Pierre & Vacances Belle Dune Apartment

We've stayed here 3 times before - 1/2 adults and 2 kids, and we've decided to go back again next week! Good quality accommodation, good pool with waves and slides which just about keep kids occupied (past experiences of other P&V holiday centres have made us see Belle Dune Pool as very good in comparison!) great activities for all ages of children and very near Fort Mahon which has plenty of bars, shops and restaurants. Very near sea side and beaches are popular.

Weather can be patchy - after all you aren't very far from Kent! But plus is you are so close to Calais that the holiday starts quickly and you aren't trecking through Europe to get to your destination! Done that as well - but needed to be back in UK for the Sunday so overnight ferry or long drive wasn't desirable!

Overall a great place - we had a lovely holiday helped by the weather. So much to do if you like activities like golf, swimming, high assault courses in the trees (off-site), local markets, cycling or just reading a book outside your villa in the peaceful surroundings - plus it's not far from Calais so as long as you don't get stuck in the Channel, an easy journey!

With my wife and my young family, we had the pleasure of spending a couple of days at Belle Dune Apartment in October. The weather was glorious; the 6-berth house that we rented in France was perfect. The bedrooms were comfortable, the kitchen and lounge gave out onto the lake, a vast garden which led directly to the lake - the kids loved it. Above all, they adored the aquaclub and the outdoor play area... There is an on-site mini-market which has everything you need to feed the family, and the restaurant provided a warm welcome and good food. The golf course that runs adjacent to the village is spectacular, and it is highly recommended for the mid to low handicappers. The village is located in one of Europe's largest nature reserves and surrounded by vast dunes. The beach is just 2km away, and it is easily accessible by bike, car or a train that Belle Dune runs during the peak period. Fort Mahon and Quend are two lovely towns offering numerous bar and restaurants. I'd recommend Belle Dune to any family seeking a relaxing, yet adventurous holiday in Normandy/Picardy, and it's only an hour from Calais! www.pierre-et-vacances.co.uk

Last Summer we all went to Belle Dune. There were five of us and the ages of the children ranged from 7 to 13. The kids loved the place. They loved the swimming pools and the waves in the indoor pool must be the best that I have ever seen. The houses in their pastel colours made the site look really attractive. There was plenty to do in the surrounding areas but we only made it out of the site on one occasion as the kids were so happy in the swimming pools. There was not a lot to do in the evenings, but we had a fantastic plot, away from the main square and in front of the golf course. This meant that all the kids on "our block" could meet outside for football games and other mucking around games. All the families sat around together and it made for lovely evenings. The best evening was when about 8 of the kids all got together and went for a walk along the golf course, which is surrounded by fantastic pine trees. I would not say that Belle Dune was good value for money. It cost us over £1,000 for a week and apart from the swimming pool, there really wasn't the facilities to justify this cost. However, the kids absolutely loved it. Made loads of friends and my husband and I sat by the pool reading, talking and playing scrabble. It was bliss.

I stayed at Belle Dune Apartment last summer with my husband and just 16 year old son. Most visitors are French, with a smattering of German and English. Staff spoke just enough English so we could understand each other and enjoy the facilities. We booked a two bedroom second/third floor apartment (lakeside houses also available)sleeping 6 and on two floors. The furnishings were very stylish with a large fully furnished balcony off the living room with a view of the piazza and the surrounding forest. The beds were very comfortable and there was a shower room as well as a bathroom. TV available to hire although the only english station was news - The Simpsons aren't quite the same in French! Everything centres on a central lakeside piazza with a restaurant, a bar, 2 shops, bicycle hire and entertainments house. There are many free sports sessions for adults, including bike ride and step aerobics and childrens/teens clubs every day offering vollyball, flagfoot!, beach games etc. The little ones have an indoor play area and a mini zoo. There is also a sailing school with little dinghies which tiny children were mastering single handled.The site has a highly recommended golf course too. There is a free road train going to and from the lovely and lively seaside resorts of Fort Mahon and Quend throughout the day and games and puzzles available at reception if the weather turns nasty. The beaches are clean,wide and sandy and patrolled by lifeguards. The area around Belle Dune is forest on one side and never-ending protected sand dunes on the other. There are cycle paths everywhere, with Belle Dune itself being pedestrianized. Many people brought their own bikes but you could hire everything from a tandem or a toddler bike to an electric scooter. The swimming pool, which is free to residents, is in two parts, with jacuzzi, jets, sprays and the most exciting wave machine I have ever encountered. The kids loved it! The only downside to the holiday was the evening entertainment, which was based open air outside the bar. There was something on everything evening but, apart from a duo one evening, wasn't up to much. Good place for romantic evening walks around the lake though and you could, as the teenagers did, be in Fort Mahon in five minutes (car) or 15 minutes (walking along safe paths) and hit the bars or the nightclub. This was a wonderful holiday which we will repeat - but we'll take friends with us next time and make our own evening entertainment.