France Ferry & Campsite info (use Search function) mod warning post 1

Does anyone have a recent update of Sandaya's Sequoia Parc or Chateau les Marais?

I've read reviews from a good few years ago (200o, 2014, etc) that said there were big problems with mosquitoes, but if anyone had a more recent review itdtbe greatly appreciated! Thanks!

You won’t be disappointed. I had suggested that route to my husband but he’s not a fan of the really long boat journey. We had a really long road journey instead 😂

I used to go the long drive down but I'm happy now to sit eat sleep on a ferry to Spain for between 28/30 hours as opposed to the 17/19 hours on the Rosslare/Cherbourg/Roscoff run and then face the long drive through France.

Are you sure the bottom bunks will fold? Did Brittany ferries at Easter and Irish Ferries (back today!). I have not seen bottom bunks folding on any of them . Only ever seen top bunks folding!

On the WB Yeats, the bottom bunks fold away to create sofas and that makes a load more room in the 4 person interior cabins anyway

we were on Pont Aven this year .only one of the bottom beds folded up . The other flipped over and became a couch

Hi all, any advice on a nice town to stay about 2 hours from Cherbourg en route from the Vendee region? Just want yo split up the journey back so we are closer to Port on final day. Would prefer not to stay anywhere too busy as trying to keep the stress of driving in traffic to a minimum.

Rory's Travel Club are advertising the 2 adults + 3 kids - €999 deal with Kelair for next May again, ideal if your kids get a week off in May

departure dates

6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22 May 2025

WHAT is Included

· Return ferry crossing with car & passengers – 2 adults /3 children (under 15 years)

· Irish Ferries – Dublin Cherbourg on board W B Yeats

· 1 x 4 berth Inside Cabin each way

· 7 nights Mercure mobile home with decking & Gas BBQ

· Available at Domaine des Ormes (6,8,13,15,20,22 May 2025 departures) – 2.5hrs drive from Cherbourg.

· Available at Camping Les Genets & La Yole (22 May 2025 departure) – 4.5hrs drive from Cherbourg.

Optional Extras:

· Upgrade to 3 bed Model - €10 per night per party.

· Upgrade to 3 Bed 2 bath with A/C €30 per party per night

· Upgrade to window cabin €20 each way.

· Possibility to extend your stay.

· We supply duvets with Duvet covers – you can bring your own linen & Towels, or a pack is available to rent- prebook (family of 5 €100

Thanks to those who replied to the above, still haven't found the ideal camp so if any other readers have any ideas appreciate it.

Other posters have posted similar questions over the last few pages and from research the area between Nantes and la Rochelle has loads of ideal options but 1 hr south of La Rochelle does not seem to have the same options (english kids club, some Irish), I am getting the feeling that factors like the swamp area (mosquitos) and once you are below La Rochelle people will generally fly rather than ferry and therefore will just further south limit the demand and therefore the options.

Bayeaux, Caen, Mont St Michel or even Fougères.

Just to give another opinion on this, we were in Sequoia this year for the last 2 weeks of July, and had no issues. We were worried when we read the reviews, but bought Mosquito bracelets, that we wore most (but forgot some ) days. I have heard some people are more attractive to Mosquitos. We may have been lucky.

Really like the site. Good pool. Restaurant and Pizzeria were good. Good playgrounds .Kids club was in French, but translated for English speaking kids. Mostly French , with a bunch of English, Dutch and Irish. Quiz and Kids disco each evening, and then some other show.

Its about a 10 minute drive to a beach, and île d'Oléron is a short drive as well.

We would have no problems going back to it or recommending it.

Looking into a few places to bring the kids and came across la recredes theme park. Has anyone gone there, we have a 4 and 6 year old. Also if tis good has anyone stayed in the campsite would really look into staying there if it was good. The prices are great

We were there this year with two other families from the middle to end of July. Hardly any Irish people there (maybe another 3 families and maybe 3 British families).

Our kids hung around with the other two families' kids. They didn't bother going to the kids camps because, being honest, they looked shite with the kids standing around most of the time as the animation team explained everything and nauseam.

Pool is very nice. They have dedicated roped-off lanes if you want to do lengths. Slides are good and are supervised so they don't get too manic.

Evening entertainment is alright. I loved the whole bar area though. Bar staff were quick and it's nice to sit outside and watch the world go by. Games room was quite good too. A little market is also set up twice a week near the bar/pool area so some vendors can come in and sell the usual tourist stuff ranging from saucisson to t-shirts and "jewellery".

We loved that we could pick our mobile home and they were a big step up from the Eurocamp ones. Lovely decking and spacious with a proper awning over the decking for when it rains.

Loungers weren't scarce when we were there, provided you don't head down at 3pm. It usually gets busy by 12, eases off at lunchtime and then gets busier later in the afternoon before easing off around 5.

Some lovely walks and cycle paths in the area which we loved and Royan and La Rochelle are two nice day trips. Luna Park is also great for the amusement rides and it's 5mins drive away.

I've never seen babysitting facilities in any of the campsites we've been in. The closest was a sort of evening kids club in La Garangeoire where you could check the kids in for a couple of hours

Used to get the girls working in the kids club to do it

Does anyone know if Irish Ferries still give a free trip to the UK when you travel with them to France? I know it was a thing a few years ago and kinda hoping it is still there.

BTW, got a decent deal for the Vendee in June next year, 10 nights in Clarys Plage from the 8th June, Ferry/accommodation for just over 1k ( 1 adult 2 kids ) Its been a long time since I seen it that cheap.

Had booked the Vision for the way home next August but see that sailing is gone now. No contact from Stena yet. Will book on the wb yeats to Dublin the following day instead I think.

It's much smaller, but it's still a good ship.

We went over on the Vision but home on the Horizon this year.

Six of us squeezed into a 4 berth cabin on the Vision, but we had a 6 berth on the Horizon that was massive.

The Vision seemed to be more of a cruising ferry, with lots of outside cabins, a sun deck with a bar, a spa, lots of play places for kids, big shop, table service restaurant etc.

The Horizon was more functional, but still very good.

HI, If your kids like to meet other Irish/English might be best to book with an Irish Operator (such as Kelair),

Family Camping Holidays in France, Spain & Italy | Kelair Campotel (https://www.campotel.com/)

their mobile homes are all in a row in a distinct part of the campsite so you'd be virtually guaranteed to meet other Paddy's'; when we were in Cypsala a few years ago we stayed in the Parks own accommodation/lodges but in the evenings when out strolling around the campsite I'd see the Irish in groups. Some of the parks are so big, there may be many Irish/English but if they are spread all over the place you might never see them.

We were in Delfin Verde last year and you could hear Irish accents all over the place but there were no Irish near our lodge. My kids wouldn't be bothered about meeting other Irish / English so wasn't an issue. eldest girl made pals with 2 French girls near our unit and Son did the soccer tournament with hundreds (literally hundreds) of Dutch - they probably spoke English better than him!!

Drive into France and the campsites are much better and generally the weather too. Only 2hours away. Just my opinion

Campsites in northern Spain tend to be a bit basic