PITCH UP TO FRANCE
Camping holidays are an ideal getaway – especially with children in tow, so...
IWAS asked about destinations that make a great family holiday this week with sunshine, good food and lots of fun things to do. I think camping in France is one of the best holidays for families, especially for anyone with young children.
It’s also great value but don’t be fooled into thinking a camping holiday means sleeping under a flimsy tarpaulin. When I brought the kids away we went to parks with luxurious mobile homes and facilities galore.
The quality of the mobile homes is exceptionally high in France, which I discovered when we stayed at Siblu’s campsite La Reserve. Nestled in a forest on Lake Biscarosse on France’s south-west coast, the shallow lake is great for water activities and swimming — especially with little ones in tow. Siblu has opened another campsite in this region this year, at Le Pipiou on the edge of Lake Biscarosse.
It’s easy to get to via Bordeaux or Biarritz by air or, if you plan on taking the car, from Rosslare it’s about eight hours’ drive but leaves the option to stock up on wine on the way home. La Reserve is close to Arcachon Bay and several stunning Atlanticcoast beaches, and the giant Dune du Pilat, Europe’s largest sand dune, is nearby. It makes a great day out and the kids loved diving up and down the massive bank.
Sunset is a great time to visit — just after a day at the beach. There’s a small charge for parking at the dune but it’s free to stay and climb (dunedupilat.com).
In the evenings we sat under the balmy night sky and were entertained with shows — some even included participation by the kids. The carefree nights were spent with new friends in the neighbouring mobile homes and we often sat on the deck until the small hours.
Staying in a campsite such as La Reserve offers safety on many levels, including lifeguards at all pools, while security on the entrance gates meant the kids were given a newfound freedom.
Spending the day in Arcachon was a highlight of our trip — this buzzing town is filled with all the charm of a Victorian seaside resort and famous for oysters. Stop off on the way at Coccinelle theme park which is especially friendly for little ones (la-coccinelle.fr).
Since we stayed at La Reserve, Siblu has added lots more holiday parks in this part of France, including several that are new for 2023. They include Les Embruns in Gironde, and lakeside Le Pipiou and Les Embruns in Landes. Slightly further south they’ve added Marisol, which is a five-star site and Siblu’s first site in the Pyrenees, Orientales, on the Mediterranean coast close to the Spanish
border. The new Brittany Ferries route to Bilbao gives Irish holidaymakers a chance to reach the south of France without the long drive from the northern coast.
Siblu now has 30 sites across France, with several that are extremely popular with Irish families. They include Domaine de Kerlann, which is one of Brittany’s best known holiday villages, with five superb sandy beaches within 8km, and the local town of Pont Aven is so pretty it inspired the artist Paul Gauguin. With the ferry port of Roscoff only a two-hour drive away, this will suit anyone travelling from Cork and surrounding counties.
Les Charmettes, on the sunny west coast in Charente Maritime, is one of the biggest holiday villages in France, with a pool complex and entertainment set up to suit. There are indoor and outdoor pools with slides and fountains, tennis courts, kids’ clubs for tots to teenagers, and nightly entertainment. La Rochelle is the nearest airport with connections from Dublin and Cork making it easy to travel directly.
I was surprised to learn that accommodation at the parks starts from as little as €322 for seven nights’ self-catering in June for up to four sharing, with pools, kids’ clubs and entertainment all included. Some luxurious mobile homes can cater for a family of six, which makes them an ideal option for larger families. If booked before February 3, Irish families can save up to 35% on their holiday.
The majority of campsites also have mobile homes that offer wheelchair accessibility and reduced mobility access which may be helpful if you are bringing granny and granddad along.
Camping in France is the perfect holiday for balancing relaxation with action while embracing the great outdoors. If you haven’t tried a camping holiday before this may be the perfect option for all the family young and old.
TRAVEL FACTS
To book a holiday at any of the 30 campsites in France provided by Siblu visit siblu. ie or call 01 526 8658. Travel by ferry with brittanyferries.ie to Roscoff or Bilbao from Cork and Rosslare and with stenaline.ie or irish ferries.com to Cherbourg. For flights see ryanair.com or aerlingus.com. For news and travel ideas from Michelle, see thenoveltraveller.com.