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We have been going to this campsite for 4 years at this July will be our 5th!! We have only been to one other campsite also in Argelès but we love Bois du Valmarie so much we couldn't see ourselves going somewhere else!

We did have some problems with our pitches because of ants but Canvas was so helpful it didn't really matter. The facilities are so good with the showers and the washing machines. The pool is amazing and the kids who are 12 14 and 16 have a ball it is so relaxing! Overall the place is just fabulous and the only disadvantage is that at night the bar is quite mainly because the Dutch were mainly there and they don’t really socialize!!

We have just returned and loved this site, particularly with its position so near the very pretty beach (although those with young children or non-swimmers should note that the beach shelves steeply and so the water gets deep very quickly - wonderful if you like swimming).

The site is VERY quiet - that's why we chose it. There is now no evening entertaining except the large TV screen in the bar area, and only one children's club run by SIBLU plus a half-hour mini-disco for kids each evening. People respect the "quiet rule" on their emplacements and we never heard any music playing (or on the beach, come to that). If you like turning your emplacement into your own mini-disco or entertainment area, this is not the site for you!

We found the staff friendly and helpful - as long as you respect the rules - and we would recommend the site.

Went in August this year and would agree with the previous comments. The site was very quiet and the pools superb. Kids enjoyed it, especially the pools. We also visited the sister sites and would say that this was the best of the 3.

The restaurant was good as were surrounding restaurants. Beach was a bit gritty and shelved sharply but wa good and a 2 minute walk.

I can't understand what Natasha was on about - the pool "guards" were whistle happy but only when kids were out of hand - Never had any problems with ours!

Good position as well for exploring northern Spain, the Pyrenees and Andorra.

Would recommend for anyone and may well go back again next year. You do need to split the journey though b ut that isn't a problem with so many cheap hotels throughout France.

The weather was excellent as well.

We have been to this campsite at least 4 times and love it. Last year, 2008, I went with my 13 year old daughter, 20 year old daughter and boyfriend and our 21 year old joined us down there. It is quiet, clean and very near the beach. We went by train from Kent and didn't have a car for 10 days and managed superbly well, walking, getting the petit train and the bus to Collioure and basically just chilling in the evening over a bottle of wine and game of scrabble. We love Le Racou and bought fresh produce from the épicerie every day and occasionally ate in one of the many local restaurants, the Oasis and Le Fanal both do good food. The weather was great and if you want a good family holiday with children of any age, we first went there when our children were very small, this is the place for you. The swimming pool complex was great and we hope to return again

This was our first time to any form of campsite and we loved it. We have 2 kids 7 & 4 and they had an absolute ball. The pool set up is fantastic and whilst the lifeguards may be a bit whistle happy at times, we found that it was usually to stop things getting out of hand ( 2 at a time on slides etc ) and prevented any accidents to some of the smaller ones in the pool .

We had a drink in the friendly bar at nights & there is a small games room below where the kids all seemed to gather and play giving us a bit of welcome peace.

The food at the bar was excellent, but there are also quite a few restaurants at the marina, which is just 5 mins walk away.

We booked with Canvas Holidays and they did seem to be one of the better managed companies on site. They also do a kids club, which runs daily, and it didn't seem to matter how often that you turned up, they still welcomed you.

Overall a fantastic site and we are definitely back next year!!

I've visited this site 4 times now, the last visit being less than a week ago. I have to say that I don't recognise any of the complaints made by Natasha. The site is well run, the pool staff are friendly and helpful, the location is perfect and is probably one of the best sites I have visited in Europe.

We have been going to this site for the last 6 or 7 years, and we love it. The food and the people are wonderful.

I recently got back for les bois de valmarie. I would just like to advise people not to go it was like a prison camp. I went with a group of 14 (3 families) the campsite took the words 'self catering' to a real extreme. The staff were very rude especially the lifeguards. Our children all got kicked out of the pool on the first day because two of the kids went down one of the slides together and then the lifeguard come over to us and told us to get out. Being English we said we where staying put. If you weren't German Dutch or French basically the lifeguards did not like you. One of the female lifeguards hit three of the children and cut the wristband off one of the children.

