Site Details
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Sequoia Parc
La Josephtrie
17320 St Just Luzac
Charente-Maritime
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Independent ReviewsEach review represents the opinions of its author. The webmaster cannot confirm its veracity. As with all such information, you must judge for yourself whether you wish to use this review as the basis for any decision you may make.
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Author: Irish family
Total 2 reviews (list)
generally considered accurate |
Last Visit: June 2001 |
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This review is rather old. Treat it with care.
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over half of people who voted thought this review was accurate
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Site was good, during June NO orgainised entertainment which was a disapointment. Shop was well stocked and all facilities including pool and reception well maintained and staffed. One comment I must make is that the owners are so un-friendly, they never acknowledged any 'guests' or made any attempt to speak or mix with them. Even in the evening in the most excellent bar/restarant they never spoke or even smiled to anyone...if they continue to do this people will soon go else where for their holiday. Over all a well kept site with things to do for all ages. A must is to visit the zoo at La Palmyre, about an hours drive from Marennes, plan to spend the day as it is so good.
©Copyright Irish family and Nick Porter
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Author: Keith Pell
Total 2 reviews (list)
generally considered accurate |
Last Visit: August 2001 |
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This review is rather old. Treat it with care.
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over three quarters of people who voted thought this review was accurate
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Booked via Eurocamp and we stayed there for 7 nights.
Large site but not at first obviously so, placements are similar size from what we could see (large enough for caravan, awning, car and plenty of room to spare). All usual facilities you would expect from site as large as this with swimming pool (good one and supervised), shop - large for a camp site and well stocked. Toilet blocks were kept clean and all round would recommend it. Only proviso is that if you want some peace and quiet in the evening you request a pitch away from the bar area where something happened most nights. We were well away and sound was minimal but we did feel sorry for the ones a bit nearer especially with young families.
Main town is not far away (about 5 minutes drive, but beach at Marennes is not brilliant, would suggest going to nearby Ile de Oléron for beaches or La Tremblade but they were both very busy when we were there.
©Copyright Keith Pell and Nick Porter
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Author: G Corcoran
This is the only review by this author |
Last Visit: June 2003 |
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This review is rather old. Treat it with care.
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over three quarters of people who voted thought this review was accurate
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We visited Sequoia Park early in the season, end May beginning of June 2003. It was our first time in France on this type of holiday and as we were there at the beginning of the season we could really see the campsite come to life.
It is a fantastic site with good facilities and an excellent well maintained pool. The food in the restaurant is small portioned but excellent however the bar is a little dear and evenings were very quiet, as there was no entertainment. Outside of the campsite there wasn't much to do at night.
As for activities: the beach at Royan is beautiful with some beach side rides for the kids and the zoo in Royan was great. We went on the Remy Martin tour and by all accounts of other holiday makers it is the best brandy house tour!
All told we really liked Sequoia Park and would definitely go again, it is quite large and when full it must be hectic.
©Copyright G Corcoran and Nick Porter
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Author: Kim Freeman
This is the only review by this author |
Last Visit: June 2003 |
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This review is rather old. Treat it with care.
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over three quarters of people who voted thought this review was accurate
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We stayed both in 2003 and will be going again this year (2005). First time going in summer holidays so will let you know how it goes but in 2003 we had a fantastic time. Didn’t see the owners so couldn’t comment!! Used it as a base and explored the area with ease!
Not enough entertainment or food places really for the size of the site but the pool was great, albeit having the same problems as the rest of the Med - lack of sunbeds, towels on sunbeds, etc. MAKE SURE MEN TAKE TRUNKS AS NO SHORTS OF ANY TYPE ALLOWED IN POOL!! EVEN KIDS! [This is normal most places in France - webmaster]
All in all had a wonderful time, and hope this year will be as good, if not better!
©Copyright Kim Freeman and Nick Porter
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Author: Carole White
This is the only review by this author |
Last Visit: July 2003 |
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This review is rather old. Treat it with care.
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Our first visit to France we stayed here for 12 nights July 2003, campsite spotless as were the shower and toilet blocks with good sized pitches. Swimming pool absolutely freezing considering average daily temperatures 30degrees (men beware swimming trunks only no shorts allowed). Site owners not very friendly. Bar prices very expensive. Overall good base to explore surrounding area.
©Copyright Carole White and Nick Porter
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Author: Mahon
Total 2 reviews (list)
generally considered accurate |
Last Visit: July 2003 |
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This review is rather old. Treat it with care.
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over three quarters of people who voted thought this review was accurate
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Visited Sequoia Parc in July 2003. A lovely campsite with good amenities and nice spacious pitches. The only problem is in order to fully appreciate this site you would have to be Dutch! The majority of the evening entertainment was conducted in Dutch with little attempt to speak even French (which is supposedly the native tongue) The children's club was geared mainly towards the Dutch children and the British, French and other European children weren't made particularly welcome (unless they could speak Dutch) We have nothing against the Dutch but if we had wanted a holiday in Holland we would have booked a campsite there!!
©Copyright Mahon and Nick Porter
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Author: Peter Heatley
This is the only review by this author |
Last Visit: July 2003 |
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This review is rather old. Treat it with care.
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over half of people who voted thought this review was accurate
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We stayed in Sequoia Parc for two weeks this summer. The site in my opinion is way too big and the staff less than friendly. It is part of the Yelloh and Les Castells group and having stayed in La Grande Metarie in Brittany the previous year (also part of Castells) we expected great things from the site.
Apparently the size of the camp has almost doubled in a couple of years without greatly increasing the facilities. However, given the excessive heat this year the 2 tennis courts and 1 football pitch were not used that much. Getting a drink at the bar or an ice cream in the evenings meant quite a long wait, as it seemed to me they were always understaffed.
The owners had added an extra pool but had not increased the access to the pool area which was always crowded, very slippery and quite dirty given the number of people arriving and leaving the pool. There were insufficient shelves for flip-flops so people were leaving their footwear at the side of the paths.
I stayed in a mobile home, which was fine, and the pitches for tents and caravans were quite large with room for the caravan, awning and car with room left over. But because the site was so big people would take shortcuts through our pitch to get to the pool a bit quicker, which was very annoying.
One other thing that is not mentioned in any of the brochures, is that in this area the traffic can be very heavy especially trying to get onto the Ile D'Oleron.
©Copyright Peter Heatley and Nick Porter
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Author: Anon
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Last Visit: June 2004 |
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This review is rather old. Treat it with care.
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Visited Sequoia Parc two years running. Had booked to go back a third time but had to cancel due to my son breaking his arm (2005). Great pools. Watch out for the lifeguard with the mahogany tan (tannyman), we thought he was a bit of a Hitler at first; however, when you get to know him, he is a great guy, and very safety minded.
Tents can get extremely hot, so the second year we opted for a mobile home via French Life. Toilets and showers extremely clean. Zoo at La Palmyre an absolute must: however, avoid the lighthouse on the way there: not for the faint hearted, very steep.
All in all a fantastic holiday; will definitely be visiting again soon.
