{"id":35823,"date":"2022-12-20T15:47:43","date_gmt":"2022-12-20T14:47:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.suncamp.nl\/blog\/?post_type=listing&p=35823"},"modified":"2022-12-20T15:47:43","modified_gmt":"2022-12-20T14:47:43","slug":"on-holiday-with-children-at-ile-de-re","status":"publish","type":"listing","link":"https:\/\/www.suncamp.co.uk\/blog\/listing\/on-holiday-with-children-at-ile-de-re\/","title":{"rendered":"On holiday with children at \u00cele de R\u00e9"},"content":{"rendered":"

Picturesque villages with lovely harbours, endless sandy beaches and the marvellous sea. But there are also kilometres of cycling paths and culinary enjoyment at the best markets and in excellent restaurants … This, in a nutshell, is our summer holiday on the sun-drenched French peninsula \u00cele de R\u00e9.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I enjoyed a wonderful holiday on the White Island<\/em>, together with my husband and two sons (aged three and six) from 25 July to 8 August 2022. Travel with me on a journey to this magnificent and child-friendly place, and I will tell you about our experiences.<\/p>\n

On our way to sunny \u00cele de R\u00e9<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The beautiful peninsula \u00cele de R\u00e9 is located in the Charente-Maritime<\/a> department, about a ten-hour drive from the Netherlands. On the way there, we stopped just under Paris, allowing all of us to relax so that we were well-rested at the start of our holiday. On the way back, however, we drove all the way home without stopping, which was possible even with a toddler and a pre-schooler.<\/p>\n

To get to the island, we took the bridge at La Rochelle. The toll was \u20ac 16. Only a few minutes\u2019 drive and we were already at the other side, which immediately put us in a holiday mood. While a thick layer of clouds shed rain showers on the mainland, the sun shone brightly on \u00cele de R\u00e9. On our right side, there was the vast Page Nord, where kite boarders regularly demonstrate their skill. On the left there were colourful sailboats in the rippling seawater. We soon ran into the first campsites. It immediately felt like life slowed down and I just knew that this island would give us two weeks of enjoyment and relaxation!<\/p>\n

\"At

At La Rochelle, take the bridge to \u00cele de R\u00e9.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Top campsites at La Flotte<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As befits a popular holiday destination, there are many child-friendly campsites from which to choose. I am very happy with the campsite that we chose. We stayed at the ACSI campsite Camping La Graineti\u00e8re<\/a>, which is perfectly located in the middle of the island near the village La Flotte. This campsite is a relaxed location that focuses on peace and quiet, but there is also enough to do. Our children had fun amusing themselves in the beautifully constructed swimming pool, the amazing (and safe!) playground, and they enjoyed the entertainment in the evening. The campsite is attractively landscaped and very well maintained.
\nAlthough \u00cele de R\u00e9 is not very big (about the size of Texel), it is very long. If you want to go on a lot of excursions on the island, I recommend choosing a destination in centre of the island. For example, La Flotte, Saint-Martin-de-R\u00e9 and Le Bois-Plage-en-R\u00e9. These locations also have various bicycle paths with great routes on the island.<\/p>\n

\"Camping

The beautiful swimming pool at Camping La Graineti\u00e8re.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Cycling on \u00cele de R\u00e9<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u00cele de R\u00e9 is an outstanding example of a cycling island. Not only does a bicycle contribute to a wonderful holiday feeling and continuous inhaling of the fresh sea air, but it is also a good deal more practical than going out with the car. The villages on \u00cele de R\u00e9 have narrow streets and few parking places. So leave the car where it is and get moving!<\/p>\n

There are plenty of good bicycle paths to follow on endless bicycle rides to the beach, through the woods and along the many quaint villages. This does mean that there are a lot of cyclists during the high season, which may not be so nice for inexperienced or young cyclists. For this holiday, I brought my own bicycle with a child\u2019s seat on the back for my youngest son. My husband rented a bicycle from the campsite with a trail-a-bike for our oldest son, which was ideal! It meant that our oldest child could pedal too but did not really have to watch out for traffic or steer.<\/p>\n

Beautiful child-friendly beach with shallow water<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The south side of \u00cele de R\u00e9 has the wonderfully wide beaches Plage de Gollandi\u00e8res and Plage de Grenettes. Both are about 20 minutes from Camping La Graineti\u00e8re.
\nWe went to one of these amazing beaches almost every day. This is certainly a good spot to stay with small children. You can park your bicycle or car close to the beach, which is rather nice when you are loaded down with, for example, a stroller, beach tent, toys and a cool box with food and drink and must walk to the beach. These beaches are also very wide, which allows you to keep an eye on the children. The water depth increases ever so gradually, and the little ones can safely play in the rippling waves. Another major plus point is the presence of a lifeguard. You just feel that much safer.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n