10 of the best family-friendly campsites and holiday parks in France with water parks

Pitches are often delineated by hedges and planting, giving your children space to crawl or run around your outdoor holiday home. You can bring your own tent or caravan but if you don’t have – or want to buy – your own, you can hire a motorhome in France or in some cases hire a pre-erected tent on the campsite – taking away all the hassle of working out how to build your family tent.

Alongside traditional pitches, the vast majority of French campsites also offer rental units, including mobile homes, chalets and cottages, with bathrooms and basic cooking equipment inside.

France is a hugely popular holiday destination and is set to cement itself as the most visited country in the world, according to GlobalData, which estimates that the country will attract 93.7 million international travellers by 2025.

The country has a huge amount to offer families of all ages – beautiful countryside, superb beaches, historic cities, magnificent mountains and of course fabulous food. Each of the 13 regions offer something different – from topography and culture to cuisine and weather – but what is consistently brilliant across France are its campsites.

Holiday parks in France are in a league of their own and many of them are squarely aimed at families with young children, with facilities such as water parks, activity centres and children’s clubs run by welcoming staff.

They are also numerous: France has more campsites than any other country in Europe and tend to be spotlessly clean and well-equipped, with onsite grocery shops, bakeries selling freshly made croissants and restaurants serving regional cuisine. Consequently, they’re popular: according to the Fédération Française des Campeurs, Caravaniers et Camping-Caristes, in 2021, a whopping 22 million campers spent 129 million nights sleeping under canvas in the country.

For more holiday inspiration, take a look at our roundup of the best family hotels in Crete, best family holidays in Ibiza, or best family hotels in Gran Canaria. Or, if you're staying in the UK this year, we also have a roundup of the best Devon family hotels.

We've picked out the country's best campsite for families which either have waterparks on site, or very close by.

10 of the best campsites in France with water parks — at a glance

• Best campsite for babies and toddlers: La Croix Du Vieux Point, Berny-Rivière, Picardie La Croix Du Vieux Pont
• Best for entertainment: Le Château, Saint Hilaire De Riez, the Vendée Le Château
• Best campsite for range of pools and accommodation: Les Ormes, Dol-de-Bretagne, Brittany Les Ormes
• Best campsite for beach access: Aloha Beach Camp, Sérignan-Plage Aloha Camping
• Best campsite for kids of all ages: Camping La Vallée, Houlgate, Normandy Camping La Vallée
• Best campsite for learning to swim: Airotel L'Ocean, Lacanau Océan, Gironde Airotel L'Ocean
  
• Best campsite for bigger families: Château de Lez-Eaux, nr Granville, Normandy Château de Lez-Eaux
• Best campsite for (would-be) Francophones: Les Mimosas, Languedoc Roussillon Les Mimosas
• Best campsite for creature comforts: Les Mouettes, Les Carantec, Brittany Les Mouettes
• Best campsite for eating out: La Sirène, Argelès-sur-Mer, Roussillon La Sirène

Which region of France to visit?

Planning a camping trip means the weather will play a big part in your destination. Northern France tends to have weather similar to that of England and Belgium, so it’s warm and sunny during the summer months but winters tend to be rainy and cloudy, so camping is best done during the warmest months of July and August.

Summers in southern France can be very hot and the temperatures are consistently warmer than in the north throughout the year, which means camping-friendly weather from late spring to early autumn. The north of France offers a mix of history, culture, architecture and impressive scenery, especially along the Atlantic coastline, while the south of the country is famed for its glamorous cities, sandy Mediterranean beaches and colourful villages.

What are the flight times from the UK?

• A flight from London to Paris takes 1 hour 15 minutes
• A flight from London to Nice will take 2 hours and 10 minutes
• A flight from London to Toulouse (in the south of France) takes 1 hour and 50 minutes.

When is the best time of year to go camping in France?

Although some French campsites are open year-round, the vast majority are open from April to October. The best time to camp is between June and September, with high season considered July and August, when it tends to be hottest, driest and busiest. Camping with young children means you may not be tied to traditional school holidays, so June and September can be quieter and often less expensive.

