September 2017 archive

Family Holiday this year to France!

So, got a lot of messages about our trip to France & staying in a mobile so here goes. This was a last minute holiday for us, only decided to go in July. We flew Ryan Air to Nice (yes one hour delay going out and even more of a delay on the way back. I will not rant. I will not rant). Anyway that was the only moan I have. As it was a late flight we stayed one night in the IBIS airport hotel and then hired car next morning. We had booked it ahead of time with Gold Car – really good value, about €150 for the week for a medium sized car. I just found them on Google so was dubious, but all good .

The drive was just over an hour and after initial shouting from me as co-driver….watch it, watch it, slow down, speed up, did you see that? what’s that noise? All was grand. The campsite we stayed in was called Domaine des Naiades in Port Grimaud with Eurocamp Holidays. It’s a medium sized park with a pool, 2 slides, restaurants and bar and full entertainment and kids clubs (for kids who will go…ours have just never gone!!!! Much as I have begged and bribed). We stayed in a two bed Vista mobile with pull out bed for Amy and air-con and decking. Air-con is a must!! We learned that the hard way a few years ago when we all melted.

We haven’t been to France since 2011 and these mobiles have had a makeover…..a grey makeover. So on trend! Really clean as well and the welcome pack was better than I remembered. All the mini essentials to get you started, tea, coffee, olive oil, washing up stuff, biscuits, pringles…..and wine! The only thing we forgot were the tiny swim trunks!! I should have remembered. France likes them tight! So had to go buy 3 pairs for Paul and the boys. Pauls were offensive, I think we didn’t get the sizing right ha! but the whole pool was wearing them so be warned its Willy Watch/Penis Patrol poolside

Our kids are 13, 10 & 8 so no baby pool anymore but it’s there. They spent the time on the slides and jumping in the deep end, it’s very deep. The also had a full on inflatable obstacle course one day, like wipe out – brilliant! I overexposed myself. Great laugh. The Eurocamp team are really friendly and helpful too, there all the times….even when we had a “I can’t find a corkscrew” emergency.

The food onsite was really good, especially the Pizza Blenti. The chef has won some pizza awards apparently. All the food in the area has a bit of an Italian influence and loads of seafood.

The beach is about a 10 to 15 minute walk away as is the town of Port Grimaud. The beach is lovely, soft sand and nice bars and restaurants. The town though, wow! It is so picturesque. Like a mini-Venice. All piers and canals and houses with decking onto the water. It’s like a scene from a play or something. Green shutters, pretty chairs, quaint side streets and a church and the square for the market. Loads of massive boats as well for the rich! We took a trip to St Tropez one of the days. It’s just 15 minutes away by boat. Another stunning place, full of the mega rich and their boats. It was nice for a visit and to see all the shops and pretty side streets. Missoni, Diane Von Furstenburg etc all high end and the boats and cars high end too! Was good to see it all but I liked the calmness in Port Grimaud.

We didn’t do much else really as only a week so just chilled. Drove to another beach L’Escalet Plage to snorkel one of the days and kids loved it. I loved it too (after initial coughing & spitting & drama). We read books, drank wine, ate cheese. That was the goal. The kids loved it and I think holidays are getting easier now they are older. We did Cambrills last year and Belle Italia the previous two years and I have to say this has been my favourite. It was the right combination of park size, walk to the town and beach, good food and beautiful scenery. It depends what you are after as a family and what ages kids are too. Being in a mobile is not everyones idea of a holiday but we love it! My parents used to take us years ago and they are still the best memories. I find it way more relaxing than a hotel or apartment and it is good value, especially if you have more than 2 kids. It’s really back to basics and you can just let it all hang out and completely relax. I have a couple of friends who did it based on me saying it was fab and they hated it! (It did rain though & they all wanted to kill each other ha) I have others who just love it and go every year now, even back to the same place. So it depends on what you are after in a holiday, but we “heart” mobiles…I’ll get that in a t-shirt

Full details on the site are available here: http://www.eurocamp.ie/campsites/rivieraandprovence/rv053-domaine-des-naiades/ataglance.html