Message Forums

Hi Michele

Sorry for late reply got back late Tuesday 4.8.09 and been in work every day since. We had a fab time just went too quick. I saw your tent but you were never around when I passed. If you go again and book direct with the campsite you can get your choice of pitch depending on availability as they get booked year after year. we have booked for next year already and have booked same pitch.

Sorry we didnt manage to catch up. We were off the site most days but it go up to the bar most nights at about 9ish to have a quiet beer and keep an eye on the boys at the football court. We found the site very quiet this year at night but did find alot of very small children were up very early. The parents do seem to keep them quiet like we do with ours at 10.30pm. Also had a baby in the tent next door that creid at about 4am for 5 nights running - they were dutch I know they couldnt help it but no apology - i am sure they would have complained if we were laughing etc at midnight.

This has not put us off for next year though cos boys made friends and area suits us all.

Sue

hi - the post above should have read that parents do NOT ask their little ones to be quiet in the morning but we are always say to ours to be quiet when coming back to the tent after playing football at 10.30ish.

But this is a great site and area and we will still go back next year.

Sue

We find that more British families arrive last week of July. We holiday the first two weeks of summer holidays - kids in cumbria broke up on 16.7.09 and I believe this is earlier than other parts of the UK except Scotland who break up earlier still. Most years we have found more Brits on site in August. The number of Brits was down this year but the Dutch teenagers speak good English and ours have made friends with them in the past. La Ravoire is a great site but I imagine it is quieter at night than Camping Europa. We have been for the past 4 years and my boys are now 12 and 15 and have always managed to make friends. But I have noticed thagt the site does attract families with younger children. I think it is noted as toddler friendly in the Euro camp brochure so lots of small children which does sometimes make you a bit wary at the pool as older children obviously like to jump in etc but you have just to make them aware of the little ones and to be careful.

I think you will find La Ravoire pitch fees are much cheaper.

We have already booked for next year.

Hope this helps.

Sue

Sorry to hijack the posting...I wondered if you would mind answering one or two questions ? We stayed at Camping L'ideal just 'up the road' from La Ravoire a week or so ago. We had a look round La Raviore as a possible destination for next year - and were very impressed, although it appeared more expensive than Ideal ?! Like Jwadd, one of the draws to La Ravoire was the balance of nationalities on the site. We were the only brits at Lideal for most of the time, and whilst the Dutch and French were very friendly, we did feel for our son (10) who was a little lost some of the time..

Was there any restriction on size of tent ? We have an Outwell Georgia L, and one of the issue we had at Ideal was that they didn't allow us to book a specific location (which we asked for) and were offered a pitch that was too small...we were able to swap, but not after a few terse words (in both French and English !!) and a bit of a stand off in the main reception / office.

Also, were you able to hire a fridge for the tent ? We hired one at Ideal, and I think without it we would have struggled in the heat.

and finally...is it better (cheaper) to book direct or through the C&CC ? We booked Lideal via Vacansoleil and it worked out cheaper as paid in sterling rather than euros. The published 09 rate at La Ravoire appeared to be around 34 euros (£30 per night) and we paid approx £19 for Ideal.

Many thanks

Bryan

Hi Bryan

We always book direct with the campsite - not members of c&cc so don't know if this is cheaper. The beauty of booking direct is that we get the pitch we want. Most pitches would be suitable for your tent but there are some that would be a bit tight. The owner is very accomodating if you book early enough as many regulars book the same pitch year after year. We hire a fridge from the campsite I think we paid 35 Euros for 2 weeks it is a god send but they are popular so it is a good idea to request one when booking. There is a good mix of nationalities on the site with the numbers of Brits increasing in August. La Ravoire appears to be alot quieter than L'Ideal but it is alot more spacious and you can park your car at your pitch. L'Ideal always looked crammed when we went past.

I am sure your son will make plenty of friends at La Ravoire - there is a football court and the kids can go in the small bar to play pool or table football. But please note there is no night time entertainment - I dont know if there is at L'Ideal but it seems quite lively. But La Ravoire is a friendly site. If you want any more info just let me know.

Sue

Thanks Sue - that is very helpful...especially with regards to the fridge. We are not too bothered by the lack of evening entertainment, prefering a little more space and to be closer to the cycle path.  I suspect we will have to decide fairly quickly as we plan to go as soon as the school holidays begin. It is between a return to Annecy and venturing a little more SW towards the Ardeche ?!

Thanks again for your help

Bryan