Independent Campsite Reviews

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Hello all,

This was our second visit, this time in a Keycamp mobile home thing. The conifers surrounding the camp and helping to disguise the concrete walling had all been topped so looked a little less attractive, but allowed much more light into the areas. The site was busy but very clean indeed, as it was last year. The staff in the shop/bar were the same as last year as were the prices so cannot speak highly enough. The pool was cleaned thoroughly every night and my boys enjoyed the nightly films (until my 5 year old "TWOC'd" a dutch lad's bike). Camembert the clown was great.

A lady who we made friends with was on their 5th return visit and has threatened to set up a Facebook page for "Bel" so keep your eyes peeled.

We are going back next year, same time, as a holiday where your kids can be safe, play hard and sleep when their sandy (slightly crispy) heads hit the pillow, is a holiday for we parents.

The beaches are great, and La Terrier has a great cafe on the beach which does fab salads.

Enjoy.

This was our first time at Camping Bel and we thought it was absolutely fantastic. The pool area was immaculate, the pitches well proportioned and the site was very well run. We stayed in a Keycamp Villanova that was adequate for our needs. Our 8 year old boy and 6 year old girl loved every minute of it, the site is so family orientated that it helps make your holiday. The site is also close to the town and beach that you have lots of options for entertainment, but we had to make it back every night for the children's film which entertained them and allowed the grown ups to chill out at the bar with a drink and gave you a chance to get to know the other grown ups.

A fantastic holiday and would recommend this site to any family.

First time we been camping since the children have grown up, arrived with our own tent also for the first time. Pitch was absolutely great, big, nicely shaded and secluded by large hedges water on the pitch.

As older campers we did not find the site particularly quiet but that is not a critisism this is a fun site for younger children they were all having a ball. The pool is fine the rules regarding the pool and jacuzzi are not enforced but its not a problem.

We would have liked to have seen a little more in the way of food in the snack bar at night but again with the town so close it was not a problem.

The owners are lovely people and go out of there way to help.

All in all a great relaxing holiday would definitely return to site and give it a 10 out of 10

Very quiet Campsite. Stayed for 8 nights with KeyCamp Mobile Home. The campsite is definitely the best one in Tranche Sur Mer. Very close to the beach and the town center.

Lots of lovely restaurants in Tranche Sur Mer. And the Supermarket is very close.

However, we went in June and it was extremely quiet. Apart from the movies shown at night for the kids there was nothing to do in this campsite (no clown or magican as others have stated). The internet was not working. The bar is tiny. No slides or anything at the pool area. Overall, I would say if you want a very very quiet holiday then go here.

This site is fab.

A man who watched my boys playing on the first day we arrived in the very safe, sandy play area said "Kids come to this site, dig a hole - then live in it for the holiday". How right he was, my first experience of camping, toilet and shower blocks cleaned about four times a day. Pool busy but with great people. Films every night just outside the bar/shop. Magic and clown activity for those who wanted it. Kids club run by Euro camp was - well - poor. But the kids all teamed up and found their pals on a very safe caring site.

Bread man very expensive, but handy.

Super U - supermarket great but as someone said earlier - it gets mad so go early or late.

Loved it loved it loved it - going back next year (this time in a mobile though cos I sleep walk!)

Owner is a cracking bloke who tries very hard to keep it so good. Noise comments seem a bit harsh also - folk are on holiday and if your kids don't fall asleep the minute their sandy, slightly crispy heads hit the pillow - you aint playing hard enough!

Enjoy

Been 3 times in 5 years and found its still a great campsite, verified by the number of returnees both independent (or free range ) campers as my 10 year old calls them, and in the Eurocamp/Keycamp areas.

Improvements in the fact there are now sun loungers around the pool (unfortunatley these are bolted down).

Larger kids slide removed and the smaller one probaly will be by next year.

The owner has tried to help out with costs to UK clients, by keeping the bar prices at '08 where as they have gone up by about 10% in the rest of the area.

Probably go again next year (if my kids get their way).

I love going to Bel with my husband and four children aged 13,10,9 and 7.

We have been 3 times now, the statics are too small for us but the tents are great. Next year we will take our own tourer as we will stay for 4 weeks and allow a weeks travel either side.

We all love body boarding and the beaches at Les Conches and La Terriere are superb, as long as you love the big Atlantic surf!

The beach at La Tranche is great for smaller children as it is south facing and therefore does not get the big waves.

Jean-Michel the owner of the site is very proud of it and he will soon tell you if he is not happy with you/your kids/your behaviour! Can't wait to get back, its the cleanest/quietest/best located site for us in the Vendee.