We went to the bar and restaurant nearly every night and it was fantastic and the bar staff were really nice and friendly. The chef was super and and the food was brill!

The children did not enjoy the holiday at all. They thought that it was really boring because there was nothing to do. Also the weather was crap whilst we where there, it was raining for the first three days and then a few times during the week it was overcast. There were a few thunderstorms as well.

We had to provide our own entertainment and bearing in mind that there were 6 adults and 8 kids it was very hard. We tried to play lots of games to keep the kids satisfied. You had to be quiet by 11, which I thought was ridiculous because even in hotels it's later than that. This holiday is supposenly aimed at families but it was rubbish. There was nothing for families, nothing at all.

If you go, you are at your own risk, you have been warned!!!!

Our 3rd Stay At Bois De Valmarie and the best yet.

Great food down at the bar, fantastic pool area, a really relaxing enjoyable holiday.

Already booked for May next year !

Would definitely recommend.

We are a German family, which is returning this year for the fifth time to Bois du Valmarie. For us, with our three children (16, 15 and 11) it is just the best campsite. It is quiet, the swimming pool is a dream, and if you want cheaper goods, go to the supermarket at La Sirène. There is a programme every evening, which is as good as an expensive production. On the campsite you can find everything you need, and it's tidy and safe, so you can let the children out safely. There are no tents or touring caravans here, which is good for us, as it means you only have families, and no groups of youths. This is much better if you have small children, and it means you can go and have a glass of wine in the beautiful restaurant, without worrying about leaving the youngsters in the mobile home.

My wife and I visited Val Marie on four occasions and loved every minute of it. We go in September when it is quieter and not so hot. Food and wine in the restaurant is excellent, and Corin and Jaap are perfect hosts. The pool is fantastic, and nearby beach in La Racou is less than a minutes walk from the site entrance. Argelès is a few minutes walk, which takes you through the lovely marina. Collioure is well worth a visit and has a lovely atmosphere in the evenings. 1.5 hours drive away is "St Thomas Le Bain". Fantastic Hot Spring pools high in the Pyrenees. Still hardly anyone knows of it, so keep it secret and quiet. it is not far from Villefranche De Conflent, a must to stop if you're passing. Also a trip through the mountains on the "Little Yellow Train" from Villefranche. The most relaxing holiday imaginable, and all from "Le Bois De Val Marie". We loved it and we're coming back.

Amazing campsite...best food in Europe in the restaurant...me and my mate spent a lot of time there in 2002 as we were living in France and playing music...bellyfull rock and I am currently trying to get hold of Trevor to send him and his family and Didier an invite to my wedding!...Love the people here and love the place...working in the restaurant as an inexperienced chef was great fun and I can only assume that this is Ken's last year!!...if you read this Jaap and Corrine, much love to you and drop me a line at this new email address: martandju@ntlworld.com

Martin...xxxx

This is our second visit. The first time we went early June, this time the first week of July. It was very busy both times. We have been to quite a few sites in France, and although the facilities are top quality, we do feel that the owners have crammed as many mobile homes in as they can. The roads around the site are quite narrow, and parking your car on your pitch makes the outdoor area allocated to your mobile quite small. The pool area is outstanding, our favourite of all the sites we have been to. It isn't big, but is well laid out. The bar meals by the pool are outstanding value. Chicken, chips and salad on a huge plate for about 7 Euros. The ice-creams and drinks are reasonable too. When you arrive at the site you are issued with a wristband, which is checked by the security guard on the front gate in the evenings. Using the wristband gives you access to the facilities of two sister sites in Argeles, and one of them, Sirene, has entertainment most evenings. The petit train runs all around Argeles and stops at most of the campsites, including Bois de Valmarie and Sirene, so if you are planning to go to Sirene, use the train and enjoy a drink or two (same applies if you go into Argeles town). The trains run until midnight. We walked from the site to the Marina where there are loads of restaurants. You can also hire boats or go on boat trips from here. The beach just over the road is nice for evening swimming, although the locals go then and there tend to be lots of dogs running up and down the beach. This is a busy site, but it is well run and has good, clean facilities.

