the beach but it would certainly cost extra

notyummy · 18/01/2010 08:23

We have done Thomson Al Fresco to Italy twice and I would highly recommend them. Spotless new mobiles, excellent customer service, and a lovely holiday with kids. Think the small parcs are better with little kids as they don't need the full range of entertainment - as long as their is a playground and a pool they are happy....and you are less likely to get noise. For this reason we have been here:

www.thomsonalfresco.co.uk/lepianacce

Beautiful setting, within walking distance of a medieval hilltop town. The campsite restaurant is lovely, and there is nice range of eateries in the town. 5 mins from the beach in the car, or you can hire bikes and cycle it in 10.

We are going back this year for the third time, and have also booked with Al Fresco to go to the Italian lakes in June.

DorotheaPlenticlew · 18/01/2010 08:58

We stayed at Les Charmettes last summer -- it's the only one I can testify about but I would go again without hesitation. We had a really nice mobile home with decking to sit out on (it belongs to relatives ) and DS (20 months at the time) adored the pool complex, which was perfect, clean and safe. Shop on-site was well stocked. Restaurant a bit underwhelming but hey, you can't have it all. There was a kids' club and the children we saw seemed to love it but DS was a bit too young to be interested.

Ruthiebabes · 18/01/2010 10:28

Notyummy... le pianacce looks lovely, what is the beach like?

Were there many other English families staying there.. my 6 yr old loves to find playmates!!!?

DanAtSiblu · 18/01/2010 11:03

Message deleted

choppychopster · 18/01/2010 12:49

Hi Portofino - loved Park Albatros when we went in June last year. I put a review on MN here

We were very lazy and didn't really do much off the campsite at all other than go to the beach (Barrati beach about 5 mins drive away is better than the one at the end of the road leading up to the campsite) and have a wonder around San Vincenzo. But if your kids are a bit older there's an aquapark and a themepark not too far away. I fancied doing the wine trails, but not sure how practical that would be with a toddler.

I wish that we'd managed to get hold of one of the pull-along carts for taking DD to the pool (only about 7 minutes walk from our mobile home, but it was hot and she was whingy, but they had all been rented out when we tried.

notyummy · 18/01/2010 12:59

ruthiebabes

Beach is fine - clean and not overcrowded, but not amazing. Best beach is Baratti beach, which is about 20 minutes away. Piannace is fairly close to Parc Albatros, which has more facilities and is much bigger - I think more for older kids. The English family in the mobile next to us visited it to see if they wanted to book for the following year and came back saying it was very busy and noisy so not what they were looking for - I suspect loads to do though.

Fair amount of English families. DD who had just turned 3 made a few pals - inc the 2 girls in the mobile next door. Kids club was nice and low-key - not overrun with loads of kids and a fluent English 'host'. I would mainly Dutch and German fmaily, but about 30% British.

Ruthiebabes · 18/01/2010 13:18

Thanks for replying notyummy... would only want a quiet site.

Original poster
daisypuffpot · 18/01/2010 13:22

Thankyou all so much for your replies. It sounds like this sort of holiday is ideal for us now.

OP posts:
Milliways · 18/01/2010 17:08

Sunnyshine - it has been a while since Les Charmettes but we loved it - the vans were laid out in circles and kids played in the middle bit! Pools were brilliant (yes, a little cold at times). Our ONLY gripe is you have to drive to the beach, park & then walk a distance through the dunes. However, the beaches were magnificent (beware the nudists on one area though!).

We now tend to go where there is direct walking access to beach as easier for Teens.