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We're looking into this next year, but there's so many of them, don't know where to start!
We're taking a 4 year old, so need some kid friendly features (decent water park type thing would be good, beach maybe.)
Would definitely like some sort of 2 bed chalet/holiday home.
Good/easy transfer from airport.
We like Italy, but are not fussed on destination really, just decent summer weather (1st week of June)
What are people's recommendations for parks to look at?
with 1 kid youll be fine
we just took our 4 kids (6,8, 3 & 3yrs) to france
2 hrs to tunnel, an hour to cross get on & off , 6 hours driving + 1hr of stops
they had quite good kids clubs & evening entertainment (Eurocamp)
1st week of june, southern europe best for weather
Had a week at Duinrell in Holland in July passed. We'll be back next year. 🙂
As much as driving does appeal, it's a 5.5hr drive just to get to the coast for us. Flying from Manc is probably the most sensible option.
Yes it can be a bit daunting so best to go with recommendations, which is what we've done. When my kids were younger we went to a site in the Vendee for a couple of years. It was slightly smaller site but with all the usual features - decent pool with slides, more of a family feel about it so a bit more suited for smaller kids so would recommend that. Also it's just across the road from a nice sandy beach, but on Atlantic coast so swimming not really advised. It is called Les Ecureuil and is in Les Mouette near St Hillaire-de-Riez so take a look at that.
More recently as the kids have got bigger we've been going to the Loire to a site called Les Allicourts. That is a fantastic site. Top notch pool and slides, decent lake with man made beach, i'd be surprised if there are many campsites that are as good for a young family. The only problem with the Loire is that the surrounding area is a bit boring, so you are a bit confined to the campsite..but its not been a problem for us over the last few years as the site is so good.
This year we're off to the Dordogne to a site recommended to us by some friends. I think it is a site within the same chain as Les Allicourts so similar feel but not as big, but the reason i'm dragging the family there is there is a bit more to do in the surrounding area...especially for me on bike rides! The Loire is super boring if you are planning on getting out on your road bike at all...and its' super flat so no good for MTB. The campsite is called Pomport Beach, so check that out too...though we've not been yet so can't recommend it.
All in all what we like about this kind of holiday is your time is your's, you can just chill out, don't need to get dressed up in the evening to go and get your standard all-inclusive slop, just simple BBQ or even just salad, cold meats, bread and cheese, so mealtimes are not a chore...and there is always the on-site take away's and restaurants. Kids go feral for a couple of weeks, parents can give them some freedom as they're pretty safe so proper chill out and relaxing holidays. You'll have a blast.
I wouldn't bother booking through Eurocamp, if you like the look of the site just book direct. A bit cheaper and you get similar levels of support you get from Eurocamp reps direct from the people working at the campsite.
Vendee for a couple of years. It was slightly smaller site but with all the usual features – decent pool with slides, more of a family feel about it so a bit more suited for smaller kids so would recommend that. Also it’s just across the road from a nice sandy beach, but on Atlantic coast so swimming not really advised. It is called Les Ecureuil and is in Les Mouette near St Hillaire-de-Riez so take a look at that.
we were at Tranche Sur Mer in Vendee
and the beach was actually great for swimming, the pool was good but a bit basic
As much as driving does appeal, it’s a 5.5hr drive just to get to the coast for us.
3.5 hrs to Newcastle for us, overnight on the ferry (which was not the geordie stag-fest I was expecting whatsoever!) into Ijmuiden (Amsterdam) and 50 mins drive the other side.
Ferry added to the holiday, as opposed to the fun-sucking flying experience. 🙂
As wobbliscott, Les allicourts in Loire is excellent. Went last year and it was a lot more relaxing than here in lake Garda. The appeal for us is actually the lack of activities out side of park. We went to Chambord, Disney in Paris for a couple of days and a labyrinth. Test of time chilling in the superb campsite.
Here in Italy, it's been super hectic, only a couple of days in campsite, which is also very crammed. However, the scenery is stunning.
When you find a site, try other providers like homair, suncamp, and Brittany ferries and the site itself for better deals
Not Eurocamp-style park as such, but we went to this place in June and it was great:
https://www.camping-port-punay.com/
We don't have kids but there were plenty there, all seemingly having a great time. They have statics and 'jungle-lodge' type things that look great. Pool, bar/restaurant, games room, small but nice beach 5 mins away, proper seaside town (Chatillon) with MASSIVE beach a ten minute cycle up the coast along the beach (they hire bikes)
Fly to Bordeaux, train to Chatillon takes 40 mins.
All the staff speak fluent English (and were gracious enough to go along with our less than fluent French 🙂 )
Have you considered the overnight ferry from Hull? We have used it the last 2 years & the holiday starts as soon as we board.
We booked directly with the site we wanted as you get a better spec mobile home for the same money, going in June there was no kids club running anyway so no benefit to eurocamp.
If you drive you can take bikes, toys etc. Friends who fly go straight to the shops to buy toys, which get given away at the end of the holiday.
+1 on Les Alicourts, although if you really don't want to drive it might be a non-starter.
We went for the first time this year with our 3-year old.
We weren't sure how she'd handle all the driving, so we booked the Premier Inn, in Dover. We drove there, stayed the night and then crossed the channel fairly early the next day.
It is an easy drive.
While there, we went to Chateau Chambord, a few of the local towns & Orleans, which we were really impressed with.
It's quite remote - there's not a lot in the local area, but as mentioned above there is lots to do on site.
This July, we used Easyjet, Liverpool to Venice, Marco Polo. Then a mixture of airbnb and used the Sun £9.50 holiday club. 7 nights in Ca Savio holiday park for about £250. I wasn't expecting much but the kids had a great time. https://club950.co.uk/
Have a look at Altomincio Family Park near lake Garda. Stayed there a few years ago. Kids loved it. Perfect for a 4 year old and a great area to explore. Weather will be hot in early June too.
My sister goes to Brittany with a 3yo. They buy the sun for vouchers so 1week is £1. There's a couple of formul hotels at dirt cheap near Calais to break the drive back to Selkirk.