Recommend me a great campsite in France

[Streetrod]

My other half is from New Zealand and some of her happiest childhood memories are from camping with her family. Somehow she has managed to convince my two boys and they both now love the idea of camping having been last year.

Anyway she wants to go to France this year so I need recommendations of great campsites in France. We have all our own gear including the biggest tent known to man. We need somewhere that can keep my two boys, a hyper active 11 and 8 very happy all day so good pools are essential. We would also if possible like to spend a couple of days in Paris at the end of the holiday (so that I can have a decent bath and SWMBO can spend a small fortune on stocking up on her handbag collection)

We also dont want to have to spend days driving so no more than about 300 miles or so from the ferry port would be good.

Any help would be gratefully received as I have not holidayed in France apart from snowboarding for ever so have no idea about what is good or bad.

[LFB531]

Out on the Atlantic coast West of Bordeaux;

http://www.airotel-ocean.com/index.html?lg=gb

My kids loved it! Very lively, plenty on site although we headed off to the beaches which are incredible. Made for cycling with dedicated paths everywhere, town is very 'Newquay' and full of surfers which is entertaining.

It's a whole day journey to get there but all motorway bar the last 30km from any of the ports, we managed fine (just don't do the journey on a Saturday in August!).

[Liszt]

For Paris, I would suggest Huttopia near Versailles. There is an station about a 10 minute walk away which will put you at the Eiffel tower in just over 20 mins.

Not a big campsite, but good wash blocks, bar and pool on site, kids play area too.

[Puggit]

A couple of hours SW of Paris: http://www.lacdesvarennes.com/

I swim in that lake every year!

[Puggit]

Streetrod said:

We also dont want to have to spend days driving so no more than about 300 miles or so from the ferry port would be good.

Which ferry port?

[5potTurbo]

We go to La Tranche sur Mer on the Vendée coast, which should be within 300 miles of Cherbourg/Caen/St.Malo, but not Calais or Dunkerque.

http://www.camping-baiedaunis.com/WD140AWP/WD140AW...

HIGHLY recommended - have been there every year for the last 10 and have booked again for Whitsun halfterm.

[smifffymoto]

Have a look at www.ukcampsites.co.uk for all the info you need and lots more you don't.Huge campsite review section from users of the site.

[Streetrod]

Puggit said:

Streetrod said:

We also dont want to have to spend days driving so no more than about 300 miles or so from the ferry port would be good.

Which ferry port?

Well we live in Surrey so will head to whichever port is best for where we are going