What swimwear can you wear in France?

In France, many places have very strict rules about what can and can’t be worn in swimming pools and water parks. For men and boys, baggy shorts or Bermuda shorts are not permitted – they’ll need to wear close-fitting shorts, jammers or tight trunks.

About our picks

With 7,592 campsites in France offering 872,647 pitches, there really is something to suit everyone. Here, we’ve honed in on camping grounds with water parks, which are always a massive hit with young children who enjoy splashing in paddling pools, playing with fountains and tipping buckets, slipping down exciting water slides, bobbing along lazy rivers, jumping in wave pools and swimming in warm water indoors and outside. We’ve chosen the 10 best campsites with water parks to help families with young children get the very best out of their holiday to France.

Here's our pick of the best French campsites with waterparks for your family

1. Camping La Croix Du Vieux Pont, Berny-Rivière, Picardie

— Best for babies and toddlers

Accommodation Tents, caravans and motorhomes, plus rental mobile homes, apartments and wooden chalets | Pitches 230 | Price from 140€ for 4 nights for 4 people in August | Facilities Shower and WC blocks, 2 bars, 2 restaurants, takeaway food, launderette, car wash, supermarket and bakery | Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport 44 miles | Kids' club The campsite runs its own Super Fun Station kids’ clubs, with free supervised activities for children aged 0-4, 4-6, 6-9, 9-12 and 13-17 years 6 days a week. Free to children staying on the campsite.

Campsite: A 5-star campsite-village in the heart of lush nature in Picardie, Camping La Croix Du Vieux Pont is less than an hour from Paris, making it easy to get to from the capital by train or car, and the ideal place to stay if you want to combine sightseeing with your camping holiday. It’s also close to several popular family-friendly theme parks, including Le Parc Asterix and Disneyland Paris, which are sure to thrill children of all ages – and adults too.

On-site activities include laser tag, bowling, a games room with a soft play area for younger children, mini-golf and archery (charges apply). Free activities include lovely outdoor playgrounds spread around the grounds, as well as a man-made lakeside beach – buckets and spades at the ready! There are 4 pools, including an outdoor pool with a lazy river and a heated pool with a retractable roof.

Parent tester Emma, says: “We love Camping la Croix de Vieux Pont as it has camping pitches and offers Eurocamp. It’s just two and a half hours from Calais, which is a short enough journey to do with little ones, an hour from Park Asterix and about 90 minutes from Disneyland Paris and the campsite runs a coach trip there during high season. The place has great facilities, including several pools and a swimming lake; I’d recommend it to anyone.”

Water park: Aqualudiic is an indoor water play area ideally suited to young children, with water jets, slides and a paddling pool. Older children will appreciate the triple slide that ends in another indoor pool. Access included in the price of your stay.

Pros: Close to Paris, near to theme parks, multiple kids’ clubs, water park ideally suited to babies and toddlers, man-made sandy beach

Cons: Limited slides for older children, most activities available for an extra charge

Book at: La Croix Du Vieux Pont

2. Camping Le Château, Saint Hilaire De Riez in the Vendée

— Best for entertainment

Accommodation Tents, caravans, mobile homes | Pitches 350 | Price from 560€ for a tent or caravan for 4 people for 7 nights in August | Facilities on site Shower and WC blocks, bar, restaurant, takeaway, launderette, shop | Nantes Atlantique Airport 49 miles | Kids' club 3 children’s clubs available from the 1st July to the end of August: Tiny club for 3-6 year olds, open daily 10-12pm; Kids’ club for 6-11 year old, open daily 10-12pm and 3-6pm; Teenagers’ club for 12-17 year olds open daily 3-6pm and Thursday and Sunday 8-10pm. All clubs are free of charge and no pre-booking is needed.

Campsite: This 5-star campsite is located in the Pays de La Loire region of western France, with both Nantes Atlantique and La Rochelle airports between a 30- and 90-minute drive away. It’s close-ish to the beach and ocean (about 2.5km away) and surrounded by the beautiful nature of the Loire.

