Campsite review of les Amiaux, St Jean de Monts, the Vendee

My family and I have stayed at les Amiaux on several occasions from between a few days and two weeks at a time over a time span of 5 years, and believe it or not, we have nothing untoward at all to say about this campsite. Please note though that this review is totally independent and we are not being paid to plug the site!

As campsites go this is relatively large and very popular, especially with Brits, but at no time did we feel that it was too busy or overcrowded because it occupies such a large area and the pitches are all spacious.

The camp is split into two parts; the first half is where the site admin centre is based, the camp shop and the outdoor swimming pool. There is also a a bar/restaurant there which serves decent food at a reasonable price (bearing in mind that with the £ being in the doldrums everything is dearer than it used to be). There is also a laundry on this half of the site.

Frankly, we would rather be sited in this first half because it is nearer the shop and bar.

The other half of the site is accessed via a tunnel under the road, and this leads you to the pristine clean and very large indoor swimming pool and where all the other mobile homes are sited. I guess you could argue that this is probably the quieter half of the campsite in high season.

The indoor pool is open all season but the outdoor one does not open until July 1st.

Where is les Amiaux?

It is on the straight (D38) road between St Jean de Monts and Notre Dame de Monts. For your 1st visit the easiest way to get there is to follow the D753 into St Jean from the Challans end, so follow the signs for Centre Ville which will lead you into St Jean on the bottom road.

Entering the town that way means you are on the one way system and you will pass the Irish/English pub on your left as you go through. 50 metres further on you take a sharp left which leads uphill and past a little church. You will approach a small roundabout so follow "golf" then at the next roundabout follow a sign for Notre Damd de M.

Les Amiaux is roughly 1.5 KM further on on your left - look out for Julies Bar on your left and then the campsite is just a couple of hundred metres further on the same side. The automatic barrier closes at 11pm, but there is a limited amount of parking outside it if you arrive late.

Getting to the nearest beach is easy once you know how. Most of the brochures we have read state that it it about 800/900 metres from the site. Hmm! We think it's a tad further than that but still within easy walking distance. To get there on foot go to roughly to where the 'phone boxes are situated near to the main gate.

You will see a sign for the beach which basically takes you to the rear of the site where there is a gate (it is locked at 6pm so take care to note that). Turn left out of the gate and walk to the cross roads. Turn right there and walk directly to the beach. There is a large car park there also.

If you don't fancy walking there then take the car; exit right at the main gate and go 150 metres or so to Julies Bar where you must turn immediate right. Follow that road to the crossroads - be extremely careful here because even though there is very little traffic here this must be the most dangerous little crossroads on the planet!

Over the crossroads and drive to the large car park next to the beach. The beach itself is relatively uncrowded, and it is clean and fit for swimming but you won't find a lifeguard on duty here, so safety is up to you.

The main St Jean de Monts beach is about 2KM from les Amiaux, so turn right out of the main gate and follow your nose, but at all times follow the signs for whatever plage. This leads to to the top of the town where there is a mass of free parking spaces - get there early in high season or at weekends though!

There is one thing to beware of near this beach and that is when there is a stiff breeze the sand blows off the beach, onto the car park and down the side streets to the shops. In conditions like that I recommend going to the nearer beach which is more sheltered.

If you want a naturist beach then you will find one a little further south, but we have been there and they were all overweight and ugly, apart from us that is!

Can we recommend les Amiaux? Certainly, absolutely! By Arthur J.