On the park for a short break, we noticed that wood flooring was being laid out and furniture was appearing so, being just a little nosey, we waited for them to finish before sneaking in to take a closer look.

First impressions are very good. These heavily canvassed tents are huge, giving good day living space as well as adequate sleeping accommodation. But what you will notice first is that there is real solid wood furniture, comfy seating and good lighting. It is certainly camping on the luxurious side of things, with a lot of effort and money spent to create the safari feel.

It has to be said though that our favourite bit of luxury was the two large hammocks outside for making the most of the long sunny afternoons.

We saw 2 of the safari tents go up in with a matter of days so there may be more soon.  See camping holidays in Brittany and camping holidays in France

Les Mouettes, Brittany, France

• Fantastic new pool complex
• Close to ferry ports
• Golf and driving close by

Cypsela, Costa Brava, Spain

• One of Spain’s best parks
• Superb facilities
• Windsurfing nearby

Les Grottes de Roffey, Dordogne, France

• Lovely pool complex
• Great park for walkers and nature lovers
• Fishing and abseiling nearby

La Baie, Brittany, France

• Beautiful beach a stroll away
• Quad biking nearby
• Great for walkers

Koningshof, Holland

• Indoor and outdoor pools
• Lakeside fishing
• Close to Amsterdam

Cavallino, Italian Adriatic, Italy

• Direct beach access
• Ideal for seeing Venice
• Boat trips and Golf nearby

Vilanova park, Costa Dorada, Spain

• Super pool complex
• Jacuzzi and sauna
• Close to Barcelona

Valverde,  Algarve, Portugal

• Close to fabulous beaches
• Sea views from some pitches
• Lots to do nearby

Chateaux les Eaux, Normandy, France

• Close to ferry ports
• Indoor and outdoor pools
• Gastronomy evenings held in Chateau

Family Park I Pini, Tuscany, Italy

• Lovely woodland setting
• Ideal city break destination
• Bicycle hire on park

Puy de Fou offers the visitors fun packed live entertainment shows  including Gladiators in a colleseum, Vikings battle over a village, the Musketeer spectacular, the knights on horse back  jousting and a birds of prey display.  Doing all of the shows will take most of your day as you rush from one to the next and they are all great value.  If you do not speak French do not worry, you can get MP3 style players with headphones at the entrance that translates all the important bits.

All of the shows are well put together and above all fun. We thoroughly enjoyed the Gladiators and the Vikings shows but have to say that the Musketeer show is truly spectacular and the top must see show.  From start to finish the Musketeer show was full of delightful surprises from villains appearing from chandaliers above the audience to the superb horse and light display as the arena filled with water… truly fantastic.

In addition to the shows you can explore the Medieval City, the 18th Century village, Town Square and the Forest.  There is plenty to see and do and of course you will find characters in traditional dress.

Through out Puy de Fou you will find places to get snacks and drinks and some fast food restaurants. Although there are picnic areas so it is worth taking some bits along with you to keep the costs down.

Some practical advice is that if its going to be a warm day don’t forget your hats and sunscreen – a lot of the shows are in the open and so there is not a lot of shelter when the sun is at its hottest.  Similarly, if rain is possibility, don’t forget your raincoat to keep you dry through the shows… we watched some of the shows through a downpour, they never stopped and we never minded – it just made it all the more authentic.

Puy de Fou also has two evening shows that make the most of fantastic castle and lake as backdrop to the evening entertainment.  The nights include, horse displays, fountains, fireworks and music.  If you are looking to do these shows you may want to buy a ticket for more than one day as we were so exhausted after doing the park we didnt have the energy to day for the night shows.

So will this apply to families of all ages?  Simply, yes.  Our children, one of who was in a pushchair the first time we went, absolutely loved it with so much happening all around them.  The shows are superb but the whole park is just great to explore. We have been to the Puy de Fou 3 times in recent years and have enjoyed it every time – it’s 5 star entertainment.

Accommodation near Puy de Fou

• Holiday parks in the Vendee, France
• Villa and apartments in Aquitane, France

Disneyland Paris have a great sale that runs until the 30th November where you can save up to an amazing 40% on your Disney hotel and theme park tickets.  The family holiday package in Paris, France includes:

• 2 nights or more in a Disney hotel
• Tickets to both Disney Parks for each day
• Breakfast

PLUS all kids under 7 stay and play absolutely FREE.

Click here to find out more about this superb offer>

Please note you have to book by 30th November 2010 for selected arrivals until 5th April 2011.

Here are some useful booking tips:

• For the best availibility and discount look for arrivals between Sunday and Thursday
• Kids stay and play free offer:
  - For ANY arrivals until 31st December, kids under 7 stay and play FREE.
  - And for ANY arrivals between 1st January to 5th April 2011, kids under 12 stay and play FREE!