©Copyright Anon and Nick Porter
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Author: Leribler
This is the only review by this author |
Last Visit: July 2004 |
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[This review will be of interest primarily to french-speakers, but is included in English for completeness]
We came to Sequoia Parc from 2 to 16 July 2004.
We would like to make you aware of the lack of information regarding the heavy majority of foreign (non-French) visitors to this site. And the lack of consideration for French clients on the part of the entertainment team. In fact, when my 9-year-old daughter wanted to join in the activities of the "hibou club", being the only French child, they strongly advised us against leaving her there. Furthermore, the welcome extended to French tourists verges on disrespect, for example, one Saturday, the weather being dire, a film show was planned: to our great astonishment, this was reserved for the Dutch, the French having to content themselves with returning to shut themselves up in their accommodation.
You will understand our disappointment with our stay in this establishment.
©Copyright Leribler and Nick Porter
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Author: Susan
This is the only review by this author |
Last Visit: August 2004 |
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We visited the site in August in 2004. It was too big, too noisy and impersonal. We were camping, and the pitches were all arranged on top of each other so you had no privacy as there was another pitch in every direction. We were kept awake by a Welsh family drinking and talking loudly outside until 3am on a couple of nights.
We had no problem with the Dutch people, they were very friendly and our neighbours were really lovely, although it did mean our own two teenagers had no one to hang out with. Most of the teens seemed to hang out by the entrance to the site and were drinking and smoking.
The pool was so crowded that often we could not even find a space on the concrete to sit and were forced to sit by the bins. The only time to get a space was to go last thing at night. The water was also freezing!
We prepaid for the site and the managers walked past us several times, yet on our last day as we checked out they informed us that they wanted an additional 50+ euros for a pup tent on our site. We had put this up for our oldest son who had not slept in it much as the weather was very bad at night. If we had been informed that there was to be an extra charge at the time we would have dismantled the tent.
Like others have said there was nothing much to do in the surrounding area and we will be going back to the Vendee in future.
©Copyright Susan and Nick Porter
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Author: Paris
This is the only review by this author |
Last Visit: June 2005 |
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Remember that people are always more prepared to write and complain than they are to praise good service.
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over half of people who voted thought this review was pessimistic
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From a young couple of mixed origin:
We arrived at this campsite in June 2005. The site is very very well maintained. Very pleasant, and magnificently planted with flowers. That said, the personnel is not very... no, not at all "professional". Forced smiles, curt responses, forgotten "good morning", over-enthusiastic "goodbyes". It’s a fact that the campsite will lose not just their future clients but even their regulars.
But it doesn’t stop there! The dates we had stated at the time of confirmation were not recorded accurately. We were worried that there may no longer be room for us on our dates. Happily, this was rectified very quickly. But you can see there was still an air of "couldn’t care less" on the part of the personnel. Because our arrival was imminent. They told us that arrivals were possible only after 4pm. No flexibility. Ok.
St Just-Luzac is a small town, that we didn’t even bother to visit ... a place far from anywhere with tourist appeal.
Leaving Paris at 2.30pm, we should have arrived around 8.30 or 9pm. But we lost 3 hours finding St Just-Luzac, and after that the campsite (with their signposts TOO discreet, not to mention hidden) only arriving after nightfall! Unfortunately, no one left to welcome us! Reception closes at 7pm. Result: we saw ourselves sleeping in the car in front of their shop, "Viva". A charming Swedish girl responded pleasantly, and explained the little she knew about the workings of the campsite, even though she had worked there for only 3 weeks (again, a lack of training for the personnel), as she couldn’t answer all of the questions. I was lucky, but my embarrassment for the campsite and its lack of communication showed on my face.
The friend of this young lady offered to let us stay the night at their home. It’s embarrassing, I find it really embarrassing, to put people out, making them feel obliged to welcome us into their home because of the campsite. They made us very very very welcome, for which VERY WELL DONE.
But the next day, once we arrived at the site, I explained the problem to one of the receptionists, "V", who responded, "but we have a life madam, we are not here to wait for our clients at whatever hour they choose"! This is not a good response to a client: not only is it not fitting, it cannot be justified!
Fortunately, the price of the cottage was reduced! Normally, on hiring a cottage, an inventory is performed by both parties, to bring to light any problems if there are any. Nothing was done, we were given the key and "goodbye". Though they did lead us to the cottage.
Result, the cottage was superb, nothing against it, very clean, well lit etc. Only problem was the water heater: we had hot water only every 1 minute 39 seconds. Great!
In the surrounding area, nothing to visit. In the campsite, no activities, so we felt more as if we were in England than in France! We also noticed that other holidaymakers rarely left the site. We understood why, when the closest interesting tourist town (Royan) was 40km away, or La Rochelle at 60km.
You really must visit the zoo at La Palmyre. You’ll need the whole day: beware that you will not get back to your cottage or tent with your car after 1030pm, everything is closed, entry and exit.
Even our Irish neighbours confirmed to us that they would not be returning. Curious, I posed the same question to others ... same response from everyone.
To close, as I know there are so many things to say that I could never finish, I felt "observed like a curious thing". It was clear that my presence at this campsite was not taken well. For your information, West Indians do have the right to take a holiday.
At one point, the warden directed the following question at me, with an air of "Stop, what are you doing here?", looking me straight in the eye, ignoring my Portuguese friend, while we were cycling quite innocently around the site: "WHO ARE YOU? DO YOU BELONG HERE?".
Finally, on the day of departure, the inventory was carried out, with a fine-tooth comb! See what I mean?
"10 happy customers are worth one, one unhappy client is worth 10"
Goodbye Sequoia Parc.
©Copyright Paris and Nick Porter
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Author: Emma O'Loughlin
This is the only review by this author |
Last Visit: June 2005 |
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I went to this campsite last year. I am fourteen years of age and I went with my family, mam, dad, sisters of years 16 and 5 and a brother of 8. We went at the middle/end of June and the site wasn’t that busy. There was a lot of Dutch but they all seemed to be very quiet. The owners of the site are definitely unfriendly but that didn't bother me that much as I went with the Irish company Kel Air/Campotel and their couriers were so friendly and helpful.
The pool complex was very big and I did not have a problem with getting sunbeds by the pool. The really tanned lifeguard is very unlikeable at first with me and my cousin nearly got banned from the pool because of going down the slide the wrong way but I learned he is actually very funny when he chased me and my friends around the pool!!
The takeaway wasn’t that busy when we were there and the people who served you and cooked in the take away were so so friendly and you could have a laugh with them. As I am a teenager I feel I have to say in the above opinions on the site the teenagers have all got very negative comments but I hung around with other teenagers from Ireland and we didn’t go around the place drunk like what was described above.
As much as I liked my holiday I felt a lot more has to be done for teenagers and adults in terms of entertainment.
©Copyright Emma O'Loughlin and Nick Porter
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Author: Terry Byrne
Total 5 reviews (list)
generally considered accurate, tending to pessimistic |
Last Visit: July 2005 |
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We were in Sequioa Parc in July 2005 for 15 nights. We brought our own caravan, and requested a large pitch. We were given no choice as to where we could pitch, despite a huge number of large empty pitches just lying there. In the following days little two man pup tents were on these pitches so we complained again, this time they let us move. I agree it is a super site, but unless you’re Dutch the staff weren’t very nice and that includes the owners.
