We share an honest review of our family trip to the Domaine des Ormes campsite in Brittany, France.
We have stayed at many campgrounds in France and Domaine des Ormes was without a doubt the biggest and best campsite we have visited. However, there are some things you need to be aware of. We’ll also introduce you to some great attractions nearby!
Now for my review of Domaine des Ormes…
About Domaine des Ormes
We visited Domaine des Ormes as part of an 8 day road trip through France. We stayed at three of his campsites, booked through Les Castels (Les Castels doesn’t seem to exist anymore, so if I were to book again I’d book through Eurocamp or Booking.com).
Our first campsite was Château de les Eaux, Domaine des Ormes our second, and Château de Garinée our third campsite.
Domaine des Ormes was the largest and busiest campground we stayed at. Wow, you could stay here for weeks and still not be able to explore everything this site has to offer. It had a completely different atmosphere than our first campsite at Château de les Eaux, and was much more lively with endless activities for the kids.
Set on 200 hectares, Domaine des Ormes is huge. There are six swimming pools and water sports such as cable water skiing on the lake. There are indoor and outdoor pools, a lazy river, waterslides, a toddler pool, and a tranquil pool to relax in.
There are eight restaurants, an 18-hole golf course, an equestrian center, a tree adventure course, a climbing wall, archery, mini golf, bicycle rentals, fishing, peddlers, paintball, bicycle rentals, tennis, and games. Rooms, zip wires, mazes, nightly entertainment shows, and more. Phew, I said there’s a lot!
Sorry I don’t have many photos of the campsite or activities. My photos always include other people’s children and I don’t feel comfortable posting them online.
Accommodation types at Domaine des Ormes
Domaine des Ormes offers a wide variety of accommodation types to choose from. This is a place with quirky glamping options, and the raft houses and tree houses look amazing.
We stayed in a two bedroom mobile home and it was very nice. We had everything we needed, so it was easy to stay longer than 3 nights. We rented bikes, stocked the fridge, and made friends with other families living in villas around our house.
If I ever go again, I would definitely like to go see the tree house. The ideal vacation would be 7 nights in a mobile home, followed by 2-3 nights in a treehouse to get the kids a little excited!
Getting to Domaine des Ormes
Since we rented a car, getting to Domaine des Ormes was easy. We flew to Paris and rented a car from there. Domaine des Ormes is a four-hour drive from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Another option is to drive yourself from the UK and take the ferry to Saint-Malo. The journey takes approximately 11 hours. It’s about a 40-minute drive from Saint-Malo to Domaine des Ormes, so it’s easy to get around once you’re in France.
Ferries are available from Portsmouth or Poole and are cheaper than flying if you’re traveling as a family.
The Condor Ferry departs from Poole and costs approximately (one way):
- £90 per car
- £40 per adult
- £30 per child
- £5 per infant
Brittany Ferries offers overnight cruises for around £600 return. This includes a vehicle and overnight cabin for two adults and two children.
Our stay at Domaine des Ormes
When we visited Domaine des Ormes, we had only one child with us. While we all loved Domaine des Ormes, we didn’t get the most out of our stay. If you visited now, it would be a completely different story.
We currently have three children: George (7), Joseph (6), and Alba (3). I honestly think Domaine des Ormes is the most incredibly perfect place for a family vacation. With swimming pools, waterslides, activities, a kids club with English speaking personnel, and nearby attractions all in one place, we can’t think of a better place for a family vacation at this price point.
Even during the peak summer holiday period, you can buy a two-bed chalet for less than £2,000. For this price, you also get access to all the pools and a variety of children’s activities.
When we visited Domaine des Ormes with one toddler in tow, the campground was busy but a little overwhelming. We weren’t used to seeing crowds of kids so it was very noisy and energetic. But now that I have three kids with her, I’m definitely used to the energy of a young family and would be so happy to go back now.
Places to visit from Domaine des Ormes
Another great thing about Domaine des Ormes is that there are great things to see and do nearby.
Our favorite days out include:
Saint-Cas-le-Guild <- Here is the full blog about this amazing spot
Mont Saint-Michel
Dinan
Saint-Malo
If you stay at Domaine des Ormes for 10 days, it’s ideal as you’ll have 4 days of great outings and the rest of the time to spend around the campsite.
Domaine des Ormes review
If you’re looking for a cost-effective family vacation that will keep the kids busy and entertained, you’ve come to the right place. It’s lively, lively and great fun for kids. And we all know that if you’re happy, the kids are happy too, so that’s a winner when it comes to family holidays.
I have visited many campgrounds in France and Domaine des Ormes is by far the largest and best suited for families. It has the most accommodation options, the most activities, the best swimming pools, and great places to visit nearby. It is also relatively easy to access for most people from the UK. It’s very easy to fly to Paris and drive from there, but if you live in the south of England or the Midlands, it’s also easy to take a ferry.
If you’re thinking of staying at a campsite in France (and you have energetic kids that need to be entertained!), go to Domaine des Ormes. You won’t be disappointed.