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Since October, I have been charged by the wife to find the campsite for this years summer holiday. Last year we visited Vendee (and france) for the first time and loved it, but I am not sure about returning to the same place (although I won't rule it out).

However, I have been looking at the Loire valley but really can't get a picture of it in my mind. It was easy with Vendee as it is with most coastal resorts, but country resorts are so much harder to figure (well, for me they are). So, I ask for your views on the Loire as personal views count for so much more than pictures on the web.

A little background, the holiday will be for myself, wife and two girls (9yrs and 6yrs), they are energetic and love to play outside also Swimming pool is a must (but it doesn't have to be fancy). As for my wife and I, we like to sightsee but that sight seeing has to be interesting for youngsters too, we usually go out during the day and chill at night round the FC or in a nice restaurant, nightlife isn't important. Tbh, that's about it, quite simple folk really.

So, would the Loire be for us?, I have been looking at Camping de Chantepie and it looks nice, but I am still undecided.

Help me make up my mind, please.

It's taken us a long time to get 'bored' with the Vendee which we have visited many times in August - the sites are all different, shops, beaches, towns etc etc.  Overall the weather in the Vendee has been pretty darned good and we like beaches, and every holiday has been different.

But, for the first holiday in June we tend to go into Brittany or the Loire and the Loire has been great too.  The only thing to do is to go for it!  I think it's extremely difficult to recommend campsites ..... it depends so much on what you are like and really want.

With two young children we found it essential to go for the larger sites with more extensive facilities.  They didn't like the idea of traipsing round chateaux etc although once there they usually enjoyed it.  I can't remember all the facilities available at the sites we've stayed at, and they may have changed now anyway, but some time we have gone only for the 4 star sites having been on lower rated sites and not found them to be quite as good in some respects, or as spacious.

All of the sites are different and they all have positive and negative points - it just depends what you want and enjoy.  We're off to the Loire in June and Biarritz in August - never been to either of them before but I expect we'll all enjoy them.

Oh, one thing - for some reason the people booking sites always seem to think that us Brits want a shady pitch so if there are trees on the site they tend to stick us there ...... and we love the sun and don't want water dripping off the trees on to the tent/mobile home so we always ask for a sunny pitch!  Usually they are very obliging.

Wherever you choose, I hope you enjoy it.  BTW, we have been to Chateau des Ormes which is not far into Britanny, just so the kids could enjoy the facilities and they loved it.   It is a very big site - not my ideal place but good for the kids.  vacances bretagne : hebergement, golf, cricket, evenements, seminaire - Domaine des Ormes (might take a while to load this site)

Oozat

As mentioned, the Loire is a long river.  For your age children, why not try Bois de Bardelet at Gien which is 'higher up' the Loire (further away from the coast).  It has a choice of pools (indoor for adults, indoor for children, and two (or three) outdoor pools, one with waterslides, and a great indoor play area for the children.  You are about three miles from Gien, with good shopping, and although at the quieter end of the Loire there is still a lot to see and do.  Additionally its not so far to travel from Dover/Calais. 

The site is flat, big pitches, separated with hedges in the newer area, and has a range of nationalities.  There is a restaurant on site, and a smallish (friendly) bar.  There is also a takeway and leisure club (where you can hire canoes to take on the lake, join in archery, etc.  Additionally they run a weekly trip by coach to Disneyland (if that interests your children), and I think another to Paris itself.  

It has a lot to recommend it.

we went to the loire valley two years ago this august and stayed at chanterpie. the site was fabulous. every thing you could want. well run with excellent facillities. nice swimming pool area ect.

the area was also very nice quite a lot to see. the zoo at dou not to be missed.

however, while we were there it was unbarably hot and we had to spend most of our time in the pool just to cool off.. i did start to wish that we were near the coast and be able to go in the sea. we went on our own, our boys have now out grown us , i think if we had children to consider it would be the coast. i would say go to the loire as a two centered holiday or wait until you dont have children with you. we have also been to the vendee a few times and enjoyed it. my brother has been to the ardeche and the dordogne where he said you could swin and use inflatables on the rivers, but the loire you cant .

it is a lovely area but i think not as much fun for children.

Well here goes......