First time campers with five year old son. Very apprehensive but delighted by everything - our main topic of conversation was how great the campsite, location and holiday were! Pitch was big enough for our large tent; hedges between pitches gave a sense of 'our home' (wouldn't say privacy as noise carries but that's the nature of tents and the outdoors). We didn't take our son's bike as he was only just learning (and car was packed full) but we hired one for £20 for a week and it was money well-spent - he became proficient cycling round the campsite and insisted on cycling even to go to the loo. Wouldn't bother taking food supplies - Super U bigger than any Asda/Tesco, and near enough to go every morning to get day's supply of fresh food. Re Super U v Van for morning croissants - how great to have a choice! Yes plenty of toilets and showers, and clean. Brilliant having free children's film every evening. Walking distance to various beaches. For rare days when want a change from going to beach, pool or relaxing by the tent, lots of lovely places to visit within half hour drive (with a 5 yr old we recommend la Folie de Finfarine, Chateau Talmont, Jard-sur-mer, canoes at Longeville). Whoops, just been told off by hubby for writing this review when should be sending email to book for this summer...spent so much time researching location and campsite last year, we don't think we can improve on Camping Bel.

Original review from 2004:

We holiday in France every year with our Touring Caravan. We visit in June for 3/4weeks and find the site very good; the owners are friendly and very helpful indeed. We have been on 3 occasions and will be visiting this year for 4 weeks as part of our holiday. It has proved from all those we have visited to be one of the best. We have seen the owner make people leave who have made noise after the permitted time and would suggest that if you experience noise then tell the owner NOT the Courier of Keycamp or Eurocamp and he will do something about it. I do agree with Tracey K (below) that it is more suited for younger children unless parents amuse the older ones themselves instead of letting them roam free. The Clown that visits 3 times a week is in fact a Hired person and not the site owner his name is "Camembert"

Now that our children have grown up, married with their own children we can holiday out of the High Season when things are a lot quieter and sites not crowded but noise does travel at night and is heard more so in a Tent. It's a lovely area around La Tranche, nice beaches, good safe cycling routes, with La Rochelle an hours drive away to an old Town with a very good Aquarium to visit on a wet day. If you want a peace at night during August then it is hard to find on most Commercial Sites where Holiday Companies operate.

Update June 2009:

Our earlier views have not significantly changed.

The owner does do everything he can to keep the site in top condition but I admit some pitches are a little sandy (which is no wonder as it was once sea). The Sanitary Blocks are immaculate as is the pool and Jacuzzi. The pool is unsupervised as the notice at the entrance tells you, therefore if you disregard the notice on the Jacuzzi (which is within the confines the pool boundary) about the age limit the onus is then on you.

We have been back 4 times since 2004 and see changes for the better every year. This year it was new sunloungers around the pool and a substantial increase in the number of them.

We always try to finish our holiday at Bel before moving to St Malo for the sail home. Agree with one comment about age, it is not the place for teenagers either on site or in the area in general unless they are want Sand and Surf etc.

We have met some wonderful people on our visits and it is amazing how many keep returning year on year so that says it all.

Bill & Trish Wallace

We visited this site in August this year and had a very enjoyable time. The children enjoyed the pool and playing ping pong; also the films and the local band. The pitches were a good size with some shade and lots of sun so everyone was happy.

We had no problems with the 10.30 quiet rule and we were close to the toilet block and play area. The site was very quiet and family orientated with no bored teens and no noise.

We liked the bread man coming to the site! Yes the Super U is cheaper but it was lovely to get up in your pjs and pop outside your camper to get warm, fresh croissants, pain au chocolat and baguettes.

The local town is bustling and very 'french' with a few lovely restaurants including Goldwinf and the pizzeria next door. The beach and the supermarket are within a five minute walk away and the whole area is bike friendly so we could keep fit and holiday at the same time.

With our eldest boy being 9 next year, we will probably go somewhere with bigger slides and more fast action activities but for those with young children, Camping Bel is excellent and we'd recommend it.

Just got back one of the best sites on the west coast if you have little kids, anyone over 12 could get bored in the evening.

I think the comments about noise are more to do with the fact that the site is so quiet that any noise carries far and wide, even 2-3 people having a quiet chat after 11 can sound like a party!!!

Beaches are great for sand, sea and surfing; pool is good for number of pitches but no sun beds (not enough room on side)

one slip over the last 5 years is that the owner seems to have given up on kicking under 14 out of Jacuzzi and this can lead to some issues but still a 5* site

My wife and I stayed on this campsite, in a mobile home, during the first two weeks of July 2008. We had our three children with us (aged 5, 5 and 2). Overall, we had a great time on this family holiday.

I do, however, agree with Tracey K's posting about noise after 10.30pm. It can be a bit of a problem (we found this to be the case on a few occasions), but it's down to you to speak to the campsite owner and get it stopped. Don't waste time complaining to the Keycamp/Eurocamp couriers - they don't have the same clout.

The bread van, which visits the campsite daily, is ridiculously expensive - use Super U which is a 5 minute walk away.

The clown, who makes two visits per week, was excellent and the children thought he was great. The magician's weekly show was also good. The children also enjoyed some of the DVD's which were shown on the big TV on some of the other evenings.

All of the campsite's facilities are kept very clean.

There is a very shallow baby pool - perfect for babies and toddlers. The bigger pool has a shallow end which is perfect for 4-5 year olds and above.

There is also a good badminton court, short-tennis court and kid's basketball/football area ... to name but a few of the other things!