The campsite has a decent range of pitches for tents and caravans, as well as mobile homes of varying degrees of luxury, plus all the benefits of a quality campsite, including a host of on-site amenities such as a huge playground, games room, an obstacle course for 6-12 year olds and a park with 5 giant inflatables open 6 days a week.

What stands out here is the entertainment team who are on duty all week and host a comprehensive array of activities for adults – think aqua aerobics and orienteering – and kids’ clubs, ping pong tournaments and football matches for children, plus evening shows 7 nights a week.

Water park: As well as one indoor pool and two outdoor pools that are suitable for all ages, Aqua Toon, a dedicated toddler pool, is effectively a playground in shallow water. There are 4 slides in total – for older children (10+ years) and adult daredevils, there are 2 12m slides: Space Hole and Speed Ball. Less adventurous types can watch the action from the jacuzzi. Best of all, water is kept at an inviting 28°C, which is perfect for playing and gentle swimming in the outdoor rectangular pool. Entry is included in the price of a stay at the campsite.

Pros: Separate toddler pool, exciting slides for older children, dedicated entertainment team on duty all week and every evening, great range of kids’ clubs

Cons: It's a smaller park so pitches get booked up quickly

Book at: Le Château

3. Domaines Les Ormes, Dol-de-Bretagne, Brittany

— Best for range of pools and accommodation

Accommodation Tents, caravans and motorhomes, pre-erected tents, mobile homes, lodges including treehouses, camping huts and cabins, raft houses | Pitches 134 for tents and caravans; 578 units of accommodation | Price from 74€ per night/518€ per week for a family of 4 in August for a pitch without electricity | Facilities on site Shower and WC blocks, 3 restaurants, bistro, brasserie and pizzeria, 3 bars, 1 mini supermarket including souvenir shop, launderette, cash point, fitness room available at the hotel, free wifi | Dinard airport 25 miles | Kids' club From 4 to 12 years old in the designated children’s club, free to guests and bookable on the morning of the session. Activities include arts and crafts, kids’ disco and games. Access is included in the price of your stay.

Campsite: Set in the 200-hectare park of Les Ormes, this exceptionally well-specced campsite is part of a resort that encompasses an equestrian centre, golf course and hotel. Alongside horse riding and 3 types of golf (an 18-hole course, footgolf and crazy golf), activities include archery, a tree adventure course, zip wire and water skiing.

But the main draw for young families are the indoor and outdoor pools, including an aquatic park that boasts the region’s only wave pool, as well as a wild river and water games. There are also 3 further pools by the hotel and club house which are great for practising swimming skills. Destinations for days out are on the doorstep but with so much to do onsite – there’s even a summer market in July and August, where local sellers set up stalls every Tuesday afternoon selling clothing, food and local products – you and your family probably won’t want to leave.

MFM Top Testers Club member Becky, who visited in 2022 with her children who were 2 and 4 years old, says: “Domaines Les Ormes is a fantastic family campsite with loads of different accommodation options, from tents and mobile homes to cabins, treehouses and gites. The best bit is the amazing indoor pool complex which has slides, a wave pool, lazy river and lots of pirate theming. We were in there every day, regardless of the weather. There’s an outdoor pool complex with slides too. Other hits were the onsite pony stables and treetop ropes course. To top it all off, the campsite is only a 30-minute drive from St Malo ferry port and there are lots of good days out nearby, including Mont Saint-Michel. Our children are still talking about the pool and we will be returning this summer with our baby in tow!”

Water park: The water park, called The Dome, is an aquatic space with a tropical atmosphere and has both indoor and outdoor pools. It boasts the west of France’s only wave pool, as well as a children's pool, slides and hot tubs. The outdoor Aquapark is heated and features slides, a swimming area and a sprinkling mushroom that delights younger children. Access is included in the price of your stay.