Haven't actually been out of the country yet with our tent but we are booked into the Loire Valley for August this year at Camping de la Touche which is in Ligueil which is not too far away from Loche and 20 mins away from Tours.

The site owners are Stu & Jo (nor forgetting 3 month old Louis).  Obviously if you are interested you can enquire to them personally but here's what attracted us to there.

As virgins of France (so to speak), we didn't want to venture too far south and as we don't like the Butlins with tents type of sites, we were very careful to select our site.  The site is just under 1 mile from Ligueil village with restaurants & bars etc..etc..  The site is having a swimming pool installed for this summer, they have put in a childrens playground with swings & slides etc..  have refurbished the shower block, have 2 fresh trout streams running through it, there is a watermill with waterfall, the pitches are huge with EHU and a choice of where you want to pitch (shade or full sun), the pitch fees are very very reasonable but I think that the best part is the owners themselves. 

They have bent over backwards to help us, our many many questions have been answered and any suggestions we've made have been taken on board.  Our daughter will be 4 on the second day we're there so they are arranging a birthday party with cake (freshly baked from the village) for her, they're talking of doing a weekly bar-b-q for guests and locals alike at nominal all inclusive of food and beer/wine fee, we're even talking of doing a chinese night when we're over as my mum (who will be arriving with my dad a few days after us) will be cooking as she's an excellent chinese cook.  They have bought garden furniture (wooden classy stuff, not the plastic ones) with parasols for hire at a nominal fee, also mountain bikes for hire etc.. 

My parents are flying in from Liverpool Airport to Limoges, they have even offered to pick them up for us for just the cost of the fuel if we need it.  We are in constant contact so I have absolutely no doubt that we will have the most fantastic holiday. 

We are like your good selves, simple folke that enjoy beautiful surroundings, good company and a few drinks and good food.  We love to relax and enjoy exploring new places.  We also love wine!!!  This site, in our opinion (an a few others on this site I might add) has everything to offer providing you don't want an overcrowded Butlins type of holiday with club houses etc...

If you're thinking of the last 2 weeks in August, we'll see you there for a chinese, a barby, a birthday party and a few glasses of wine under the stars on a lovely warm summers evening in the Loire at Camping de la Touch.

Have I sold it to you yet??

Thanks for your replies, there certainly is food for thought. I will have to get the missus to read these posts and look at the campsite websites to see what she thinks.

Thanks again.

Don't forget the consideration of the drive time/ferry cost. From Kent, I expect you will cross to Calais or Boulogne. The Loire valley is an easy days drive even with children! So no overnight stop required with a morning crossing. I echo Mrs R that the good folk at de la Touche seem prepared to go the extra mile to help you with any holiday requests.

Happy planning.

Wow thats a coincidence, I am sitting at my pc, deciding whether to book Camping de Chantepie or its sister site . I like yourself have visited the vendee, and south of France, Normandy and the North of France. But having two children aged 8-7 I think that the south and Vendee are a little to far for my two monsters.  Especially as we have to travel from Cheshire to Dover to get the ferry. The loire does look really nice, and people we know say there is lots to see and do around the area. And it can be quite warm. But what ever way you look at it, IMO wherever you go in France the French know how to look after you.

Incidently when are you going? we are going 10 nights last wk July first week in Augustus, all for the poultry price of £247. fro the site £135 for the Ferry. AINT CARAVANING GREAT! nearest offer mobile home that time of the year £1175 per week!

Hi Highside, i was at Bois du Bardalet last year and this year we are going to Chantepie, the loire is beautiful, no shortage of anything to do, but as with like any holiday it can be as stressfull or relaxing as you want to make it, i love the loire, the countryside is beautiful, great food, lovely weather, nice wine, and the people you meet on sites........... great!!

The least you can do is give it a whirl, as a great man once said, you wont win it if you dont buy a ticket!!

Bryan

Forgot to say , we are at Chantpie last week in July first in August too!   

Post last edited on 17/03/2005 21:04:52

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I think I will try and book Chantepie tomorrow. I booked the ferry back in December (Dover to Calais) car and FC (Classed as a caravan for just £120. We will be in France from (I believe) the the 5th August for 10 days.

Cheers everybody for your comments and advice.