Independent Campsite Reviews

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Institut Géographique National TOP25

Michelin Yellow 3-digit

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We went as a family. Pitch was too small for 7 people. The reception left something to be desired. Staff not very likeable. As for Brem, nothing to do, nothing special. The owners: she is not at all friendly, he is ok. The person running the shop is not at all friendly. For a 4-star campsite, I’ve seen better in a 3-star. As for the toilet blocks, very dirty in the morning, toilets and showers. Some people are filthy.

I have been to Le Chaponnet three times, July 2009, 2008 and 2007. This is an excellent campsite. It is perfectly located in the lovely village of Brem. If like us, you have a long drive from Scotland, when you arrive in Brem, its great to leave the car and just go on the bikes everywhere. Lidl is just a few minutes away by bike. The baker is great. The campsite is very clean and the owner, Pascal, is gorgeous. He goes out of his way to make sure the guests are happy and has paid for our family meal and drink many times. He makes it his business to find out if there are any things you would like to change about the site. We have found all his members of staff excellent. The sheer fact that the bar staff and reception staff have been the same for three years is an achievement. Excellent site, brilliant location, beach is only five minutes away by bike.

I stayed at the Chaponnet in July 2008, and I had enough. For example:

- Mobile home was not fully equipped

- The welcome was not very friendly

- There were problems between the staff (the pizza man attacked the female staff in front of campers, and according to some staff, this has been happening for 2 years) I myself witnessed some of these violent scenes, and bore the brunt of his aggression. The worst is the manager who supports this behaviour, and who was horrible. He even accused us of not paying our restaurant bill! He claims to know how to run his campsite: oh sure, accusing clients without proof!

Meanwhile, in view of the persistent staff problem, we have contacted the Fédération Vendéenne de l'Hôtellerie de Plein-air.

This is a great campsite ! I stayed there campsite in 2007 and 2008 with my husband and 4 children (3-9 years old). We all had brilliant time both years and intend to return in 2009.

The campsite is very well located in the village with great butcher, bakery and Lidl. Our pitch on the site was excellent, very private with lots of space around the mobile. The mobile itself was very well maintained and clean.

The staff on the site are all very friendly especially Manuela the kids club rep. The owner and his wife are always on site and are very helpful. The Kids club is great, our kids loved being involved in the weekly shows. The evening entertainment is good, 2 or 3 shows a week enjoyable for both kids and adults.

The pool area and playground are both very clean and well maintained.

There are several great beaches within 10 - 15 min drive. I would recommend Plage de la Normandeliere and manmade beach, which is super for young kids.

The site is family orientated with a very relaxed and tranquil atmosphere, away from the hustle-bustle.

Myself and my family (husband and 2 kids aget 5 & 3) stayed here for two weeks in early July 2008. It is a perfect campsite for families with young children. It is not too big. Each pitch has great space around it and our mobile was very clean and well equipped. The pool complex is fantastic and having a indoor pool is great for those days that it does rain at least the kids can still be amused. The kids club is great. The location of the site in the heart of a village is one of the big attractions. The local bakery is only a few minutes away (freshly baked croissants first thing). A very friendly local butchers. We found the staff very helpful and friendly. Any of our dealings with them they were always very professional. We are definitely booking it for 2009!.

Stayed here for 2 weeks in July 2007 with wife and 2 children. First time to Le Chaponnet, booked through Camping Life. We were in a static mobile home, which was excellent; clean, airy, comfy and contained more than we expected in terms of equipment, fridge/freezer, utensils etc. There are 320 pitches, probably split 50/50 statics/tents and touring caravan pitches. Although I wasn't in a tent, I was impressed with the size and privacy offered to each pitch. The site must have been there for many years as there are very mature hedges and trees, and it is these hedges that are used to divide up the pitches. So much nicer than fences!

Finding the place was easy; we drove from Caen via Nantes and headed toward St Gilles Croix De Vie, a lovely town with at least a dozen restaurants, several supermarkets, post office etc. Also has a very popular market on several days of the week. Le Chaponnet is in Brem-Sur-Mer, equidistant between St Gilles and Les Sables d'Olonne.

Good points;

+· Definitely an excellent aqua complex. The pool is clean, has a lifeguard and is well controlled, open 10am till 8pm. It is very well fenced in all round, and entry and exit into the pool area is only possible through one gate with a good childproof lock on it. Men can wear swimming shorts, no need to wear tiny Speedo trunks here if you don't want to! A big sized swimming pool, a pool for the flumes, and a small baby pool.

+· Security of the site seemed good, barrier access operated by a key fob issued on arrival. No problems in the evening or at night with noise from other campers, teenagers, drunks etc. Visible site security in the evening.

+· On-site bar just the right size for the site, reasonably priced, popular with all the people situated near us. Open till at least 11.30pm, later at weekends. Entertainment laid on about 6 nights out of the time we stayed. About half of the area given over to a restaurant, nice pizzas, popular with holidaymakers.

+· Very short walk to a super butchers, bakers, newsagent and snack bar in Brem. Lidl walkable in about 10 mins.

+· Would be a good base for exploring surrounding area of the Vendee.

+· Any staff we had reason to speak with (bike hire, tourist information etc) were very helpful and friendly. Also great with the children (10+11) who were able to go to the pool, games room, shop by themselves and we were not at all concerned re safety due to the layout and friendliness of the staff.

+· Barbecues are allowed on the site, small gas barbecues are provided with each static. Campers used communal barbecue area, seemed popular and just have to buy the charcoal and the steaks!

Not-so-good points;

-· No beach close by, sea is about ½ mile away. We knew this from the brochure, took 5 mins to drive to one of the best beaches you could imagine.

Some other points;

* The vast majority of people on the site were French, probably about 80%. Next biggest groups were the Irish and the Dutch. Didn't see any English in 2 weeks, met two other Scottish families.

* The site runs it's own kid's club. The leader is French with a Dutch girl helping her. My two loved it although think by the 2nd week they were less enthusiastic, possibly they repeated the same activities, I'm not sure.

* Due to the lack of British tourists the bar was more an area for entertainment and socialising, with alcohol taking 2nd place to that. Not unusual to see families at a table for a whole evening without any alcoholic drinks, ourselves included. Mainly wine if anyone was drinking.

* I visited 3 local wine caves with tasting sessions always available. Excellent taste, great prices.

This was our 2nd visit to this area, stayed in St Gilles last year. This year hardly left the campsite as the pool was so nice and the weather so warm.

Should mention we had no problems with traffic jams, although I think I am right in saying that the second two weeks in July beats the UK masses!

Highly recommended and very French!

I spent time at this campsite more than 30 years ago. At the time, it was only a 1/2 star campsite, but I remember that atmosphere, which was very family-friendly, very convivial, and from one year to the next you encountered the same campers, who became friends. I was only a child, but I remember it well. I am on a search for people who visited this campsite in the 70s and 80s, to reminisce about the good old days. At the time, it was the Guibert family who ran the site, parents and 3 boys, Daniel, Jean-Charles with his oysters, and Gilles and his wife.

Thanks in advance for anyone who can help with my search.