Please come and talk to me about Thomson Al Fresco holidays

[teaandcakeplease]

Has anyone done one of these type of holidays in a mobile home? I was looking at the France ones and thinking "Ooo this is sooo much cheaper than a sc package holiday" but then when I looked at the cost of ferry's, and the length of time to drive at both ends etc. I started to think "hmmmm maybe not"

Someone please come and tell me pros and cons and which resorts if any you'd recommend etc.

I was thinking mid May as it seems cheaper but open to suggestions. I need a holiday so bad this year. My kids are 2 and a half and 14 months right now.

We are going with THomson Al Fresco this year - because we like the site & they have good vans.

HOWEVER - they are NOT cheap! Siblu are cheaper, and if yoiu want really cheap (but a much smaller choice of sites) look at Matthews Holidays (lots of us MNers have used Matthews and really rate them for value).

These holidays are ideal for families as you have lots of room and space around the van - not confined to a hotel room. The kids can go to clubs and make friends around the site. They are normally really social times.

Matthews May Prices

They have the same resort on there as Thomson and the price is almost the same. I was thinking of Clarys Plage but it's quite a drive to there whichever ferry route I take. Wondering if it'll be too stressful with my LO's so small and of course the overnight ferry from Portsmouth which arrives at St Malo is costly

Hence needing some ideas from you lovely mumsnetters

Bump?

We have stayed at Les Genets (literally next door to Clarys Plage).

If you take an early Porstsmouth Caen LONG crossing (the fastcraft is called Vomit Comet for a reason ) you arrive late morning/lunchtime and can drive to The Vendee in around 4 hours - so easily by tea-time.

Don't bother with St Malo - Very boring & expensive. You could drive there in quicker time! Only worth that if staying in that part of Brittany.

The smallest Matthews van is TINY but functional - we managed it with 2 Teenagers, but their largest van is fab. You get what you pay for. We are having the largest Thomson van this year, and expect it to be very high quality.

Clarys Plage is a nice site, walkable to the beach and local shops/restaurants, and near to ST Jean & other resorts.

I was starting to think maybe I should settle for Normandy as its less of a drive from Calais.

But that sounds doable.