©Copyright Terry Byrne and Nick Porter
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Author: Lisa Woolley
This is the only review by this author |
Last Visit: July 2005 |
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We stayed for 2 weeks (18/6/05-2/7/05) with our 15 month old daughter and had a great time. The pools were excellent, and there was a playground for children up to 12. There was some evening entertainment, which was conducted in French, English, and German. The staff were very efficient, some friendlier than others. Our main disappointment was that the area was not very 'touristy', and it only comes to life in August when the French people descend. Having said that though, there was a lot to do providing you don't mind driving.
©Copyright Lisa Woolley and Nick Porter
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Author: Paul Beelen
Total 2 reviews (list)
Too few votes to judge accuracy |
Last Visit: July 2005 |
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Hi everybody,
We (me, my wife and 2 children of 6 and 8) visited Sequoia Parc last week. Just got back this Sunday (24/7/05).
I have read all your remarks before we went there, and I was almost reluctant in going, because of all the negative things I read. I made my mind up than to give you my honest opinion about it.
Yes, most (90%?) of the visitors are Dutch (as are we also), but the staff we spoke, all spoke multiple languages (from Dutch, English, French, Italian, German to Spanish), and yes, the Dutch do tend to brag about themselves! But they were all very friendly and helped us in everyway. Children entertainment was done in 3 languages (kids disco, playback show, ghost hunt, making drawings).
The entertainers worked from morning till late in the evening (23.30 + h.) Absolutely my compliments to all of them!
In regards to the campground: Location and facilities are excellent. As we drove around the surroundings (to La Palmyre Zoo, to Oleron Island, to La Rochelle) we saw many far worse camp grounds (close to the road, all stacked close together etc.). Each mobile home (we had a mobile home) had plenty of space around for your car, a tent and room to 'entertain' yourself and the kids. Mobile homes were good, clean and well equipped.
The 3 pools were great, with excellent supervision. Everything was kept very clean! As it was about the first week of the main season, it was pretty busy, but you still had plenty of place to sit (although the lying chairs naturally were all taken; but if you are a little patient, you will find a space a little later - we always did).
It is in the middle of nowhere, so finding it (in the evening for instance) is not all that easy. But an online routeplanner shows it is on the D728 from Saintes. Our navigation system did not recognise the road, so we had to follow the signs for the last couple of miles, and they where a bit small. However, if you come from the A10 and exit at Saintes, simply follow the D728 to St. Just-Luzac. Ignore the sign that says you have to turn right into St. Just at the roundabout, but keep following the road for another 2 km (about 1,5 mile?). There is a road to the right, with signs you can't miss. Campground is then 500 metres ahead. Both roads (A10 toll-road, and D728) are indeed very busy, but there were (for us) no jams.
Pricing was pretty high, but I believe that is all over France in general (or at least in the tourist areas). A ½ Litre beer cost €5 at the terrace/café and €2 euro in the shop, but a bottle of excellent (but simple) red wine only cost €1.95 or less. We went to La Palmyre Zoo however and I got a can (33 cl.) of water from a machine. It cost me €2!!! If you drink something on a terrace anywhere (La Rochelle for instance), we paid (2 adults +2 children) between €8 and €10 each time.
A simple comparison: We ate at McDonalds - only 3 miles from the camp site (our kids hate French food) - and paid €19,30 for our meal. As we got back Sunday, we had the same in Holland and it cost us €16,25. So, yes, they take advantage of you. But I don't think I'd like to have a drink on a terrace in London somewhere, because I think it would be even more expensive, no?
Close by there is not much to do: you have to drive for 20-50 minutes (for the ocean, Oleron Island, larger cities, La Palmyre Zoo etc.). We did not find that as a problem.
We also had a serious problem: our son fell in the toilets of the pool (as they were kept very clean, the floor was always wet and slippery). He broke his collarbone! We went to the pool staff, but they did not recognise it for what it was. The put a cream on it and that was that. As we did not find that satisfactory (upper shoulder was blue and thick), we went to reception to ask if someone had good first aid knowledge. Luckily they did, and confirmed our guess and advised us to go to the doctor in St. Just. They called him for us, and we went there immediately. He forwarded us to the hospital in Rochefort, where they took X-rays to confirm the fracture. Solution - as you might know - is easy for children (fixing the shoulder in position for 2/3 weeks). We were at the reception at 17.30 h. and got back from the hospital (1/2 hours drive) at 22.30 h. The guy at the reception who helped us, asked very interested the next day when he saw us, how it was, and what the outcome was. Excellent!
I have one last remark in regards to the languages: The Dutch don't go on a holiday in Holland (because there are only Germans- same problem), but go to France. What's the problem about that? The Dutch speak English far better than most French, so I believe you can communicate a lot easier to them, because I don't think a lot of English speak French?
We had a great time there, and because it is a well known camp ground and in high season very busy, things will go wrong (but that will happen everywhere).
©Copyright Paul Beelen and Nick Porter
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Author: UK Family
This is the only review by this author |
Last Visit: August 2005 |
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We've been visiting Castels sites for about 6 years now and have traveled around Brittany and Vendee. We always book with Castels sites because you can be pretty confident you will get a decent standard site with good staff and good facilities, this site is no exception to this rule.
As with all sites there is good and bad and you can't please all of the people all of the time, I've listed below my opinion of the good and the bad and let you decide for yourselves which of these are important to you.
To summarise - we enjoyed our holiday at this site despite some of the negatives below, I suspect this was due in no small part to the location of our accommodation, any nearer to the bar or entrance and we would not have been so happy and the fact that we like to go out and do things, not hang around the site all day every day. We did enjoy ourselves but will not be returning.
The Good :
- The site is extremely well looked after, it's the cleanest and best kept site we have visited in France.
- Lots of clubs and activities if you like to get rid of the kids when you are on holiday.
- The site has a very relaxing and friendly atmosphere during the daytime and early evening.
- Although the site is huge you don't feel like you are on a huge site, it's laid out in sections which gives the feeling of lots of little sites.
- The pool area is excellent and strictly patrolled to ensure safety and comfort for everyone.
- The onsite restaurant is excellent.
- Proper swimming trunks only allowed (no shorts), it's such fun watching the men who have not brought quality trunks with them walking around in the ill fitting, yellow, peach and pink trunks that are sold at the site shop.
- Plenty of staff who all speak English and are helpful when requested.
- Majority of holidaymakers were either Dutch or French (nice laid back people).
- Best beaches that we found were Vert Bois on Oleron and Cote Suavage (park on the corner just before the lighthouse on the road to Palmyre. Both are 30 minute drive but worth it.
The Bad :
I had my bike stolen from the front of our accommodation one evening, the reception staff were not too bothered about this and I got the distinct impression that this is a regular occurrence, in fact I mentioned the incident to a couple sat beside us at the pool the day after and they also had a cycle stolen two days before.
Our accommodation was not clean on arrival, we had to got back to reception who sent some cleaners to have another go.
