Independent Campsite Reviews

We were very disappointed with this campsite, which had 4 stars, especially with the toilet block (very old). There were not enough showers, and what’s more, they cleaned them at the very moment when everyone wanted to use them. Hello queue. As for the entertainments, a big fat zero. Nothing for the children. And the pool, let’s not speak about it. You had to go down stairs, past the toilets, to wash your feet in a sticky footbath. I think our feet carried more bacteria afterwards.

The only positive thing is the little harbour with access direct to the Verdon, and the view that one gets from the campsite. That’s where they get their stars.

Lots of people were complaining about the toilet block.

I went to the Coteau de la Marine in June 2005, and we were very disappointed. I don’t think it deserves its 4 stars: the welcome was poor, and what’s more, the owner put on a private party for his friends, welcome all-night noise for us campers. One positive point, the mobile homes were good.

In 34 years of camping, I have never seen the like! The campsite Les Coteaux de la Marine is nothing like a 4-star campsite. And my reasons (see also the photos):

1: Their Internet site informs us of the presence of a "base nautique". Having a small boat, we therefore thought we’d be able to put it on the water, and benefit from some outings on the Verdon and be able to swim. It was when we were asking how to go about launching it, that we learnt that swimming was forbidden, and small boats were forbidden. Instead of the expected water facilities, we found some pedalos! No sign warned of the prohibition against swimming. It was only along the bank, further along the road, that a sign stated this prohibition. The site really should make this clear, otherwise their publicity is lying.

2: Access to the pool is via an air-lock for shoes. This area seriously lacks hygiene, the tiling is muddy as soon as 10am, and apparently no one has been given the task of mopping it up.

3: As for the pool itself, one could note the dilapidation of the pools, especially the paddling pool (vinyl facing coming unstuck, slide not well fixed, in our opinion). As for supervision, it is very limited, and the result is total anarchy, teenagers reigning supreme. There is no separate area allocated, nor any clear rules about jumping, running etc.

4: Reception is open from 9am (Saturday 8am). In view of the fact that access to the campsite is by means of a magnetic card (deposit €10), when you want to leave, you have to wait until 9am to get your €10 back (because the barrier won’t open without the card). In high season, it is not unusual to set off at 8am, as it’s cooler, and less busy. Need I say we weren’t the only ones waiting?

5: Payment: I have never seen a campsite where you have to pay for the whole of your stay when you arrive. So whatever happens, you’re stuck for the number of days originally booked. One of the advantages of camping is the liberty to travel. In view of our daily discoveries, we could have chosen to leave earlier, but we had paid! It wasn’t for a bungalow, but for a tent pitch.

6: Activities: Well this was the worst! Very noisy entertainment starts at 1045pm, only closing down between 1 and 1:30 am! When you arrive at the campsite, a sign asks you to not make any noise after 11pm. But the disco goes on till 1am, so in any case there’s no chance of sleeping without earplugs. But it would be very easy to sort out the night-time activities for the teenagers; the football pitch is situated away from the centre of the campsite, facing the countryside, and would be a very suitable place to allow intergenerational living.

In conclusion, it is incomprehensible that this campsite has gained 4 stars. The only positive point is the cleanliness of the toilet facilities, but at this level, this should be expected.

Our holidays were a success, but certainly not because of the campsite.

I agree totally with Véro Lechien, especially on the subject of entertainment. We were in a mobile home quite close to reception, and for a campsite that announces in its publicity "calm and relaxed", and which at the entrance demands that there is no noise after 11pm, well it’s far from that. And the owner is an unpleasant man.

I can confirm that the entertainment started at 10:45,and it was impossible to sleep until 1:30. We had chosen Verdon specifically to avoid the noise and the crowds of the coast, and we were very disappointed.

What’s more, the organised evenings are very expensive. A portion of potted duck or piece of lamb, plus a cornetto, without drinks for €15...

As for the equipment of the site, it deserves only 3 stars, no way 4.

This campsite is very good

I stayed at this campsite for a fortnight. I found it very peaceful and clean compared with some.

This campsite has changed owners recently, and lots of things have got better, this year it will be the tops!! So come try it again!

Hello! I went to the Coteau de la Marine for the weekend of 1st May. I already knew the campsite, having spent some good holidays there. It’s true, Mr Anon, that the site has had a change of owner; charming people welcomed us equally at reception, at the restaurant, and at the little grocery. We had an excellent weekend, and it’s certain we’ll spend our summer holidays there; the area is truly magnificent, the mobile homes right in amongst the nature, and the Verdon at the foot of the site.