Pros: Expansive range of accommodation and activities on site

Cons: Only one kids’ club

Book at: Les Ormes

4. Aloha Beach Camp, Languedoc-Roussillon

— Best for beach access

Accommodation Pitches for tents, caravans and campervans, mobile homes, caravan, Airstream trailer and cottages | Pitches 208 for tents, campervans and motorhomes; 222 rental units | Price from 230€ for a motorhome pitch for four people in August | Facilities on site Shower and WC blocks, supermarket including bakery, 3 restaurants, free wifi, fitness room, ice cream kiosk, launderette, electric car charging point | Béziers airport 10 miles | Kids' club Club Babies for 0-4 year olds (parental supervision required), Club Kids for 5-7 year olds, Club Juniors for 8-12 year olds and Club Teens for 13-17 year olds. All clubs are free and bookable on the day.

Campsite: A Hawaiian-themed haven right on one of the Mediterranean’s finest beaches, Aloha Village is an immaculately kept 5-star campsite that is charming and colourful, with quirky accommodation that includes an Airstream trailer. There are several pitch options to choose from, including a premium version that includes electricity, water, private bathroom, garden furniture and wifi. Opt for a pitch close to the beach and you’ll fall asleep to the sound of waves lapping at the shore then wake up to the gorgeous sunrise.

There are lots of free activities included in a stay, including basketball, dance lessons and even a skate park, and between them, the beautiful beach and the water park and pools, children will be kept thoroughly entertained. Feefo independent product rating awarded Camping Aloha 4.3 out of 5 stars, with several reviewers praising the amazing facilities, perfect location and friendly staff.

Water park: The 600m² water park is dotted with palm trees and peppered with pools and slides, including an inner-tube chute, paddling pool, aqua playground that is perfect for younger children and a lap pool for serious swimmers. Indoor and outdoor pools are heated and the indoor pool features a whirlpool and hydro-massage jets. Entry is free to campsite residents.

Pros: Site is right on the beach, good selection of kids’ clubs including one for teenagers

Cons: Early booking essential to get a good pitch

Book at: Eurocamp, Aloha Beach Camp

5. La Vallée, Normandy

— Best for kids of all ages

Accommodation Pitches for tents and motorhomes, plus mobile homes and chalets | Pitches 372 | Price from £1,792.80 for 7 nights for a 2-bedroom mobile home for a family of 4 in August | Facilities on site Shower and WC blocks, supermarket, takeaway, bar/restaurant, launderette | Caen airport 28 miles | Kids' club The campsite runs its own Super Fun Station kids’ clubs, with free supervised activities for children aged 0-4, 4-6, 6-9, 9-12 and 13-17 years 6 days a week

Campsite: Situated in Normandy, northern France, this medium-sized campsite is close to Deauville airport but can also be reached from the ports of Caen and Calais – the drive from Calais to Normandy takes around 3.5 hours. The emphasis here is on activities, which are offered throughout the day and into the evening by the fun-loving staff. There are football matches and volleyball tournaments to be played, treasure hunts to embark on and two playgrounds to be explored. Get your silly on with Sumo wrestling or hopping kangaroo bikes or try your hand at traditional French bowling known as Pétanque.

At night, expect quizzes, karaoke and talent nights. Chill out at the beach, which is less than 1km away or spend time at the recently renovated and seriously impressive aquatic area. There are several pools to choose from, a water playground for younger children and water slides for children aged 7+ and 12+, meaning older siblings won’t feel left out of the aqua fun. Parent tester Sammi says: “Eurocamp is fantastic and La Valée is no exception. It’s a great, affordable place to stay with plenty of things for children to do.”

Water park: La Vallée has 2 outdoor pools, an indoor covered pool and a jacuzzi. There’s a 23m heated outdoor pool, a smaller heated outdoor children's' pool and an indoor heated pool that is suitable for all ages. The outdoor pool complex was extended in 2022, with a brand-new jungle-themed Spray Park suited to toddlers and young children, with small slides, a tipping water bucket and a water cannon. There are separate water slides for children aged 7+ and 12+.