Despite leaving the accommodation in a cleaner state than when we arrived and ensuring the inventory was correct, they charged me 50 Euros to depart a day early (we left on the Friday instead of the Saturday), I still don't have an explanation as to how this is justified.
Unless you like oyster farming, there is nothing of interest less than 30 minutes drive of the campsite.
There is a MacDonald's just down the road from the site.
The roads in August are horrendously busy, if your not out of the site by 10:00am forget it, you'll queue for an hour getting onto Oleron.
All the beaches near the site are on the Gironde estuary which means they turn to mud flats when the tide is out.
People go to the pool at 10:00 am with bags of towels to reserve sun beds (I thought this only happened in Spain) most don't return to claim their bed until after lunch, they would then sit looking smugly at the families with small children laying on the concrete. A great sport is to throw the towels into a pile on the grass when they've gone and watch the look of horror when the people return 3 hours later to find a family laying on their precious sun beds, we did this several times whilst there, it's great fun.
I don't want to get too hung up on this because we don't place our children in children's clubs when on holiday but all activities and staff are definitely geared towards the Dutch holiday makers, my son entered the weekly tennis. event and was paired up with the other English lad and not spoken to by the organisers for the next two hours except to call his name to play. I can see why the site do this as most holidaymakers were in fact Dutch. Didn't really bother me but if you're looking for a site full of other English people which caters for English people don't bother.
You need to queue for a minimum 60 minutes to get a takeaway in the evening.
Our location was a long way from the bar area which was OK, I would imagine the people staying in locations near the bar had a nightmare most evenings as the surrounding area seemed to be teeming with drunken teenagers from about 11:00 pm onwards. They seem to buy cases of beer at the shop then go drink them in a field near reception then wander around being drunk teenagers (reminded me of England really). My kids are 11 and 9 so maybe I have this pleasure to look forward to in a few years.
©Copyright UK Family and Nick Porter
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Author: Martin Family
This is the only review by this author |
Last Visit: August 2005 |
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We have just returned from our third and final visit to Sequoia Parc - this is an excellent site but could in no way be described as having a warm and welcoming atmosphere - ignorant comes to mind.
We had a problem with a group of Dutch teenagers which security were unable to sort out - we did it ourselves in the end. We also had a bike stolen, which we reported to the office and they seemed surprised it had happened - as the holiday progressed it became apparent we weren't the only ones who had lost bikes and the site had quite a problem. We tried to speak to the owner (without success) suggesting a sign be put up to warn others to lock bikes - they didn't seem to care and just told us we should have locked them - This site is run purely as a business - they have no consideration for their customers - I suspect next year they will have a bike shop on site.
We are thinking of going to Spain next year - does anyone know if the Dutch take their teenagers there?
©Copyright Martin Family and Nick Porter
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Author: Hutchinson Family
This is the only review by this author |
Last Visit: July 2006 |
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Just back from Sequoia Parc. We are a family of 5. We too read disturbing reviews prior to going and we were quite worried. On arrival we were greeted warmly by our French Freedom reps. our accommodation was spotless and well appointed. The only complaint we have would be that there were no mosquito nets on the windows. I feel it should be mentioned that mosquitoes are a big, big problem at some pitches on this site, particularly near the duck ponds and marsh areas. Our daughter was bitten over 100 times and was miserable.... so beware go equipped with antihistamines. There are a lot of Dutch people but they deserve to go on holiday too. The site is spotlessly clean and very well run. The pool area is brilliant and the lifeguards are an added bonus, the older man with "the tan" is very strict but a real gent. I much prefer safety round the pool than a bunch of teenagers making the pool unsafe for my young children. We enjoyed our stay there despite the mosquitoes and the intense heat.
A MUST TO VISIT IS LA PALMYRE ZOO.
©Copyright Hutchinson Family and Nick Porter
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Author: Anon
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Last Visit: July 2006 |
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Hi we are just back from Sequoia Parc with Keycamp and we had a great time. Totally agree with the mozzies as we all (wife and two young children) were feasted upon for the two weeks and it was so hot you had to leave the windows open at night which of course invited in the little critters as there were no nets.
The pool complex was excellent and our two boys ran/swam themselves into the ground most days there. The entertainment did go on a little late most nights, perhaps it is a continental European thing to keep your young children up until late on holidays but our two children needed their sleep and some nights found it difficult with the noise and we were far away from the entertainment.
The reps from Keycamp were great and helped with any issues/questions we had during the two weeks. Yes you do have to drive to every place, supermarket, beaches, towns etc but we did not find this too much of a hassle and quite enjoyed getting some air conditioning!
We religiously locked up our bikes everywhere and did not have any problems as mentioned above but then again there were so many bike left unlocked. As to drunken teenagers there did not seem to be any issues with these, some people were running around the site quite late (old and young I suspect from the voices and from all parts of Europe I hasten to add) and did find it necessary to shout even though it was not the nosiest part of the day but we had some of that last year at a Pierre et Vacances resort last year. As to the lack of politeness by the staff we saw no sign of this and everyone was very helpful and courteous.
Not sure if we will be going back as we did most of the things that there are to do in that part of France but all in all a great two weeks were had.
©Copyright Anon and Nick Porter
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Author: Dorian Family, Ireland
This is the only review by this author |
Last Visit: July 2006 |
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Hi we are just back from Sequoia Parc and we had a great time
There are 6 in my family (twins 7,5 & 1+1/2 year old boys.)The Campsite is spotless clean and the staff we very nice .I too was very worried about going to this Campsite after reading these reviews so when I got there i was more than surprised to see how helpful the people were.
We booked through French Life and our Rep was a Scottish girl called Claire (what a lovely girl!) The accommodation was very clean and the there was plenty of equipment as well. I have only a couple of faults with Sequoia Parc: one is the Mossi and that the Mobile Homes had not got Mossi Nets over the windows; two in the Mobile homes there is only the tiniest of Freezers (not great if you have a big Family) and three the Aqua Bar is very dear (€2.50 for can of Coke and €1.80 for and Ice Pop).
On a positive note the parc itself was excellent and the pool area is very clean and everyday there was plenty of staff there maintaining the grounds. There is also a Pizzeria and it was reasonably price (€9.00-€12.00 for a pizza & chips €2.00 euros).
So I can tell you that I will be going back to Sequoia Parc in the very near future and I will be recommending it to all my friends with children because I had four boys who had 10 days of pure fun in France. The zoo is an experience (feeding Giraffes, Elephants & Zebras ).The aquarium is brill. I will say you would need a Car as the Zoo is 40 mins away and the Aquarium is 30 mins away and the nearest Supermarket LA CLERCHE is about a 10min drive. There is a small supermarket on site but it is a little bit dear....
©Copyright Dorian Family, Ireland and Nick Porter
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Author: Williamson Family
This is the only review by this author |
Last Visit: August 2006 |
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After reading some reviews we were a little worried concerning the campsite and the staff before we went and had visions of gangs of drunken Dutch teenagers stealing bicycles. We booked directly with the campsite and found the staff to be extremely polite and helpful. Our accomodation a "cottage super 7" was excellent, spotless and very well appointed with normal sized fridge freezer, dishwasher and loads of storage space.
