Independent Campsite Reviews

As a middle aged couple with teenage sons we decided to try a lively site this year in France...stayed at Les genets with French Freedom and met the courier who was somewhat laid back...The area, St Jean De Monts, which we have stayed in many times and would recommend, has plenty to offer, so during the day sitting by the pool was not for us (very crowded)...returning to the site in the evenings is what we looked forward to: plenty of craic and fun...alas not to be...entertainment over a fortnight was poor to say the least: two good nights out of fourteen...and being a vodka drinker it was expensive and you could drink all night and not feel tipsy? I WONDER WHY. Will not go into much detail but would not be back at this site again. We nicknamed the bar the rue morgue...funny at the time.

As a family looking for something quite different from Pat above, we had a good 9 days here. Our three boys aged 11,8 and 4 had a great time at the pool. The bigger two loved the shoot the slides and the lazy river or rapids as we preferred to call it.

Yes it was busy, but we always found somewhere to sit.

Our only complaint is that it was noisy at night. Being in a tent the french youth who enjoyed themselves until the early hours and the Englishman with the loud voice (we could hear every word) were annoying add that to some heavy rainfall and noise from some sort of entertainment every night (was it the morgue like bar?) and us boring people who like to sleep weren't too happy.

But our children stepped outside the tent and had playmates on tap, so we had time to relax. Facilities were mostly modern and clean. The staff friendly. The takeaway and play area, good. However if we did go back it would be in a mobile home!

The campsite has a good pool, but not enough seating. The evening entertainment was a simply a disco. The loos next to the bar were dirty. It is quite noisy until 10pm, especially as the pitches do not allow much privacy. The drains were blocked when we stayed, we couldn’t use our mobile home toilet for 2 days. The lazy river also turned cloudy! The beaches were nice, but we couldn't use them due the gales!! There are many other sites to choose from in the area, which looked better.

Many of the plots on this campsite are small which means you do not get much privacy. This said, we had a lovely quiet plot at the back of the campsite - but a long walk to the facilities.

The pool complex is great, but no supervision and yes it does get busy. There is a nice children's play area and the bar is adequate - not too pricey. The evening entertainment was OK and the on-site animateur made a good effort.

It is easy to get into St-Jean-de-Monts by car but be warned that the traffic is quite horrendous! Cycling is a better option.

I stayed at this campsite from 30 July to 6 August in a mobile home, and I can tell you that the campsite is quite simply great! The whole area is very clean, and the various buildings are of recent construction, as well as the pool area, with running river, flumes, paddling pool, covered pool and Jacuzzi (though during our visit, it wasn’t working, and seemed to have been so for some time). The shade on the campsite is very good, and the ground is on different levels. Entertainment is very good, though a bit deserted after 11:30. The shopping centre, beach and shops are close by, so you can get to them on foot. In all, a great stay at Les Genêts, which I recommend to anyone who likes water activities.

We had a great holiday here, but you do need to be able to make you own entertainment, as what is laid on was dreadful.

The bar area is like a cafeteria no atmosphere and expensive. (As was drinking out generally). The beach is fantastic and well worth the 15 min walk, another five mins along the coastline and you have it to yourself. All my kids 5 10 and 15 enjoyed the pool area which we tended to hit in the afternoon in an attempt to get a lounger. Despite this there was no problem getting on the slides and the pool is spacious. Fun fair 10 minute walk away, rides for all ages. Small dusty pitches and poor entertainment, otherwise fine.

p.s. Clarys Plage, (next door) looked better!

Bon Vacance.

We stayed here with our own tent in July 2006 and it was the worst campsite we have stayed on. Reception staff were rude and unhelpful and seemed to dislike the English (I overheard a few conversations in French) The toilets were often dirty and showers sometimes stopped working suddenly. The pitch was too small for the tent and so we had to sit in the road! The pool was the saving grace and the children loved it, plenty of flumes and a lazy river, however it was very cramped and I am ashamed to say that it was the English guests who put their towels out at 8am. You also have to walk through a toilet area to get into the pool, which stank. Didn't use the entertainment, used the take away which was good value for money. A nice beach and a supermarket just a short walk away. Will not be going back.

Stayed here with Keycamp in July/August. Unusually we did have some rain, but still had a good time. Site is dominated by French, Brits and Irish.

Good points-

Pool - great fun, can get busy - best day is Saturday - French changeover day.

Beaches - excellent - but beware of submerged rocks on nearest.

Campsite (and Keycamp) staff friendly and helpful

Lots to do within walking distance

Lots to do within driving distance

No mosquitoes - didn’t get bitten once

Very clean

Bad points-

Pitches are a bit cramped

Pitches not in alleys so many are on the main drag, so not private (ours was OK)

Children’s play area - good fun but the concrete only has a thin covering of sand: saw many an injured kid.

On-site entertainment limited - maybe because there was lots to do nearby - didn’t bother us we can entertain ourselves!!

Bar was a bit dull and did not serve French beer - Heineken, Amstel and Guinness, which seemed par for the course for the area - which I found a little odd!!

All in all enjoyed, our kids (9 and 6) thought it brilliant!!

Stayed at Les Genets August '06 with Quest-en-France. Pitches tend to be a little small and dusty, but most have some shade from the pine trees (red squirrels in residence). You need to make sure your pitch is not on the "main drag" if you're considering this site - they have no privacy at all. We found the site to be really busy - there's just not enough terracing around the pool for a site of this size. However, the pool complex itself is excellent. We found the site personnel to be really helpful (as were our couriers). The beach down the road at Les Mouettes is great - gently shelving and especially suitable for the kids (4 and 6) who loved it.

Found the take-away to be adequate - service is generally quick, but the restaurant is like a cafe (orange plastic chairs), and the bar is similar - no atmosphere, and the patio area is similarly unattractive.

Contrary to previous comments, we have very good memories of the Genets campsite, even if the weather was not especially kind to us. The campsite is pleasant and well kept. Shops are nearby. There is also a shuttle that will take you to the town centre. We were in a mobile home. The property was clean and functional, on a well bounded pitch, which is useful with the children. I have two boys, and the pool, with its Indian décor, was clearly to their liking. A special thanks to Magalie of the children’s club, who was expert at bringing the children in and finding them amusing activities. We spent our evenings on site, as the bar was lovely, and the drinks were reasonably priced. The only downside was that there was no entertainment Saturday evening. We went on a trip to the Ile d’Yeu, and I recommend this trip, especially if you like biking and nature. It was our first time at St Jean de Monts, and we will be back. The children will leave us no choice but to return to this campsite.

We spent a good holiday here in a static van from 15 to 22 July. The campsite was very clean, as was the pool area, with lazy river, water slides, paddling pool, indoor pool and jacuzzi. The sea and shops are 15 minutes away on foot. The staff at the bar, as well as the activity leaders, are very friendly. One complaint: the pitches are too small.

I recommend this campsite.

We spent 12 nights at this campsite and had a great time, it is clean and the staff are friendly, we all loved the pool with the lazy river being the favourite, whilst the pitches were a tad small we did not really require any more space as there was a large open area in front of our mobile home with a table tennis table. The kids (13,11 & 8) spent most of their time at the pool or in the play area where they made lots of new friends. There is loads to do within an hours drive of the site so it makes an excellent base camp.