To begin our 2 week French adventure we caught the overnight Brittany Ferry from Portsmouth to St Malo. We boarded around 6pm and we docked about 8:15am and were off and on our way very swiftly. (a more detailed review of this will be coming)
The drive to our Campsite in the Vendee was around 3 hours not including a stop at a service station cafe.
The place we had chosen for our first week of our holiday was Camping Village de la Guyonniere. This was in fact our rather delayed 2020 holiday. We chose to camp for the first week so we had a car packed full of our camping equipment. The great thing about the pitch we chose for slightly you get a pack, this included a fridge (like a full size under counter fridge!) and outdoor tables and chairs. So that helped with the packing a bit. No need for a cool box or camping chairs!
Check in was easy and we found our pitch which was right next to a little playground and a goat pen. We had chosen our pitch ahead from a map. The pitches were very large and partly shaded, perfect due to the heat wave! We began the arduous task of unpacking the car and putting up the tent. To be honest now we have an air tent, Phil quite 'likes' putting a tent up on his own while I take the children off and let home get on with it. I then return for the inside part of the set up.
The site is big but doesn't feel crowded. It has an outdoor swimming pool complex complete with slides, small lazy (crazy) river, a covered pool, a snack bar next to the pool.
Outside of the pool complex are table tennis, a laundry, bike hire, a restaurant, bar, takeaway counter, bouncy castle, playground, small amusements.
There is a kids club for a couple of hours in the morning where they can choose art, sport/outside games or football, you have to be over 4 years old to use this. We only used it once, was slightly concerned that my 7 year old turned up after football on his own back at the tent! It was a rather long way and they just let them go. They loved the experience but we were in a heat wave so they preferred to just be at the pool.
It's just a short walk to the lake. We hired a pedalo here and rode our bikes on a ride passing by the lake. My husband signed up for a longer organised bike ride, off road and he had a great but tiring time! There are lots of things like this to partake in.
We did 2 great days out from the campsite. One to the beach and the other to Chateau Aventuriers, this was an amazing place. Firstly set in the grounds of a beautiful Chateau and secondly for fully engaging our children with courses full of riddles. We had such an adventure completing the course and would highly recommend if you are in the area. It has 4 different trails 'Dinosaur' 'Haunted House' Investigation at the Castle' and 'The Pirates Treasure. There is also Wild West style play area.
Whilst on the dino trail we even discovered the neolithic menhirs stones!
Back on the campsite we ate at the snack bar a couple of times and the restaurant once, make sure to book the restaurant ahead as it does get busy. People also use it as a chance to get a seat and watch the children's disco type shows on the near by outdoor stage.
One of the main things that drew us to this site, apart from the facilities was the fact that they allow you to pack up your tent the night before you leave and sleep in one of the sites complementary rooms. This enables an early set off for campers the next day. Top tip... don't do this! The room was dingy, dusty, smelly and very uncared for. We could barely sleep in it and I'm used to back packing! I'm not sure if we were just unlucky and I didn't complain as it was free afterall but wouldn't recommend it.
The site as a whole I would though, if you don't mind driving. There aren't many places walkable but plenty to keep you occupied on site! And most people tend to have a car for day trips. We loved our there and we are keen to go camping in France again one day. Our children are still asking to go back again.
We then drove to the Il De Re and read about our adventures here.
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