We found the facilities on the campsite fine and the surrounding area was interesting to explore by car or bike. We have 2 children aged 8 and 5 who didn't find this a problem. People who stay on the campsite for their holidays are really missing out.
We visited Bourc franc and happened upon a "festival of the sea" and ended up eating oysters and mussels with the locals. We ate out in Brouage and enjoyed a spectacular firework and lights show having been entertained through the evening by a jazz band.
Traffic on to the Ile D'Oleron was heavy at weekends but fine during the week and the beaches are well worth the wait anyway, what else have you got to do you're on holiday - relax!
I would recommend the site. The swimming complex was always clean and well supervised. There was a good mix of Dutch, Irish, Welsh, French and English on site. In the evening groups of teenagers met up around the site and had fun which is why no doubt their parents took them on holiday in the first place. We saw no evidence of out of control teenagers Dutch or otherwise.
A very enjoyable holiday.
©Copyright Williamson Family and Nick Porter
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Author: Pollock Family of Wales
This is the only review by this author |
Last Visit: August 2006 |
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Just returned from a fortnight at the site: excellent pool complex and overall a first class campsite. We encountered no problems during our stay. The surrounding area is a little bland but it encouraged us to venture further afield to La Rochelle , Cognac and Saintes. Would not return but only because there is still a lot of France we have not seen !!!
©Copyright Pollock Family of Wales and Nick Porter
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Author: Sara Bourke
This is the only review by this author |
Last Visit: August 2006 |
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Visited for a week in late August. Stayed in Gitehotel - chalet accomodation booked directly with the site. As others have said the facilities are excellent. The pool is great, especially the lazy river! Horseriding stables attached were very good for beginners (can't speak for the more experienced).
BUT, we found the staff to be unfriendly and unhelpful. Yes they were very efficient in everything they did, but we go no sense of being welcome, or of their having any interest in us other than as economic units. The kids club IBOU was very disappointing and also unfriendly and with way too many kids for the number of leaders. Staff made no effort to encourage shy kids. After 2 sessions we gave up.
So while we had fun on our holidays, we know there are many campsites with equally good facilities, and with a smile to go with them. We won't be back to Sequoia Parc.
©Copyright Sara Bourke and Nick Porter
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Author: Anon
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Last Visit: August 2006 |
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Blimey! we've been to this site four times over the last 7 or 8 years and are going back again next month. We first had a tent with Keycamp, then an independent mobile home, then a cottage then another cottage. This time we are taking our own tent to keep costs down but we are returning because we know it has what we want.
A great pool complex, a good shop, a reasonable take away and it's got great beaches 30 mins away along the cote sauvage.
Even though they put on entertainment we've never really been interested and go out most nights or stay out late at the beach.
As for people complaining it doesn't cater for English! why should it? it's in France! so what there are lots of Dutch, it's in Europe! In fact one thing another thing I like about the place is the lack of the 'British Bulldog' holidaymaker.
Oh and i'm amazed at peoples comments about the zoo (unless it has greatly changed which I doubt) we went there the first year (1999?) and it was the most depressing, cruel zoo I've been to since I was a kid and all zoos were cruel. All of the animals were in concrete pens walking on a bed of peanut shells thrown by the on lookers. I'd never go back, it was nothing like the well thought out zoos we have in the UK now.
Oh and finally, go to the old port part of La Tremblade and eat at one of the restaurants with plastic chairs and tables, fantastic cheap seafood without airs or graces.
©Copyright Anon and Nick Porter
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Author: Ivor Steinberg
This is the only review by this author |
Last Visit: September 2006 |
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Last two weeks in August 2006, Massive site, Found everyone very friendly especially the girls in the Vittel, pool complex very good , perma tan man kept a watchful eye on everyone which is good considering the size of the pool complex, the sports field needs some investment children today expect more than a couple of stakes concreted into the pitch as goal posts , a little trip to Des Ormes (Brittany) to see there all weather sports pitch would be a good Idea, Volley ball was good fun , good base for seeing area kids enjoyed opening the oysters and eating them , nice mobile plenty of room , nice decking and space to park , after 11pm no where for Teenagers to go remember there on holiday as well, somewhere supervised with music ,DVDs etc and maybe once a week a disco until midnight that’s all they want somewhere to socialise. Lovely weather nice area will return to area but a different site as I have two teenage sons.
©Copyright Ivor Steinberg and Nick Porter
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Author: Colin Blaney
This is the only review by this author |
Last Visit: June 2007 |
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Attractive site with excellent pool complex. Attractive bar/restaurant with chateau courtyard for kids to run about in safety. Restaurant a bit pricey but have friendly staff. Absolutely no entertainment in June which was very disappointing. Shop good, as too was the takeout. Well maintained site but was disappointed not to be permitted entry to chateau. Nearby towns of Marennes and Luzac have absolutely nothing to do. Forget about them. Went to Royan, la Palmeyre zoo and nearby island of Ile d’Oléron (st.Trojan) which were very good. All 30 min drive. Weather was mixed during our stay so without the pool to use you need to get sight seeing in a car or you will be bored. We went with Canvas Holidays and our daughter was saved from boredom during the bad days by the 'Hoopi' club for over fours. Bad site for teenagers who all looked bored. Mosquitoes about so be aware. If you want a quiet holiday and have a young family then this would suit at this time of the year.
©Copyright Colin Blaney and Nick Porter
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Author: Family from Dublin
This is the only review by this author |
Last Visit: June 2007 |
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This was our 5th campsite holiday in France and we found Sequoia Parc to be one of the best we have experienced; and certainly one of the prettiest. We went, as is our tradition, in June and found the camp site reasonably quiet with a laid-back atmosphere. There was very little in the way of evening entertainment either on site or locally but that suited us fine there was a nice bar and terrace to sit at and chat or read. As we left they were gearing up for the July/ August high season.
The pool complex is very impressive and the lifeguards are active and friendly. The onsite shop was well stocked, the staff were friendly and prices, in keeping with campsite tradition were slightly more expensive than the local supermarkets, but not overly so. I was also impressed with the visible presence of security staff who were professional and friendly, with three kids who wanted a little freedom it added a sense of security especially after dark.
This area is only in it infancy with regard to tourism and if the weather is unkind you may need to use your imagination when it comes to finding entertainment but there is a profusion of things to see and do if you only look. The site reception is well stocked on leaflets too. We particularly enjoyed the Ile d’Oléron, which held our interest for places and beaches to explore for several days. There are also several local historical places of interest not to mention 32 flavours of ‘homemade Ice-cream’ (no we didn’t try them all) and watching candy being made in Royan.
Don’t be tempted to mistake a lack of fluency in the English language as unfriendliness - dig into the grey cells for the old school French and have a go - nothing like it for breaking the ice.
We will definitely be back to the area and to Sequoia Parc.
