Before we came away as guests of Al Fresco to Club Farret in Languedoc, France, we had never been on a caravan holiday outside of the UK.
I came with preconceptions and left them firmly in the sand.
My expectations were firmly exceeded and I have no doubt that we will holiday with Al Fresco again.
The holiday home
Our accommodation was perfect, three bedrooms, a spacious kitchen and dining area. A shower room and separate bathroom and plenty of storage space.
It was impeccably clean, with fresh linen on each bed and an assortment of pre ordered towels. The fridge contained a welcome beer and juices for the kids, tea and coffee waited on the side.
Outside we had a delightful decking area, shaded by a beautiful canopy. The decking led out onto our own sandy play area which was equipped with sun loungers and a BBQ.
It was like having our own beach waiting outside our front door, with the bigger version only 50 feet away.
The Al Fresco Reps – Mandy and Andy.
The two Al Fresco reps on site, married couple Mandy and Andy added a real personal touch to our trip. They delighted the kids on day one by allowing them to choose from a range of toys and inflatables from their reception. They have children of their own and really understood what it took to make a family holiday outstanding.
It is a Al Fresco policy to pass on buckets and spades and other beach friendly toys to families as they come onto the site. A great way of keeping holiday costs down.
Andy popped down to our caravan daily, he told me the best place to go running, gave recommendations on food and gave us the low down on the resort.
He also drove my husband to the local supermarket a couple of miles away so we could stock up on holiday essentials without paying extortion prices on the ‘strip’.
We can say with absolute honesty that they made the whole experience so much better, and made everything easy! Plus their quote of the day had me foxed 90% of the time.
Is it right for the kids?
Two heated pools, an array of parks, a daily kids club and nightly children’s discos. Plus a beautiful beach right by their doorstep.
There are tennis courts, a space to play volley ball , and a football pitch. Plus regular arranged times to take your child along to play with other holidaymakers.
In high season you can also partake in watersports on the ocean and all evening entertainment is moved out of the Pirates bar onto the main stage by the central pool.
It is safe to say our kids had a blast, days were spent swimming, building sandcastles and making new friends.
Evenings were spent playing mini golf on site, watching shows, playing ping pong and pool and generally having fun.
And for the grown ups?
You can hire bikes, hit the gym, go for a spa, and sample local wines in the well stocked bar.
Plus you can chill out in the Jacuzzi outdoor pool whilst the kids play safely in the paddling pool beside you.
It is an exceptionally well run, family orientated resort.
The visual effect?
One thing to really point out when you stay at Club Farret is the prettiness of the resort. The pools have been designed to be aesthetically pleasing to kids, with a deadly pirate theme coursing through the main area. The rest of the sprawling resort is decorated with brightly flamed flowers, intriguing carvings and colourful decore.
It is spotless, not a drop of litter in sight or a rogue grain of sand from the beach.
Food and Drink
We mixed up our food consumption between trying local restaurants and cooking our own grub on the BBQ outside the caravan.
Food in the local supermarkets is well priced, but you will find cheaper produce at the main supermarket, Vias, which is the closet town.
On site, you can grab a pizza takeaway, eat in the bar or restaurant or buy a sandwich to eat by the pool. Again, the prices are reasonable and don’t leave you feeling robbed.
On the main strip in Vias Plage you can find an assortment of eateries. A heavy seafood theme runs through the town but you can also find Mexican, Italian, and a superb range of Ice Cream Parlours. Plus steak is easy to find and excellent quality, and the salads are amazing.
For a real treat go for a sweet lunch at CopaCabana, or be good and eat one of their amazing salads. This was our favourite place to eat and the service is excellent as well.
Value for money
The resort isn’t expensive and we found ourselves returning with Euros in our pocket which was a real treat. This year Yelloh! Village Beach Club Farret opens from the 26th April to 21s September 2014.
Prices are from £301 for six people staying in a Vivaldi mobile home at Yelloh! Village Beach Club Farret arriving 21/06/2014/14 for seven nights during off peak and from £857 for six people staying in a Vivaldi mobile home at Yelloh! Village Beach Club Farret arriving 28/08/2014 for seven nights on peak.
You can supplement your holiday with trips to local water parks, horse riding and a nearby theme park. We were just happy getting to know our local area and relaxing by the sea. The weather was blissful, hitting highs of around 24 degrees each day, which meant we didn’t need to hire a car.
I think the cost element plays a huge part in our decision to book with Al Fresco again. We got to stay in luxury accommodation, relax in beautiful surroundings and have an amazing time for what would have been a very reasonable price. We had the best time reviewing the site and would like to thank Al Fresco for allowing us to do so.
For more information or to help find the perfect parc and to book, please visit www.alfresco-holidays.com or call 08436 362586