The best campsite of the Tranche sur Mer, I know because I've been going since 1984, the year it opened. The toilet blocks are always very clean, the kids have everything they need, and tranquillity reigns supreme.

The pitches are shaded and easy to access from any direction.

The sea is about 300m away, and the same for the SuperU supermarket.

My children love it, as I did when I was their age.

Hi all

We stayed here in June 2008 and are going back this year! We loved the site and La Tranche. Beaches are lovely and within walking distance. SuperU supermarket is big and very good.

Facilities excellent and very clean.

Just returned from a 2 and a half week holiday at this campsite with Eurocamp in a caravan. What a beautiful place and the campsite is lovely. I have got a 3 year old and a 5 year old and they had a fantastic holiday. Didn't have any problems with noise after 10.30pm and found it a thoroughly relaxing holiday. Campsite owners were very helpful and friendly and we are going back next year

What a great campsite! Every time we visited the loos or the washing up block there was someone in there cleaning which was such a bonus. We had 7 kids between our families and they all thought it was brilliant - Fun Station with Eurocamp was fun and the atmosphere very friendly. The site is quite small and intimate which makes you and your family feel safe. The supermarket is a small 5 minute bike ride away down a very safe cycle path, which even my 3 year old managed most mornings (don't buy bread from the van man who calls on site - v expensive!) The local beaches are fabulous - we had such a great holiday and will definately be going back. All our children were under 7 but I do think that kids over 11 would be suited to a bigger site. 10 out of 10!

I have worked this summer as courier on this camp-site. Completely beautiful camp-site! Top of the range, a terribly nice village and a large hypermarket. Furthermore the camp-site is very quiet and with that also very child-friendly. Very nice camp-site manager. I will certainly return next year.

Greetings,

Emiel Rietbergen

I think I'm the first person to write like this as I am writing from a working experience. I worked at the campsite for 2 very enjoyable months, I got to use the facilities which I must say are to a highest of any campsite I've ever seen. As I was children's courier for Eurocamp and Keycamp, I can speak from experience saying that the site is very child friendly, and ideal for children up to the age of 12 as there is more for them to do and join in with. Jean-Michael the owner is very helpful and friendly and very customer orientated.

Overall I believe that this site deserves all 4 of its stars and is why it's one of Eurocamp's and Keycamp's more popular and highly rated sites.

Jon Casey (2006 Funstation courier)

This was a fabulous campsite and my kids thoroughly enjoyed it so much so we're going back next year for 6 days before moving further south for a fortnight. My elder daughter was 6 and loved the kids' couriers 'Jon & Becks', unfortunately my younger daughter was 2 months too young to join kids club!

Although this is a campsite is for younger families and there was no evening excitement for adults, the kids were very well catered for and lovely the evening films. The campsite was predominantly British which I normally don't like, however it was calm & clean and this made up for it.

The beach is fabulous!!! The restaurants in town (a short walk) are very reasonably priced and food very good! The PMU bar has very clean loos if your kids are caught short & the Tuesday & Saturday market (though busy) is bustling with atmosphere & good wine which you can taste first.

My whole family loved this site SOOOOOO MUCH!!!! We agree with JON!

We visited this site for 8 nights in a Keycamp tent from 21/8/05. We are a family of six, with kids aged 9 months, 2, 9 and 13.

Pitches are sandy, and the canvas ones are all very close together - neighbourly, but we found it very noisy at night despite the campsite "hush 10.30pm baby sleeps" regulation. Many people completely disregarded this and made no attempt to keep noise to a minimum well after this time. Our pitch was also very close to the toilet/shower/dishwashing block and kids play area. Bored teenagers congregated in the kids play area late at night....again, very noisy. For these reasons we have abandoned canvas holidays and will go in a mobile next time.

The owner tries hard to entertain young kids, with something available each night - film, magician etc. He dresses up as a clown some days, and goes around the site - little ones seem to enjoy it. Ice creams on site are cheap and lovely. Kids enjoyed the pool, the over 14 Jacuzzi rule is ignored! Not enough sun beds.

La Tranche centre within easy walking distance, La Tranche beach opposite campsite big, soft sand, lots of seaweed and rocks. Nicer beach at La Terriere, 10 mins drive away. Van visits site with bread & croissant daily. Good terraced Italian restaurant in La Tranche.

Would suggest this site is suitable for families with kids around 4 - 12. Teenagers will be bored, and it could be too noisy at night for younger kids.

We have stayed on this site for four years now, firstly in a Eurocamp tent and latterly in our own caravan. It is my children's favourite site, although they are young. The owners are very good and most helpful. Toilet blocks are cleaned twice a day and are immaculate. The site is quiet and family orientated. The supermarket is a few hundred yards away but be sure to go early, as it gets mad!

I hesitate in writing this review, as I don't want to let too many people in on the secret. We meet a lot of familiar people who like ourselves holiday at this site every year.

My husband and I stayed on this site and found it wonderful. It was very clean and convenient for the beaches cycle routes and for places to visit. We stayed in our own tent last year in July for 2 weeks and found it to be very relaxing. The owners were really friendly and helpful. We would definitely stay there again and have recommended it to friends.