©Copyright Family from Dublin and Nick Porter
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Author: Andreina Brent
This is the only review by this author |
Last Visit: July 2007 |
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We have just returned from a two week stay at Sequoia Parc having travelled with Keycamp Holidays. I'm so glad that I didn't read any of the reviews on this website before I went or I'd never have left home! We found the staff on the campsite to be friendly and helpful whenever we met them, the lifeguards at the fantastic pool were very safety conscious and it was well staffed and they were happy to chat and give advice on the local beaches etc. The campsite itself is spotless and well run, the HIBOU club was staffed by very enthusiastic leaders who I thought coped well with a variety of nationalities! There was entertainment most nights, in all languages, and the bar closed at 12 and the site was quiet after that. The local area is not very geared to tourists and you do have to be prepared to drive and sightsee but there is absolutely loads of places to visit within an hour's drive. Definitely visit the zoo at LaPalmyre, the aquarium at La Rochelle,(go early as the queues are mad after lunch!), hire a boat on the river in Saintes and see the sites from the water. A visit to the local markets is a must as the fresh seafood is fantastic, be brave and try fish you wouldn't at home! If you have any French at all the locals will help you out, you'll be surprised at how much comes back. The weather was poor while we were there and for that reason we probably wouldn't return in the foreseeable future but I would recommend both the site and the region.
©Copyright Andreina Brent and Nick Porter
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Author: Alan McAuley
This is the only review by this author |
Last Visit: July 2007 |
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nearly all of people who voted thought this review was accurate
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We stayed at Sequoia Parc for the 2nd and 3rd weeks of July and found the park to be quite full. Our two boys had a great time and the park is kept in immaculate condition. The reception staff are multi-lingual and were first class in every way. Overall, we found all the staff to be very pleasant and helpful. The surrounding area is quite pretty in that it is quite rural and you will pass by fields of sunflowers. Marennes is about a 5-10 minute drive and you will find supermarkets and shops there. The swimming complex on-site is fantastic and spotlessly clean. Although the water is a little cool at first, it is fine after a couple of minutes and certainly no worse than other sites we have stayed on. La Palmyre, Saintes, Royan and La Rochelle are all an easy drive away and all worth a visit.
Having looked at previous reviews, I found some of the negative comments to be quite petty. Don't let these deter you from going to this beautiful site. True, the Dutch made up about 75% of those staying but we found this to be neither a good nor a bad thing. We found them to be family orientated people who certainly didn't irritate us in any way.
Overall, a first class, pretty site. Yes, you will need a car but if you like things on your doorstep, then perhaps Magaluf would suit better? Perfect for those with children up to the age of 13 or 14. Would definitely return again.
©Copyright Alan McAuley and Nick Porter
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Author: Feechan Family
This is the only review by this author |
Last Visit: August 2007 |
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This is the 3rd campsite we've visited in France and was the best that we have visited yet. We travelled with French Freedom in a mobile home and it is the first time that I have not got 'caravan fatigue'. The grounds are well kept and like most people writing here, we thought that the pool was the best feature. It is spotless and the lifeguards are probably a bit over-enthusiastic with those whistles, but do ensure everyone's safety. The water is cold, but lovely on a hot day. The lazy river is superb and inflatible rings are provided - your own are not permitted. Having said all of this, my daughter did cut her toe on a sharp-edged tile at the pool. The staff were swift to administer first aid. After this we played 'stepping stones' when negotiating our way around the pool, being careful not to step on the edges of the tiles. I did not see anyone else cut themselves though. The sun beds do need to be managed better. The old towel trick IS played alot here. As someone has previously said, be confident and just claim one that is clearly not in use. Great fun!
The horseriding was fantastic. My two children (7 & 5) had never been near a horse before and came away loving the whole experience. Lucy was especially good with them as were the appropriately docile ponies.
The mosquitos were a problem. Take cream and nets. The whole area is very marshy and is full of them. I have never had such a bad reaction to bites before. These are SERIOUS mossies!
We found the staff to be nothing but helpful and polite. Our French is pretty limited but we always spoke whatever we could manage. I think it helps alot to at least try and not assume that everyone is going to speak English to you.
I've seen a lot of comments about the Dutch here. There are alot of them at this site and I suppose when you get too many of any nationality at any resort (something that we Brits are some of the worst culprits at!) it can have a negative effect.
The entertainment was fairly dire whenever we went (avoid the 'kids shows' - they are the pits!). The DJ was probably the most inept (and therefore the most hilarious) I have ever come across. Good for a laugh but don't expect to be dazzled here. It is noisy if you are close to the bar but tends to quieten down most nights at about 11pm. There are security staff who patrol the site to ensure that things are calmed down. The restaurant is excellent. A good choice on the menu (unless you are vegetarian) and even my fussy eating children enjoyed it. The take away is fine too and has all the usuals.
As for the area, you do need to drive to most things but we generally do drive around a bit anyway. Marennes is a quiet town and we had a nice coffee and ice-creams at a cafe on the central square but there is really not much else there. Marennes plage (beach) is a sea-water lake surrounded by sandy beach which is very safe for young children (if a little green!) and even in high season is not crowded. You can park next to the beach easily and for free! La Rochelle is worth a visit, as is the Ile d'Oleron. There are also lots of storks if you are a twitcher. You can't miss their huge nests on the pylons. We also visited a beautiful chateau nearby (La Roche Courbon at Saint Porchaire - about 15km S.E. of Rochefort) and had a lovely lunch in the cafe . The tour around the chateau was in French (of course!) but there is an English translation sheet that you can carry around with you. We're not really zoo people so didn't visit La Palmyre but lots of people did and enjoyed it.
All in all, we had a good holiday. Great campsite, good staff, excellent facilities. Just watch out for those mossies...
©Copyright Feechan Family and Nick Porter
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Author: Anon
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Last Visit: August 2007 |
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We spent two weeks here in August between 8th and 22nd. It was a really pretty campsite and the shower blocks were so clean. Swimming pool very nice, clean and men don’t forget those trunks otherwise you can’t swim in there!! We did and ended up buying some not very stylish ones from the supermarket. We have girls aged 6, 12, 14 and there was something to do for all. Very chilled site and I would recommend to anyone. We would go there again but the world needs to be explored!!!! Ps if you make an effort to be friendly to people, even the dutch, they do respond and what nice people they are.
©Copyright Anon and Nick Porter
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Author: Giles Jones
Total 2 reviews (list)
generally considered accurate, tending to pessimistic |
Last Visit: August 2007 |
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My wife and spent ten nights at Sequoia Parc between 23rd August 2007 and 2nd September 2007 along with two of our children 9 and 12 years old. We went with Canvas Holidays and stayed in a tent.
We have camped extensively in France over the last 15 or so years including stays in other sites in the Marennes district and Sequoia Parc has to be one of the prettiest, cleanest sites we have stayed on. It is not that large compared with others we have stayed on despite some of the other comments on this site. In any case, size does not matter as long as the facilities are adequate which they are.
The pitch we had was surrounded on three sides by trees and shrubs and offered a high degree of privacy.
The pool complex was excellent and very well used by our children.
The staff were friendly towards us and responded with pleasure and enthusiasm to the usual pleasantries delivered in French- eg calling them Monsieur, Madame etc and saying "bonjour", "merci" and "bonne journée" as appropriate. It is plain that the French regard the failure to adopt such formalities as rude and equally plain that most English holiday makers dont.
