La Croix du Vieux Pont or Duinrell

chocolatepennyfarthing

I am looking at mobile homes for the above sites for about a week between 20/8 -31/08 for 4 people. So many companies seem to have these sites I wondered if anyone knew which ones normally offered the best prices.
As not keen to drive was thinking of going Eurostar to these parks. Has anyone done this and can offer any advice re journey? Cost/length of time.
Would welcome any comments on Park/facilities (enough for older teenagers?), travel to park and facilities nearby.

sjg666

chocolatepennyfarthing wrote: »

I am looking at mobile homes for the above sites for about a week between 20/8 -31/08 for 4 people. So many companies seem to have these sites I wondered if anyone knew which ones normally offered the best prices.
As not keen to drive was thinking of going Eurostar to these parks. Has anyone done this and can offer any advice re journey? Cost/length of time.
Would welcome any comments on Park/facilities (enough for older teenagers?), travel to park and facilities nearby.

Hi, we've been to both sites - both really are fantastic so you won't be disappointed either way.

We usually book through The Sun promotions and go during term time (as we have no children) so I can't really help you on that one.

We always drive, the roads in Europe are lovely to drive on and really very straightforward.
For Duinrell - We usually use DFDS ferry from Dover to Dunkirk (around £60 return - plus Quidco cashback!), then from Dunkirk it's around a 2.5 hour drive which is quite pleasant really, much nicer than driving UK motorways in my opinion!
For La Croix - We went for the first time last year. Ferry Dover to Calais then I think it was 2/2.5 hours from Calais. The Sat Nav asked if we wanted to take the route that avoided the toll road and it only added 10 minutes to the journey time so we did it. Again a straightforward relatively pleasant drive.

Facilities at Duinrell - There is the theme park (pretty small but enough to entertain for at least a day I'd say) on site which is free for those staying there. There is also the waterpark which is far far more enjoyable than anywhere I've been in the UK! I think it's E3.50 for 2 hours though different timings/prices are also available. That would definitely entertain teenagers. My other half is 24 and insists we go at least 2/3 during a stay! The site is located in a really lovely little town, the "city centre" (5/10 minutes down the road) is fab. Good cheap supermarket (called C1000) or there's a Lidl/Aldi, bakery, cheese & bread shop (can't remember what they call them!), a couple of lovely restaurants and a lovely ice cream/gelato shop called Luciano. A little further afield is a lovely beach - you can either rent bikes from the site E15 a day I think they were and it's a 15/20 minute cycle or you can drive 20 minutes to the "main" part of the beach called Scheveningen (spelling may be wrong) which is fab, lots of on the beach restaurants and a pier and also a shopping centre. Then further afield from that Amsterdam/Rotterdam are around a 30/40 minute drive.
We go back there once a year!

La Croix - There is a lake on site where you can fish, pedalo, canoe etc. 2 swimming pools (one outdoor, one inside), crazy golf, fake beach area, a bakery which makes fabulous (and reasonably priced for an onsite store) fresh bread. We didn't use too many of the on site facilities as we mainly used it as a base for Disney and Paris. There was also a good, large supermarket about a 5 minute drive away. I think Disney was around a 40 minute drive, and we also drove there and parked and got the train from there into central Paris (to be sure we couldn't forget where the car was parked!).

holidaysforme

We have also been to both. I echo everything that the poster above says about both parks.
We have done Eurostar to Dunirell, Dover to Calais ferry and also the overnight Harwich to Hook of Holland which is the most expensive option but really fantastic.
You get a great nights sleep, and then it's only a short drive to the park the next morning. (About 40 mins)

We stop en route somewhere for breakfast or have it in the lovely bagel shop in Wassener. Sorry I can't remember the name.
We are going this year in October with the sun promotion.
Doing Eurotunnel this time paid with Tesco points.

As far as le Croix is concerned it is a lovely site, but a bit remote. I think lots of people use it as a base for visiting Disneyland. I think if you have younger children , there will be lots for them to do in both Dunirell and le croix, but older kids, especially teens would be better off at Dunirell, at least that is our experience having been to them both.
Our teen was a bit bored at le croix tbh.

holidaysforme

Meant to say, we have been with Eurocamp and Canvas. There's nothing to choose between then really.
If booking with Canvas I wouldn't go for the lowest spec van (classic) we found it really uncomfortable and cramped, the next one up the comfort is much better for not a lot more price wise.