Suzanne's Trip to La Rochelle

By Suzanne Dalton

Myself and my husband decided to bring the kids ‘camping’ in France with 4 other families, to Île de Ré. This was a really fun holiday, and would make for a great unique experience for families who want something different to the typical Sun Holiday.

Location

Île de Ré is a charming island located off the western coast of France, near La Rochelle. Known for its picturesque landscapes, quaint villages, and sandy beaches, Île de Ré is a popular destination for those seeking a tranquil and scenic escape. We stayed at the Sunelia Interlude 5* campsite in Le Bois Plage-en-Re, in a Luxe Cabin which could sleep 4 people. Our cabin was in a great location as it was central, making it easy to explore the island. There is a free bus that goes every hour around the island. The campsite felt very safe for kids, who had great freedom. There is a free kids club with activities for over 5 year olds (note you must register the children each day which is a bit annoying, you can't register them for the week for example. There is also a creche for babies and toddlers which there is a fee for.

What I Loved

The number one thing I enjoyed the most was the beach. We were total beach bums for the holiday! The kids loved jumping into the waves of the Atlantic. It was so warm when we were there, we were on the beach till 10pm most nights with a bottle of wine and croc monsieur! Between the beach activities/water sports/ beach yoga there was so much to keep us on the beach and to have late sunset swims.

Activities & Places to See

Visit St Martin-en-Re, the capital of the island, for food or a glass of wine by the harbour. Wander around the back alleys of the port and look at all the artisan shops and soak up the atmosphere. Don’t miss the small night market selling local artists products.
Cycle to Ars-en-Re, where you can enjoy some fabulous seafood and wine.
Wander around the market at La Flotte and take in the views of the port and beach.

Shopping

There are not a lot of shops on the island bar the markets, but they're amazing and are well worth a visit!

Food & Bars

We enjoyed a lot of tasty food while we were here. For seafood dishes, I'd recommend L’Ocean Le Bois Plage en Re & Le Café Du Commerce. Beach Bar Ile de Re was the only late bar near Le Bois Plage where you could dance, with a DJ every night. We didn’t manage to eat here but it looked casual and could be good with the kids. La Martinere was a hit with the whole family too - it's a famous ice cream shop with over 60 flavours available!

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