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So we FINALLY put up the ex-display Sunncamp Palace, threw 15 litres of canvas waterproofing over it (found some stuff in B&Q half the price of Fabsil), and now we are ready to rock!  Just need to find somewhere to book in the south of France near the Mediterranean.

Before I go searching the reviews section I was wondering if anyone could recommend anywhere based on the following...

• We have two kids who will be five and two (just).  They've been camping before so no problem there. 
• Money is a bit tight, so I was thinking that it may be cheaper to camp inland.
• I would imagine that Languedoc-Roussillon is a cheaper area than anywhere near Cannes or Nice.
• Happy to drive about 15-20 miles to the beach.
• Ideally somewhere inland where we have a choice of driving off to a lake or the beach for lazy days.
• Finally...am I being wise by going inland?  Will it be a nightmare trying to drive to and park up near a beach?  I haven't been down that way since 1995 (Valras-Plage).

If anyone has done something like this, or just knows a good area then please let me know.  Any ideas are most welcome!

Thanks folks!

Henry

Henry, firstly Welcome to UKCS.  You've chosen just THE BEST place to get helpful and friendly advice.  

If you can be 'flexible' about dates, rather than in mid-July (in other words towards the end of the school holidays rather than at the beginning), then you can probably find everything on your wish list.  Parking should be no problem, providing you choose your beach carefully - and it's very likely that you'll not pay a penny in parking - nor will you meet a clamper!

We caravan in France twice a year, in May/June and then again in August/September - and never have a problem with crowds or parking!  We are 'weather followers' and for this reason have found the best weather to be in the Languedoc area - so we've 'done' this area many times over the past few years.  What sort of site do you like?  Do you want Kids Clubs, slides, etc., and entertainment, or would you be happy with a small farm site with decent toilet blocks?  There are so many campsites in France that you really have to narrow down your choice a little.

Have you had a look at the Camping Cheques website.  Camping Neptune, near to Grau d'Agde (which is lovely) and Cap d'Agde (which isn't), takes Camping Cheques after 17th August (this year, next year should be similar) and will cost just £13.40 per night for pitch, two people, tent (or whatever) and electricity.  The site has a pool, and we love it there - having been back several times now.  It's ideal for smaller children, level and safe, and with a small pool and paddling pool!  There's a smallish bar/restaurant (very low key) on site, and nice big separated pitches so you have a degree of privacy in your own 'area'.  Edited later:  Forgot to say, they also deliver your bread order directly to your pitch in the morning - but just watch the blue tits don't get to it before you do!  We raised an entire family of chicks with the ends of our croissants!   I have some lovely close up photos of Mr and Mrs Blue Tit helping themselves!

You can walk to the beach, or cycle, or walk along in the other direction into the old town of Agde (there are three different areas - Grau, Cap and Agde itself) and then along the Canal du Midi.  There are some restaurants and ice cream shops at the Grau but nothing too commercialised - and there are plenty of other beaches in the area.  Inland, should you wish to drive, there are some beautiful areas going up into the mountains, and if you use the A75 you can drive over the famous Millau viaduct, or stay overnight in Millau on your way down to appreciate, from underneath, just how high the viaduct is.

If any of this appeals to you then I'd be happy to give more information - otherwise I'm sure lots of other people have favourite sites they will recommend.

You'd very likely be at Cap d'Agde or the beaches nearby - which isn't nice at all - but the old town of Agde itself is lovely, alongside the Herault river, and Grau d'Agde is at the end of the river where it flows into the sea.  Grau has a tiny 'market square' with a few shops and cafes, a few restaurants and ice cream places alongside the river, and some quite nice shallow beaches, ideal for little ones.  Cap d'Agde is blaring, crowded with people, noisy, and absolutely commercialised with 'tat' stalls in a sort of market area.  The old town of Agde is also alongside the river, and is not a particularly pretty town, but 'interesting' - with the Canal du Midi coming in at the top of town, and some interesting circular locks where the boats continue into the Herault river from the canal, and then into the Etang du Thau.  There is also La Tamarissiere, which is over the 'other side' of the Herault from the Grau - and from there, going towards Vias, there are also loads of rather cramped campsites.   There are several miles between each of these places - which is very odd, and many years ago we were confused by it all, but know it now like the back of our hand!

If you look at Google maps and just type in Agde - you can see all the areas, and see just how far there is between them!

Quote: Originally posted by feeblecat on 15/9/2009

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forgot to ask - since it put me off that area for good, was there a nicer beach area near there we could have gone to?

