...... you've grown and got busier, much busier. More formal and primped and fond of yourself.
The new entrance layout, takes every new arrival past certain pitches, pity the poor beggars occupying these. The on site facilities haven't been further extended to cope with the additional tourist levels.
When we first went there, it was a smashing site run by Monique and Guy (what a character!!). Very informal and everyone was at least on 'Bonjour' terms. In that lovely rural setting set away from the hustle and bustle of the coast it was quite idyllic. Northing lasts forever does it? Celine and Patrice have a less personal overview of the site, they really are looking for the profit.
I am certain this site suits a different, almost, generation of campers. I am definitely an old fogey now.
Nostalgia is a lovely thing.
------------- Some days are diamonds.......
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We arrived back from there yesterday. Had a great holiday but we were in a quiet area and i have to say i agree i would have hated to have been around the entrance area it was so busy. Most of the staff were friendly enough but we did had one incident which to us showed they do not always care about the customer and we were shocked by the owners reponse ( it was the older guy) We bought a roast chicken from the take-away after having some great pizzas from there previosly, we had already started eating the chicken before realising in the middle it was clearly raw so my husband took it back to complain. The manager/owner was brought and he could not have cared less, he refused to give us our money back and when my husband stated that in England selling a raw chicken would be an offence he stated in an abrupt manner "yes but you are in France now". We were not impressed but could do no more. This was the only complaint we had but when i asked for a site plan as despite the incident we may go back next year they refused and i was told the pitches were changing so not sure but i wouldnt be suprised if they made more pitches from the pitches already there which would be a shame.
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I went there nine years ago and it was lovely...very informal, a bit eccentric and the staff and owners couldn't do enough for you. My only gripe back then were the washing machines because only one of the three were working and it was a full scale military operation to be able to bag it at any time...I met a heck of a lot of people that way! I always had it in my head to go back but after seeing it get so popular on here and realising it's nearly tripled in size since back then, I've rather gone off the idea and the OP has confirmed it. I don't like big commercialised sites.
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We have been for the last 5 years to Le Pin and have always found Celine and Patrice very helpful.
Just before returning home on our second year there, we had car trouble which we had to extend our stay by 5 days, they translated when the pick up truck came for the car, Patrice towed our van onto another pitch, orgainsed a taxi to take us to the hire company (even told driver to wait while we got sorted ) when told by Red Pennant we were to fly home Celine gave us a map, marked all the way to La Rochelle airport.
Last year had trouble with the van Even though we had no spanners to fix the tap Patrice went to his workshop and lent us the spanners, he even tried to help in fixing the tap.
We had no end of deliveries off DHL but he made sure they werent left on our pitch.
We only had the wafer pizzas so cant comment on the other food.
Should have been there this summer but had to cancel, never even mentioned a refund ( last thing on my mind ) but Celine offered it straight away.
We have found them to be a lovely couple, even if they have told my lads off more that once
I think nostalgia about sites means that there are some old favourites that we wouldn't go back to because they're bound to have changed. One is Val de Cantobre, which we visited many times over the years - first time in 1981! We became friends with Msr. and Mdme Dupont, and then with Clare and Francois when they took over - and always felt like old friends when we went back. Clare and Francois sold the site in 2007, we haven't been back since, and I don't think we will. It just won't be the same.............! It may still be wonderful, other people may compliment it and give it rave reviews, and the setting won't have altered but we're worried that it would spoil some wonderful memories so we'll keep the memories and try other sites instead.
Interesting. We had our first visit to Le Pin this year. Definitely struck lucky with our pitch. Wouldn't want to be near entrance but some people like being at 'the hub'. Big site. Took week to realise there was another half of site on other side! Kids loved pool and closeness to lac de jaunay was great. Lots of people still go back year after year - though I'm definitely sure depends on what year you started going.
Quote: Originally posted by kate75 on 14/8/2011
We arrived back from there yesterday. Had a great holiday but we were in a quiet area and i have to say i agree i would have hated to have been around the entrance area it was so busy. Most of the staff were friendly enough but we did had one incident which to us showed they do not always care about the customer and we were shocked by the owners reponse ( it was the older guy) We bought a roast chicken from the take-away after having some great pizzas from there previosly, we had already started eating the chicken before realising in the middle it was clearly raw so my husband took it back to complain. The manager/owner was brought and he could not have cared less, he refused to give us our money back and when my husband stated that in England selling a raw chicken would be an offence he stated in an abrupt manner "yes but you are in France now". We were not impressed but could do no more. This was the only complaint we had but when i asked for a site plan as despite the incident we may go back next year they refused and i was told the pitches were changing so not sure but i wouldnt be suprised if they made more pitches from the pitches already there which would be a shame.
We were there for the first time a couple of weeks ago, on the last day we had one of the roast chickens. Ours was a little under cooked near the legs area, we only eat the breast meat anyway. I watched the chicken order in front of me go into the microwave before the person came back to collected it from the counter.
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