Having been to this site many times over the last few years, I can recommend it to anyone: the site is clean, well looked after, and the pool is superb.

The restaurant is excellent (run by Jaap & Corine) and the live entertainment is fantastic (try and get to a " Bellyfull " night).

I will be going back again this year, for a great holiday.

This site is ace, peace, calm, tranquillity yes in an excellent position. Right on the beach, gorgeous. I worked on La Sirène, one of the sister sites which you have access to, in 2003, and I also worked on Le Bois du Valmarie on occasions. It's ace, I love it. Jaap and Corine in the restaurant are fantastic and the site owners whose names have escaped me, are friendly and efficient. I've worked on a lot of campsites and this is one of the best. I'd stay here on holiday. In fact that's a really good idea, perhaps I'll go and book one now. Local singing duo 'Bellyfull' are excellent entertainment, they sing in French and English, as one of them is each nationality, and they're ace. Never had a bad bellyfull night. You must visit Collioure, it's beautiful. You can walk there or take the train. When you visit La Sirène, take in the excellent entertainment and join in with the 'Syppox' entertainment team. They even have their own song. I'm still singing along to it 3 years later, its catchy!! There's a 3rd sister site, Hippocampe, opposite La Sirène, also stunning, very small and quiet but access to La Sirène and Val Marie. Just do it, go there, you'll love it.

Excellent Campsite. THE best in the area.

We know the area very well and have been to a few sites. Le Bois de Valmarie is relatively expensive and only has its own mobile homes, which can only be booked through the main operators, to whom the mobile homes are allocated (we booked through Canvas Holidays). So, taking your own caravan is out of the question.

Suffice it to say we are returning there this year!

Pictures can be seen at the camping website:

http://www.camping-lasirene.fr/lang/en/valmarie/index.php

We stayed at Bois du Valmarie for two weeks with Eurosites rather than take our own van. The site has a tariff for pitches but to be honest we couldn't see where they would put you. It was full of Mobile Homes from all of the main operators. However they may have pitches we didn't see or may have more free next year.

The 180 pitch site is very nice, immaculately clean and with the most extravagant toilet block I have ever seen - complete with lily pond, koi carp, murals and mosaic columns. The pitches are adequate in size though you need to take care on the winding narrow roads through the site.

Most pitches had one or two "cork oak" trees and all had a degree of shade.

The pool facility is excellent especially for children having three linked pools with water slides and flumes. It is on a high point within the site and has splendid views. Twice weekly it opens late with changing multi coloured pool lighting though they tended to close it 15 minutes earlier than scheduled.

The on-site shop, bakery, bar, restaurant and take away were all excellent and not overpriced. The laundry facility was modern and worked well. The staff were universally friendly and helpful and most spoke more than one language. Other holidaymakers were mainly families with a mix of all European nationalities.

The nearest beach is at Le Racou itself. Its about 400 yards away and has car parking, showers and life guards who seemed vigilant and a Blue Flag. The snorkelling was excellent and there is a launch channel for boats and windsurfers.

Half a mile away is Port Argeles - a new marina complex with restaurants, bars and shops. This offered a weekly free concert at one end of the marina and a free disco at the other. Our family enjoyed both.

If you want a real "resort" atmosphere try Argeles Sur Mer Plage - about 2 miles away and walkable. The resort runs a tourist road-train that links to all of the main sites and facilities.

The site is nearly 800 miles from Calais using the Autoroute (£48.00 in tolls). We split the journey in half stopping overnight at Dijon and at Beaune in Formule1 hotels, £15.00 for a room for three - clean and very good value.

Would we go back? - emphatically yes. Would we take our own caravan? - possibly, but only if we pre-booked and allowed at least 48 hours for each leg of the journey. Adding up the additional transport costs together with the ferry/tunnel charges there may not be a great saving over hiring a locally owned mobile home although the main operators packages are more expensive.