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Seeing as we are probably (well, hopefully) becoming caravanners by next season (woot!) we can consider a two (or more) stop holiday next season.  

Am currently thinking about a slowish drive down to La Siesta in Palafrugell, probably taking a couple of days at Le Neptune in Agde on the way, then spending a week or so in Spain, then driving up to the Tarn gorges for another week-ish before driving home.

I've got both Les Peupliers and Val De Cantobre bookmarked on my laptop, so they've obviously been recommended on here, but which would you choose, and why? Three kids -11,10 and 7 by then, if that helps. Will be going high season.

Thanks Ollie. Did you visit VdC recently? I've seen some recent reviews that seem to indicate that since it was taken over by the new company (Dutch, I believe) that things have gone downhill somewhat there.

And yes, Les Peupliers in Rivieres Sur Tarn. Thanks for the piccies, very useful.

It's funny, we have recently got back from Les Peupliers, having stayed at V de C a couple of years back and have had exactly the same conversation re next year!!!

We listed the pros and cons and have decided on Les Peupliers for a few of reasons.

River access good swimming/canoing from site/general messing around.

Walking distance to town and small shops.

Slightly cheaper- definitely in high season.

Flatter site (V de C is steep and tiered) so DD could use bike/scooter.

There would be enough there for your children and I think it's slightly better suited for younger children. DD loved the trampoline which was visible from our pitch and had a three max rule which made it safe and fun.

V de C has a better pool complex and is a very lovely site. I would be more than happy to go back there and found the staff very helpful and the site well run. It's also quieter at night (though our last minute pitch at Les P was fairly close to the bar/shop area).

We are going to be booking a week at Les Peupliers for 2011. OH is laughing at this as I will probably ask his opinion on hundreds of different sites between now and then!

Happy deciding!

Thanks Claire! I've pretty much settled for Les Peupliers if we go to Tarn, and Soleil Plage if we go to the Dordogne. We'll almost certainly spend a couple of days at Le Neptune in Agde en route to Spain and have already plumped for La Siesta in Spain.

We went to the Dordogne in 2006 and said we'd definately go back once the kids were old enough to canoe, but the better weather of the Tarn region is a pull in that direction.....oh decisions, decisions. Sadly we wil have to decide at some point as in August I think we'll need to book.

Of course, it all stands on us buying a caravan before next summer as I'm NOT doing a three centre holiday in a blooming tent! LOL! 

Quote: Originally posted by pink sequin on 04/9/2010

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We did three sites in our tent this year and we've said never again. We enjpyed it but at times it was too much like hard work!

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Yup, we did two stops in 2007 and said never again. It could have ended in divorce LOL! The tent itself wasn't too bad, it was packing and unpacking eveything else - it takes *hours*! Not ideal in 30 degree heat when you've been in the car for 5 hours.

Quote: Originally posted by exessexmum on 04/9/2010

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Thanks Ollie. Did you visit VdC recently? I've seen some recent reviews that seem to indicate that since it was taken over by the new company (Dutch, I believe) that things have gone downhill somewhat there.

 

And yes, Les Peupliers in Rivieres Sur Tarn. Thanks for the piccies, very useful.

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Quote: Originally posted by giltowngirl on 04/9/2010

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Hi Exessexmum
We spent a week in Val de Cantobre this year-Last week in June.OUr children are aged 8,11 and 13.We went with Eurocamp and while our mobile home and the eurocamp couriers were great, I wasn't particularly impressed with the site. The pool complex is good but the water was cold in all the pools (very cold in the kids pool/lazy river)and this area needed a good cleaning.The restaurant food was not good and the pizza's were re-heated from frozen.On the plus side, it is a beautiful area and there is plenty to do out and about.

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Yes, that reiterates what I've read elsewhere. Will give it a miss.

We've just got back from spending a week at Le Neptune and a week at Cantobre.

Both are lovely sites, with good pools.

At Cantobre they offered to tow our caravan up to our pitch for us but after having had a look OH decided it was no problem. Yes, it is steep but we managed to take a wrong turn on the way out, drove right to the top  of the site where there are only statics, and still had no major problems. We have a fairly large 5 birth van.

The biggest problem was that because the site is steeply terraced the kids were a bit reluctant to explore, particularly since they couldn't really use their bikes. The pool is really good, couldn't get our youngest out of it. It was only cold on certain days. If the weather was hot the pool was warm enough. Unfortunately, because the site is quite high up the temperature seemed to drop some nights and this cooled the water. The only other downside was the distance to get to anywhere. But because of that the wildlife and scenery were spectacular. I have never seen a sky so full of stars as on our last night there.

5 birth caravan?     a roving maternity unit    congratulations  what are the babies called?

you are right - the mountain can be managed  we managed but would not go back   want to do more than just manage    you are right re the hike to loo block and the unsuitability for kids and bikes    major issues for some      the path to nant is really good for walking or as in my case - running    met the guided walk from the site one day and they all applauded as i ran through the file    wanted to run to the site from nant this holiday but missed out