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Family of four (3 and 7 year old children) want to go camping in South of France next year. We are boggled as to the amount of campsites. Wondered if anyone could recommend anywhere. Camping with Outwell Montana 6 tent with extension - so bigger than the usual. Would like nice size pitches, dont want too much "entertainment" that would keep us up all night - dont like that scene but would like the kids to enjoy the sea and slides/swimming pools too. Any ideas?

Thanks

Perhaps Camping A La Plage, Port Grimaud if you'd like a beach side site.  It's quieter than it's neighbour Praire De La Mer and right on the med beach, they have some large pitches.  The pitches tend to be cheaper and bigger if yu go inland a bit, try the Ardeche region, our kids loved playing in the rivers and stepping stones when they were young.  I'm sure others will suggest sites and use the campsite search option.

Camping Le Neptune at Grau D'Agde is very nice. Smallish bar, very low key stuff, pool is nice, not too big and no slides, but lovely and kept my three occupied. 5 minute drive, 10 minute cycle, 15 minute walk to the beach which is lovely and sandy, with several other lovely beaches in the area. Pitches are very spacious.

I've done a fairly lengthy review here: http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revid=7186

Edit: We have an Outwell Idaho XL with extension, even bigger than the Monty I think and managed fine!

If it's your first time in France, then I think you may well be surprised by the quality of all the available sites - and you really need to think what are the things you want from a site in order to make a really special holiday.  Even some cheap municipal sites compare well with facilities on the average British site!  Best thing is to decide on some sort of 'location' where you'd rather be - the French Riviera, with the madding crowd, the bit between there and Marseilles for less 'madding crowd' and more space, the Camargue for the wildlife and as much space as you could wish for, the beaches of the Languedoc for plenty of space and lovely sand,  nearer to Spain for a trip over the border - or somewhere just inland with a good site, plenty of on-site facilities and nearby things to do and see, and yet also a beach within an hour or so!!

We've been several times now to Camping Neptune - and it's hard to beat for location (near the beach, but also the Canal du Midi, and the Camargue not far away) and 'ambience' (it's just a lovely site but no slides, but near to the beach), but we've also visited Domaine de Massereau (slides in the pool), and I'd agreed that it has 'something special'.  There  are so many other sites, all of which have something to recommend, so you could spend the next thirty years trying them all - and still not run out of new things to do and new places to see.

It's also seriously worth considering 'when' you want to go.  There can be large difference in price on the same site, between the last two weeks in July or the last two weeks in August.  July is always busier, prices are higher, and sites are more crowded.  Come the last two weeks in August, you'll get  the same pitch for less, all the facilities will be available, but the site will be less crowded - so more room in the pool, no hassle booking a table at the restaurant, etc!

Just some suggestions from someone who has been camping/caravanning in France for the last thirty years, and still not run out of lovely places to see and campsites to visit!