Alternative accommodation can be found at:

• Holidays Parks near Paris
• Self catering in Paris

Book your Ferry crossing:

Book your Flight:

Take a look at a selection of self catering by region in France:

Alsace – Aquitane – Ardeche – Auvergne – Brittany – Burgundy – Centre – Champagne-Ardenne – Corsica – Franche-Comte – Ile de France – Languedoc-Roussillon – Limousin – Lorraine – Lower Normandy – Midi-Pyrenees – Nord-Pas-de-Calais – Normandy – Pays de la Loire – Picardy – Poitou-Charentes – Provence-Alpes-Cote-d’Azur – Rhone-Alpes – Upper Normandy – Vosges -

48 hour special – from just £99 return

Take advantage of a special 48 hour fare on the majority of Brittany Ferry services to France for travel throughout October, November and into December. Prices start from just £99 return for a car and two passengers.

Experience Spain this autumn – from just £249 return

Cruise from Portsmouth or Plymouth to Santander and stay for any length of time, as long as you depart after 1st November and return by 15th December.
This special fare is for a standard car and two passengers and also includes a cabin each way – saving you a minimum of £170.

Find out more about these offers>. See website for full terms and conditions.

You can also find some great accommodation in France and Spain with cottages, villas, gites, chalets and more available this autumn.

• Self catering apartments, cottages and villas in France
• Self catering apartments, cottages and villas in Spain

Help is at hand for many parents at some of the family holiday parks in the UK, France and the rest of Europe with organised children’s clubs and activities.  So what can you expect from a holiday park kids club and are they worth seeking out on your holiday.

Eurocamp and Keycamp have well established childrens clubs at a number of sites in France and Europe.  The clubs have been developed over the years to bring together kids of similar ages, likes and abilities. And as result, they have built a number of different clubs ranging from Base, to keep the teenagers entertained, to Tumble Tots and free swimming lessons for toddlers! Importantly the clubs are run by the Eurocamp and Keycamp couriers who have all been police checked and trained to look after and entertain your children in a safe environment.  Here is a run down of the Eurocamp and Keycamp clubs:

• Fun Station 4 All (ages 4-12).  There are plenty of activities available to keep everyone entertained and a great way to make lots of new friends. Where numbers allow, kids will be split into two age groups. 4 to 9 year olds in one group and 10 to 12 year olds in another group. This will allow 4 to 9 year olds to focus on Fun Station activities more appropriate to their age group whilst older kids will do an Energy session.
• Leo’s Fun Station (ages 4-6). Leo’s Fun Station is so much fun it’s not long before everybody’s taking part and enjoying all the fun activities including face painting, dressing up, playing pirates or setting off on Leo’s nature trail. And dont forget to keep a look out for Leo the Lion as he may pop in to join in all the fun!
• 7+ Funstation (ages 7-9). At this age kids love joining in and are more confident about making new friends without mum and dad around. There’s a real mix of activities on offer from arts and crafts to sports plus discos, talent shows and so much more. 7+Fun Station for kids aged 7 to 9 years is perfect for making lots of new friends and having tonnes of fun
• Energy (ages 10-12). With cool activities and a constant change of pace Energy is just the thing for kids aged 10-12 years old. This free club will keep them happy, active and entertained at all times whilst making lots of new friends at the same time.
• Base (ages 13-17). Base is a chance for teenagers to meet new friends and hang out with in a relaxed environment. There is no fixed structure to Base stucture to Base sessions as teenagers have a choice of which activities they would like to do, which guarantees a good time even if they just want to sit back and chat. Base couriers help to host activities as well as get-together like pizza evenings and beach parties.
• Mini Fun Station (ages 6 months-5years). Mini Fun Station is especially designed for pre-school children aged 6 months to 5 years old. It offers free supervised fun in a relaxed and sociable environment. There are indoor and outdoor activities all run by our fully trained couriers who ensure our tiniest tots are well taken care of. All children must be accompanied by their parent/guardian, which is a perfect opportunity for you to meet other parents or just sit back and watch whilst your little one has loads of fun and makes new friends.
• Soccer Station (ages 5-16). Soccer Station is especially for football mad boys and girls aged 5-16 years who want to learn new soccer skills, kick a ball around and make loads of new friends. The coaches are FA qualified and trained and selected by partners King’s Camps. Each session is split in to 3 age groups with a maximum number of players in each to ensure everyone is involved and picks up new football skills. Soccer Station is pre-bookable so make sure you book your place early to avoid being shown a red card!
• Tumble Tots (ages crawling-5). With Tumble Tots, Britain’s top provider of active physical play for young children, they offer you the chance to enjoy the Tumble Tots experience free on holiday. There are 4 groups catering for specific age ranges, ensuring all children are taking part in activities suitable to their age group, including Gymbabes sessions for babies from 6 months. All sessions use brightly coloured equipment designed to develop skills in balance, agility, climbing and co-ordination, and include fun rhymes and action songs which ensures everyone is taking part in all the fun!

We have had children attend many years of Leo’s, 7+ Funstation and Energy and can say that they have been brilliant and the children have seen it as one of the most important part of their holiday…. in fact keeping them out of the clubs so we could actually see them turned out to be the real challenge!

