Les Castels - La Garangeoire
Good morning,
We are off to France in a couple of weeks time and we are thinking of staying at La Garangeoire which is a Les Castels site. I gather that at this time of year booking in advance is unnecessary. Despite this I thought I may book in online just for a couple of nights and then stay for the full week or move on if we don't like it. However on the website Les Castels want to add on a booking fee of 25 euros. This seems a bit steep. Anybody know of a way round this? Also, if I just turn up and pay at the door will the prices be the same as those online, or might they be dearer? A week for a standard pitch with electricity online is 154 euros.
It looks a lovely site. Any advice on the pitches or things to do in the area will be very welcome.
Thanks.
Comments
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Until the end of June you simply take an ACSI Camping Card and pay them 17 euros per night.
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As Eurotraveller says, there is absolutely no need to book campsites anywhere in France, in May. To benefit from reduced prices you can order an ACSI Guide and Card from the Caravan Club, or buy directly from ACSI on www.campingcard.co.uk where, as he says, you will then pay 17 euros per night for pitch, electricity, and two people, or 119 euros instead of 154 euros for your week. If you don't like the site there are a choice of many other ACSI Card sites in the Pays de la Loire area, including a couple of sites at just 11 euros per night, several at 13 euros (including one with an indoor pool, good review scores of 8.4, and which also offers 7 nights for the price of six ) and others at 15, 17 and 19 euros.
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Booking deposits or administration fees are quite common in France. If the site accepts the ACSI card as mentioned by Eurotraveller it's very unlikely that you would need to book in advance, especially if you are going to be there within the next month.
David
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We were there in early June 2012, a nice site in the countryside with reasonable sized pitches and good faciities including pool. We were there during the Irish school holidays so the site was busy but not full - I think many people had booked chalets rather than pitches. I don't know about pricing, it might tell you on their website although I doubt they charge more if you just turn up. You could also ask the CMC overseas travel for their prices as I think the site is bookable through the Club. As others have said an ACSI card would give you a discount. Les Sables d'Olonne, St. Gilles/Croix de Vie and various seaside places are worth a visit. Depending on how far you want to travel for days out there is also the Venise Vert or Noirmoutier, maybe even St. Nazaire if you are interested in wartime history
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Hi, we have not stayed there but visited to have a look back in 2011 and felt it was just a bit too far out from the coast and therefore places we wanted to be.
We were staying at La Yole at the time, and thinking about a longer future stay, and were attracted by good reviews but after spending a couple of hours looking around were not impressed enough to want to spend a main holiday there.
The pitches were OK and the facility blocks very good but the pool and other public areas were small and felt crowded but it was in July, we were following the Tour De France, so will almost certainly be better in May.
As said, no need to book and loads of choice.
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Thank you all for your very helpful replies. I have now ordered an ASCI card.
I have now also had a look at the Village du Guyonniere which i understand is close by. It looks like they take camping cheques which is useful as i have some. Anybody know how this compares with La Garangeoire? Are the pitches bigger here? Are they all seperated by hedges?
I think we are happy with the general location as I doubt we will be spending more than a couple of days on the beach (unless we are very lucky with the weather).
Thanks for all the suggestions of places to visit. Very helpful. We will certainly be visiting Puy du Fou. We thought about the Velorail but think it may be a bit too much effort for the two of us. Shame as it looks great.
Thanks
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Stato, There's also Camping Ferme du Latois and Camping Pin Parasol close by as well as Garangeoire and Guyonniere which you have mentioned. All four are big, high graded commercial sites - well geared up for families in the summer when all their activities will be in full swing. The Alan Rogers website gives you a potted description of all four and they all have lots of reviews. Is there really much to choose between them?
I just hope you won't be too disappointed with the Vendee area - it's family summer holiday, sea and sand country, but isn't otherwise the most interesting part of France. I remember you said earlier you were aiming for southern Brittany where there is always more to see and do. But you are going at a good time and you can move on and make an unplanned tour as you wish. - for instance two or three days at the city campsite in Nantes on your way there or back is always worthwhile. I hope it goes well.
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Hi Stato, we considered La Guyonierre last year for a two family trip bit it did not happen. If you want a better idea of the site I think they are on camping streetview and we also considered Pin Parasol on the opposite side of Lac Jaunay.
It is a lovely area with lots of places to visit and we liked the Chateau at Apremont the entrance fee to which also entitled you to go up to a viewing platform on a large water tower with great views.
If you visit St Gilles, which is a lovely place, don't miss Glaces Alain,by the river, or the walk up the pedestrianised Rue de General De Gaulle to the market area. There is also a massive Leclerc with fuel just outside town.
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Thank you both for your advice.
Alanandjean - we will definitely consider the chateau and St Gilles. I will also have a look at camping streetview.
Eurotraveller - thank you for comments and well done for remembering my earlier questions. To be honest i have been all over the place with this holiday. Apart from a week in Normandy a couple of years ago this is our first serious trip to France. I did look at Southern Brittany but then decided I would save that area, along with North West Brittany, for another time (when we can get a June or September for the better weather). Im sure we could easily spend two weeks in those areas. I have certainly heard from some people that the Vendee is not the most interesting area of France, but am hoping that the fact that it is further South may give us slightly better weather.
I am looking forward to visiting Puy du Fou, which looks fantastic, and also the submarine pens at St Nazire (haven't mentioned that to the wife yet). Throw in a day on the beach, a visit to a Chateau and a few costal walks, I am hopeful there will be enough there to occuppy us.
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