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Please would all you kind people out there give me some help.  We've decided that this is the year to finally ditch the package holiday and venture with the caravan to France.  As it's our first time abroad with a caravan I've been trawling through all the advice and tips.  I'm now ready to choose a site and I'm finding it impossible to decide and not all the sites have reviews.

As a family we would like

• swimming pool - slides for kids a bonus
• river with beach and canoeing
• nearby village with bars etc preferably within walking distance
• and or small cafe/bar on site

we don't really mind if it's a large or small site and we would be happy to swap river for lake or beach.

am I being too prescriptive? Probably but it's worth trying.  I have seen a site called Saint Offange near Rochefort, Loire has anyone been there and if so what do you think? 

I'd appreciate any help 'cos I really need to get something booked!

Cheers, Caroline

Try looking at sites in the Vendee, weather is what normally warmer than elsewhere. Most are near the sea, most have swimming pools. If you can go as far as St Georges de Didonne in the Charente-Maritime www.bois-soleil.com is superb, almost on the beach, walking distance for nice evening stroll into St George, swimming complex.

Have a look on the Alan Rogers website www.alanrogers.com for detailed information and what facilities are available for each site. You can enter your required criteria and search for your ideal site.

There are so many to choose from, also all sites in the Les Castels group are also brilliant. Try www.lescastels.com  www.camping-la-garangeoire.com www.sequoiaparc.com www.bien-assise.com for your o/night near Calais (a village called Guines) either on your outward or return journey. The French roads are ecellent for towing, you will wonder why you have never been before!

Enjoy the experience.

If you fancy a little further south try these

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revid=6209

http://www.camping-soleilplage.fr/

Ranc Davaine in the Ardeche (L'Ardeche). Fantastic (although I've not been for about 5 years).

T.

I'd agree about Ranc Davaine, the pools are fantastic, there's loads to do in the area, great food at the restaurant, plenty going on, good sports facilities and a kids' club for all the various ages.  The pitches are shady, but somewhat dusty in hot weather, and irregular, mostly in oak woodland.   There's a river running at the bottom of the site, which can be 'canoed', but I'd say the nearest village is a long walk away. The pitches nearest the river are lovely.  There's a shop, well priced, on site, and a take-away.  The bar area, next to the pool, is lovely.  However, in July/August it's likely to be very hot some days.  In May/June when we usually go it's been up to 38 degrees.  However, around the bar there's a fantastic misting system, when a fine mist of water sprays out of overhead 'wires' and cools the whole area!!  High standard toilet blocks, too.  The site can get crowded, and has been too busy for some people we've met there, but we love it, too.  Last there a couple of years ago, with my eighteen year old son and his friend - Will was off to work as a Canvas Holidays Courier in Argeles, and we took him down, giving the friend a holiday as well!  They loved it, too.

L'Ardechois, at Vallon Pont D'Arc is also highly recommended, being one of our favourite site.  Grassy pitches, state of the art toilet blocks, good (smallish  by today's standards) pools, good restaurant, shop and bar on site, good evening entertainment, finishes early.  Right by the Ardeche - and walking distance into Vallon, which is a lovely holiday town, with a great market. 

Let us know where you choose - it's always interesting to hear the end of a story!!

I've just been on both of the websites and unfortunately, they too are booked up - this is something to remember for next year.  The are surrounding Ranc Davaine looks stunning.  How long does it take to travel to Ardeche?  To be honest we are looking further north because it's our first time caravanning abroad and I don't want it to be our last!  Two young children 11 and 6 and a fractious OH don't always mix on long hot journeys.

I have seen a site in Cloyes Sur Le Loir which looks okay think I'll see if anyone has info on it.

I'll get there in the end.                                                                               

Caroline