The clubs generally run morning and afternoon for 2-3 hours.  You simply arrive before the beginning of the club to sign your child in and then leave it all to the courier…. within minutes your children are playing and having fun.  And, for you, its a few hours to chill out, relax, unwind etc… you have to stay on the park but a few hours freedom to do your own thing means that you to can enjoy your holiday.  The value of this free time is not to be underestimated and for both children and parents some time apart makes the time together even more fun.

Clubs are also organised by other Euro holiday park operators including Canvas Holidays and Siblu.

Canvas Holidays runs FamilyExtra, an exclusive family activity programme as well as:

• Hoopi’s (ages 4-11). Hoopi’s children’s club is available on selected campsites for children aged between 4 and 11. Hoopi Club meets 6 days a week at Hoopi’s own tent – once in the morning and again in the afternoon. Club activities are designed to suit both younger and older children, ranging from sports and games for the boisterous to more sedate activities for when all their energy is used up.
• Activities for 12-18 years. FamilyExtra offers a great place for teenagers to hang out and try something new. Our FamilyExtra staff organise a weekly programme of sporting and social events for teenagers aged between 12 and 18. They can take part in exciting pool based activities such as canoeing and snorkelling, and even learn to walk on water without getting wet with WaterWalkerz. Back on dry land, teenagers can try out action-packed sessions like Circus Skills, Disc Golf, Movie Maker and Aeroball.

Siblu offers four clubs, ranging from 1 year olds up to 14 year olds.  These clubs are great for providing the space for children to meet up, do some fun activities and make some new friends of varying different nationalities.

Click on the links below for more information about the different children’s clubs.

• 1-4 year olds (bubbles). If you’re 1-4 years old Bubbles is the place for you. With non-stop play and fun, Bubbles the baby whale knows you’ll just love it. Enjoy toys, games, waterplay and sandpits, all with new friends.
• 5-9 year olds (pirate club). Ooh ar me hearties! Leave your parents at home and come and join the fun with Max, Patch and Lili from Crystal Island. From art attacks and treasure hunts to water fights and sports competitions, the fun never stops! But don’t forget that Pirate Pong might be just around the corner.. Are you ready for the adventure to begin?
• 5-12 years olds (club max). Live life to the max at our siblu selection parcs with Max the Mouse’s very own club. Maximum fun guaranteed, from art attacks and treasure hunts to water fights and sports competitions. So what are you waiting for.. let the adventures begin!
• 10-14 year olds (barracudas). Calling all teens! Chill out, relax and get ready to take a bite of the action. Meet new mates and then join them for team tasks, sports, competitions and more, or be a star yourself at a Barracudas talent show.

So where do you find kids clubs?

Family holidays in France with Kids Clubs and/or toddler friendly: Alps, Brittany, Burgundy, Cote d’Azur, Dordogne, Gascony, Jura, Languedoc, Loire Valley, Normandy, Paris, Picardy, Riviera, Rouissillon, Royan, Vendee

Family holidays in Spain with Kids Clubs and/or toddler friendly: Costa Brava, Costa del Sol, Costa Dorada, Costa Verde

Family holidays in Italy with Kids Clubs and/or toddler friendly: Adriatic Coast, Corsica, Italian Lakes, Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscany

Benefits of a ski-drive holiday

• Freedom and flexibility: with your own car you can decide your own route and take as much as you like
• Hassle-free: airport parking, long check-in queues. Who needs them?
• Cut out stress: sleep overnight and drive at your own pace
• So much fun: restaurants, bars, cinemas, shops? Our ferries have them all
• Top value: loading up with basics for a self-catering holiday reduces resort shopping to the minimum
• More choice: fancy a change – drive to a nearby resort for the day

Brittany Ferries offers a fine range of hotels and self-catering apartments in the French Alps and the most cost-effective and enjoyable ways of getting to them. You can mix and match any of our ski holidays with any of their routes, crossing during the day or overnight to create your ideal itinerary. Take a look at a selection of great villas and apartments in France>

Brittany Ferries Early Booking Offer

Simply book any ski holiday before 19th October 2010 and they will give you a free 4 berth inside cabin on your outward crossing. Offer available all season except for travel to France between 17/12/10 and 02/01/11 inclusive. Subject to availability. Click here for more about this offer>

• Hotel Accommodation including breakfast

• Tickets for the 2 Disney® Parks for each day

• AND Transport with Air France, Eurostar , Flybe or P&O Ferries

PLUS

• Kids under 7 stay and play absolutely FREE, when dates coincide!

Just book by 30th September for selected arrivals between 1st September 2010 and 5th April 2011.

You have to book by Noon 27th July 2010 for selected arrivals between 23rd July and 30th September 2010.

Find out more about this DisneyLand Paris offer>

See full terms of offer

Atlantic coast, sandy beaches, good weather, stunning scenery, great holidays parks, and all a relatively short drive from the ferry… it really does have it all.  Don’t believe us, check out what the Sunday Mirror said.

So what do you think, is the Vendee the best or where do you think is better?

If you are looking for a holiday in the Vendee region of France then take a look at some of the great places to stay….

• Holiday parks in the Vendee – chalet, mobile home, caravan and tent accommodation
• Self catering in the Vendee – villa and apartment accommodation