Review: Yelloh! Village Le Pin Parasol with Al Fresco Holidays in France
At half term we were invited to experience a caravan holiday in France with Al Fresco Holidays. The thought of sun, lungfuls of fresh air and plenty of activities to occupy the kids was too good to pass up. Plus, we were able to bring along friends which was a real bonus as Mr Tin Box couldn’t get the time off work. So, off we set to the Yelloh! Village Pin Parasol campsite in the Vendée region of France.
If you like to skip to the good bits, here’s a video about our stay with Al Fresco Holidays in France:
And here’s an official Al Fresco Holidays video we shot while we were there.
A stay at Yelloh! Village Le Pin Parasol with Al Fresco Holidays, France
Al Fresco have caravans on more than 70 sites in Europe. Pin Parasol is one of its five-star campsites and it’s not hard to understand why. The grounds, bar and 2,500m pool complex are immaculate. Mobile homes and glamping tents are laid out around the park in small clusters with clipped hedges. Over on the touring side of the park there are spacious pitches surrounded by shady trees and colourful flower beds. Since out visit the site has had an upgrade to its main pool and bar complex.
Family entertainment at Yellow! Village Le Pin Parasol
We visited in low season so a lot of the entertainment programme hadn’t yet started but there was still lots for us to do. The kids club ran in the mornings for children aged four plus, there were pool games, and quizzes in the bar during the evening. Our kids had their fill of fun from the pool complex with its four slides, indoor and outdoor heated pools and children’s splash park. They also enjoyed the large playground and bouncy castle by main reception.
During the peak holiday months of July and August there’s even more going on, like pedalos on the nearby lake, circus entertainment once a week, a mini-disco for the kids, and cabaret nights.
Food and shopping
We catered for ourselves during most of our holiday. If you wanted a break from cooking there was an onsite takeaway serving pizzas, chips and burgers. The bar also had a menu of hot food, salads and sandwiches. We ate here twice and, while the food was good, it took an extraordinarily long time to arrive at our table. The longest we waited was an hour and there were only a few other families eating at the time. My advice would be to stock up at one of the large supermarkets in Bretignolles-sur-Mer (20 minutes away) or Brem-sur-Mer (15 minutes away), or visit one of the daily local markets. The onsite shop had basic cupboard supplies, milk and fresh bread, but there was no barbecue meat, fruit or veg.
Overall this is a campsite I would recommend to friends looking for a relaxing family holiday in the French countryside. Even outside of peak season we happily filled our days at the pool, children’s park and playing outside the caravans. Pin Parasol has a lovely feel about it. Its rural location meant that the peace was only interrupted by bird song. And the small groupings of caravans set back from the roadways meant that it felt safe to allow the kids to run around outside.
Things to do near Yelloh! Village Pin Parasol
We managed to tempt the kids away from the Pin Parasol pool with a couple of days out. The campsite is about 20 minutes from the coast. We stumbled upon the beach at Olonne-sur-Mer – a nature reserve complete with 1,200 hectares of woodland, edged by 8km of sandy beach. We loved it so much we visited twice, with only a few surfers for company.
On a cooler day we decided to do something a bit more adventurous and headed for Le Grand Defi, eight minutes down the road. This is an outdoor activity centre with Go Ape-style tree courses, zip lines, paint balling and pony riding. The trails through the trees are graded in difficulty with courses suitable for children as young as two which was perfect for my pre-schoolers. I’ve written more about our great afternoon at Le Grand Defi.
If you’re looking for more reason to visit France in 2018 then there’s plenty going on for families.
The Al Fresco Holidays experience
You can check out all of Al Fresco Holidays’ locations and holidays on its website. The website isn’t the best I’ve seen and the information available varies for each site, but you have the back up of a phone line and online chat facility if you have questions. Once you’ve decided on your holiday you can opt for the hassle-free option of having Al Fresco arrange your flights and car hire, as well as your accommodation. We thought the pre-trip process was seamless, with emails dropping into my inbox in the weeks before, giving us all the details we needed to prepare for our break.
Arriving onsite
In the days before our holiday I started to receive texts from our onsite reps. They greeted us when we arrived and gave us a tour of our caravans. Tracy and Malcolm were brilliant. They were always around to assist and helped us out with tips about the site and local area throughout our stay.
Al Fresco Holidays had their own reception onsite where we could borrow buckets and spades, check out what there was to do in the area and leave messages if we had a query.
Our only disappointment was that our mid-afternoon flights left us short on time to get to the site. We weren’t able to pick up our hire cars and drive an hour and 20 minutes to the site before reception closed. We arrived well after our Al Fresco reps had finished work. They still met us with a smile though! It was also desperately close to campsite takeaway’s closing time. Thankfully we made it and the kids ate before a late bedtime.
This timing mishap was soon forgotten once we started exploring the brilliant facilities of Pin Parasol. I wouldn’t hesitate to book with Al Fresco Holidays again. I might check the details of our journey in a bit more detail though.
