Camping La Nautique whats it like?
This site a possible for us in September into October. I notice its near the Autoroute can you hear the traffic on the site? Any comments on other aspects of the site would be appreciated.
Thanks
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We have used Nautique many times over the years as an overnight stop on the way to Spain. As has been stated it is close to the Autoroute (little if any noise) and that is probably the best point - pitches are a good size but "grubby" for want of a better word - virtually no grass and mainly dirt. Early in the year there may be a bit more "green" but August/September scorched and barren. We would not use this site for longer than a couple of nights. It's expensive and there are many better sites around and about for longer stays. Having said that some may find the position and facilities ok for but not us.
Ome 'n' Dri
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I know the area well, but not that campsite - so out of curiosity read some of the on-line reviews - there are about 200 of them on various websites - and they range across the whole board from "Super" to "Worst site ever". So don't book in advance, go and have a look and see what you think. And please let us know!
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Haven't been there myself, but were thinking of it one year whilst in the south of France; had a chat with some other people on site and mentioned La Nautique. Reply was that they'd been, and wouldn't go again, because it was full of mozzies. As my OH reacts badly to mozzie bites, that was enough to put us off.
Now whether these people were just unlucky there I wouldn't know. But we have stayed on a campsite at Gruissan, a bit further along the coast. On the site itself it wasn't that bad with mozzies, but cycling into gruissan and out it was terrible; we went through clouds of them at times. We cut short our stay because of it and went elsewhere.
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We know that area quite well - we have a house in the Aude, and regularly use the back road past La Nautique to get to Gruissan. It is an area with a lot of mosquitos as there are rice fields, and marshland - so I imagine at certain times it can be a problem. However, much of the Languedoc coast is drained marshland and this tends to come with mosquitos. They are worst ten days after rain - and in long periods of dry weather there may be none at all.
What is it you're looking for in a site - and why La Nautique?
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We stayed there for a few days about 6 years back, did not notice any particular road noise.
There were pitches with their own toilet/shower, but we did not think they were that great. Central facilities were OK, but it was a very long way to the provided toilet emptying facility.
Pitches in the area we used were long and narrow, with not a lot of grass. We were there in mid October.
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Thanks everyone for your suggestions and feedback.
We usually go to Sommieres (Le Massereau). Have been going there for about 5 years now but over the past few year we felt we were getting the cold shoulder by booking with the club. On arrival we have been directed to a pitch that was far too small for our van and awning only to be told this is a caravan club pitch. If we wanted a bigger pitch we need to book through hem or use our ACSI card. Eventually after getting someone to come have a look we did get what we feel is a reasonable pitch. Other members on site this year had the same problem. It kind of spoils the trip. Sommieres is a lovely place and the surrounding area is just right for us. Le Mas de Reilhe is near but closes too early for us.
We will keep looking I think.
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Have you tried the municipal in Sommieres? We stayed there for about 4 days in September this year; a nice site with big pitches. And you are free to to pick your own pitch. Cost with EHU was €18.50; we didn't have EHU as we have a solar panel, so it cost only €14 per night. It also has a pool, albeit not that big. There are 2 toiletblocks which we found to be clean at all times. Walking distance to town and very close to the river.
From the sound of it Le Massereau isn't very friendly towards CC members, so if the area is what you want then I can recommend the municipal.
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Two options.
If you have identified the pitches at Massereau you like then by pass the Club booking scheme and ask the site manager to reserve the pitch you would like. I agree the pitches are very variable and certain ones are allocated to the Club.
if you would like a different site in another area then you might like to read the reviews for Camping Monplaisir in St Remy de Provence - but that site is not in the Club booking scheme or the ACSI marketing scheme. It does not need to be!
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In September and into October I wouldn't even think about booking anything. Why not do what many of us do at that time of year, and just go without booking anything. Do some research on sites in a variety of areas, and then see which is the area with the best weather then head in that direction. There are literally thousands of sites in France, and only around 300 of them are offered by the Caravan Club booking service.
In September it's likely that on many sites you'll have the pick of the best pitches anyway, as most sites are likely to be quite quiet - and on some you may find yourselves the only people there.
If you could tell us what it is you particularly like Domaine de Massereau then I'm sure someone can recommend a similar site in the Languedoc area.
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Many thanks again. I think we will take your advice ValDa and just go. May be book for the first/second night so we have a definite place to stay for the last few days of August. Spain looks nice and so does Portugal. May be our best year yet!
Thanks again
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We have also stayed at Le Massereau a number of times over recent years and much enjoyed the site and location. Most of the staff are great - by this I mean helpful, personable and interesting to talk to.
This year in September during a conversation with the reception staff they told me that I could book a specific pitch [for next year] as we had difficulty with accessing the pitch they had allocated.[8.6metre motorhome.] We did eventually "get on" but the maneuver was not without drama. We made a list of pitches that better suited us and when we emailed to book [November] for 7 nights in September next year, I quoted our preferred pitches. After a bit of good humored Email ping pong [using the ACSI rate as a starting point] we agreed a price and a specific pitch. All up agreed cost was a significant saving on the CC price [fingers crossed on exchange rates] though the Le Massereau headline cost including pitch reservation fee / booking fee / tourist tax etc started out at more than the CC quote.
If you are happy with Le Massereau other than pitch allocated / cost and if my experience is representative it may worth while starting some dialogue with them re pitch choice and price. In my view Nautique comes a poor second though the location of Nautique can make it an attractive overnight stop.
Ome "n" Dri
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