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In that case, what about this one - about 30 km inland Mas de Reilhe near Sommieres - haven't stayed there but it's been recommended.

Or Domaine de Massereau also near to Sommieres, with some tour operators (Eurocamp, or Keycamp) and slides, etc., but a great adventure playground and cycle ride direct from the site.  Nice toilet blocks, irregular pitches, varied shade, small shop, bar and restaurant overlooking the pools.

Or Domaine Chateau du Boisson (which was our choice for our second year camping in France in 1981 - and we've been back since).

I'm sure there are lots more 'inland' sites to be recommended too.  Personally we like to go just a bit further inland to the Gorges du Tarn or the Ardeche areas, which are wild scenery, rivers, and wildlife - and yet still within reach of a day at the beach if that's what you want.  However, if you want regular trips to the beach then you need to be a bit nearer the action than either of those two areas.

Quote: Originally posted by Val A on 15/9/2009

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Henry, firstly Welcome to UKCS.  You've chosen just THE BEST place to get helpful and friendly advice.  

If you can be 'flexible' about dates, rather than in mid-July (in other words towards the end of the school holidays rather than at the beginning), then you can probably find everything on your wish list.  Parking should be no problem, providing you choose your beach carefully - and it's very likely that you'll not pay a penny in parking - nor will you meet a clamper!

We caravan in France twice a year, in May/June and then again in August/September - and never have a problem with crowds or parking!  We are 'weather followers' and for this reason have found the best weather to be in the Languedoc area - so we've 'done' this area many times over the past few years.  What sort of site do you like?  Do you want Kids Clubs, slides, etc., and entertainment, or would you be happy with a small farm site with decent toilet blocks?  There are so many campsites in France that you really have to narrow down your choice a little.

Have you had a look at the Camping Cheques website.  Camping Neptune, near to Grau d'Agde (which is lovely) and Cap d'Agde (which isn't), takes Camping Cheques after 17th August (this year, next year should be similar) and will cost just £13.40 per night for pitch, two people, tent (or whatever) and electricity.  The site has a pool, and we love it there - having been back several times now.  It's ideal for smaller children, level and safe, and with a small pool and paddling pool!  There's a smallish bar/restaurant (very low key) on site, and nice big separated pitches so you have a degree of privacy in your own 'area'.  Edited later:  Forgot to say, they also deliver your bread order directly to your pitch in the morning - but just watch the blue tits don't get to it before you do!  We raised an entire family of chicks with the ends of our croissants!   I have some lovely close up photos of Mr and Mrs Blue Tit helping themselves!

You can walk to the beach, or cycle, or walk along in the other direction into the old town of Agde (there are three different areas - Grau, Cap and Agde itself) and then along the Canal du Midi.  There are some restaurants and ice cream shops at the Grau but nothing too commercialised - and there are plenty of other beaches in the area.  Inland, should you wish to drive, there are some beautiful areas going up into the mountains, and if you use the A75 you can drive over the famous Millau viaduct, or stay overnight in Millau on your way down to appreciate, from underneath, just how high the viaduct is.

If any of this appeals to you then I'd be happy to give more information - otherwise I'm sure lots of other people have favourite sites they will recommend.

Post last edited on 15/09/2009 08:08:58

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Hi Val, we are following this thread with interest. Just been looking on the camping cheque website and seen that Neptune at Agde takes cheques up until 10/07 which would fit perfectly into our schedule for next year.Have you stayed here or seen the site & if so is it a good site for late June early July, ie not too crowded or noisy ??

this may be the perfect site for us next year, where we want to be ,in the sun , without paying £ ridiculous per night.

thanks

Jon

We've been there about four times now - and love it.  It has big pitches, separated by hedges, with some shade - but not overwhelming.  Toilet blocks are fine - just beware in the block near the pool the 'English' toilets are around the far end of the block - there's a row of mostly Turkish on the opposite side to the pool!  (Someone we met there complained that there weren't any 'proper' toilets - until I showed her!!!!)  There's a smallish pool - but big enough for my morning swim - no slides, small bar and restaurant/snack bar.  Bread deliveries, and in early June this year wasn't noisy at all.  It's a popular site, but mostly with couples outside high season (all us Camping Chequers!!!!), and so is very quiet at night (or was when we were there).  Access to most pitches is easy, though there are some which are a bit 'tucked away' - I have loads of photographs of the site/area if you want to email me  I can forward some.  I did post them on my gallery when we came back in June, but have changed them now because someone wanted to see my 're-upholstery' efforts in our caravan!

Because it's popular and if you're going late June/early July I might be inclined to book - something against my better judgement, as we never do!