Eurocamp or SIBLU Holidays?

NafUk

Eurocamp more expensive than Siblu. This year our 21 day Siblu Caravan (not tent) in France is £680, equivalent Eurocamp about £950. We go at end of May so kids out of school but:
in high season the campsites are very busy anf the atmosphere changes.
in high season tourists sites, supermarkets, parking, etc. is busy
we get 3rd week for free when booking 2 weeks if holiday start before June 20th (I think). Most companies do the 3rd week free thing (still pay campsite supplements).

Location - we have done beaches and river areas in France. Our children (5 and 10) like the beach but we tended to spend most of the time around the pools. Beaches in Vendee region are nice, water is cold and the area mainly consist of holiday camps, so not the real France.

When are you going? If like us you are holidaying earlier and want a reasonable chance of getting sunshine you need to go South of Nantes. Although saying that, we've had variable weather in the Dordogne but mostly sunny and hot, or very hot. Can recommend Les Peneyrals in the Dordogne (been 5 times) although we haven't been there in high season.

Size of campsite. We like the medium sized campsites (approx 200 pitches) which tend to be privatley owned (not owned by chains), have better layouts than the large ones (tend to be lines of tents), and can offer entertainment (discos, shows, walks, canoe trips etc.) in low season.

We like Les Peneyrals because it is:
a privately owned medium sized campsite with owners that are very involved,
has 4 pools (one covered) and pool slides,
kids playground,
great layout (pitches seperated by hedges and on twisty lanes,
not too noisy,
a lake for fishing,
a small reasonable shop,
bicycle hire,
not overregulated - some larger sites make you wash in/wade through freezing water before getting into a pool,
a great pool layout - THIS IS IMPORTANT. We can buy ice creams, sip a drink, buy from the shop, watch the footy, eat at the restaraurant and all within 10 seconds of the pool, play area and play room, where the kids will be 90% of the time. Some campsites have pools hidden away behind fences so it's a seperate event to go swimming, eating, playing etc.,
it is in the countryside (not in a town with loud road noise) close to Sarlat in the Dordogne with many interesting toursit sites etc.

Have a look on the keycamp web site where people can leave write ups of campsites.

cuffie

Crikey - thanks guys. All really useful and informative stuff.
You are stars!
xx

greentomato

By the way I have a discount code for Eurocamp which came in the Daily Mail's 'Yummy Mummy' voucher book recently. its a 25% saving on 2006 holidays, completed by 13 July or started after 1st September (so don't know how much use it will be!) and available for accommodation tpes Canvas, Cezanne, Lautrec, Venezia and Verona. Subject to availability. Call 08703 338 338 qoting YM01.

(Not sure whether this should be here or in the discount codes n vouchers board.)