Family holidays can be tricky to plan. With both adults and children to take into consideration, you need to find a break that can be all things to all people all of the time.
My family and I (two adults and two very active boys aged five and three) headed across the Channel to the French region of the Vendee for a week's stay at Eurocamp's Le Pin Parasol holiday park. The complex is in the mid-western region of our closest neighbour, an area that is sometimes overlooked by Brits who either make the long journey to the south or stay closer by in the north.
Our journey across the Channel
As we were driving across we plumped for a boat and the Brittany Ferries' Portsmouth – Caen/Ouistreham route. Making our across the Channel this way meant that we only had a four-hour drive on the other side. There are plenty of other crossings that you can choose from (mostly from Portsmouth) that will get you within five hours of the park. The closest you can get is by using the St Malo route.
Checking in on the UK side was smooth and easy, and we were soon on board. As the journey is six hours we got an en-suite cabin. If you're traveling with a young family you definitely want to do this! Having a base you can pop in and out of proved to be a godsend. We didn't manage to get any sleep but that was nothing to do with the cabin itself – but the two youngsters who were very excited for their first-ever boat journey.
We travelled on the Mont St Michel both ways, and there are plenty of things to do on board to keep you – and, more importantly, the little ones – occupied during the journey. We enjoyed sunny skies and smooth sailings on the journeys, which made going out on deck a must.
Inside there were the usual duty-free shops (one bottle of holiday gin: check!), but also a few different bars to choose from. During the peak season, children can join in organised games and treasure hunts around the ship. There are also two cinemas with comfortable seats and surround sound.
And if you managed to do all that, the ship also offers free wi-fi fast enough to browse the net. We really made the right choice on our method of crossing. You might be tempted, depending where you live, to use the tunnel but that leaves you a long old journey to Vendee that you'll probably have to split into two. Also worth factoring in on the price is the cost of toll roads. It's dramatically less going north-south than east-west I have found.
The only two issues we had were nothing to do with Britanny Ferries themselves. We had an hour wait to get through passport control on the French side. I guess this is something we all have to get used to nowadays. While that does sound a long time, the queue was always moving which makes a difference. The second issue also put an hour or so on our journey but this time on the way back. The road works in and near Portsmouth were definitely a shock after not seeing them for a week in France!
For further information and to book with Brittany Ferries. click here. You can check ferry routes to France - and elsewhere - here.
Azure holiday home
We stayed in one of Eurocamp's Azure holiday homes, its newest range, and it was difficult not to be impressed. The three-bedroom home features a smart, open-plan kitchen/lounge area as well as a separate shower and WC. The bedrooms are tight, with one queen-sized bed in the main plus single beds in the two twin rooms, but there is ample storage space, however, with built-in cupboards and some really handy head-height cabinets in all the rooms.
Our Azure did not have air conditioning but we easily managed to keep things cool by drawing the curtains during the day, and there was a fan if things got a little too sticky. I was impressed with how cool the home felt, but we enjoyed temperatures of around 30C all week and so I'm not sure how it would cope if it got even warmer.
However, you're not going to spend the holiday stuck indoors, and this is where I felt the Azure came into its own as outside the double doors you'll find a large, mostly covered, decking area. This is where you're going to spend most of your time when back at base. It's fully enclosed, so we were able to let the kids run free, and comes with plenty of garden furniture plus a gas BBQ.
Our BBQ wasn't actually working when we first arrived but having reported it to a very cheerful and happy rep who was passing by it was replaced within 20 minutes, and we were again cooking on gas (literally). We must have enjoyed evening BBQ meals on two or three nights during our stay.
Beyond the decking you get enough space to park your car and that's about it, but as I say when you are back at base you're going to be enjoying life, feet up and cocktail in hand, in a sun chair. Going back into the Azure, you get a fully-equipped kitchen with cooker fridge/freezer and microwave. There's also a toaster plus a coffee machine (which saw plenty of action). Stock up with food (and wine) at one of the many supermarkets nearby.
The only other thing of note was that we got invaded by ants at one point! However, this was entirely our fault as a quick hunt around the home found that my youngest had decided to secretly keep half a banana under his bed as a memento!
Le Pin Parasol
The park itself is situated in woodlands on the bank of a lake – Lac du Jaunay – so there is some spectacular scenery just on your doorstep. There are two main complexes for guests. The first is a fun water park with bar/restaurant, corner shop (where you'll be getting your bread in the morning) and a (very popular) fast food take-out.
As we had two small kids in tow this is where we spent at least a couple of days. The pool complex is great fun with five waterslides, including two with rubber rings that supplied plenty of thrills. Just a heads up that it's trunks only in the pool – no shorts. This caught us – and quite a few other Brits – by surprise so either pack your speedos or prepare to buy some at the corner store for a premium price.
The second complex we, sadly, never got to try. The adults-only spa resort offered a whole bunch of massages and treatments, as well as a balneotherapy area, plus a high-end restaurant. A must-go if you manage to decouple from the children for a few hours!
If you have older kids there is plenty to keep them occupied on-site, there's a kids' club, games room and activities – be that sporting or otherwise – to enjoy. And adults aren't left out, either, with evening shows, karaoke and quizzes laid on every week.
Sporty people will never get bored, either, as the park has its own football pitch and basketball court, 18-hole crazy golf course. And being by a lake, there's plenty of fishing to be had as well as the chance to go canoeing or hop on a pedalo.
Worth mentioning is the cashless system that operates in the park. You are given a wristband that you 'fill up' with money and spend anywhere within Le Pin Parasol, meaning you don't have to take your wallet out with you. And if you don't manage to spend all of it by the end of your holidays, you can get the remainder back.
It's worth checking yourself on all the activities that are on offer as I'm bound to have missed a few off, but it's safe to say that there's enough to keep you and your family occupied for a week or two. But if you restrict yourself to just Le Pin Parasol, you'd be missing out!
Vendee
The majority of quests at Le Pin Parasol were English, German or Dutch, but it always seems to me that the Vendee often gets ignored by Brits who either stick to northern France because of the travel times or go the full hog by heading south towards the Med. Or I should say holidaying Brits because the ex-pat community is strong in this patch of France. Go to the supermarket at the right time and you'll be surrounded by familiar accents.
So what makes the area so popular for retirees? Well the climate is one reason. Long, hot summers are virtually guaranteed and if it becomes too sweltering just head to the coast! We headed to the clean, (relatively) quiet beaches of Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie a couple of times. Parking was easy, the sand was plenty, and the seaside eateries many. There are loads of other beaches to explore, however, so you're spoilt for choice really.
And there's the famous Le Puy du Fou that, despite visiting the Vendee many times,. I have still not managed to get to. It's a reconstructed Norman fort, medieval town and 18th Century village all in one, boasting falconry, jousting, magic and music. The evening shows are the stand-outs, with 1.000 local actors dramatising history in front of your eyes. It attracts almost 1.5 million visitors a year!
If you want to spread your net even further, I'd recommend a trip to Cognac, where you can enjoy tours of the brandy makers and, if you're like me, come back armed with a bottle or two.
Overall
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the park and, as we spent just the one week there, felt like we'd only scratched the surface of all the things to do. The holiday home was a good base but chances are you won't be spending that much time there. We were fortunate we knew the area already so I'd definitely do a bit of research of the Vendee before you go, otherwise you'll only get half the experience..
To find out more about Eurocamp and Le Pin Parasol, click here.
