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NOOOOOOOO, unfortunately we still dont know where we are going next year.......im getting so dizzy as we are just going round and round in circles.

 We could have probably booked ten sites by now but all our planning is being complicated by the fact we are escourting some nervous newbies next year. They insist on short crossing  (seasick), and  then will only do one days drive (approx 6 hours). Toilet facilities will have to be top notch to satisfy their "british" standards!!

Any suggestions PLEASE

Quote: Originally posted by s+gknight on 16/9/2011

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NOOOOOOOO, unfortunately we still dont know where we are going next year.......im getting so dizzy as we are just going round and round in circles.

 We could have probably booked ten sites by now but all our planning is being complicated by the fact we are escourting some nervous newbies next year. They insist on short crossing  (seasick), and  then will only do one days drive (approx 6 hours). Toilet facilities will have to be top notch to satisfy their "british" standards!!

Any suggestions PLEASE

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No suggestions, but we did that with our son's best friend's parents, some years ago.  It was their first French caravanning holiday - so there were lots of 'expectations'.  We just decided that we couldn't please everybody, and picked a site we knew we, and our son, would like.  They actually loved it, and have been back with their caravan every year since, so I'd compromise on their requirements and go for a site you know you'd love - and you can't go wrong!

On second thoughts, what about Lac d'Orient - immaculate toilet facilities, even in bad weather - Champage vineyards on the doorstep - or certainly the pavement outside, easy driving instructions, not difficult to find, and short crossing, within six hours..........!

Quote: Originally posted by s+gknight on 16/9/2011

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NOOOOOOOO, unfortunately we still dont know where we are going next year.......im getting so dizzy as we are just going round and round in circles.

 We could have probably booked ten sites by now but all our planning is being complicated by the fact we are escourting some nervous newbies next year. They insist on short crossing  (seasick), and  then will only do one days drive (approx 6 hours). Toilet facilities will have to be top notch to satisfy their "british" standards!!

Any suggestions PLEASE

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You are a mind reader Rhonda,as i type im trawling through all the Loire campsites YET again.

 We are keen for our newbies to get the French bug, as we  go away with them several times a year, They have a son the same age as our youngest and they keep each other company nicely, letting us adults chill out abit. We know we only have this one shot at making sure they get the French bug so dont want to mess it up. We are thinking if we give them a  good quality holiday this year so they fall in love with France (who doesnt) then we will be able to push the bounderies a bit further next year.

Our back up plan is to hire and share a gite, plus that way as we wont be towing we  can go further south, but the cost is extortionate in comparison to taking our own van.

We have looked at and thought about Lac d'Orient, but lots of reviews this year mention very soggy pitches, but i suppose thats been a common theme for this year. Have seen a few pics of the Lac not sure if they havent given justice to the area but having been spoilt by the views on Lac Annecy they just dont tick the boxes for ourselves, like you say Val it is our holiday too! 

Quote: Originally posted by s+gknight on 16/9/2011

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We have looked at and thought about Lac d'Orient, but lots of reviews this year mention very soggy pitches, but i suppose thats been a common theme for this year. Have seen a few pics of the Lac not sure if they havent given justice to the area but having been spoilt by the views on Lac Annecy they just dont tick the boxes for ourselves, like you say Val it is our holiday too! 

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Quote: Originally posted by Argente4 on 16/9/2011

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  Have been thinking about Annecy ourselves for next year and am currently comparing a few sites. Just wondered what you thought about Lac Bleu?

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We loved Lac Bleu, but i can understand why it may not be everyones cup of tea. Pitches are close together and although most are a fair size many abuse the fact that they dont change extra for pup tents etc, so cram loads onto a pitch which makes the site feel crowded. tThe real strength for Lac Bleu is the location right on the lacside, for me this made the holiday, we practically lived on the beach...really dont think we would of had such a good holiday if we hadnt been for the proximity of the beach. So nice to be able to carry the comfy chairs down and sit in comfort and just nip back to van (30 steps) for a cold drink or snack.

oooooooohhhhhhh how i miss Lac Bleu........decision mde, forget the nervous newbies we are going back to Annecy,lol

If you let me know what things are on your wish list for a campsite i can answer in more detail if Lac Bleu ticks the boxes......all i know for us it did

,

Quote: Originally posted by s+gknight on 17/9/2011

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If you let me know what things are on your wish list for a campsite i can answer in more detail if Lac Bleu ticks the boxes......all i know for us it did

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we plan to go to ...

