France Camping - Loire or Brittany

[Legend83]

I would agree with pretty much everything chip* says - the Taos just were not worth the premium we paid.

We have a big shortlist for next year - anyone been to these?:

Pin Parasol (Vendee)
La Guyonierre (Vendee)
Le Littoral (La Rochelle)
Les Grand Pins (near Bordeaux)
Parc du val de Loire (East Loire)

[Legend83]

Glad the camping thread still has legs!

We actually ended up booking La Garangoire again this year - we are going with friends which will freshen it up. It is such a great site with everything you need, plus the kids fancied the seaside this time.

Will miss the Loire though.

[Legend83]

chip* said:

It appears some campsites are opening in mid-late July when I checked last night on the Eurocamp website. Had a nose on an old favourite / La Garangeoire, and they are opening this week with restricted facilities and limiting visitors to 25% of capacity for the entire 2020 season!!

https://www.camping-la-garangeoire.com/en/garangeo...

We originally wrote off this season, but if the condition improves over the next month (Inc FCO and travel insurance giving the thumbs up), we may consider heading out in Sep.

Yeah we had Garangoire booked with a smaller travel company but their caravans are closed due to the 25% occupancy so we have deferred until 2021.

[Legend83]

Ah same! Great choice - Saumur is a cracking town. Make sure you eat at the onsite restaurant which is on the right as you come into the camp - it was fantastic! Two place I would highly recommend:

- Go to Chateau D'Iislette and hire a boat - it is just the most beautiful peaceful place and we saw several kingfishers as we glided along the river.

https://www.chateaudelislette.fr/en/

- France do their beach lakes very very well and you do not get better than this place - Lac de Varenne near Marcon.

More locally there is a little place called Camping Municipal in Bourgeoil that has a little beach lake - pretty non-descript at first until we discovered we were the only ones there and had the whole lake to ourselves. The water was lovely.

[Legend83]

Chicken Chaser said:

I just generally don't go back to the same place as there are lots of other places to explore!

I totally get this sentiment, but if there is one thing I have learnt from camping holidays is that once you find a great site, then you take a chance on others and spend your whole holiday comparing it to the one you wish you had just gone back to!

We love La Garangoire, and to be honest even when we did get a bit bored of the site we just spent more time on the fabulous beaches at Bretignolles or St Gilles. Also love Domaine de la Breche but have not been back yet - probably would, although again would prefer to go to the East Loire next time (at which point I will just end up pining for Saumur...).

[Legend83]

Chicken Chaser said:

Do you reckon you could do a week around there without getting bored? I'm considering doing both the Niort site and here as it means we can explore a wider area with the 2 bases. Visit il de re from Niort and il de Normoutier from La Garangoire.

100%.

On site you have a decent pool with slides, a "lagoon" (fake beach basically) which is great for the smaller ones, a massive lovely lake for boating / fishing, archery, pony-riding, a big football pitch sized playing field.

Locally you have the beautiful beaches at Bretignolles (free car park if you turn right and right again at the main roundabout approach) and Saint Gilles (some great seafood restaurants), plus Sable d'Ollone which is a bit of a tourist hotspot. If you have not been before I would highly recommend a day out at Puy de Fou - it's a must do! About 50 min drive from La Garangoire.

https://www.puydufou.com/france/en/must-see-france

[Legend83]

Chicken Chaser said:

Just booked it, La Garangoire for 6 nights, A site just off il De Oleron for 5 nights and Chateau De Martrigny (we've been before) by Caen/Bayeaux for 5 nights. Going via Portsmouth Caen ferry.

I was tempted with Domaine De La Breche but seems theyve stopped with touring pitches so that's no good. Shame as it seems a lot of these "luxury" sites are moving away from tourers to chalet dwellers/glamping options.

Lovely stuff!

[Legend83]

It doesn't surprise me. Many times we have been and friends of ours rock up in their camper and wax lyrical about how much cheaper a pitch is compared to the mobile homes etc. Guess the sites have realised this now too...