This campsite has changed management; a group with a good reputation ("Centre Village") has taken over the management. This is only their first season, and already a significant improvement is apparent, and they have more plans...

We have known this campsite for 17 years, and the prospects for the future are very good.

Things that have already improved in these first 2 months:

1. The general cleanliness of the site

2. the pool and its surroundings (it’s no longer necessary to go via the basement to get to the pool, there’s a footbath that deserves the name, and sunbeds and parasols have been installed around the pool).

3. Reception planted with flowers

4. Access to the pool is now possible for people with mobility problems

5. Restaurant prices much more reasonable, and much more pleasant service

6. New franchisee for the water activities, with prices in line with those of the region, and much more pleasant staff

7. Management is much more friendly, and no longer holds private parties into the small hours, disturbing the whole site

We spent our last holidays at this campsite, and it was super !

The site has belonged to the group Village Center since last spring.

The mobile home was new, with all mods cons (microwave, electric cafétière, large fridge and small freezer).

Our pitch was spacious and shady.

The staff as a whole was friendly, you could get everything you needed at the shop on-site if you didn’t want to go in to Riez. In the restaurant, the atmosphere was good, and at midnight, lights-out.

The pool is clean, and the water area provides electric boats, canoes and pedaloes to hire, which was all very pleasant.

In summary, very pleasant place for peaceful family holidays.

It’s with the greatest of pleasure that we will be repeating our hire at the Coteau de la Marine in 2008. We were very warmly welcomed by Homair Vacance (bungalow) and by all the team at the campsite. The children loved the setting and the very friendly activity leaders. Courses in salsa, hip-hop, fitness activities in the morning with a great aqua-gym teacher from 11am to noon. Guided walk around the Verdon, themed evening every night. Good food at reasonable prices. Mini-supermarket useful only in emergency, as it was very expensive. The lake of St Croix, 5km away, is really magnificent, not many people, and very cool. If you love nature and peace, it’s for you. In any case, for our first experience of camping, it was brilliant. Bungalow was well equipped, very clean, and well shaded.

Hello,

Analysing these reviews, I think that certain people would do well to stay and sweep their front step, rather than venture onto a campsite. Perfection has never existed, and they would do better to learn appropriateness, diplomacy, and above all tolerance.

This campsite is in a magnificent setting on the banks of lake Montpezat, and even if you can’t bathe there, some campers have the good fortune of waking to the rising of the sun over the lake.

Fishermen have food on tap, finding fresh fish to cook for their family.

Electric boats, pedalos and canoes are available for a reasonable price, to discover the deep gorges of the Verdon. A magnificent trip on a stretch of water that changes colour with the weather.

Peace and beauty...

In the evenings, entertainment, more joy!

One goes on holiday to be able to relax, but also to be able to celebrate. Entertainment finishes around midnight or 1am, so what?

Those who don’t want the noise should not choose a 4-star site. They should find a 2-star, or even a site without stars, to save being disturbed by the noise. And still, I think that this sort of person would be able to complain about the mosquitoes that come to tickle their ears.

An activity team is on hand to take care of the children from 4 to 10 years, and a teen club organises tournaments.

It’s true that it’s 10-15km to a village with banks and big shops, but there’s a mini-market on site which gets you out of a fix with all sorts of products, and everyone is very welcoming.

In summary, look at what’s going on in the world at the moment that you’re on holiday, and recognise your good fortune in being where you are. And you’ll see that these big problems become trivial.

Never forget respect for your neighbour.

And above all, wherever you go on holiday, never forget that you are on holiday. Peace and patience are two key words.

Thank you,

Almasa

I’ve just come back from holidays at this campsite, and I would like to moderate the earlier advice concerning la Coteau de la Marine. The change of owners seems to have greatly improved the management of the campsite. The welcome is good. The pool also. Access is now from the outside (and it’s true that the inside showers are limited). The mobile homes are in a good state, and have been reequipped (microwave, patio).

It is true that the pitches close to reception are noisy. But the music stops around midnight. This campsite is ideal for peaceful holidays, surrounded by fields of lavender (harvesting at the moment). The drawbacks:

- The distance from the lake of St Croix, where it is possible to bathe (10km). You have to take the car for bathing and for shopping, as you are far from everything.