We did see(and hear) one very dissatisfied customer complain about the standard of her family's accommodation (provided by the site) and disturbance from an all night couriers party and it was clear that she had good reason to be upset. She got pretty offhand treatment from the staff at reception who failed to find her a manager to address her concerns. I would have been pretty dissatisfied if I had been in her position.
It didn't bother us but the noise from the bar was extremely loud until 12 midnight then the site was quiet.
The clientele of all nationalities - predominantly Dutch and English tended to avoid eye contact but were respectful of others.
We found enough to do even when the weather was indifferent and we would recommend the site to anyone.
©Copyright Giles Jones and Nick Porter
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Author: Andrea Davies
This is the only review by this author |
Last Visit: August 2007 |
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nearly all of people who voted thought this review was accurate
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Visited the site with my family in August, very nearly cancelled after reading the above comments though!!! On arrival yes we had to wait until 4ish for the van to be ready, but the young lady on reception did say we could use the pool to pass some time. The pool is excellent but very very cold unless you are in the children’s pool with the lazy river, but what the heck were on holiday and the kids don’t notice the cold. The shop sells a good range of goods; the only thing was that because we were in the last week the shelves were not fully stocked. All the comments about the staff being rude etc: I never ever came across that from any of them, even when we had a faulty shower and needed it fixing no problem done within 2 hrs. The restaurant food was excellent, take away was good if a little pricey but if you go to Marennes there are 2 very well stocked large supermarkets, my husband even had a hair cut at the local hairdressers, she was lovely. We got what he wanted with no English on her part and very little French on ours. The beach at club med in la Palmyre is fab, make sure you take food and drink no shops unless you walk about 15 mins. The mosquitoes here are bad boys!!!! No doubt there be careful, that was a downer but I’ve got them in Greece too so its not just here they are a problem so take the necessary precautions. Overall we had a wonderful time and will definitely be back, I was very very worried when I read the first few reviews, but so glad I didn’t act on them. Many thanks Sequoia Parc. See you soon
©Copyright Andrea Davies and Nick Porter
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Author: John H
This is the only review by this author |
Last Visit: June 2008 |
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I almost cancelled after reading some of the older reviews above and am now so glad I did not.
I have just got back (June 2008) from 2 weeks on Sequoia and think most of the reviews above are highly pessimistic. Myself, wife + 5yr old and 3 year old.
We were in a 'VIP Cottage' booked direct with the site which may have helped, but the site has all the major player there, Keycamp, Thomson Alfresco, Eurocamp etc which shows their faith. This site is having money spent on it for example the play equipment is all brand new, and top quality.
The Office were very helpful (especially Caroline who has fluent english) and despite really just opening for the season everything worked. The pool is great and lifeguards are not at all officious, they just care for your kids by walking round and have some pride in their jobs (which makes a change).
It is true you need a car, as most beaches and 'attractions' are 20-45 mins away.I suggest a quick search on the net will give you some ideas. Beaches on Cote sauvage and Oleron were good.
Marennes is great, a real unspoilt town with a market,couple of restaurants, and good take aways...so you will not starve!.
Go with an open mind, not too many teenagers, a Tom Tom and a few ideas for rainy days, and all will be well
©Copyright John H and Nick Porter
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Author: R Family
This is the only review by this author |
Last Visit: July 2008 |
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We too were very concerned by the reviews on this site and even considered cancelling our holiday and going elsewhere but thankfully we didn't and we had a great holiday. I strongly advise you to ignore the old negative reviews on this site and only take note of those from the last year or so.
Sequoia Parc is a very picturesque and extremely well maintained campsite, with friendly staff and a very family friendly atmosphere. You cannot fail to be impressed on your initial drive into the campsite - it is well worth it's 4 star rating.
Our pitch was large, set back from the 'road' and was well separated by trees and bushes - which helped to contain our toddler! There was plenty of room for our large tent and extension to go up twice so my son had plenty of space to rum around and kick a ball.
The toilet and shower blocks were great and really kept very clean indeed - I was impressed - only downside was there was only one baby/toddler bath in each block but it was free every time we went to use it so it was fine but if we had to queue it may have been annoying.
The pool area was great - really clean and well maintained - the water is cold though - all the kids got over this pretty quickly but it took us adults a bit longer. As the weather was sunny and pretty hot every day the pool was busy but we always managed to find a spot to sit although sun loungers are hard to come by after about 10am. A lot of people were doing the towels on the sunbed trick but I urge you to remove them and use the sunbeds as it isn't fair and it's so much fun when they come after lunch and they haven't their desired spot!
The people were mostly Dutch then French then from the UK/Ireland as we went before the UK schools broke up but I think I prefered it that way - the Dutch were very friendly and respectful people unlike what earlier reviews suggest.
I can't add much about the evening entertainment as my son was in bed by 9pm most nights but he did love the kids’ discos that were held every other night for an hour. The kids’ club entertainers were very good and spoke in english/french/and some dutch all the time so no kids were left not understanding. The kids looked like they were having fun in the clubs when we saw them about in the daytime. The later entertainment had shows/djs etc which we didn't see but could hear as they were very loud but the noise generally stopped by 11-11.30pm and it never disturbed my son so we weren't too fussed.
The shop was good and excellent for the fresh bread and bakery there every day - really useful as the nearest supermarket is a drive away. But, the shop along with the bar was expensive - if you had a large family just buying them an ice cream from the shop would hurt your wallet - I think it was over £2 for an ice cream. Because of this we didn't buy that many drinks etc on site which was a shame as the courtyard where the bar is situated is so very attractive and nice to sit around.
There isn't too much going on in the surrounding areas and don't even bother with St Just Luzac as there really is nothing there at all! Although if you are a keen cyclist the area looks good. You need to drive a little way to find towns with a bit more going on and I would recommend a day trip to La Rochelle and the aquarium (good for wet or very hot days!) as well as a trip to Palmyre Zoo.
In general I was very impressed with this site, would definitely recommend it and would go back again.
©Copyright R Family and Nick Porter
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Author: John Harrand
This is the only review by this author |
Last Visit: July 2008 |
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After reading the reviews we arrived with a bit of doubt in our minds. Couldn’t be further from the truth the site was very clean, pools brilliant, bar area spot on ideal for relaxing on a night, no sign of any drunk Dutch teenagers. Plenty of Dutch on the site: very friendly people. We arrived before our school holidays started July 18th 2008 so very view Brits on site just how we like it. Need a car to get to the beaches but it is well worth the drive most within 15mins away most of them stretch forever waves great for surfing, take your own food when you go as there aren’t too many outlets near the beach. Weather everyday scorching most days 28/29degs topped out at 37 one day. We will go back maybe even next year.
©Copyright John Harrand and Nick Porter
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Author: Rachel Thurbon
This is the only review by this author |
Last Visit: July 2008 |
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Just returned from spending 11 nights at Sequoia. Was rather concerned about going due to some of the reviews written on this site, but I'm so glad we took no notice of them!
Driving down the entrance road the site looks really appealing (which was a good thing after a rather hideous 10 hour drive from Roscoff - top tip, use the toll roads and don't go round the houses like we seemed to!!)