Pros: Close to the beach, teen club for older children

Cons: Only one small shop and one restaurant/bar

Book at: Eurocamp, Camping La Vallée

6. Airotel L’Ocean Camping & Spa, Lacanau, Gironde, southwest France

— Best for learning to swim

Accommodation Tent, campervan, caravan and motorhome pitches and mobile homes to rent | Pitches 180 and 330 mobile homes | Price from 485€ for a tent pitch for 4 people for a week/7 nights | Facilities on site Shower and WC blocks, restaurant, supermarket, launderette, spa | Bordeaux airport 33 miles | Kids’ club Safari Club for 4-12 years old and Teen Club for 12-17 years old, Monday to Friday. Access is included in the price of your stay.

Campsite: Lacanau, in the south west of France, is a popular surfing destination and this large campsite is a stone’s throw from the ocean and a 10-minute walk from one of the most beautiful sandy beaches on the Atlantic Coast. Families bringing their own accommodation – tent, caravan or motorhome – will be pleased to note that every one of the 180 pitches is shaded or semi-shaded, clearly separated and located either in the family area or the young campers’ area. So you won’t be kept up by exuberant teens and your children won’t wake up holidaymakers intent on a lie-in.

And those worried about facilities will be relieved to know the campsite has 3 fully equipped toilet blocks including baby baths, children's toilets and cabins for guests with reduced mobility. The toilets are cleaned non-stop from 7 am to 11 pm in July and August and several times a day in low season.

There’s plenty to do on and around the campsite but the enormous water park which spans indoor and outdoor pools is the main draw and offers the ideal opportunity for your children to learn to swim with qualified lifeguards offering beginner and improver swimming lessons for children over 6 years old for 15€. While your children are mastering their breaststroke, parents can visit the impressive spa, which boasts hammams, a sauna, Nordic shower and treatments. With so much to offer, it’s little surprise that Airotel L’Ocean won a Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award in 2022.

Water park: There are 5,000m² of water fun here: 1,500 of those are covered and heated. Indoors, there's a wild river, lagoon pool, water slides, massage jets and bubble baths with water heated to a minimum of 28°C. In the summer, once a week, part of the pool area stays open until 10pm and you can enjoy music and disco lights there. Outdoors, there are multi-lane flumes, waterfalls, whirlpools and a paddling pool. Access is included in the price of your stay.

Pros: Spa on-site, teen club available

Cons: Kids’ clubs don’t run on weekends, only 1 restaurant

Book at: Airotel L'Ocean

7. Château de Lez Eaux, Normandy

— Best for larger families/Best for peace and quiet

Accommodation Pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes, rental accommodation including treehouses, mobile homes and a glamping tent | Pitches 229 | Price from 454€ for a standard camping pitch for a family of 4 for a week in August | Facilities on site Shower and WC blocks, takeaway, bar, supermarket, launderette | Dinard airport 56 miles | Kids’ club: 4-12 year olds, Monday-Friday, 9.30am-12pm and 2pm-5pm. Free to residents.

Campsite: This small but perfectly formed 5-star campsite is located in the bay of Mont Saint-Michel in northern France, and sits in the beautiful grounds of a primrose-coloured manor house. Every pitch is well spaced and separated from others by carefully pruned trees and hedges, and each is suitable for up to 6 people, making it an ideal destination for larger families, although you do pay per child, with infants under 2 staying for free and children under 7 charged at a lower rate. There’s even a premium pitch which comes with a private bathroom and kitchen and all mod cons, including hair dryer and microwave – a great option for those who like their creature comforts on a camping holiday.

Great for families who appreciate calmer holidays, the atmosphere on the campsite is quiet and friendly and entertainment focuses on gentle activities including pony riding and nature discovery workshops but there is also a fantastic children’s playground, an inflatable play area and several sports pitches.

The undeniable strength of the campsite is the 1,300m² aquatic complex, which has a paddling pool designed for toddlers and two huge indoor/outdoor waterslides.

Water park: Indoor and heated, it features a paddling pool and water games for children, including a water jet cabin, 2 water slides and watering animals, a 45m water slide and a 75m buoy slide, plus a swimming pool with air jets and a current machine. Outside, there’s a small heated pool that’s suitable for all the family. Access is included in the price of your stay.

