South of France Camping Wow Found a gem!

We visit lots of campsites but now and again you get pleasantly surprised when one jumps out and really grabs you and this one really has! Its not the biggest, flashiest or for once most expensive just French and lovely. Its near Sommieres and Arles so well south for good weather. The site is family owned and run and very personal. The facilities are all spotlessly clean. We tested the smallish but adequate pool and jacuzzi yesterday and they are perfect. The day was rounded off with a lovely clean and hot shower and a super meal in the restaurant that really wasn't expensive. Yes there is a kids animation programme here but its far from noise. The pitches are all reasonably flat and within woodland. It seems so quiet and away from it all that I can't believe that I am in the South of France in high season. Maybe I shouldn't blog about it as I will definitely be coming here again and I won't be able to get on! OK so there's no beach. The nearest one is 25 miles away at LA Grand Motte ( twinned with Hornsea in east yorks) so its still possible for a day at the beach.

Don't ask me who the geezer is in the restaurant but even the table presentation was superb. A candlelit dinner on a campsite?! ( yes I was with Dave so it was totally wasted on him!)

The campsite is called Left Mas de Reilhe and is in a small village called Crespian. Co ordinates n 43.87850 e 4.09590 Really recommend this place.

Whilst having our meal last night we were joined by an Aussie travelling on his own. I think he was pleased to find us that could nearly speak english. Interesting guy initially as he is touring France on his own with a tent. Whether it was the bottle of wine taking effect but he became so boring! If Australia is so much bigger and better at everything why the bloody hell are you here?! I became a bitch ( well more so than normal!) I pointed to the 15th century farmhouse in which the campsite was based " hmm history. To think australia hadn't even been discovered when this place was built!" On that note he left not long after! He had obviously upset a Frenchman too. Apparently he had pitched his tent and told the Frenchman that he was Australian. The Frenchman told him to move his tent and he did! ' Back home I'd have sorted him!" All I can suggest with his attitude is that he hurries up back home! It takes all sorts to make a world and I found the one last night! Now I'm such a wuss that I'm going to make sure that he's gone before I post this as he might just come and sort me out!http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/overseas-holidays/sites/france/south-of-france/camping-le-mas-de-reilhe

Camping in s france-on the move again

Wow we have had a busy weekend inspecting sites and today its finally time to move on.
We have stayed at Domains due Home for two weeks. I have to admit that its not a campsite that I would normally have chosen but with children its perfect. The site quietened down a lot yesterday as a lot left. There's one big thing wrong with this site...the other campers! As you would expect most of them have kids. I love kids but for gods sake look after them! They just run riot. Maybe I was a strict parent but the toilets are not a playground! I feel sorry for the campsite staff.There is everything here a child could want but the parents have to get off their butts and take them there!  Rant over!
With it being so close to the beach the pitches are..dusty/sandy so I'm actually looking forward to camping on grass later on when we move slightly more inland to the Names area. It certainly looks a quieter area.
Talking of quietness. We went from one extreme to the other on Sunday. We went to look at a site in the pyranees. The sat Navy lies. It said a two hour journey...the silly thing didn't know it was high season and 4 hours later we arrived! We were very close to Andorra. Whether its me but why would anyone want to camp on the side of a mountain?! 'Levelling blocks may be required' What?! Levelling blocks the height of the Eiffel tower then maybe! What was even worse is the temperature dropped from 29 on the coast to 13 degrees! Oh yes 5 during the night, but don't worry if you are cold the campsite will lend out blankets! What?! Its maybe ideal for cyclists or serious walkers but don't put me in that bloody category!
When we were coming back down to civilisation we passed two separate incidents of cars on fire! Eeks possibly through over braking? Anyhow we passed a Lidl supermarket so we thought we would stop. All I can say is that you must be extremely vulnerable up there..in Lidls car park..yes Lidls not Harrods in the car park were two security men patrolling complete with dog! Corr get me out of here! I like peace and quiet and security but helooo..why would anyone want to camp up there?!
All the big sites down here employ security staff so there must really be a problem. On this site its very good but I can't help wonder why people park in remote positions and risk themselves? There is still wild camping down here but nothing like it used to be..hmm I wonder why?!

So I'm waffling on here. I'm quite excited about moving ( sad I know!) The wanderer needs to wander. The sun is shining..next little adventure..getting Dave out of bed! Packed up and away! Au Revoir!

Family camping south of France in high season!

Well all I can say that staying at Domains de Yole has certainly been an experience and really given us some happy memories and excelled at our people watching facilities!
Yes its high season. Yes its busy. Its 5 star so it has absolutely everything here to keep a child happy well everyone its just the other campers at 70 euros a night! Whilst we have been here, we are camped next to the family from hell who surely must have the most miserable child that ever existed. We go to sleep to its crying and wake to the same noise. Its not actually a cry but a whinge-Id give it a bloody whinge and I'm a child lover! Its the parents though who think its a good idea to take it out at 9.30 at night instead of putting the thing to bed. It makes a refreshing change though-Any campsite I usually manage to find the obligatory happy dog!
So last night whilst the thing next door was whinging a Spanish family pulled up opposite. There is every nationality here. A young girl approached me and asked me if I could help her with her gas light as she had lost the base. Doesn't everyone carry a spare base?! She was with her parents and spoke my language fluently. A mixture if French and Spanish..my language is catching on! I went inside the van to find a spare light and as I turned around they were on fire! The parents had lit the unsafe light! Luckily it was put out very quickly but the Spanish camper in particular excel! Needless to say they were grateful if my spare little lamp. ( if only they knew it cost about 90 cents from a Chinese shop in Spain!)
Its lovely to see families having fun together instead of just us white harled nomads but I really don't know how they afford it. At reception yesterday was a lady with 2 kids willing to pay 90 euros a night but couldn't get a space. She was told to come back at 8 am the following day. She's just going to wild camp. Who can blame her? Is she safe though? With all the things in the media about kids school holidays maybe in places such as this they could extend their season and allow parents to take their kids out from June to October? It would certainly make pools etc safer ( 7 lifeguards on duty yesterday!)and everyone's holiday less cramped. The kids would still benefit and you never know the prices could come down a little?! OK so maybe not Ryanair!How mad is it that everyone in Europe is trying to have their holidays in the same places in the space of six weeks?! OK off my soapbox now!
The weather here has been quite good except yesterday when there was strong winds ( no not the baked bean type!) We had promised Molly another day at the beach but...it was hell! Sand everywhere, even the wind shelter collapsed and then it clouded over! I would love to have taken a pic but thank god with all that sand about I didn't! We collected a few shells and survived about an hour so it was off to the campsite farm with granny. I'm still smarting over it 5 euros to see a donkey,2 pigs, a few goats,2 cows and some rabbits! Ever been had?! A farm?! Ahh but don't worry entrance is free if you buy a meal......it would have been about 120 euros for us to have eaten there...what a bargain?! I just paid my 5 euros gracefully and Molly at least seemed to enjoy it! We are in silly season in the south of France! Today is another day and we might try the sand sand sandwiches again! Half of me doesn't want to leave the campsite though as the Spanish I feel are going to provide better entertainment than any animation team could provide..their entrance was flame throwing..I can't help but wonder what their next act will be?!
Ahh well whingy Sasha is up ( we've heard his parents yell at him that much we know his name and the dogs called Elvis!) Oh please...! I'm sure you can picture the scene...the dog escapes and they yell " Elvis!"yes that's a regular source if amusement too. I also wonder if their mothers posess  a full length mirror but that's a rant for another day! Off to get ready for the beach. Have a good day folks!