Staff in reception were extremely helpful and we were led quickly to our very large pitch. Loads of room for caravan, awning, car and still stacks of space for the kids to play.
Pool was great although with it being the height of the summer season, if you weren't there at opening time you had no chance of ever getting a lounger! We tended to go down about 5pm as some people were thinking of leaving!
Supermarket on site was excellent - plenty of fresh pastries and bread every day - can't think of anything it didn't sell!!
My son loved the go-karts that you could hire and had one most days!!
Shower blocks were clean and the laundry facilities were excellent.
Probably our only grumble would be the price of the drinks in the courtyard bar but at the end of the day, you don't really expect them to give them away.
Yes, it was a noisy site at times, but that was because there was loads going on all the time. Most of the noise had stopped by about 11ish at night and then the site was really quiet!
All staff were extremely pleasant, polite and accommodating and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this site.
©Copyright Rachel Thurbon and Nick Porter
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Author: Simon East
This is the only review by this author |
Last Visit: August 2008 |
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Our family have just returned from Sequoia Parc and can say that after having read some of the opinions on this site we approached our holiday with an open mind. However, on arrival doubts about our booking the wrong place disappeared as we approached reception down a flower and tree lined roadway. The receptionist booked us in and showed us to our pitch, which are all of a good size for an English caravan. You have enough room for your caravan, awning, car and anything else that you take without being stuck for room. Receptionists can be somewhat overworked at peak times, as they book in and show you to your pitch, so sometimes you may have to wait a period of time.
First thing the children (ages 12 and 9) wanted to do was check out the pool complex. They were not disappointed - lazy river ride, slides and pool with animals that shoot water out, Jacuzzi (although it was christened the jacooli by our two) and two main pools. Do be aware of the swimming trunk rule for the pools. They do not allow swimming shorts of any sort, you have to wear Speedo style trunks. The pool nearest the entrance is for swimming only, if you want to play ball or use inflatable you have to use the pool near the main slides. Pool bar provides ice creams, crepes and coffee. Lifeguards provide an excellent service and look after first aid. We did not see any lifeguard acting 'overzealous', they were fair and looked after everybody’s safety especially around the slides.
Supermarket Vival on site can provide everything you need, although there is a Leclerc supermarket in Marennes. Toilet blocks and washing up areas cleaned several times a day. Remember your recycling - you get provided with a yellow bag on arrival, if you need any more bags ask at reception or find them in the basket on the shelves. We felt that the restaurant, although the menus read well compared with some of the local restaurants, was overpriced. The same can be said for the takeaway.
Yes mosquitoes are a problem and you do need to go prepared with sprays etc, but people we saw only had five or six bites.
We saw no trouble from Dutch families, the only problem we had was an English family near us that got together with some friends one night.
Beaches are about 15 minutes drive away, you can choose from sandy beaches at Royan near the ferry or rock pools and sand on the islands. The aquarium is well worth a visit at La Rochelle, but don't go on a French bank holiday like we did - when we came out in the afternoon the queues were very long. It is open everyday from 9am to 11pm. If your child likes ponies or horses, have a look at the stable near the camp site entrance. Our daughter enjoyed two lessons where they did some games and went for a trek in the woods. The people who run it speak English, Dutch and French so there is no problem in communication.
All in all, a good holiday was had by all our family and we would certainly think about going back another year.
©Copyright Simon East and Nick Porter
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Author: Pete and Liz
This is the only review by this author |
Last Visit: August 2008 |
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Hi
Right, first things first, these are the facts.
Pitch great, very spacious with all services, but we had paid extra for this.
Toilets and showers unisex but private and very clean, but there is a severe lack of hot water.
Pool great, but can be cold and is huge maybe too big. Some days the music is very loud and a tad intrusive if you just want to chill, also expect a queue to get in to grab a sunbed. We took our own beds so as not to have to fight at 10am. Pool is still very good and the lifeguards are firm but very vigilant and fair.
The bar area in the pool only serves ice cream and crêpes no alcohol this is ok for us but others moaned.
Now the restaurant and bar: the food is great and there is loads of it, it isn’t cheap but you pay for what you get and is lovely designed in an old barn. Waitress staff are fantastic.
The bar staff are incredibly rude though and if you aint French then expect to wait, we Brits just appear not to bother buying drinks just take your own its easier.
We found the reception staff very good but others didn’t.
There are a lot of Dutch on site and they are a little rowdy at times but they are on holiday.
Anyway great campsite we had a great holiday (you do need a car) but forget Ile d’Oléron and explore the beaches down the west coast near Les Bains, they are phenomenal.
These are facts, we don’t need to make it up. We are a young family and go all over France, this site 7/10
©Copyright Pete and Liz and Nick Porter
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Author: Celia Blake
This is the only review by this author |
Last Visit: August 2008 |
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My family and I spent 2 weeks at Sequioa Parc in a perfectly pitched Gitôtel. Full sun or shade the choice was ours. Our children aged from 5 to eighteen years equally enjoyed their time at this beautiful campsite. Lots of activities for all ages. Staff were more than helpful. Le Carousel restaurant was first class. Nightly entertainment by the animation team topped off every sun filled day. Having been to 2 other French campsites prior to Sequioa Parc I would have no hesitation in rating this campsite as best to date. If I was to have one criticism the pool was a bit on the cool side. I hope to return in the next couple of years.
©Copyright Celia Blake and Nick Porter
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Author: Justin Early
This is the only review by this author |
Last Visit: August 2008 |
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We have just spent 7 days on this site. It is very clean and well maintained. Our caravan was just the right size for 2 adults and a child. The pools were a little cold, lazy river good fun, but be warned you must wear Speedo type trunks, no shorts allowed, and to buy them there is expensive as I found out. Takeway very nice, bar good, kiddie club was good but check if they are doing horseriding the day before if you want your kids to go. You need to book or be there early to get a space. The horseriding is good and very friendly. Kiddie disco was fun. We saw one show which was very funny. The entertainment staff work hard to help you enjoy your stay including entertainment around the pool.
I would recommend the site without hesitation. You do need a car though, and if you want to visit the beach I recommend getting the petit train touristique on the Ile d'Oleron and getting off at the end of the line. Fantastic long sandy beach and hardly a soul in sight, but take a picnic though. Overall I would give it 8 out of 10. The only thing that spoilt the week was the theft from outside the pool area of my daughter’s scooter, and although I realise it was left at our own risk, the fact that the reception staff didn't seem bothered when I told them was not good. I think perhaps they should say something at the disco, as this is a family site: perhaps whoever stole it might have been embarrassed into returning it, and they should have made it clear that this wouldn't be tolerated.
©Copyright Justin Early and Nick Porter
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Author: Teresa McGaugh
This is the only review by this author |
Last Visit: June 2009 |
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We have just returned from 10 days here. We found it a brilliant site. Very clean. The first few days were quiet but as the week progressed it was getting busier. By the end of our stay the place was buzzing. The pool is fantastic and our two small boys loved it! We found the staff very helpful and spoke english which was great. The bar was a bit expensive. Overall we would highly recommend this site.
©Copyright Teresa McGaugh and Nick Porter
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