Pros: Calm and peaceful atmosphere, large tent pitches

Cons: No restaurant onsite, kids’ club not available on weekends

Book at: Eurocamp, Château de Lez-Eaux

8. Les Mimosas, Languedoc-Roussillon, in Portiragnes, southern France

— Best for (would-be) Francophones

Accommodation Pitches for tents, caravans and camper vans, plus mobile home rental | Pitches 400 | Price from 498€ for a standard camping pitch for 4 people for a week | Facilities on site Shower and WC blocks, supermarket, takeaway, bar-restaurant, meal delivery, option to stay half board | Béziers airport 4 miles | Kids’ club: Kids’ Club for 4-9 year olds, Club Pre-Ados for 10-13 year olds, Club Ados for 14-17 year olds. Open Monday to Friday. Free to guests.

Campsite: Les Mimosas is located in the heart of the sunniest areas in France, on the Canal du Midi and near the picturesque beaches of Portiragnes. This family-friendly resort is located at the edge of the Roque Haute nature reserve and has a wide sandy beach within reach (it’s a stroll away or take a ride on the free shuttle which runs several times a day).

The campsite is hugely popular with French families but isn’t as well known in the UK so is an excellent choice if you’re up for immersing your family in the French language, to learn or improve.

The campsite is very much geared towards families with plenty of activities laid on by the enthusiastic entertainment team. Expect archery and sports tournaments during the day and magic shows at night. Many TripAdvisor reviewers who visited with family praised the “fantastic friendly atmosphere across the whole campsite” and said the “excellent” waterpark is “an absolute paradise for kids".

There’s one restaurant with a phenomenally extensive menu and it also offers takeaway and delivery so you can eat on your pitch, and there’s the option to go half board by booking for a minimum of 5 days for the whole family (20€ per child under 10, 30€ per person from 10+).

Water park: The brightly coloured 4,000m² water park looks just as inviting in real life as it does in the photos. It includes a family swimming pool, a heated children's paddling pool with a castle theme, a wave pool, multi-lane slides and the 17m-high Aquatic Loop slide, plus a dedicated spa area with massage jets. Free entry to campsite residents.

Pros: Teen club available, close to a sandy beach, option to stay half board

Cons: Kids’ clubs not open on weekends, evening entertainment in French, only 1 restaurant

Book at: Les Mimosas

9. Les Mouettes, Caranatec, Finistere, Brittany

— Best for creature comforts

Accommodation Pitches for tents, caravans , plus rental units including pre-erected tents and mobile homes | Pitches 63 camping, 411 rental units | Price from 962€ for a family of 4 for a week in August | Facilities on site: Shower and WC blocks, restaurant, cafe, takeaway, bar, supermarket, launderette, spa, fitness room | Brest airport 37 miles | Kids’ club: Ouistiti Club for 3 to 5 year olds, open July and August, morning only; Yelloh Kids’ Club for 5-7 year olds; Yelloh Juniors Club for 8-12 year olds, open 5 out of 7 days in low season, 6 out of 7 days in July and August; playroom for 0 to 5 year olds under parental supervision open year-round. Playroom and all clubs are free to children staying on the campsite.

Campsite: This 5-star campsite sits on one of Brittany’s most beautiful tourist destinations: the Pink Granit Coast. In the heart of a magnificent 14-hectare garden resort with views over the Bay of Morlaix, Les Mouettes is a lively, tropical paradise and considered one of the most picturesque campsites in France.

It’s also a great place to camp for those who like their creature comforts as every one of the 63 pitches comes with private, heated toilet facilities which is basically like having a heated ensuite for your tent or campervan which is ideal for those who can’t face walking to a communal wash block.

The campsite offers a wide range of leisure facilities as well as Brittany’s biggest water park, with something to offer children of all ages and their parents. On dry land, there’s horse and pony riding available onsite for an extra cost but you don’t have to spend money to enjoy activities such as sports, treasure hunts and entertainment put on by the cheerful multilingual staff.