Our Al Fresco Holidays Rossini Riviera mobile home
This six-berth mobile home was the perfect base for our caravan holiday in France with plenty of social space both inside and out. There was an open plan kitchen and dining area with a fold out double bed if needed. At either end of the van there were bedrooms – a twin room and double – both with plenty of storage.
I know beds are a personal thing but I like mine firm. The one in our van ticked all the right boxes – it was hands down the best I’ve snoozed on in a mobile home. Next to the twin room there was a toilet. The master bedroom had a good-sized ensuite shower that also opened on to the living area.
Outside there was a large decked area with al fresco dining table, two reclining seats, a clothes airer. The deck was half covered which was great for keeping the sun off us during the day and the damp at bay at night. On the grass there was a sun bed, which I sadly didn’t catch a moment to use.
What we loved about our Al Fresco Holidays break at Yellow! Village Pin Parasol
We had such a great week with Al Fresco Holidays at Yelloh! Village Pin Parasol and came away with plenty of happy memories. Our highlights were spending quality time with our friends, playing with the kids at the pool and the location close to the coast and countryside activities. Our stress levels plummeted and there was plenty of chat about holidaying together again. And with Al Fresco Holidays campsites in five European countries, it’s just a matter of deciding which destination is next!
If you’re planning a trip in France with children you might find my holiday checklist helpful. Have you had a mobile home holiday with Al Fresco Holidays in France or elsewhere in Europe?
Disclosure: my friends and family were guests of Al Fresco Holidays. All opinions are my own.
Pin for later
Wow Claire this looks a lovely holiday for you all and some good warm weather too by the looks of things. That pool and slide look like a real feature. #TriedTested
The slides were brilliant. The girls didn’t want to leave the pool and, to be honest, I had a lot of fun too 🙂
The site really looks like our kind of holiday. As previously mentioned, we’ve travelled with Al Fresco a few times now and I love how laid back the whole experience is. Nothing beats eating delicious fresh croissants on your verandah or decking.
The pool at this site looks like so much fun, as does the play park.
Sam | North East Family Fun Travel Blog recently posted…How Random Acts of Kindness and Community Spirit provide me with Hope
Yes, that! Take me back!! It was really relaxed. I love holidays where we can do what we want at our own pace. Self-catering is perfect for this and I just love the vibe of caravan holidays.
That looks so nice and relaxing. I have been hesitant to try a caravan holiday as I’ve heard some horror stories but this looks fantastic.
It’s a wonderful site, I can highly recommend it. The mobile homes are lovely too. We stayed in one of the smaller ones but the larger Verdi caravans offered by Al Fresco looked great too!
It looks like a lovely site. My boys would love those waterslides
They were fantastic! My girls loved them…and so did I 🙂
I do love these sorts of holidays. We haven’t stayed with Al Fresco before, but we did go to another Yelloh Village, in the Loire Valley. My mum, her partner and my aunt came too – it was great for a multi-generational holiday. Can I ask: were the kids’ clubs in English as well as French? At our Yelloh they were only in French, so I’m wondering if Al Fresco put on English-language clubs here.
Nell (Pigeon Pair and Me) recently posted…Comment on A photo tour of Pont-Aven, in Finistère, Brittany, France by Plutonium Sox
To be honest we didn’t get to the kids club, so I don’t know. The club was run by Yelloh! Village rather than Al Fresco. The age range was for kids aged four and up so Baby couldn’t have joined her sister and friend. We decided to go to the pool and playground instead.
We were at La Garangeoire with Al Fresco and the kids clubs were in English. They were joint Alfresco/Eurocamp. Only the 5-11 was open at half term, but high season they have 5 different clubs from toddler to teens.
Jen Walshaw recently posted…Octopus watercolour glue resist art
This looks like a perfect holiday for you all, and I’m a little envious of the water slides. Claire x
We had a fabulous holiday just down the road with Al Fresco. It was perfect for the six boys that we took (yes 6 from 5 to 13). One of them went to the kids club and loved it. There was so much to do and it was just amazing
Wow! I bet they had such brilliant fun together. Great to hear a bit more about the kids clubs – I know my eldest would have loved it but I would have liked to have sent her along with her sister too. We were so busy at the pool though 🙂
Camping with kids is so much fun isn’t it! All the outdoors time is really great for everyone. We live in France and love visiting campsites like this (although we stay in our tent) and the weather is so often so lovely here, it’s usually a safe bet. I will bear this site in mind for the future. Kate x http://www.fivelittlestars.com
It’s a lovely one. We’d definitely consider taking our caravan there. The facilities and pitches are fab!
This looks like the perfect kind of holiday for my family, if only I could convince the husband to drive abroad! #TriedTested
The camp site looks amazing. It would be so handy to live in the UK and just head over to France. But we have another island to skip. We are going on a holiday in the UK in August. Here is hoping for good weather.