- Although you are beside the water, bathing is forbidden in the Verdon. What’s more, positioned between two dams, the water is very cold because of the release of water.

Having spent a good holiday there, I heartily recommend it.

Louise

Hello, we hesitated for a long time having read the reviews above. It’s no fun travelling 1200km with a child of 2 years. You want the truth: I find the reviews excessive. I spent a magnificent fortnight here. The toilet blocks are cleaned twice a day, there is entertainment almost every evening, the food is delicious, and the prices very reasonable. What’s more the site is very peaceful - I have never yet found a site as calm as this one. It’s true that there is evening entertainment, but if you go on holiday in order to go to bed at 9pm, I suggest you stay at home under the duvet.

Now when the first reviewers went, it had a different owner. Perhaps they should try it again: some things have changed, and others are still changing.

Thank you for your welcome, and for your kindness.

I find that the first reviews are a bit excessive, the only real negative point that I noticed was the entertainment. For me, the noise wasn’t the problem, but rather the quality.

The campsite being very isolated and rural, for the young ones it is very difficult, even impossible, to go out and find something to do in the way of discos, bars, etc, so the only solution is to go to the site entertainment, which is not at all suited to their needs. Only positive point: the disco. Unfortunately, the music is not, hmm, superb. From the 80s, funk, rap, etc.

But apart from that, the campsite is very pleasant, peaceful despite what people above have said, in very nice scenery. The staff is very friendly, and there’s a good atmosphere.

I therefore recommend this site to people looking for peace and quiet (indeed, I’m sorry, but with the size of the site, there is little chance of ending up next to the entertainment and the disco, and I didn’t find the noise excessive when trying to sleep) but on the other hand, people who prefer lots to do, - there are indeed few youngsters about.

I spent a fortnight at this campsite, and I was not disappointed. On site is a mini-market where you can do your shopping without having to go to Riez, the closest town. You can get French bread right up to 8pm. The mobile home we had was quite new, with a terrace and garden furniture. We also made use of the pool, and the restaurant, where the meals were well served.

Disappointed by this campsite, which is too far from the shops. The activities are always the same, and most surprising at all, a lifeguard supposed to be watching over the pool, sees children that can not swim well, offers them swimming lessons, and at the end of the session, we are surprised to find that the 30-minute lesson is billed at €20. Scandalous! Nothing written, of course, so this is black market cash. So my advice: avoid this campsite.

We hired a mobile home at this campsite for a week.

The pool, no way is it outdated, is very well supervised. The staff, very friendly, welcomed us well.

It is true that the evening entertainment is fairly noisy (until midnight).

For those who like to stay on the site, it is true that there is always something to do: activities and games all day (even in the pool) pedalo hire, canoes, etc.

But for those who like to go out and about (like us) it is too necessary to take the car, as, like someone said, it is a long way from anywhere. Especially from the lake of St Croix,and from the magnificent villages, which are at least 10km away.

What you must know is that the campsite is nothing like the earlier reviews above - you can go there without fear!

We went here in August 2007 for a fortnight, and even though things have undoubtedly improved, this site in no way deserves its 4 stars. We often go to 4-star campsites, and neither services offered, nor the pitch were up to the price quoted. Mobile home was badly placed, and with a very small terrace, restaurant was more like a snack bar, pool was too small, and the water smelt bad, depressing children’s club (a little patch of ground, with a few garden tables) tennis at extra cost, activities no better than average.

For us at least, you can be sure we will not be returning at this price. On the other hand, we are prepared to give you the addresses of other campsites, that deserve their 4 stars!

We spent 2 weeks here in August. The room of the restaurant has never been washed, only swept. The welcome is really very cold. The pool has no proper lifeguard, but the person who was there had a t-shirt saying he was a lifeguard - spot the mistake. He preferred being paid cash in hand for his courses. Good luck to future visitors.

We’ve just come back from a 2-week stay at this campsite. We were not disappointed: calm, clean mobile home, friendly staff, fresh bread at the mini-market. It was our first stay, and if all goes well, we plan to return next year. Oh, and I was forgetting, the setting is magnificent.

For our part, we heartily recommend Le Coteau for the beauty of the site, the well-equipped mobile homes, the welcome, and the availability of the grocery, which make this campsite a place for extraordinary holidays. Make your reservation quickly!