In the evenings, unwind with dinner or a drink on the terrace and join in with organised quizzes, bingo and talent contests. There are plenty of options to keep you busy in the campsite day and night but if you want to explore, there’s a lovely beach and the small town of Carantec is only 1.5km away. Or slope off to the on-site beauty and massage salon for a massage and manicure.

Water park: Boasting the largest water park in Brittany, there are three giant slides and a tropical lazy river (for 6+ year olds) in the Blue Lagoon. For younger guests aged up to 10, there’s a 2,000m² AquaGarden – an aquatic playground with gentle water slides, jets and water games. There’s also Balnéoh! the covered aquatic area, where younger children will find a magic mushroom, fun water jets and a mini-toboggan.

For adults in need of some aqua alone-time (after all, it’s your holiday too), there’s an aqua gym, carpet of micro-bubbles, message jets and whirlpool baths. Free entry to campsite residents.

Pros: Several dining options, choice of children’s clubs, en-suite camping facilities, spa and salon on site

Cons: No teens club, pitches get booked up very quickly

Book at: Les Mouettes, Eurocamp

10. La Sirène, Argelès-sur-Mer, Roussillon

— Best for eating out

Accommodation Rental accommodation including mobile homes | Pitches 1200 | Price from 1099€ for a holiday cottage for a family of 4 for 1 week | Facilities on site Shower and WC blocks, 3 restaurants, 1 ice-cream parlour, 2 bars, takeaway, supermarket, general store, launderette, health club | Perpignan airport 17 miles | Kids’ club Fantasy Club for 3-5 year olds, Monday-Friday, mornings only; Syppox Club for 6-9 year olds and Fun Club for 10-12 year olds open daily; The Studio for 13-17 year olds, open every day and evening except Saturday during school holidays and all weekend in the low season. Free of charge. Access included in the price of your stay.

Campsite: This large and lively family-run parc is situated at the foot of the Pyrenees, within walking distance of both the pretty seaside town of Argelès-sur-Mer and the beautiful sandy shoreline of the Languedoc coast. In high season, a shuttle bus runs between the campsite and beach, helpful when you're toting buckets and spades. The expansive parc is well planted with lush Mediterranean vegetation and palm trees, which lend it a distinctly tropical vibe and provide plenty of shade. La Sirène is also just under an hour's drive from Spain, making it handy for day trips across the border.

La Sirène has absolutely everything you need for a successful family camping holiday: a supermarket, a general store, super friendly reception staff and even a place to borrow a baby changing mat if you've arrived without your own. Just over the road, sister site L'Hippocampe is a car-free peaceful paradise where you'll find further facilities, including a pool and health club. Staying at one place gives you access to the amenities of the other so there’s no need to miss out on any of the activities, such as family-friendly sports, mini and adult discos and excellent evening entertainment.

One of the many things that sets this campsite apart from others in this region is the quality and range of food available on site. Choose from local cuisine served by the beach, authentic Italian dishes at Josette Et Claude resturant, Asian-themed menus at Bambou restaurant in the adjoining campsite, and deli and take-away meals at the Sirène Arena complex - a hub that also boasts an ice-cream parlour.

Water park: Hold on to your hats (or should that be swimming caps) – La Sirène's recently expanded 10,000 square-meters water park is simply spectacular, with 2,000 square-meters of pools, including a large outdoor lagoon that a children's area and water slides, a covered and heated swimming pool that's adults-only in the high season and a covered and heated children's water play area with three giant water slides and a 4-lane multi slide. Access included in the price of your stay.

Pros: Teen club available, plenty of restaurants on site, access to pedestrian-only sister site over the road

Cons: Kids' club for youngest children open mornings only, no tent or caravan pitches

Book at: La Sirène, Eurocamp

For more holiday inspiration, take a look at our round-up of the best family hotels in Crete, or best family hotels in Gran Canaria. Or, if you're staying in the UK this year, we also have a round-up of the best Devon family hotels.