Janine Dolan recently posted…Living Arrows 23/52 – June Bank Holiday Weekend
Oh my gosh this looks amazing! I love driving over to France and in the past we’ve stay stayed little
Hotels on the way down and back up but this looks perfect for a trip away with a baby/toddler. Thank you so much for sharing an off to do a little more research now!
Looks lovely, just the kind of place I could relax whilst there being plenty of entertainment for the kids.
Angela recently posted…Hand Luggage Only – What To Pack
Yes! If Mr Tin Box had been there too I think I might have sampled a few more of the cocktails on offer at the bar 🙂
Yes, it had a really good balance of things to keep the whole family happy. Definitely recommended!
I would love to spend my holiday there! It seems spectacular!
Agness of eTramping recently posted…Awesome Activities in the Maldives – Fun in the Sun
It was a great campsite wth a lot to do locally. The girls and I loved it!
There was such a lot of us to do on site and in the area. We had a lovely holiday!
As you know, I’m a complete campsite novice, but this really does look wonderful! I mean, the space in the caravan – it’s really big! Plus all the activities on site, and nearby – looks like you had a wonderful time.
It was a great week. After thinking we might not get abroad this year it was such a treat!
Looks like such a fun holiday destination. The water slides look amazing and there looks to be so much to do – perfect for a family holiday!
It really was. We loved our time at Pin Parasol and would definitely recommend it
I’ve never heard of Al Fresco holidays but did similar style camping as a child with Eurocamp! Lots of happy memories. Looks like a lovely spot in France, too, with such a beautiful beach nearby. 🙂
It’s very similar and I think they share some sites. If you love outdoor holidays you would love Al Fresco!
Ah, the beach was a great find! I’ll be writing a bit more about it and sharing some other photos soon so keep an eye out!
The pool looks particularly fab #mondayescapes
Wandermust mummy recently posted…Baby’s First Summer Holiday Ideas – June – August
I think that was my kids’ favourite part of the site 🙂
It was a great campsite and we had a marvellous time!
Looks like it was an amazing trip Claire and you and the girls really made the most of it all, love your photos
Mini Travellers recently posted…Mini Travellers is Three Today!
Thank you! We feel very lucky to have been able to go 🙂
It looks like you had such a fab trip, your photos are beautiful and the girls look like they had an amazing time! The caravan looks great too 🙂
It was a great trip and one we will remember for a long, long time. The girls has a ball 🙂
Hi there, it’s my first time joining Monday Escapes. 🙂 This campsite looks incredible with so many amazing activities for kids. Here, in Korea, where we live, there are a lot of full service campsites, but they are usually quite crowded together with not much privacy! This looks like a happy medium of space and activities. Great tip about stocking up on food in advance! There’s no way my little one would be able to wait an entire hour for food if she was hungry!! 😮
Shelley recently posted…Le Tatin: the best little Crêperie in Seoul you don’t know about
There’s a lot of campsites around the UK and Europe that are exactly as you’ve experienced. This is such a nice alternative to the crowded camping experience and made for a such a relaxed break
Ah Claire I am so glad you had a fab holiday it looks so lovely and to have the option to dine in is great with kids isnt it? x
Yes, it works so well for us at this age. We had a fab time – missed MR TB obvs, but it was a great week!
I hadn’t heard of Al Fresco holidays before but I’ll have to look them up – they look perfect for a short break away from the UK. Lovely photos! #mondayescapes
Thank you! They are perfect for family holidays with a focus on outdoor living. I loved being able to eat on the decking and know that the kids were playing in a safe environment.
Oh how fun that looks! I love water slides so I’m sure that was fun to slide down into a refreshing pool!
Yvonne @ Lost with Yvonne recently posted…Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge – Standing in Two places at Once (VIDEO)
We’ve been on Eurocamp holidays but never Yelloh I must check them out as the site looks fab and so does the accommodation. My girls would love the water slides and the monkey bars. You had great weather! #MondayEscapes
Jo recently posted…AKUMAL BEACH, RIVIERA MAYA, MEXICO
Oh it looks really fun there! We’ve never tried a holiday like that before – something else to add to the list of experiences to try 🙂
Chloe: Picture Taker Memory Maker recently posted…A Weird Week
Aww, France, we miss you! We must remember this place next time we are looking for a campsite across the channel. #mondayescapes
It was a fab one Jo, highly recommend for the lovely pitches and facilities!
Looks like you had a wonderful time at this stunning campsite. Just wondering if you took your Labrador and if the site is pet friendly?
We flew to France on this occasion Jenny so our dog couldn’t come with us. I can’t remember seeing other dogs I’m afraid but there were plenty of lovely walks in the area. Did check out the Yelloh! Village website to check for sure.
We haven’t stayed with Al Fresco but this looks like such a lovely site I’m wondering why now! Looks like you all had a great time Claire.
Jane Batt recently posted…Top Normandy Attractions: William the Conqueror’s Castle
It was a great holiday and lovely to share it with friends too!