Al Fresco Holidays are one of many tour operators who have accommodation on campsites in France and other European countries. Our experience has been good, they were incredibly supportive during our month away in France for our road trip. At the time when I suffered with exhaustion and needed a break they were very flexible in accommodating changes to my itinerary.
This page is an introduction to what you can expect as well as what my personal experience has been. Let’s start with the basics in case you’ve never stayed at one of these campsites which have good family facilities, then we’ll end at the bottom of the page where I’ve shared a link through to the Al Fresco Holidays special offers page – you just need to click on the image banner and you’ll be re-directed to see what deals are available now. Tip – these are updated regularly and often you can get huge savings at short notice. Very worthwhile!
What to Expect.
The way Al Fresco Holidays work is similar to other tour operators, they have an allocation of mobile homes on established sites throughout Europe and a rep on site to help you out at their own reception. Many of the campsites are around the coast but you will find some in popular areas like the Loire Valley, Dordogne and close to Paris. The common factor is the provision of just about everything you need even if you were to stay on site and not explore further (not my recommendation!)
Generally you will find a small shop, children’s entertainment and pools and a bar and restaurant at very minimum but some of the sites have bakeries and gift shops. It really depends on the size of the site.
That leads me to the categories that Al Fresco Holidays use to rate their sites.
Large and Lively
Midsize and Sociable
Small and Friendly
Authentic and Value
We are all different, but what I recommend is to take some time to look at the this website and get a feel for the campsite you’re looking at. Take into consideration how long it is going to take you to get there, and whether you will be flying in or driving. You may have an idealised view of an authentic adventure in rural France, but logistics must be considered too. Sounds obvious doesn’t it, but once you factor in ferry costs or car hire as well as travelling time, you may find half of your holiday is taken with getting there. For me, that’s not a problem because driving, is one of my favourite things to do. You however, may wish to step off a plane and take a taxi then relax in the sun by the pool for a week. and that’s just fine too.
With the basics out of the way, I’ll now give you a specific example of one of our experiences on one of the best known holiday parks close to Paris. I think authenticity is by far the best way to go, and at least by doing this you know that I’m not just here to sell to you.
Al Fresco Holidays – La Croix du Vieux Pont, Berny Riviere
This campsite is a great example of what the French do well, it is well maintained has beautiful grounds and is not far from Paris City or Disneyland Paris; in fact there are organised coach tours which run frequently to both of these attractions which makes it a firm favourite for families.
Another thing worth mentioning is the ease of accessibility for the disabled, this was the only site that I felt my father would be at home on despite his limited mobility.
Al Fresco Holidays, France. La Croix du Vieux Pont. Berny Riviere
It is a very large site and is set in the countryside so no beaches of the oceanic type nearby, there is however a lake beach on site (as pictured) which sits next to one of the eateries available to choose from.
I was lucky enough to make use of the coach trip into Disneyland Paris with Lola for her 4th birthday which was brilliant. Having driven so far in the preceding 3 weeks a day off and not having to contemplate the traffic approaching Paris at 9am was a blessing!
I have written more about La Croix du Vieux Pont and the surrounding area and have posted lots of pictures, you can visit this page by clicking here.
My Experience with the Staff at Al Fresco Holidays.
When I first booked with this company they went under the name of Thomson Al Fresco, but have since been taken over and now trade simply as “Al Fresco Holidays“. The staff have remained the same in the offices as far as I know and I have always found them to be responsive and helpful.
When I returned from France last year, I realised I’d lost some keys. After a quick phone call to head office, the staff on site searched for them for us. It must have been my lucky day, because the keys were found and returned. Good luck on my part but of course, they could very easily have thought I was crazy asking them to look for them after I’d just driven 3,000 miles and stayed at several campsites in France!
I also can’t speak well enough of the staff member at Mar Estang who helped me when I was somewhat worn out! Of course, the staff on site change on an annual basis but overall if I take into account all of my experiences I think the service offered and the staff selection process is good. The migration from the Thomson Al Fresco brand appears to have been a good one.
Latest Special Offers from Al Fresco.
By clicking the banner below you will be taken to latest offers Al Fresco holidays currently have for your ease of reference. Pop over and take a look as these can be updated frequently with some great deals. You can even find bargains in the high season if you’re prepared to wait until the last minute.
All in all my experience with this company has been positive, incredibly helpful and responsive to any queries I had and I will definitely look to travel in the future with Al Fresco Holidays.