Brittany for May ( well june lol ) half term again

thinking about Lake Garda for end Aug ... but will prob be too hot so maybe somewhere else

La Croix Du Vieux Pont or Le Chene Gris for Oct half term to get my annual Disneyland fix !

 

We do like a reasonable amount of space but we'd trade that a bit if everything else was ok. Kids like a pool, preferably heated and somewhere to play football, cricket or badminton. They also like to ride their bikes, so would the cycle route be ok for them to get to, cos I've read that you have to go along a busy road to get to it? And can they ride bikes around the site? A few other British kids would be great, with a play area if possible. Not too bothered about kids clubs or evening entertainment, but a reasonable restaurant and/or takeaway would be good for the times when we don't fancy cooking. Good clean sanitary facilities, with decent showers a must. Can you swim in the lake directly from the site and can you take small inflatable dinghies on the water there? Is the lake fairly warm or would you need a wet suit? Is there anywhere to go within easy walking distance (about 20 mins walk) or that you could get a bus to, so that we don't always need to use the car? Definitely need it quiet at night (after about 10ish). We were on one site fairly close to the bar area and they had a singer on til 11.30 which meant our son stood no chance of getting to sleep since he's in the awning. Don't really want to repeat that.
Sorry there's so much but if we decide to pre-book this year it's a lot of money, so we want to get it right.
Thanks.

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ok, here goes.....

reasonable amount of space - roads are narrow, and pitches vary in size. We had space for a 7 m van, awning, car space and reasonable sitting out area. Email and ask about larger pitches, they are very helpful and will describe where and what pitches are available. There is a map on website, which show pitches pretty much to scale but you cant make out pitch numbers. I recomend you dont go on park side of campsite or overflow part of site across the road, pitches nearer the lac rather than back of camp suffered less noise from pool. We were in the second road, toilet block one end lake the other, perfect location, (pitch 705).

Pool - Three areas, normal small rectangle with a jacuzzi attached. Shallow pool with fun squirty animals and a twisty lazy river area, fountains and geezers. All were fresh to start with but soon aclimatized and with temps reaching 40 degrees some days exactly what you needed. No lifeguard but not riotous, and really comfy woven sunbeds.

Kids - Play area, and multi sports court and table tennis tables as well as a grassed area. The site doesnt really lend itself to cycling as it is small and each road ends at the gravel beach, so not possible to do circuits but certainly able to ride bike to park. Cant comment on cycle track as dont cycle, saw signs and yes you would have to go along road to reach but with care i dont see why this couldnt be possible. We walked along it no problem to the bateaubus pontoon.

British - There were much more British people than we expected, but mostly dutch families, probably 15/85 split.

Food - basic restaurant/ bar with pool table, didnt use but always busy. Take away, usual frites/pizza, used once or twice and good. No regular evening entertainment, but i think there was occasional music at bar but again didnt use. Quiet at night, though of course inevitable that some sat out talking.

Sanitary blocks - Housed in four seperate buildings in same area. One toilet block, clean, soap,toilet roll and most ladies had seats, but OH said gents didnt. Two seperate shower blocks, each containing 4 showers for each sex, always clean due to the co-operation of campers who always used the provided hose and blade. There was a seperate sink block/laundry but when we left they were measuring up so assume they are planning to change it as it was little used.

Lac - direct access from site, we were 30 steps away!Perfectly comfortable water temp, definately dont need wet suits. Watersports from port/public beach next door. Amazing views of mountains and paragliders jumping off Col de Forclaz.

Inflatables - A MUST, everyone had them, water is perfectly safe and even going out some distance its still shallow. There is also a pontoon that everyone jumped off and a couple of times they attached a trampoline sort of thing that you bounced off first before jumping in. 

Surounding area - Crazy golf, tennis courts across road. Suppose you could walk to Doussard but small village, but not much there. Dont know about bus but you can use the bateaubus around lac though it is faily expensive 16 euro each return to Annecy.

Wifi - free!

Cost - We found the price very reasonable, 29 euros per night first week, 22 second week, total cost for 13 nights worked out to be £368. The sites we are looking at for this year are about 50 euros a night!

We have loads of pics, but dont have flicker, so cant put them on here if you give me your email i could send you some.